Origin
South Sarasota, FL
Morning in South Sarasota on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South 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 17m
Distance
64.6 mi
104 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 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Sarasota, FL
Jeffrey Eisen
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from South Sarasota to Tampa is a straightforward 64.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. You will start by navigating local corridors before transitioning onto I-75 North to complete the trek. Budget roughly $11 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Florida hubs. Since both locations are within the same region, you won't experience drastic shifts in landscape, but the transition from the Sarasota area to the bustling Tampa metro area is clear. It is an efficient, no-fuss drive that gets you to your destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 47.1 mi | 51m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Bee Ridge Road | 5.1 mi | 9m |
| South Tamiami Trail | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Fiesta Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 47.1 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Sarasota, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Fiesta Drive
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Fiesta Drive
2
Turn right onto US 41
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Tamiami Trail
3
Continue on US 41
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Tamiami Trail
4
Turn right onto FL 758
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Bee Ridge Road
Use the slight right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
Use the slight right lane.
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
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.3 miles from South 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 64 — 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
|
US 41 / South Tamiami Trail
Turn right onto US 41 / South Tamiami Trail
Navigation decision point
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
FL 758 / Bee Ridge Road
Turn right onto FL 758 / Bee Ridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
6.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 North: Tampa
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
8
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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
64 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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
$10.28 one way
$20.57 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $11.19 | $22.37 |
| premium | $4.72 | $12.01 | $24.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.26 | $28.53 |
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
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.78 | $3.10 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.04 | $4.13 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Morning in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SSW 2 to 9 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:27AM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 18 at 2:27AM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 17m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 interstate cruise, as the route requires navigating South Tamiami Trail and Bee Ridge Road before reaching the highway. With a highway share of 0%, your time behind the wheel will be spent primarily on local surface streets rather than long, high-speed stretches. You will notice that there is no single long, uninterrupted leg of the journey, as the longest stretch on South Tamiami Trail is 0 miles. The road’s personality is defined by frequent intersections and urban navigation, which demands your full attention. Prepare for a dynamic experience that requires constant adjustments rather than settling into a steady highway rhythm.
85% 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: 47.1 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 US 41 / South Tamiami Trail.
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 17m 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 (US 41 / South Tamiami Trail): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (FL 758 / Bee Ridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
52 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
95 ft
Total Descent
95 ft
Highest Point
52 ft
~41.5 mi in
Elevation Range
39 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 South Sarasota, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
Selmon Expressway West: Tampa
53.8 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Port Of Tampa
53.8 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 64.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.1 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 (US 41 / South Tamiami Trail): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (FL 758 / Bee Ridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: 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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