Just how BAD is the drive from Orlando to Tampa? My family and I were planning a trip to Florida in early April, spending a few days in Orlando and then driving to Tampa. Is the drive too much of a headache to even bother? We can easily stay in Orlando for the whole trip, but were planning on going to Tampa for a little beach time.

>>>Is the drive too much of a headache to even bother?<<<
Not a bit. I'm curious as to why you ask? I must add that the majority of the beaches are just a wee bit further west over in Pinellas County though. Approximately 20 miles west of Tampa.

We are actually planning on going to St. Pete Beach and staying at the Don Cesar...any opinions?

Go for it--it isn't that much of a headache. The Don is a fabulous hotel, lovely beach, and you won't regret time spent there. The drive just isn't that bad.

I'm not sure when the construction on I-4 in the Tampa area will be finished. I drove a portion yesterday, from the intersection of I-75 and I-4 west through Tampa and "malfunction junction". It was slow going for a mile or so through construction, then it flowed well again. Hopefully when you come through, that segment, which is the major slow down, will be completed.

Beach time is good and ours are still, thankfully, in great shape.

Hi OO, thanks for your reply.
Another question for you...
With my kids, 6 (who loves coasters) and 3, would you recommend Universal or Busch Gardens? Which one...Wet n Wild or Adventure Island?
Thanks

If you plan to stay overnight then the drive is fine. Back and forth in a day would not be advisable. And be sure to check again in April. The roads in Florida are in a constant state of repair or reconstruction and you never know what will be happening in April.

And having the Don Cesar waiting for you at the end will make the drive fly by.

Universal Stujdios does not have coasters; Islands of Adventure at Universal has awesome coasters. However, unless your six year old is tall, they won't let him on any of them. I think the minimum is 48 inches tall, and they're very strict about it. I assume Busch Gardens is the same.

I haven't been to Adventure Island but have spent many happy days at Wet 'n' Wild.

If there's no traffic on I-4 ( a big if!), the trip to St. Pete Beach will take you two hours.

Postal, I'm rolling on the floor laughing at the image of no traffic on I-4 in April!!!

But others are right, the closer you get to the beaches, the slower the traffic will be.

We did a day trip from just south of Sarasota (Siesta Key) to Disney and back in one day. Actually, it was on Christmas eve two years ago while staying on Siesta. We had been before but not since the Animal Kingdom had opened...it wasn't a bad trip at all.