A Guide to Interstate Highways in Tampa Bay, Florida

Whether commuting to and from work or simply taking in the sights, getting around Tampa, Florida is made easier thanks to a network of interstates serving the region. Tampa's interstates carry tens of thousands of travelers daily and have undergone several enhancements over the last several years to keep them convenient for decades to come.

Take a look at the critical interstate highways in Tampa and find out more about their history and where each takes us throughout Tampa Bay.

Interstate 4

Interstate 4 is the most vital link for tourists coming in and out of Tampa. I-4 is an east-west corridor starting at Downtown Tampa and connects with Interstate 95 near Daytona Beach, about 135 miles away. I-4 keeps Walt Disney World and the Orlando-area attractions to a within-one-hour drive from Tampa and is the artery that delivers most tourist vehicular traffic to the Tampa region.

Interstate 4 was primarily built during the early and mid 1960s and brings traffic to several large cities, including Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, and Daytona Beach.

Interstate 75

A south-north interstate, I-75 cuts drops Tampa traffic off in the eastern half of Hillsborough County and passes through the Tampa suburbs of Brandon and New Tampa. I-75 carries traffic around the Tampa area and is especially appreciated by Tampa commuters who frequent the corridor to reach areas like Bradenton, Pasco County, Sun City Center, and Brandon.

Interstate 75 travels through the Sunshine State and connects Naples in Southwest Florida to the Florida/Georgia border. Fort Myers, Sarasota, Ocala, Gainesville, and Lake City are other major stops along Interstate 75 in Florida. I-75 was constructed in several segments during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Interstate 175

I-175 connects to Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg and takes motorists to popular destinations like the Mahaffey Theater, Tropicana Field, and the University of South Florida's St. Petersburg campus.

I-175 was opened in 1979 and quickly became an important route to both local commuters as well as those traveling from out of town to enjoy all that St. Petersburg has to offer.

Interstate 275

At nearly 60 miles long from southern terminus to northern end, I-275 is an extremely important artery through Tampa Bay. I-275 takes motorists from Manatee County to the south up to the Pasco County/Hillsborough County line just north of New Tampa.

I-275 cuts through the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg and skirts around Downtown Tampa and Downtown St. Petersburg. The world-famous Sunshine Skyway Bridge is designated as part of Interstate 275 and spans over the mouth of Tampa Bay itself.

Interstate 275 was built in segments over a period of several years; at one point the areas of Interstate 275 from Downtown Tampa westward to St. Petersburg were officially referred to as Interstate 4.

Interstate 375

Shorter in length than nearby I-175, Interstate 375 - which is also called North Bay Drive - takes commuters from Interstate 275 east into Downtown St. Petersburg. I-375 ends at 4th Avenue North.

Resources

Firsthand knowledge & experience
http://interstate275florida.com/I175.htm
http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-004.html
http://interstate275florida.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_375_%28Florida%29