You’re sitting at a sidewalk cafe on Beach Drive in St. Pete, finishing a Cuban sandwich and thinking about heading over to Tampa. It looks close on the map. Just a quick hop across the water, right? Well, honestly, traveling from St Petersburg Florida to Tampa is less of a "quick hop" and more of a strategic maneuver that depends entirely on the whims of the Howard Frankland Bridge. If you don't time it right, you'll spend more time staring at the brake lights of a Ford F-150 than actually seeing the sights.
Most people assume there's one way to do it. There isn't. You've got three bridges, a ferry, and a massive construction project that seems to have been going on since the dawn of time.
The distance is roughly 25 miles. In a perfect world, that’s 30 minutes. In the real world? It’s a roll of the dice. I’ve seen that drive take 22 minutes at 3:00 AM and two hours on a rainy Tuesday when a fender-bender throttles the I-275 North. You have to understand the geography of the Bay to survive this commute without losing your mind.
The Three Bridge Dilemma
Geography dictates everything here. Old Tampa Bay sits right between the two cities, forcing drivers into three main funnels.
The Howard Frankland (I-275)
This is the big one. It’s the most direct route from downtown St. Pete to the Westshore district and Tampa International Airport. If you’re going from St Petersburg Florida to Tampa, you’ll likely end up here. But here's the kicker: it is currently undergoing a massive multi-billion dollar expansion. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is building a whole new bridge span next to the existing ones.
Because of the construction, lanes shift constantly. One day you’re in the far left lane, the next day that lane is a concrete barrier. It’s stressful. If you see a "Stall" or "Accident" on the overhead digital signs, just give up. Seriously. Take a different bridge.
The Gandy Bridge (Hwy 92)
The Gandy is the local's secret, though it's not much of a secret anymore. It connects South St. Pete to South Tampa. It’s lower to the water, usually a bit more scenic, and feels less like a NASCAR race than the I-275. If your destination is Bayshore Boulevard or the Selmon Expressway, this is your best bet.
The Selmon Extension now lets you fly over Gandy Boulevard on the Tampa side, which was a total game-changer for traffic flow. It used to be a nightmare of traffic lights. Now, it’s a breeze.
💡 You might also like: Why the Newport Back Bay Science Center is the Best Kept Secret in Orange County
The Courtney Campbell Causeway (Hwy 60)
This is the northernmost route. It’s technically more of a drive from Clearwater to Tampa, but if you’re in North St. Pete, it might be faster. It’s the prettiest drive of the three. There are beaches along the causeway and a dedicated pedestrian trail. If you aren't in a rush, take this one. Just watch out for the 45 mph zones; the Florida Highway Patrol loves this stretch of road.
The Cross-Bay Ferry: Is It Actually Useful?
People love the idea of the ferry. Who wouldn't? You get a beer, sit on the deck, and watch dolphins while someone else steers. The Provincetown III (the usual vessel) runs seasonally, typically from October through June.
It leaves from the dock near the St. Pete Pier and drops you off right behind the Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa.
The reality check: It takes about 50 minutes. When you add in the time to park, board, and disembark, you’re looking at a 75-minute trip. If you’re commuting for a 9-to-5 job, it’s probably not efficient. But if you’re heading to an Amalie Arena concert or a Lightning game? It’s brilliant. You skip the $40 parking fees in downtown Tampa and the post-game gridlock.
Honestly, the ferry is a "lifestyle" choice, not a "get there fast" choice. It’s about the vibe, not the velocity.
Timing the Traffic (The Golden Rules)
If you try to go from St Petersburg Florida to Tampa between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM, you are entering a world of pain. That’s the peak morning rush. The reverse is true from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
- Tuesday and Wednesday are the heaviest traffic days. Hybrid work schedules mean everyone seems to be in the office mid-week.
- Friday afternoons are unpredictable. Everyone leaves early to head to the beaches, so the bridges clog up as early as 2:00 PM.
- Rain changes everything. Floridians are notorious for forgetting how to drive the second a single raindrop hits the windshield. On the Howard Frankland, rain usually means a 20-minute delay minimum.
Use Waze. Don't trust your gut. Even if you've lived here twenty years, the "hitch" in traffic can happen in seconds. One overheated radiator on the hump of the bridge can back up traffic all the way to 4th Street.
