How far is St. Petersburg, FL from Sarasota, FL?

The driving distance from St. Petersburg, FL to Sarasota, FL is about 35.4 miles (56.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 31.4 miles (50.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
35.32 mi
00h 50m
Flight
31.37 mi
50.48 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from St. Petersburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
31.37 mi
Kilometers
50.48 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
35.32 mi
Kilometers
56.85 km
Drive Time
00h 50m

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 00h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sarasota
Fri, May 15, 2:04 AM EDT
Return by in St. Petersburg
Fri, May 15, 2:55 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave St. Petersburg
2026-05-15T01:14
Arrive Sarasota
Fri, May 15, 2:04 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:51 AM to 10:51 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in St. Petersburg
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Palmetto
FL

City in Manatee County, Florida, United States

From St. Petersburg
17.7 mi
00h 25m
To Sarasota
17.6 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
92°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph N
Destination
71°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Fri, May 15 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between St. Petersburg and Sarasota.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between St. Petersburg and Sarasota.

  1. 1

    Start on 34th Street South

    15 m · 5 sec · 34th Street South

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    1304 ft · 51 sec · Central Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 31st Street South

    1.1 km · 1 min · 31st Street South

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right

    2760 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight right

    4.9 mi · 6 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    1406 ft · 17 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight right onto Sunshine Skyway Bridge

    9.7 mi · 11 min · Sunshine Skyway Bridge

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 19 South: Palmetto, Bradenton

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Tamiami Trail

    3 mi · 5 min · Tamiami Trail

  10. 10

    Continue on Hernando DeSoto Bridge

    2226 ft · 38 sec · Hernando DeSoto Bridge

  11. 11

    Continue on 1st Street West

    1.5 km · 2 min · 1st Street West

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on 1st Street West

    11.5 mi · 19 min · 1st Street West

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Main Street

    35 m · 3 sec · Main Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between St. Petersburg and Sarasota.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
14 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
1st Street West
12.5 mi · 35%
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
9.66 mi · 27%
31st Street South
6.4 mi · 18%
US 19 South
3.12 mi · 9%
Tamiami Trail
2.97 mi · 8%
Hernando DeSoto Bridge
0.42 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

1st Street West

Keep slight left to continue on 1st Street West

11.5 mi · 00h 19m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4 mi
31.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Palmetto
00h 25m from St. Petersburg
Leave By
4:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving St. Petersburg and Mostly Clear near Sarasota.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from St. Petersburg to Sarasota?

The road trip is about 35.4 miles (56.9 km) and usually takes 00h 50m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Palmetto is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.7 miles from St. Petersburg and 17.6 miles from Sarasota.

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

The direct path is about 31.4 miles (50.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.19 one way or $10.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around St. Petersburg and Mostly Clear near Sarasota.

Stop Ideas Near Palmetto

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Palmetto, 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 Palmetto.

BUS

Bradenton, Florida

11 mi away
1115 Manatee Avenue West
BUS

Sarasota, Florida

21 mi away
1993 Main Street
BUS

St Petersburg-Pinellas Park-Clearwater, Florida

37 mi away
5251 110th Avenue North
RAIL

Union Station

49 mi away
601 North Nebraska Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between St. Petersburg and Sarasota. Straight-line distance: 31.37 mi (50.48 km).

St. Petersburg

#1 St. Petersburg

The second most populous city in Florida.

Population253,693
Coordinates27.7708600, -82.6792700
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Sarasota

#2 Sarasota

The most populous city in Sarasota County, Florida.

Population58,859
Coordinates27.3364300, -82.5306500
Altitude7
CountryUnited States
Start: St. Petersburg (-82.67927, 27.77086)
End: Sarasota (-82.53065, 27.33643)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 57 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.25 gal
4.72 L · about $5.19
Round trip
$10.37
2.5 gal · 9.44 L
Estimated CO2
11.1 kg one way
Round trip: 22.2 kg / 49 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $5.19 $10.37
Mid-grade $4.60 $5.75 $11.49
Premium $4.90 $6.12 $12.24
Diesel $4.35 $5.44 $10.88

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 · May 15, 2026

There is no time difference between St. Petersburg and Sarasota. The current time is 01:14:22.

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.