Interstate 75 South - Hillsborough County

Ramps carry both the mainline of I-275 north and its flyover for SR 56 above I-75 at this southbound reassurance marker.

03/20/20

I-75 angles southeast into the city limits of Tampa, next meeting Bruce B. Downs Boulevard (CR 581) at New Tampa in three miles. Temple Terrace, an incorporated city lying between Tampa and I-75, follows in ten miles at SR 582 (Exit 265). Naples (172 miles) represents the turning point of I-75 east from Southwest Florida toward the greater Fort Lauderdale and Miami area.

03/20/20

New Tampa Boulevard crosses over Interstate 75 as the second route joining western and eastern expanses of New Tampa. Located 1.1 miles north of Exit 270, the overpass was built in 2011.

03/01/13

Despite the overhead indicating 1.25 miles, this assembly is one mile north of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. CR 581 overlays Bruce B. Downs Boulevard as the main arterial route through New Tampa. Extending north, CR 581 becomes SR 581 through Wesley Chapel in Pasco County.

03/20/20

Bruce B. Downs Boulevard continues southwest from I-75 to Fletcher Avenue (CR 582A), the University of South Florida (USF) campus and Busch Gardens in Tampa. Heading northeast the eight lane arterial serves a bevy of subdivisions making up the New Tampa area.

03/20/20

Tremendous commercial and residential growth transformed CR 581 (Bruce B. Downs Boulevard) into a multi lane suburban arterial from Exit 270 to the Pasco County line. CR 581 runs 12.55 miles from SR 580 (Busch Boulevard) north to SR 56.
$24.7 million in construction between October 2016 and late 2018 completed eight lane expansion CR 581 northward to County Line Road.¹

03/20/20

A flyover ramp was constructed to alleviate growing traffic problems from Bruce B. Downs Boulevard southbound to I-75 south at the diamond interchange. Part of a $42 million project started on March 7, 2007, the ramp opened to traffic on December 13, 2008.²

07/02/11

Advancing southeast, Interstate 75 runs along the Tampa city limits and the west boundary of Hillsborough Wildlife Management Area.

05/15/16

The succeeding southbound exit joins Interstate 75 with Fletcher Avenue in three miles. Unincorporated Brandon follows via SR 60 in 15 miles.

03/20/20

Fletcher Avenue constitutes an urban boulevard connecting Interstate 75 west with the north side of Temple Terrace, Lettuce Lake Park and USF in Tampa.

03/20/20

Lettuce Lake Park is a 240 acre county park situated along the Hillsborough River north of Fletcher Avenue (CR 582A) and west of I-75. The park opened to patrons in 1982.

03/20/20

Morris Bridge Road continues Fletcher Avenue east from a parclo interchange (Exit 266) with I-75 as unmarked CR 579 through a conservation areas including Morris Bridge Wilderness Park and Hillsborough River State Park.

03/20/20

Exit 266 departs for both Fletcher Avenue (CR 582A) west and Morris Bridge Road (CR 579) north. CR 582A constitutes an unsigned route 6.03 miles west to U.S. 41 (Nebraska Avenue) at SR 579.

03/20/20

Forthcoming SR 582 is the most direct route from I-75 to Busch Gardens. Opened in March 1959, the theme park features gardens, attractions and thrill rides, including SheiKra (with a near 200 foot vertical drop), Cheetah Hunt, Montu, Kumba and Tigris.

03/20/20

Just a third of a mile separates the entrance ramp from Fletcher Avenue and the directional cloverleaf interchange (Exit 265) with SR 582 (Fowler Avenue). SR 582 overlays Fowler Avenue 7.83 miles west from U.S. 301 to U.S. 41 Business (Florida Avenue) beyond I-275.

03/20/20

The auxiliary lane from Exit 266 quickly leaves I-75 south for SR 582 (Fowler Avenue). SR 582 crosses Temple Terrace west to SR 583 (N 56th Street) and the USF campus.

03/20/20

Exit 265 partitions into separate ramps for SR 582 west to Temple Terrace and east to U.S. 301 and Thonotosassa.

07/02/11

I-75 passes the east side of Tampa Executive Airport (VDF) ahead of the turbine interchange (Exit 261) with Interstate 4.

03/20/20

Distance for Brandon (via SR 60) and Port Tampa Bay (via SR 618 west) appears at seven and eight miles out respectively.

03/20/20

Interstate 75 transitions to a concrete roadways ahead of the U.S. 301 under crossing and the bridge spanning the Tampa Bypass Canal.

05/15/16

A $15.5 million project from September 2018 to Summer 2020 February 7, 2020 expanded the ramp for I-4 to two lanes and extended it 0.75 miles. The new departure point opened on October 25, 2019.

