The Cost of Driving from Athens, Ohio to Tampa, Florida

Are you planning a road trip from Athens, Ohio to Tampa, Florida? Driving can be a fun and budget-friendly way to explore the country, but it's important to know how much it will cost you. In this blog post, we'll break down the cost of driving from Athens to Tampa based on current gas prices.

Route 1: I-75 South (924 miles)

If you take the direct route from Athens to Tampa, you'll be driving south on I-77 and then merging onto I-75. This route will take you through cities like Lexington, Knoxville, Atlanta, and Macon before arriving in Tampa. The total distance for this route is 924 miles, and it will take you approximately 14 hours to complete.

According to AAA, the current national average gas price is $2.88 per gallon. Based on an average car that gets 25 miles per gallon, you would need approximately 37 gallons of gas for this trip. Therefore, your total gas cost for this route would be around $106.56. Additionally, there are several tolls along this route, including the Ohio Turnpike ($15.70), West Virginia Turnpike ($14.00), and Georgia Peach Pass ($10.00). The total cost of tolls for this route would be $39.70.

Route 2: I-71 South and I-65 South (1017 miles)

If you want to avoid the tolls on I-75, you can take a longer but toll-free route. You'll drive south on I-71 and then merge onto I-65 towards Nashville. From there, you'll take I-65 all the way to Montgomery and then catch I-85 towards Atlanta. Finally, you'll take I-75 south to Tampa. The total distance for this route is 1017 miles, and it will take you approximately 16 hours to complete.

Using the same gas prices and fuel efficiency as Route 1, you would need approximately 41 gallons of gas for this trip. Therefore, your total gas cost for this route would be around $118.08. Since this route is toll-free, you won't need to worry about additional toll costs.

Route 3: Scenic Route (1185 miles)

If you're up for a scenic road trip and have some extra time, you can take a more roundabout route from Athens to Tampa. This route will take you through the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Shenandoah Valley before heading south to Tampa. The total distance for this route is 1185 miles, and it will take you approximately 20 hours to complete.

Since this route is mostly on smaller roads and highways, your fuel efficiency may be lower than on the other routes. Let's assume your car gets 20 miles per gallon for this trip. You would need approximately 59 gallons of gas at the current national average price of $2.88 per gallon, bringing your total gas cost to $170.32. Additionally, there are several tolls on this route, including the West Virginia Turnpike ($10.00), the Pennsylvania Turnpike ($63.50), and the Florida Turnpike ($45.65). The total cost of tolls for this route would be $119.15.

Wrapping Up

When planning a road trip, it's important to consider all the costs involved, including gas and tolls. Depending on your budget and preference for toll roads, any of the three above routes can get you from Athens, Ohio to Tampa, Florida. So buckle up, turn up the tunes, and enjoy the ride!