Origin
Sarasota, FL
Late night in Sarasota on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from 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 12m
Distance
60.8 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sarasota, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Sarasota to Tampa is a straightforward 61.1-mile journey that typically takes about one hour to complete. You will navigate a path involving North School Avenue and Fruitville Road before transitioning onto I-75 North. Because the trip is short, it is easily managed as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel should cover your needs for this excursion within Florida. This route is highly practical for travelers looking to move efficiently between these two coastal hubs without the need for multiple stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 44.4 mi | 48m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Fruitville Road | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North School Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 44.4 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sarasota, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Main Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto North School Avenue
442 ft
·
15 sec
·
North School Avenue
3
Turn right onto FL 780
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Fruitville Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
5
Merge onto I 75
44 mi
·
48 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Continue on FL 618 Toll
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
10
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 30.4 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 60.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North School Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto North School Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
FL 780 / Fruitville Road
Turn right onto FL 780 / Fruitville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
5.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
50 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
$9.68 one way
$19.36 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $10.53 | $21.05 |
| premium | $4.72 | $11.31 | $22.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.42 | $26.85 |
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
$10
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 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 | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.51 | $3.89 |
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
5:59 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
18 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 12m 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 as you navigate your way out of Sarasota. The route lacks a significant highway share, meaning you will spend much of your time managing local traffic patterns rather than cruising on open interstates. Because North School Avenue serves as your longest stretch with zero miles of uninterrupted driving, you should be prepared for frequent stops and turns. The character of the road is functional and urban, focusing on local connectivity rather than long, monotonous highway stretches. Stay alert, as the transition from local streets to I-75 North requires steady attention to changing road conditions.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.4 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near North School Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Sarasota, FL to Tampa, FL is easy. At 1h 12m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (North School Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (FL 780 / Fruitville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
Selmon Expressway West: Tampa
50 mi in
|
~58m
Port Of Tampa
50 mi in
|
~58m
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.
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 12m. Total distance: 60.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.4 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 0.3 miles (North School Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (FL 780 / Fruitville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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