10/26/19

03/20/20

APL signs were installed along I-75 south leading to Exit 261 in October 2019.

03/20/20

Interstate 4 doubles as a commuter freeway east 14 miles to Plant City. Lakeland lies just beyond the Polk County line, with Downtown located 26 miles away where U.S. 92 and U.S. 98 converge.

03/20/20

All traffic bound for Interstate 4 departs in unison at Exit 261. I-4 stretches 132.4 miles across the Florida peninsula, connecting the greater Tampa and St. Petersburg area with Orlando and Daytona Beach.

03/20/20

I-4 west leads west to Downtown Tampa, connecting with I-275 ahead of Westshore and the Howard Frankland Bridge. Prior to 1971, I-4 extended southwest across Old Tampa Bay to St. Petersburg.

03/20/20

The ramp for I-4 spans Sligh Avenue just ahead of its separation. The previous sign here referenced Lakeland in place of the Port of Tampa.

03/20/20

Crossing over Interstate 4, I-75 advances one mile south to Exit 260 with SR 574 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard).

11/27/21

SR 574 travels 23.04 miles between U.S. 92 (Dale Mabry Highway) at Drew Park in Tampa and U.S. 92 (Thonotosassa Road) in Plant City.

11/27/21

The unincorporated area of Mango spreads to the east along SR 574 (MLK Boulevard). Westward the six lane arterial intersects U.S. 301 south of the Florida State Fairgrounds in 1.9 miles.

11/27/21

A parclo interchange (Exit 260) joins Interstate 75 and SR 574 (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard). Started on August 19, 2021, construction anticipated for completion in Summer 2025 rebuilds the exchange into a DDI.

10/17/23

Exit 260 to SR 574 (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard) expands to four lanes. SR 574 east leads to Seffner and Dover and west to East Lake-Orient Park outside Tampa.

09/20/17

Continuing south across Broadway Avenue (CR 574) and a CSX Railroad line, Interstate 75 enters the Brandon area.

11/27/21

A trans-peninsular state road, SR 60 (Adamo Drive) extends west across Tampa to Clearwater Beach from Exit 257 and east through Brandon to Bartow and Vero Beach at SR A1A.

11/27/21

Part of $52.4 million in construction underway from September 2018 to Summer 2022 February 18, 2022 relocated the exit ramp for SR 618 (Selmon Expressway) to a point north of SR 60.

11/27/21

Previously passing under I-75 at Temple Terrace, U.S. 301 loops west to the Florida State Fairgrounds and Clair-Mel City. The two routes converge again at Exit 254.
The incorrectly placed exit tab to the left has been that way since November 2021.

10/17/23

Heavily used by commuter traffic headed east into Brandon, a $14.2 million project lengthened and expanded the off-ramp to SR 60. Work ran from April 12, 2013 to November 24, 2014.³

11/27/21

SR 60 (Adamo Drive) comprises an industrial route west from the six-ramp parclo interchange (Exit 257) with I-75 to Port Tampa Bay and YBor City in Tampa. With up to eight lanes, SR 60 east takes a commercialized route from Westfield Brandon mall through the heart of Brandon.

05/31/16

The tolled LeRoy Selmon Crosstown Expressway leads west from Brandon Parkway and Interstate 75 to Port Tampa Bay and Downtown Tampa from the ensuing exit.

11/27/21

Exit 256 forms a southbound collector distributor roadway extending three miles from SR 60. A succeeding slip ramp join the roadway ahead of U.S. 301 at Riverview.

11/27/21

Previously named the Crosstown Expressway, SR 618 (Selmon Expressway) extends 14.13 miles west through Downtown Tampa and south to U.S. 92 (Gandy Boulevard) at South Tampa, near MacDill Air Force Base.

11/27/21

U.S. 301 north leads back toward Tampa while the highway comprises a six lane arterial southeast through Riverview.

11/27/21

The slip ramp (Exit 254) for U.S. 301 joins the southbound c/d roadway just ahead of the trumpet interchange with SR 618 (Selmon Expressway) west.

10/17/23

The ramp for SR 618 departs from the southbound c/d roadway. Since 2010, all transactions along the Selmon Expressway are collected electronically via SunPass or Toll-by-plate.

11/27/21

Passing underneath Causeway Boulevard (CR 676), the c/d roadway along I-75 proceeds south to the six-ramp parclo interchange (Exit 254) with U.S. 301.

10/02/20

A confirming marker for I-75 south stands between the southbound mainline and c/d roadway beyond Causeway Boulevard.

08/28/18

The c/d roadway separates for return access to I-75 south and Exit 254 to U.S. 301 at Riverview.

