Origin
Lake Sarasota, FL
Late night in Lake Sarasota on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Sarasota, FL to Tampa, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
58.8 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Sarasota, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Lake Sarasota to Tampa, you can expect a straightforward journey spanning 59 miles. The trip typically takes about 58 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a quick day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily through local roads, including Samoa Drive, Mauna Loa Boulevard, and Bee Ridge Road, rather than relying on major highway systems. With a fuel budget of approximately $10, this is an incredibly cost-effective excursion within Florida. Since the entire route is comprised of local roads, you should prepare for a drive that prioritizes community connectivity over high-speed travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 46.8 mi | 51m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Mauna Loa Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Bee Ridge Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Timor Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Samoa Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 46.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Sarasota, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Timor Place
457 ft
·
22 sec
·
Timor Place
2
Turn right onto Samoa Drive
280 ft
·
17 sec
·
Samoa Drive
3
Turn left onto Mauna Loa Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Mauna Loa Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Bee Ridge Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Bee Ridge Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
6
Merge onto I 75
47 mi
·
51 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
2.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on FL 618 Toll
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
11
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.4 miles from Lake Sarasota, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 58.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Samoa Drive
Turn right onto Samoa Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Mauna Loa Boulevard
Turn left onto Mauna Loa Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
48 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West...
8
58.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - Eas...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.36 one way
$18.72 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
| premium | $4.72 | $10.93 | $21.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.98 | $25.96 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.78
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)
$0.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
| Efficient EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.23 | $3.76 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Tampa, FL
Late night in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 7m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local experience behind the wheel for this entire 59-mile trek. Because the highway share is 0%, you won't encounter the monotonous grind of an interstate; instead, you will focus on navigating local infrastructure. There is no single long stretch of road to settle into, as the longest uninterrupted segment on Samoa Drive is 0 miles. The route maintains a consistent local feel throughout, requiring your full attention as you transition between the various surface streets. This profile is defined by frequent adjustments and turns, offering a different pace compared to typical open-road highway driving.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Samoa Drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Samoa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Mauna Loa Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
34 ft
11 ft
Total Climb
22 ft
Total Descent
23 ft
Highest Point
34 ft
~4.2 mi in
Elevation Range
23 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Sarasota, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
Selmon Expressway West: Tampa
48 mi in
|
~54m
Port Of Tampa
48 mi in
|
~54m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 58.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.8 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.78 in tolls one way, starting with Selmon Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Samoa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Mauna Loa Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tampa, FL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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