How far is Fort Lauderdale, FL from South Sarasota, FL?

The driving distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to South Sarasota, FL is about 209.9 miles (337.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168 miles (270.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
209.91 mi
03h 56m
Flight
167.98 mi
270.34 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Lauderdale.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
167.98 mi
Kilometers
270.34 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.91 mi
Kilometers
337.82 km
Drive Time
03h 56m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Sarasota
Sat, Apr 18, 6:36 PM EDT
Return by in Fort Lauderdale
Sat, Apr 18, 10:32 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Lauderdale
2026-04-18T14:39
Arrive South Sarasota
Sat, Apr 18, 6:36 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:08 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Lauderdale
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Vineyards
FL

Census-designated place in Collier County, Florida

From Fort Lauderdale
104.9 mi
01h 58m
To South Sarasota
104.9 mi
01h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph E
Destination
82°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Lauderdale and South Sarasota.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale and South Sarasota.

  1. 1

    Start on East Broward Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 3 min · East Broward Boulevard

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 95 South: Miami

    885 ft · 24 sec

  3. 3

    Keep slight right to continue on I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport

    2.2 mi · 4 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on I 595 West

    1 mi · 2 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Port Everglades Expressway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Port Everglades Expressway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Port Everglades Expressway

    10.1 mi · 12 min · Port Everglades Expressway

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    186.4 mi · 3 hr 20 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 72: Siesta Key, Arcadia

    2160 ft · 53 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on FL 72 West

    143 m · 14 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto Clark Road

    3.9 mi · 7 min · Clark Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Stickney Point Road

    575 ft · 15 sec · Stickney Point Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Swift Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Swift Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Proctor Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Proctor Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South Tamiami Trail

    1174 ft · 30 sec · South Tamiami Trail

  15. 15

    Continue on South Tamiami Trail

    689 ft · 24 sec · South Tamiami Trail

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Fiesta Drive

    770 ft · 34 sec · Fiesta Drive

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Fiesta Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Lauderdale and South Sarasota.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Port Everglades Expressway
198 mi · 94%
Clark Road
3.93 mi · 2%
I 595
2.18 mi · 1%
East Broward Boulevard
1.6 mi · 1%
I 595 West
1.04 mi
Swift Road
1.03 mi
Longest Stretch

Port Everglades Expressway

Merge slight left

186 mi · 03h 20m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.9 mi
168 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vineyards
01h 58m from Fort Lauderdale
Leave By
9:08 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fort Lauderdale and Sunny near South Sarasota.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Lauderdale to South Sarasota?

The road trip is about 209.9 miles (337.8 km) and usually takes 03h 56m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Vineyards is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.9 miles from Fort Lauderdale and 104.9 miles from South Sarasota.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 168 miles (270.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:08 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.74 one way or $61.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Fort Lauderdale and Sunny near South Sarasota.

Stop Ideas Near Vineyards

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Vineyards, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Vineyards.

BUS

Fort Myers, Florida

53 mi away
6050 Plaza Drive
BUS

Port Charlotte, Florida

93 mi away
909 King Highway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Lauderdale and South Sarasota. Straight-line distance: 167.98 mi (270.34 km).

Fort Lauderdale

#1 Fort Lauderdale

The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.

Population184,245
Coordinates26.1223100, -80.1433800
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
South Sarasota

#2 South Sarasota

Census-designated place in Sarasota County, Florida

Population4,950
Coordinates27.2861600, -82.5328800
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Lauderdale (-80.14338, 26.12231)
End: South Sarasota (-82.53288, 27.28616)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 338 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.41 gal
28.04 L · about $30.74
Round trip
$61.47
14.82 gal · 56.08 L
Estimated CO2
65.9 kg one way
Round trip: 131.7 kg / 290 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $30.74 $61.47
Mid-grade $4.60 $34.06 $68.11
Premium $4.90 $36.28 $72.56
Diesel $4.35 $32.23 $64.47

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Florida · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Lauderdale and South Sarasota. The current time is 14:39:47.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.