📖 Related: Flights from San Diego to New Jersey: What Most People Get Wrong
What Most People Get Wrong About the Airport Run
If you’re heading to Tampa International (TPA) from St. Pete, give yourself an hour. I don’t care if Google says 28 minutes.
The interchange where I-275 meets the airport (the Westshore area) is one of the most complex junctions in the state. If you miss your exit, you might end up halfway to Brandon before you can turn around. TPA is consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the country, but getting to it from the Pinellas side of the bay is the only "bad" part of the experience.
Interestingly, some people actually find it easier to take the Gandy Bridge and loop back around via the Veterans Expressway to hit the airport from the north. It sounds counterintuitive, but it can save you from the I-275 bottleneck near the Howard Frankland.
Public Transit: The Harsh Truth
We need to be real here. Public transit between these two cities is... struggling.
The PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority) and HART (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit) have some express bus routes, like the 100X or 300X. They use the shoulder of the highway during heavy traffic, which is kinda cool to see as you’re sitting still and they whiz past.
But for the average visitor or resident, the lack of a rail system is a massive pain point. There have been decades of referendums and debates, but for now, you’re either driving, Ubering, or taking that ferry. An Uber from downtown St. Pete to Ybor City in Tampa will usually run you $35 to $60 depending on surge pricing.
Hidden Gems Along the Route
Don't just stare at the bumper in front of you. There’s actually some cool stuff between these two hubs.
👉 See also: Woman on a Plane: What the Viral Trends and Real Travel Stats Actually Tell Us
- Cypress Point Park: Tucked right near the end of the Howard Frankland on the Tampa side. It’s a great spot to watch planes land at TPA and get a sunset view of the St. Pete skyline.
- The Getaway: A waterfront bar off Gandy Boulevard. It feels like the Keys. If you see the bridge is backed up, pull over here, grab a drink, and wait for the "red" on your GPS to turn "orange."
- Derby Lane: Even if you aren't into poker or the history of greyhound racing (the dogs are gone now), the site is a massive landmark on the St. Pete side of the Gandy.
The Future of the Connection
By 2026, the new Howard Frankland bridge span should be nearing completion. This will include "express lanes" which are toll-based. This is a controversial topic in the Bay Area. Some people call them "Lexus Lanes," arguing they only help the wealthy. Others are just desperate for any way to bypass the daily crawl.
The plan also includes provisions for light rail—or at least the structural integrity to support it in the future. Whether we ever see a train crossing that water is anyone's guess, but the infrastructure is finally being built to allow for it.
Strategic Moves for Your Next Trip
To actually win the drive from St Petersburg Florida to Tampa, follow these steps:
Check the Cameras First
The FL511 website has live camera feeds for every bridge. Before you leave your house, look at the "hump" of the Howard Frankland. If you see a sea of red brake lights, pivot to the Gandy immediately.
The "Sulphur Springs" Shortcut (For the Bold)
If the main highways are totally deadlocked, taking the back roads through Oldsmar (north of the bay) can sometimes work. It’s a long way around—adding 15 miles—but moving at 40 mph feels better than sitting at 0 mph.
Budget for the Selmon
If you take the Gandy, use the Selmon Expressway extension. Yes, it costs a couple of dollars in tolls (SunPass is mandatory, no cash), but it saves you 15 minutes of stop-and-go traffic on Gandy Boulevard. It's the best money you'll spend all day.
Morning vs. Evening Strategy
In the morning, the sun is in your eyes heading to Tampa. In the evening, it’s in your eyes heading back to St. Pete. Invest in a pair of high-quality polarized sunglasses. It sounds like a small detail, but the glare off the bay water can be blinding, especially on the Gandy Bridge where you're closer to the surface.
Ultimately, the connection between these two cities is the heartbeat of the region. We call it "Tampa Bay" as a whole, but the 20-some miles of water between them creates two very different worlds. St. Pete is the artsy, walkable, laid-back sibling. Tampa is the high-energy, corporate, sports-heavy engine. Navigating between them is just part of the price of admission for living in paradise. Use your apps, watch the weather, and maybe just stay for one more coffee if the bridge looks messy.
There's no point in rushing into a traffic jam that isn't going anywhere.