Tampa to Port St Lucie road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Tampa to Port St Lucie drive are Lakeland, Winter Haven and Fort Pierce. The distance from Tampa to Port St Lucie is 159 miles, with a 2h39m driving time.
Planning a Tampa to Port St Lucie road trip itinerary
The Tampa to Port St Lucie drive takes you across central Florida from west to east.
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.
Port St Lucie is a gentle place, with the main attraction being the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens. Built around a fountain-dominated lake, there are separate rose, orchid and butterfly gardens. The other highlight is the 1,000ft boardwalk at the Port District, which runs along the St Lucie River, showing off the mangroves.
Stays in Port St Lucie can be cheaper than elsewhere along the coast. Accommodation picks include the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites.
Tampa to Port St Lucie distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Tampa to Port St Lucie is 159 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and 39 minutes. The quickest route is usually along the FL-60 and Florida’s Turnpike.
The best stops to add to a Tampa to Port St Lucie road trip itinerary are Lakeland, Winter Haven and Fort Pierce.
Tampa to Port St Lucie drive: Lakeland FL
Lakeland is a somewhat overlooked Florida city which is, as the name suggests, based around a series of lakes. Of these, Lake Mirror is the most popular, with a promenade and amphitheatre. It also has Hollis Garden, an impressive botanical garden, at the southern end. For something less sculpted, the Circle B Bar Reserve is a former cattle ranch that is now a great place to see alligators.
The city is also home to Florida Southern University, which has the world’s largest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
Good Lakeland hotel choices include the spacious SpringHill Suites and the affordable, pool-equipped Travelodge.
Best stops between Tampa and Port St Lucie: 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 Port St Lucie 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.
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