Raleigh to Tampa road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best road trip stops on the Raleigh to Tampa drive are Florence SC, Savannah GA and Jacksonville FL. The distance from Raleigh to Tampa by car is 651 miles, with an 9h28m driving time.
Planning a Raleigh to Tampa road trip itinerary
The Raleigh to Tampa drive takes you from the capital of North Carolina to the Florida coast.
Raleigh is the biggest city in North Carolina. Major attractions include the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the thrill-packed Carowinds amusement park and the Billy Graham Library. Another popular option is the Sea Life aquarium.
For top Raleigh activities, try historical city tours by golf cart, Segway tours through the Uptown neighbourhood and after dark ghost tours.
Well-reviewed and central Raleigh accommodation options include the AC by Marriott and the Hyatt House.
Tampa is justifiably one of the most popular holiday destinations in Florida. It’s home to top attractions such as the Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa, the Adventure Island water park and Busch Gardens theme park.
Other great Tampa experiences include historic Ybor City food walking tours, seeing the highlights in a street legal golf cart and a Haunted Tampa tour that combines ghosts and pubs.
Also on offer are Segway tours, history cruises, dolphin-watching and celebrity homes tours.
Tampa accommodation is best booked in advance – look for deals here.
Raleigh to Tampa distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Raleigh to Tampa is 651 miles. This makes for a driving time of around nine hours and 28 minutes. The quickest route heads along the I-95 and I-75.
The best stops to add to a Raleigh to Tampa road trip itinerary are Florence SC, Savannah GA and Jacksonville FL.
For more suggestions, see the guides to the Savannah to Jacksonville drive and Jacksonville to Tampa drive.
Raleigh to Tampa road trip attractions: Florence, South Carolina
The Florence County Museum offers a good mix of science, art and history. But the Florence Veterans Park is arguably a more impressive cultural attraction. The six-acre park is dedicated to military veterans, and is dotted with grand sculptures and memorials.
Meanwhile, the Lynches River County Park to the south of the city is a popular spot for kayaking and canoeing. There’s also an Environmental Discovery Center, which aims to educate visitors about the local ecosystems.
Raleigh to Tampa drive: Savannah, Georgia
Savannah has a timewarp handsomeness about it. Parks are lined by mossy oak trees, 19th century buildings ooze history and riverboats glide along the rivers.
Great activities in Savannah include the Ghosts and Gravestones trolley tour, riverboat cruises and a true crime pub crawl.
Best stops between Raleigh and Tampa: Jacksonville, Florida
Top Jacksonville experiences include Amelia Island kayak tours, guided art and architecture tours by electric bike and electric skateboard rides along Fernandina Beach.
For cultural attractions, head to the Cummer Museum, where the strength tends to be the rotating temporary exhibitions.
Highly-rated Jacksonville accommodation options include the charming Riverdale Inn B&B and the conveniently downtown Hyatt Regency.
More Raleigh NC road trips
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More Tampa road trips
Asheville to Tampa | Atlanta to Tampa | Austin to Tampa | Baltimore to Tampa | Buffalo to Tampa | Charlotte to Tampa | Dallas to Tampa | Tampa to Daytona Beach | Tampa to Destin | Gainesville to Tampa | Houston to Tampa | Jacksonville to Tampa | Lakeland to Tampa | Memphis to Tampa | Nashville to Tampa | Ocala to Tampa | Orlando to Tampa | Tampa to Panama City | Tampa to Pensacola | Philadelphia to Tampa | Pittsburgh to Tampa | Tampa to St Augustine | St Louis to Tampa | Tallahassee to Tampa | Valdosta to Tampa | Washington DC to Tampa.