Tampa to Vero Beach road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Tampa to Vero Beach drive are Lakeland, Winter Haven and Marsh Beast Airboat Tours. The distance from Tampa to Vero Beach is 136 miles, with a 2h35m driving time.
Planning a Tampa to Vero Beach road trip itinerary
The Tampa to Vero Beach 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.
With beaches on the Atlantic side of the Indian River Lagoon, Vero Beach can be used as a sun and sand destination. But there’s more to it than that. The Vero Beach Museum of Art provides a culture fix and the McKee Botanical Garden showcases incredible floral diversity.
Fun Vero Beach activities include tiki cabana boat cruises and fat tire electric bike tours.
For Vero Beach accommodation picks, try the Prestige Hotel by the beach or the Hampton Inn downtown.
Tampa to Vero Beach distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Tampa to Vero Beach is 136 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and 35 minutes. The quickest route is usually along the FL-60.
The best stops to add to a Tampa to Vero Beach road trip itinerary are Lakeland, Winter Haven and Marsh Beast Airboat Tours.
Tampa to Vero Beach 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 Vero Beach: 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 Vero Beach road trip attractions: Marsh Beast Airboat Tours
To the west of Vero Beach, Marsh Beast Airboat tours runs nature cruises through the marshlands. There’s a great chance of spotting alligators and turtles, while the boat captains are highly experienced and knowledgeable. The airboat rides go through the Blue Cypress Conservation Area.
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