How far is Tampa, FL from Lake Placid, FL?

The driving distance from Tampa, FL to Lake Placid, FL is about 113.4 miles (182.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 80.6 miles (129.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
113.39 mi
02h 35m
Flight
80.59 mi
129.69 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Tampa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
80.59 mi
Kilometers
129.69 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
113.39 mi
Kilometers
182.49 km
Drive Time
02h 35m

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 02h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Placid
Sun, May 31, 2:23 AM EDT
Return by in Tampa
Sun, May 31, 4:58 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Tampa
2026-05-30T23:47
Arrive Lake Placid
Sun, May 31, 2:23 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:36 AM to 12:36 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Tampa
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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 Tampa
56.7 mi
01h 17m
To Lake Placid
56.7 mi
01h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
This Afternoon

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 5:00 PM EDT
Wind
9 mph W
Destination
73°F
Tonight

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tampa and Lake Placid.

  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 right to continue on I 275 North

    843 ft · 21 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    1.1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 4 East: Orlando

    2472 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    25.8 mi · 29 min

  8. 8

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

    2270 ft · 55 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Polk Parkway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Polk Parkway

  10. 10

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

    2311 ft · 57 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Bartow Road

    6.9 mi · 10 min · Bartow Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Broadway Avenue

    3183 ft · 1 min · Broadway Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Van Fleet Drive

    2787 ft · 1 min · Van Fleet Drive

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    1427 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    10.8 mi · 14 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    3.7 mi · 5 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park

    1128 ft · 31 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right

    83 m · 7 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto US 27

    22.6 mi · 28 min · US 27

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    10.3 mi · 15 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    14.3 mi · 19 min

  22. 22

    Turn left

    1.7 mi · 4 min

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Hallmark Avenue

    2.2 mi · 8 min · Hallmark Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on Virginia Avenue

    1.3 mi · 5 min · Virginia Avenue

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Virginia Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 27
47.4 mi · 42%
I 4 East
26.2 mi · 23%
Van Fleet Drive
15.3 mi · 13%
Polk Parkway
9.42 mi · 8%
Bartow Road
6.89 mi · 6%
Hallmark Avenue
2.2 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 4 East

Continue straight

25.8 mi · 00h 29m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 35m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.8 mi
80.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lake Wales
01h 17m from Tampa
Leave By
1:18 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Tampa and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy near Lake Placid.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Tampa to Lake Placid?

The road trip is about 113.4 miles (182.5 km) and usually takes 02h 35m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lake Wales is a useful midpoint, sitting about 56.7 miles from Tampa and 56.7 miles from Lake Placid.

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

The direct path is about 80.6 miles (129.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.59 one way or $33.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 35.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Tampa and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy near Lake Placid.

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 Tampa and Lake Placid. Straight-line distance: 80.59 mi (129.69 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
Lake Placid

#2 Lake Placid

Town in Highlands County, Florida, USA

Population2,496
Coordinates27.3519700, -81.3263100
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Start: Tampa (-82.45843, 27.94752)
End: Lake Placid (-81.32631, 27.35197)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 182 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4 gal
15.15 L · about $16.59
Round trip
$33.18
8 gal · 30.3 L
Estimated CO2
35.5 kg one way
Round trip: 71.1 kg / 157 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $16.59 $33.18
Mid-grade $4.60 $18.38 $36.77
Premium $4.90 $19.58 $39.17
Diesel $4.35 $17.40 $34.80

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Tampa and Lake Placid. The current time is 23:47:32.

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.