Tampa to Boca Raton road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Tampa to Boca Raton drive are Winter Haven, Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach. The distance from Tampa to Boca Raton by car is 227 miles, with a 3h44m driving time.

Planning a Tampa to Boca Raton road trip itinerary

The Tampa to Boca Raton drive connects big cities on the west and east coast of Florida.

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.

Two coastal parks are the highlights of Boca Raton. Red Reef Park comes with a snorkelling area over a series of artificial reefs, plus the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The latter comes with a boardwalk and sea turtles. Spanish River Park, meanwhile, has plenty of picnic tables and a dog-friendly beach.

The Boca Raton Museum of Art is the top cultural attraction, known for its thoughtful special exhibitions.

Boca Raton is also a popular spot for fishing charters.

Top Boca Raton accommodation choices include the Marriott at Boca Center and the Hyatt Place.

Tampa to Boca Raton distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Tampa to Boca Raton is 227 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 44 minutes.

The best stops to add to a Tampa to Boca Raton road trip itinerary are Winter Haven, Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach. For more suggestions, read the guides to the Tampa to Winter Haven drive, Jupiter to West Palm Beach drive and West Palm Beach to Boca Raton drive.

Best stops between Tampa and Boca Raton: Winter Haven FL

Winter Haven is on Florida’s Chain of Lakes. There are several lakeside parks to enjoy here, but most visitors will come for the theme parks. The Legoland Florida Resort and adjoining Peppa Pig Theme Park are here.

Other Winter Haven Experiences include a pub crawl by boat, an internationally-flavoured food tour and a wildlife watching tour on board a pontoon boat.

Consistently well-reviewed Winter Haven hotels include the Courtyard by Marriott and the Best Western Plus Winter Haven Inn.

Tampa to Boca Raton road trip attractions: Fort Pierce

Fort Pierce is an often-overlooked spot on Florida’s Atlantic coast, but there’s plenty to do here. Top Fort Pierce experiences include clear kayak tours through the mangroves, jungle tours and sunset kayak tours.

The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum looks at the elite special ops marine troops of the Navy Seals, while the St Lucie County Aquarium shows off other marine life.

The Fort Pierce Inlet State Park offers an excellent half-mile beach, birdwatching, an observation tower and snorkelling off the shore. There’s also a string of beaches on the south side of the Inlet.

Manatees also rock up here during the winter months, with the Fort Pierce Manatee Observation Center the best place to see them.

Well-reviewed Fort Pierce accommodation options include the budget-friendly Hampton Inn and the beachfront Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel.

Tampa to Boca Raton drive: West Palm Beach

Notoriously wealthy West Palm Beach goes big on art. The Norton Museum of Art and Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens are the big hitters, but there are plenty of smaller galleries. Arguably the top attraction is in Palm Beach, however. Here, the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum marries Gilded Age grandeur with Florida history.

Bookable West Palm Beach experiences include snorkelling tours, sunset cruises and photoshoots on Worth Avenue. You can also try jet snorkelling, parasailing and food-tasting market tours.

For West Palm Beach accommodation with superb guest ratings, the Pioneer Inn is excellent value and the Ben brings five star opulence.