How far is Tampa, FL from Longboat Key, FL?

The driving distance from Tampa, FL to Longboat Key, FL is about 60.4 miles (97.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 39 miles (62.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 48m 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
60.37 mi
01h 24m
Flight
38.95 mi
62.68 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
38.95 mi
Kilometers
62.68 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
60.37 mi
Kilometers
97.16 km
Drive Time
01h 24m

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 01h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Longboat Key
Tue, May 12, 8:05 PM EDT
Return by in Tampa
Tue, May 12, 9:29 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Tampa
2026-05-12T18:41
Arrive Longboat Key
Tue, May 12, 8:05 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:42 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
Ruskin
FL

Census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida

From Tampa
30.2 mi
00h 42m
To Longboat Key
30.1 mi
00h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Tuesday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph N
Destination
Longboat Key Weather
FL
Live fallback forecast
91°F
Tuesday
Using South Bradenton as the closest live forecast in the Manatee County weather hub.

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tampa and Longboat Key.

  1. 1

    Start on East Kennedy Boulevard

    36 m · 11 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Tampa Street

    90 m · 13 sec · North Tampa Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Jackson Street

    2823 ft · 2 min · East Jackson Street

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on East Jackson Street

    21 m · 4 sec · East Jackson Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Nebraska Avenue

    123 m · 10 sec · North Nebraska Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward FL 618 Toll East: Brandon

    853 ft · 21 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

    7.8 mi · 9 min · Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 75 South: Naples

    2585 ft · 34 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    26.8 mi · 29 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg

    1.6 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    1.1 km · 45 sec

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 41: Palmetto, Bradenton

    1678 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Palmetto, Bradenton

    109 m · 11 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Tamiami Trail

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Tamiami Trail

  15. 15

    Continue on Hernando DeSoto Bridge

    2226 ft · 38 sec · Hernando DeSoto Bridge

  16. 16

    Continue on 1st Street West

    1.5 km · 2 min · 1st Street West

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on 1st Street West

    1.5 mi · 3 min · 1st Street West

  18. 18

    Continue on Cortez Road

    8.6 mi · 16 min · Cortez Road

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Gulf Drive North

    1236 ft · 40 sec · Gulf Drive North

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Gulf Drive South

    12 m · 1 sec · Gulf Drive South

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto Gulf Drive South

    1.5 mi · 4 min · Gulf Drive South

  22. 22

    Continue on Gulf of Mexico Drive

    3 mi · 5 min · Gulf of Mexico Drive

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Gulf of Mexico Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
38.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
27.2 mi · 45%
Cortez Road
8.57 mi · 14%
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
7.82 mi · 13%
Tamiami Trail
6.15 mi · 10%
Gulf of Mexico Drive
2.96 mi · 5%
1st Street West
2.5 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 75 South

Merge slight left

26.8 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
01h 24m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.4 mi
39 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ruskin
00h 42m from Tampa
Leave By
3:42 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Tampa and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Longboat Key.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Tampa to Longboat Key?

The road trip is about 60.4 miles (97.2 km) and usually takes 01h 24m 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?

Ruskin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 30.2 miles from Tampa and 30.1 miles from Longboat Key.

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

The direct path is about 39 miles (62.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:42 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.84 one way or $17.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Ruskin

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

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

BUS

Bradenton, Florida

26 mi away
1115 Manatee Avenue West
RAIL

Union Station

26 mi away
601 North Nebraska Ave
BUS

St Petersburg-Pinellas Park-Clearwater, Florida

28 mi away
5251 110th Avenue North
BUS

Sarasota, Florida

44 mi away
1993 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Tampa and Longboat Key. Straight-line distance: 38.95 mi (62.68 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
Longboat Key

#2 Longboat Key

Town in Florida

Population7,303
Coordinates27.4125400, -82.6589900
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Tampa (-82.45843, 27.94752)
End: Longboat Key (-82.65899, 27.41254)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 97 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.13 gal
8.06 L · about $8.84
Round trip
$17.67
4.26 gal · 16.12 L
Estimated CO2
18.9 kg one way
Round trip: 37.9 kg / 84 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $8.84 $17.67
Mid-grade $4.60 $9.79 $19.58
Premium $4.90 $10.43 $20.86
Diesel $4.35 $9.27 $18.53

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Tampa and Longboat Key. The current time is 18:41:19.

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.