Origin
Sarasota, FL
Late night in Sarasota on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sarasota, FL to Clearwater, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
55.5 mi
89 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sarasota, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Clearwater, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 57.1 miles, the journey from Sarasota to Clearwater is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel, making it an affordable trek between these two Florida coastal hubs. The path relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, keeping you engaged as you navigate through the region. Whether you are heading north for business or leisure, this drive offers a practical way to connect the Sarasota and Clearwater areas.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Skyway Bridge | 19.5 mi | 22m |
| Washington Boulevard | 12.5 mi | 19m |
| US Highway 19 North | 9.1 mi | 12m |
| US 19 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Tamiami Trail | 3 mi | 4m |
| Gulf to Bay Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Court Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| 54th Avenue North | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
— 19.5 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sarasota, FL and Clearwater, FL.
1
Start on Main Street
115 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 301
12 mi
·
19 min
·
Washington Boulevard
3
Continue on US 41; US 301
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hernando DeSoto Bridge
4
Continue on US 41; US 301
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Tamiami Trail
5
Turn straight onto US 19
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 19
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit onto US 19
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 19
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
8
Merge onto I 275; US 19
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 26B
Toward 54th Avenue North Westbound
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto 54th Avenue North
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
54th Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto US 19
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
34th Street North
12
Continue on US 19
9.1 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 19 North
Use the left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
15
Continue on Northbound Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Northbound Frontage Road
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on FL 60
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Gulf to Bay Boulevard
18
Continue on FL 60
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Court Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Ft Harrison Avenue
Use the right lane.
20
Arrive at destination
North Fort Harrison Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 19.8 and 55.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
19.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Merge onto I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
39.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward 54th Avenue North Westbound
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26B
Toward 54th Avenue North Westbound
7
50.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay
6
50.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
South Ft Harrison Avenue
Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.83 one way
$17.67 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $9.61 | $19.22 |
| premium | $4.72 | $10.32 | $20.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.25 | $24.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.36
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
(19.5 mi)
$1.36
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: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.83 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Clearwater, FL
Late night in Clearwater on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Gulfport, FL
28 mi in
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
5 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 20m 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 drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will primarily navigate via Washington Boulevard, the Hernando DeSoto Bridge, and the Tamiami Trail. Because you are sticking to local infrastructure, there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch; instead, the road requires your constant attention and frequent adjustments. This personality makes the trip feel less like a passive commute and more like an active navigation through the local landscape. Be prepared for a driving experience that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed transit.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.5 mi on Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.8 miles in near I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.8 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Sarasota, FL and Clearwater, FL, road signs point toward 54Th Avenue North Westbound and Gulf To Bay.
54Th Avenue North Westbound
39.3 mi in
|
~52m
Gulf To Bay
50.2 mi in
|
~1h 9m
About the Cities
Starting in Sarasota, FL
Full guide →Sarasota is a popular city on the Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida. It is known for its vibrant arts community, excellent restaurants, unique shopping, and beautiful beaches. Sarasota, although a mid-sized city, is considered to be the cultural center of West Central Florida. The city has a metropolitan flavor unique to cities of its size and to cities in Florida.
Arriving in Clearwater, FL
Full guide →Founded 1891
Clearwater is a city in Pinellas County, a region in Florida. Perhaps most easily recognized as the headquarters city of the Church of Scientology, Clearwater also has miles of beautiful beaches and close proximity to other cities in the Tampa Bay area.
Top landmarks
- • Belleview-Biltmore Hotel — hotel in Clearwater, United States of America
- • Donald Roebling Estate — historic residential estate in Clearwater, within Pinellas County, FL
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 55.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.5 miles on Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.36 in tolls one way, starting with Sunshine Skyway Bridge. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Clearwater, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 19.8 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clearwater, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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