10/02/20

U.S. 301 parallels Interstate 75 south from Citra and Ocala. Staying east from Exit 254 to Sun City Center and Parrish, U.S. 301 and I-75 come together again at Ellenton.

02/27/16

Palmetto, located north of Bradenton in Manatee County, lies 31 miles ahead. I-75 turns toward the east coast 152 miles ahead at Naples.

08/28/18

I-75 south next meets Gibsonton Drive at Exit 250. The arterial connects with U.S. 41 at Gibsonton and U.S. 301 at Riverview.

08/28/18

Interstate 75 south crosses the Alafia River just ahead of Exit 250.

11/27/21

The Alafia River begins in central Hillsborough County and meanders 25 miles westward before depositing into Tampa Bay west of U.S. 41 at Gibsonton. Both bridge decks were repaired between February 6 and March 3, 2016 at a cost of $378,109.⁴

11/27/21

Southbound at the diamond interchange (Exit 250) with Gibsonton Drive. Gibsonton Drive becomes Boyette Road east of U.S. 301 en route to the suburban communities of Bloomingdale and Fishhawk.

08/28/18

Interstate 75 reduces to six overall lanes south of Gibsonton Drive.

11/27/21

Interstate 75 rises over Symmes Road as the freeway advances south to Big Bend Road (CR 672) to Apollo Beach next.

11/27/21

CR 672 (Big Bend Road) joins I-75 with Apollo Beach via U.S. 41. The community lies along Tampa Bay midway between Tampa and Bradenton. During its history, Apollo Beach was previously named Tampa Beach and also La Vida Beach.

10/17/23

Better known as Big Bend Road, CR 672 extends 1.7 miles west from Exit 246 to U.S. 41 and 2.7 miles to the Manatee Viewing Center.

11/27/21

$81.7 million in construction from December 6, 2021 to Summer 2025 rebuilds the exchange at Exit 250. New ramps will be built from Big Bend Road to I-75 northbound while others area expanded. Big Bend Road will also be widened to six lanes between Covington Garden Drive and Simmons Loop.

11/27/21

Interstate 75 spans Old Big Bend Road and Big Bend Road (CR 672) within the folded diamond interchange at Exit 246.

10/18/23

Shifting west, Interstate 75 lines Bullfrog Creek Scrub Preserve on the six miles leading to Sun City Center. Sun City Center lies east of Exit 240 along SR 674.

11/27/21

19th Avenue NE passes over I-75 one mile ahead of the six-ramp parclo interchange (Exits 240 AB) to SR 674. Beyond Exit 240 is the longest exit less stretch along I-75 between White Springs (12 miles) and Alligator Alley (21 miles).

11/27/21

Little Manatee River State Park lies south of SR 674 along U.S. 301 to the east of Interstate 75.

06/11/21

25.51 miles in length, SR 674 runs west from SR 37 in Polk County to U.S. 41 at Ruskin.

11/27/21

Exit 240 B links with westbound SR 674 (College Avenue) to Ruskin and Sun City.

10/02/20

Exit 240 A loops onto SR 674 (Sun City Boulevard) east to Sun City Center, Wimauma and Fort Lonesome. Sun City Center is a 55+ adult community large enough to have its own hospital and zip code.

10/02/20

Turning more southwesterly, Interstate 75 leaves City City Center for a rural stretch preceding the Little Manatee River.

08/28/18

Interstate 275 reconvenes with I-75 in 11 miles at Exit 228. Though omitted, the succeeding exit is with Mocassin-Wallow Road. Bradenton appears for the first time on I-75 signs at 25 miles out.

08/28/18

Travelers on I-75 south reach the Hillsborough County rest area in one mile. The southbound side rest area was not added until the early 2000's, while its northbound counterpart was constructed with the freeway in the mid 1980's.

08/28/18

The Ruskin Rest Area is sandwiched between a tree/shrub line and adjacent suburbia. The next I-75 rest area facility lies east of Lee County Road 876 at Exit 131, 108 miles to the south. Road work from Fall 2020 to May 31, 2022 reconstructed this rest area and expanded the truck parking area.

08/28/18

South from the Ruskin Rest Area, I-75 passes through Little Manatee River Preserve to the bridges across the Little Manatee River.

08/28/18

Sarasota and Fort Myers appeared on a distance sign preceding Valroy Road. Sarasota lies south of Bradenton along U.S. 41 and U.S. 301 near the Gulf Coast. Fort Myers is the regional center of Southwest Florida, located along the Caloosahatchee River on U.S. 41 in Lee County. This sign was removed as part of a resurfacing project by January 2021.

08/28/18

Paralleling Curiosity Creek in a rural area, Interstate 75 angles southwest into Manatee County west of Sundance. Founded in 1855, the county is named after the official marine mammal of Florida.

08/28/18