Tampa to West Palm Beach drive: Distance, time & best stops

Planning a Tampa to West Palm Beach road trip itinerary

The Tampa to West Palm Beach 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.

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.

Tampa to West Palm Beach distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Tampa to West Palm Beach is 204 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 38 minutes.

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

Best stops between Tampa and West Palm 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 West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach drive: Jupiter FL

Jupiter Beach on the Atlantic Ocean is the primary attraction of Jupiter FL, but there are a couple of other interesting spots. Du Bois Park offers a snorkelling lagoon, a playground and picnic tables.

Near the I-95, the Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park commemorates the battles of the Loxahatchee in the Second Seminole War.

Fun activities in Jupiter FL include clear kayak tours, sunset cruises and guided paddleboarding adventures.

For Jupiter accommodation, take a look at the beachfront Pointe Hotel and the pool-centric Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa.

Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo by Richard Sagredo/ Unsplash.

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