How far is Tampa, FL from Apalachicola, FL?

The driving distance from Tampa, FL to Apalachicola, FL is about 296.9 miles (477.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 196.2 miles (315.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
296.88 mi
06h 25m
Flight
196.19 mi
315.74 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Tampa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
196.19 mi
Kilometers
315.74 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
296.88 mi
Kilometers
477.78 km
Drive Time
06h 25m

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 06h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Apalachicola
Thu, Apr 30, 1:57 PM EDT
Return by in Tampa
Thu, Apr 30, 8:23 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Tampa
2026-04-30T07:32
Arrive Apalachicola
Thu, Apr 30, 1:57 PM EDT
Route Timing
06h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:25 PM to 1:55 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:10 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Tampa
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Cross City
FL

Town in Florida, United States

From Tampa
148.6 mi
03h 12m
To Apalachicola
148.3 mi
03h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph W
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Tampa and Apalachicola.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tampa and Apalachicola.

  1. 1

    Start on East Kennedy Boulevard

    122 m · 17 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Ashley Drive

    1748 ft · 49 sec · North Ashley Drive

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward I 275

    1164 ft · 29 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on I 275 South

    2434 ft · 60 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    3.9 mi · 5 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater

    1665 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Memorial Highway

    2060 ft · 35 sec · Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Veterans Expressway

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Veterans Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on FL 589 Toll Express Lane

    3.2 mi · 4 min · FL 589 Toll Express Lane

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Expressway

    1 km · 48 sec · Veterans Expressway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on FL 589 Toll Express Lane

    4.6 mi · 6 min · FL 589 Toll Express Lane

  12. 12

    Merge slight right onto Veterans Expressway

    1938 ft · 28 sec · Veterans Expressway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Suncoast Parkway

    54.2 mi · 59 min · Suncoast Parkway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 44: Gulf to Lake Highway

    1944 ft · 44 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Gulf to Lake Highway

    4.8 mi · 8 min · Gulf to Lake Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Northeast 5th Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · Northeast 5th Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Suncoast Boulevard

    47 mi · 59 min · Suncoast Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on Young Boulevard

    66.5 mi · 1 hr 26 min · Young Boulevard

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Hampton Springs Avenue

    54.4 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Hampton Springs Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn slight right onto Sopchoppy Highway

    6.5 mi · 9 min · Sopchoppy Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Sopchoppy Highway

    10.5 mi · 15 min · Sopchoppy Highway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right

    32.5 mi · 49 min

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Avenue C

    139 m · 22 sec · Avenue C

  24. 24

    Turn right onto 5th Street

    563 ft · 25 sec · 5th Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 5th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Tampa and Apalachicola.

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
25 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Young Boulevard
66.5 mi · 22%
Hampton Springs Avenue
54.4 mi · 18%
Suncoast Parkway
54.2 mi · 18%
Sopchoppy Highway
49.5 mi · 17%
Suncoast Boulevard
47 mi · 16%
FL 589 Toll Express Lane
7.8 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Young Boulevard

Continue on Young Boulevard

66.5 mi · 01h 26m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 25m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+100.7 mi
196.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cross City
03h 12m from Tampa
Leave By
11:10 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Tampa and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Apalachicola.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Tampa to Apalachicola?

The road trip is about 296.9 miles (477.8 km) and usually takes 06h 25m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cross City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 148.6 miles from Tampa and 148.3 miles from Apalachicola.

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

The direct path is about 196.2 miles (315.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 100.7 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.47 one way or $86.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Tampa and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Apalachicola.

Stop Ideas Near Cross City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cross City, 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 Cross City.

BUS

Gainesville, Florida

78 mi away
201 East University Ave.
BUS

Waldo, Florida

94 mi away
14648 NE 147th Avenue
BUS

Ocala, Florida

108 mi away
531 Northeast First Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Tampa and Apalachicola. Straight-line distance: 196.19 mi (315.74 km).

Tampa

#1 Tampa

The third most populous city in Florida and the center of the Tampa metropolitan area.

Population407,599
Coordinates27.9475200, -82.4584300
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Apalachicola

#2 Apalachicola

County seat of Franklin County, Florida, United States

Population2,372
Coordinates29.7260000, -84.9856000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Tampa (-82.45843, 27.94752)
End: Apalachicola (-84.9856, 29.726)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 478 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.48 gal
39.66 L · about $43.47
Round trip
$86.94
20.96 gal · 79.32 L
Estimated CO2
93.1 kg one way
Round trip: 186.3 kg / 411 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $43.47 $86.94
Mid-grade $4.60 $48.17 $96.33
Premium $4.90 $51.31 $102.62
Diesel $4.35 $45.59 $91.18

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 · Apr 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Tampa and Apalachicola. The current time is 07:32:11.

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.