Tampa Bay Area @ SouthEastRoads
The Tampa Bay Area includes the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater in the immediate vicinity of Tampa Bay. Served by Interstate 75 to the north and south and by Interstate 4 to the east, the area is crossed by several freeways across town, including Interstate 275, Florida 618 (Crosstown Expressway), Florida 589 (Suncoast Parkway/Veterans Expressway), Interstate 175, and Interstate 375.
Interstate 4 is the major east-west freeway across the Florida peninsula, following the U.S. 92 corridor. It begins at its interchange with Interstate 275 in Tampa, then proceeds in an easterly direction toward Plant City, Lakeland, and Orlando. As of 2000, Interstate 4 was undergoing reconstruction to convert the congested four-lane freeway to six lanes.
For more, see Interstate 4 Florida.
Approaching the Tampa Bay region from the north and south, Interstate 75 provides the most direct route to Florida's Gulf Coast and Miami to the south. To the north, Interstate 75 connects with Interstate 10 and leads to Atlanta and beyond. The freeway stays east of Tampa, preferring to act as a bypass of the metropolitan area.
For more, see Interstate 75 Florida.
Interstate 175 is a short east-west spur route leading from Interstate 275 near Tropicana Field into downtown St. Petersburg. It is one of the shortest Interstate highways in the Interstate System. It lies mostly on a viaduct, and it ends at its junction with Florida 687.
For more, see Interstate 175 Florida.
Interstate 275 is the most direct route from points north and south into the Tampa Bay region. While Interstate 75 avoids most of the urban areas in Tampa Bay, Interstate 275 cuts through the heart of downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg via two impressive bridges: the Howard Frankland and the Sunshine Skyway.
For more, see Interstate 275 Florida.
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Interstate 375 is a second short east-west spur route parallel to Interstate 175 leading from Interstate 275 into downtown St. Petersburg. It even shorter than Interstate 175, and it also lies primarily on a viaduct. Interstate 375 ends at its junction with Florida 687, just shy of the western terminus of U.S. 92.
For more, see Interstate 375 Florida.
U.S. 19 follows the Gulf Coast from the north, entering the Clearwater and Largo as Alternate U.S. 19 and serving Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg as U.S. 19. Both routes are heavily congested, and they merge onto Interstate 275, the Sunshine Skyway, south of downtown St. Petersburg. Florida 595 provides a direct connection from the southern terminus of Alternate U.S. 19 into downtown St. Petersburg. U.S. 19 merges with Interstate 275 to cross the bay, and it is one of the few cases in Florida where a U.S. route merges onto an Interstate highway. U.S. 19 exits off the freeway at Exit 2, then proceeds south toward Bradenton, but it does not make it. Once in Memphis, just north of Bradenton, U.S. 19 ends at its junction with U.S. 41.
For more, see U.S. 19.
Tamiami Trail
U.S. 41 is the Tamiami Trail, so named for its connection between Tampa and Miami. In the Tampa Bay area, U.S. 41 stays east of the Tampa Bay and remains close to Interstate 75. However, it turns west to enter downtown Tampa, separating into a regular and business route. U.S. 41 leaves Tampa to the north closely hugging Interstate 275.
For more, see U.S. 41.
U.S. 92 enters the Tampa Bay area from the east, closing paralleling Interstate 4. Upon entering the downtown area, U.S. 92 remains close to the Crosstown Expressway, then joins with the traffic from the Crosstown to cross Tampa Bay via the Gandy Bridge. Upon entering St. Petersburg, U.S. 92 turns due south toward downtown, but terminates at a seemingly arbitrary point before reaching downtown or Interstates 375 or 175.
For more, see U.S. 92.
Connecting the northeast with the Deep South, U.S. 301 provides a direct route from Delaware south into Florida. Its southern terminus is located in Sarasota, at its intersection with U.S. 41. From that point headed north, U.S. 301 stays east of the metropolitan area, staying east of Interstate 75 except near Brandon. U.S. 301 then veers to the northeast, leaving the metropolitan area toward Jacksonville.
For more, see U.S. 301.
Florida 60, in keeping with tradition for most two-digit Florida state routes, is a major cross-peninsula route. It starts in Clearwater Beach, crosses the Courtney Campbell Bridge, then goes through Tampa and Brandon before leaving the metropolitan area.
For more, see Florida 60.
Florida 580 runs east from Dunedin to Temple Terrace in the Tampa Bay area. At the west end, there are two alignments, one of which is newer and bypasses downtown Dunedin. The newer bypass is signed.
| Eastbound Florida 580
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| Florida 580 follows Busch Boulevard from Dale Mabry Highway east to U.S. 301 in Temple Terrace. Photo taken 11/26/03.
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| Eastbound Florida 580/Busch Boulevard reaches Interstate 275 north of downtown Tampa. Photo taken 11/26/03.
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| Westbound Florida 580
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| Westbound Florida 580 approaches Florida 589, the tolled Veterans Expressway. Photo taken 11/26/03.
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Florida 589 is the tolled Veterans Expressway from Florida 60 north to Florida 597. The freeway continues as the tolled Suncoast Parkway from that point north to U.S. 98 near Brooksville.
For more, see Florida 589.
Florida 590 is an east-west route in northern Pinellas County. It is locally maintained through downtown Safety Harbor, along 10th Avenue, Main Street, and Philippe Parkway south/west of Enterprise Road.
| Eastbound Florida 590
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| Florida 590 (Philippe Parkway) reaches its terminus at Florida 580 (Main Street) in Pinellas County, northeast of Clearwater. Note the unusual use of an END shield for Florida 590. Photo taken 11/26/03.
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Florida 618 is the tolled Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway, taking an east-west path across Tampa. An elevated highway, the route is the fastest way to cross downtown Tampa and connect to the Gandy Bridge along U.S. 92.
For more, see Florida 618.
Miscellaneous Tampa Bay Area Photos
| Southbound Ashley Drive approaches Twiggs Street in Tampa. The left lane of Ashley Drive connects to Toll Florida 618 and Florida 60. Photo taken 10/28/03.
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| Eastbound Fowler Street approaches Interstate 275 in Pinellas County. Photo taken 10/28/03.
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| In St. Petersburg, 4th Avenue South approaches Florida 687, which is signed to Interstate 175. Photo taken 10/28/03.
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| Westbound 22nd Avenue reaches Florida 693 (66th Street) in St. Petersburg. Photo taken 10/28/03.
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Page Updated March 23, 2005.
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