How far is St. Petersburg, FL from Gifford, FL?

The driving distance from St. Petersburg, FL to Gifford, FL is about 163.4 miles (263 km), with a travel time of about 03h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139 miles (223.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
163.45 mi
03h 29m
Flight
138.99 mi
223.69 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from St. Petersburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
138.99 mi
Kilometers
223.69 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
163.45 mi
Kilometers
263.04 km
Drive Time
03h 29m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gifford
Tue, May 5, 8:51 AM EDT
Return by in St. Petersburg
Tue, May 5, 12:21 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave St. Petersburg
2026-05-05T05:21
Arrive Gifford
Tue, May 5, 8:51 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:00 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in St. Petersburg
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lake Wales
FL

City in Polk County, Florida, United States

From St. Petersburg
81.6 mi
01h 44m
To Gifford
81.8 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph S
Destination
82°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between St. Petersburg and Gifford.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between St. Petersburg and Gifford.

  1. 1

    Start on 34th Street South

    2326 ft · 1 min · 34th Street South

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 5th Avenue North

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 5th Avenue North

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward I 275 North

    1811 ft · 50 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 27 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 4 East: Orlando

    2472 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    25.8 mi · 29 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven

    2270 ft · 55 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Polk Parkway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Polk Parkway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow

    2311 ft · 57 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Bartow Road

    6.9 mi · 10 min · Bartow Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Broadway Avenue

    3183 ft · 1 min · Broadway Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Van Fleet Drive

    2787 ft · 1 min · Van Fleet Drive

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    1427 ft · 27 sec

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    10.8 mi · 14 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    4.3 mi · 6 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    3.7 mi · 6 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 66th Avenue

    2.5 mi · 4 min · 66th Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 45th Street

    3.3 mi · 6 min · 45th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Old Dixie Highway

    37 m · 3 sec · Old Dixie Highway

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Old Dixie Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between St. Petersburg and Gifford.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Van Fleet Drive
90.2 mi · 55%
I 4 East
26.2 mi · 16%
I 275 North
21.8 mi · 13%
Polk Parkway
9.42 mi · 6%
Bartow Road
6.89 mi · 4%
45th Street
3.29 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Van Fleet Drive

Continue straight

70.7 mi · 01h 28m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.4 mi
139 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lake Wales
01h 44m from St. Petersburg
Leave By
10:00 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving St. Petersburg and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Gifford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from St. Petersburg to Gifford?

The road trip is about 163.4 miles (263 km) and usually takes 03h 29m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lake Wales is a useful midpoint, sitting about 81.6 miles from St. Petersburg and 81.8 miles from Gifford.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 139 miles (223.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:00 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.93 one way or $47.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around St. Petersburg and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Gifford.

Stop Ideas Near Lake Wales

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lake Wales, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lake Wales.

RAIL

Winter Haven

18 mi away
1800 7th St SW
RAIL

Lakeland

39 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Lakeland

39 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Kissimmee

47 mi away
111 East Dakin Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between St. Petersburg and Gifford. Straight-line distance: 138.99 mi (223.69 km).

St. Petersburg

#1 St. Petersburg

The second most populous city in Florida.

Population253,693
Coordinates27.7708600, -82.6792700
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Gifford

#2 Gifford

Census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida

Population9,590
Coordinates27.6753100, -80.4092200
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: St. Petersburg (-82.67927, 27.77086)
End: Gifford (-80.40922, 27.67531)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 263 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.77 gal
21.83 L · about $23.93
Round trip
$47.87
11.54 gal · 43.66 L
Estimated CO2
51.3 kg one way
Round trip: 102.6 kg / 226 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $23.93 $47.87
Mid-grade $4.60 $26.52 $53.04
Premium $4.90 $28.25 $56.50
Diesel $4.35 $25.10 $50.20

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Florida · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between St. Petersburg and Gifford. The current time is 05:21:19.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.