Orlando MCO to St Petes

[Gilly120]

Has anyone landed at MCO around 5pm, collected car and driven straight to St Petes, is it doable or best to stay in a hotel for the night. Thanks

[gforce_iom]

Its doable... its a min drive time of c.2 hours though... more if heavy traffic on I4 etc

[DisneyCupcake]

Originally Posted by Gilly120

Has anyone landed at MCO around 5pm, collected car and driven straight to St Petes, is it doable or best to stay in a hotel for the night. Thanks

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If you haven't booked already perhaps consider flying into Tampa and back from Orlando as you would have a much shorter drive to St Pete's and perhaps also an easier arrival through Tampa immigration and car hire pick up.

[cornishfrogboy]

As said, it’s around 2 hours of driving, the majority on the I4. I would do it without worry .

[Gilly120]

Originally Posted by DisneyCupcake

If you haven't booked already perhaps consider flying into Tampa and back from Orlando as you would have a much shorter drive to St Pete's and perhaps also an easier arrival through Tampa immigration and car hire pick up.

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I did suggest this to my son, but they had already booked it. They have only paid a deposit so they might try and change it.

[DonkeyCentreArf]

If you land at 5pm then it could be at least an hour, maybe longer, before you are actually on the road by the time you have disembarked, cleared immigration and then picked up the hire car.

When you add in the time difference, it depends how much you sleep on the plane, how tired it makes you (some people find flying tiring) as you won't be hitting the road until at least 11pm UK time with a potential 2 hour drive in darkness as the sun will be starting to set as you go through your journey.

If you have two people sharing the driving then it should be fine but for one person, it may be worth thinking about a cheap hotel for the first night.

[7SeasSailor]

I would drive it without a worry. Down the I4, join I275 and continue to junction 17, the road signs clearly tell you to join highway 682 to Pinellas Bayway and St Pete's Beach. You will arrive at at the beach at a junction with Gulf Blvd, turn left or right depending where your hotel is.

[swintonowl]

Originally Posted by Gilly120

I did suggest this to my son, but they had already booked it. They have only paid a deposit so they might try and change it.

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If booked with BA for a trip before end of august then they can cancel for a voucher for free and then rebook.

[Gilly120]

Originally Posted by 7SeasSailor

I would drive it without a worry. Down the I4, join I275 and continue to junction 17, the road signs clearly tell you to join highway 682 to Pinellas Bayway and St Pete's Beach. You will arrive at at the beach at a junction with Gulf Blvd, turn left or right depending where your hotel is.

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They are staying at the pink hotel, Don Cesar.

[scooby99]

Originally Posted by Gilly120

They are staying at the pink hotel, Don Cesar.

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As they come down Pinellas Bayway & approach the junction with Gulf Blvd, they can’t miss the Don Cesar; it will be right in front of them.

Be aware that there is a toll in both direction on Pinellas Bayway ($1 each way).
Used to have a manned toll booth, coin self-payment point & E-ZY/Sunpass lanes.
On our visit at Christmas, the manned toll booth & coin self-payment point (definitely on the EB route, out of SPB) had gone.
Now Toll-by-plate; E-ZY pass, Sunpass etc all accepted; if none of these, an invoice will be posted to the car owner (ie, car hire company) who’ll pay the toll & debit the cost plus their fees onto their credit card.

We bought a Sunpass Pro transponder in Publix to use on our trips; you can add your rental registration on each trip and it can be used in 20 or so states.