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Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota bus

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Fort Lauderdale - Sarasota Bus Schedule

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Journey Information

There is one daily bus from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota. Traveling by bus from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota usually takes around 7 hours and 45 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 6 hours and 25 minutes.

Distance170 mi (273 km)
Shortest duration6h 25m
Cheapest price$43.33
Trips per day1
Most frequent serviceGreyhound
Bus lines1

Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Overall score for buses from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota

(Based on 3 ratings and reviews)

4.7

5.0

Joanne

January 18, 2020- Visiting friends

OurBus

Pros: Excellent driver. Cons: nothing.

5.0

Pamela

December 12, 2019- Visiting family

OurBus

Quick and easy

4.0

Merrilee

November 5, 2019- Solo travel

Greyhound

Pros: Time similar to flying considering airport time, but way cheaper and less stress. Cons: Airport stop or link to city busses for connections or taxi info. Tips: Be polite. Kindness really matters.

What bus companies travel from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota. Greyhound is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Greyhound17h 46m$47.73
  • Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 1 bus trips from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota every day, with the average journey taking around 7 hours and 46 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Sarasota usually start from $41.

Frequently Asked Questions

The bus takes an average of 7 hours and 45 minutes to cover the 273 kilometers from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota. However, the fastest bus only takes 6 hours and 25 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

"Friday is the busiest travel day for buses as people head from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota for the weekend. If you are planning to travel on a Friday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Monday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. For a less crowded trip, try to book your bus travel for the beginning of the week."

There is usually only one bus per day from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota. It leaves the station in Fort Lauderdale at 1:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.

There is usually only one bus per day from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota. Fortunately, this happens to be a direct bus, meaning that you do not have to get on a different bus at any point during your trip.

City Information

Fort Lauderdale

Nicknamed the Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale offers vast stretches of white sand beaches at affordable prices, allowing the average traveler to enjoy fun under the sun with ease. Fort Lauderdale Beach is the premier destination for beach-goers and nature lovers, and it is noticeably less chaotic than its counterpart at Miami Beach, making it a perfect spot for a quiet and leisurely getaway. Another alternative is the nearby Las Olas Beach, which features clean and refreshing water. Nature lovers can also take an airboat tour to the famous Everglades and get up close to the alligators.

For shopping fans, Sawgrass Mills, a famous shopping outlet with 250 stores, will be a top choice. Don’t forget to take the time for a stroll around the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District and enjoy the setting sun as the day comes to a close.

The Fort Lauderdale Amtrak station is the main train station in the city, offering quick access to other cities in the state of Florida. In the center of town, not too far from the train station, you can find the Greyhound station which is the busiest bus travel hub in Fort Lauderdale. The principal airport in the area is the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport which, as its name suggests, is located right in between the two neighboring cities. However, it's also easy to get from Fort Lauderdale to the Miami Airport for more flight options.

Sarasota

Sarasota, FL - SRA-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Sarasota, FL - SRA-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Sarasota, FL - SRA-2

Image credit: Unsplash

A culturally-rich alternative to the nearby theme parks of Orlando, Sarasota's Gulf Coast location is hard to resist. It became the winter base for many well-to-do families in the early twentieth century, during which time much of the town developed a subtle Italian feel.

Not only is the climate similar to what you might experience in southern Italy, but many of Sarasota's buildings were constructed to resemble the country's renaissance masterworks too. A good example is the Ringling family's Ca' d'Zan Venetian-style mansion.

The Ringlings made their money from circuses before giving their name to the much-celebrated John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. It contains 21 galleries of European paintings, archaeological artifacts, and American art totaling 10,000 objects.

With weather so fine, you'll probably be looking with more than half an eye at Sarasota's numerous excellent resorts and beaches, many of which lie on a group of keys within the city limits. Bonus: our research ranked Sarasota as the #3 cheapest Spring Break destination, so you can soak up the sun on the cheap.

Arriving in Sarasota is equally easy thanks to its Cattleman Transfer Centre and Fruitville Road bus stations. Between them, travelers can connect by bus everywhere from Tampa to Tucson. Amtrak also operates a Thruway bus service from the defunct Sarasota rail station to Tampa for onward connections by train on the Silver Service. This service runs between Miami and New York City via Washington, D.C.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Fort Lauderdale?

Main departure station: Bus Terminal - 515 NE 3rd St

Located in the Victoria Park neighborhood of downtown Fort Lauderdale, the Bus Terminal at 515 NE 3rd St is the city’s principal Greyhound bus station. It offers bus service to destinations throughout the South such as Orlando, Atlanta, and Tampa. The station features essential amenities such as a sitting area, restrooms, and vending machines. In addition, a handful of restaurants and bars are available within the surrounding block, and less than a mile south of the station, you can explore Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant downtown.

All bus stations in Fort Lauderdale:

  • Bus Terminal - 515 NE 3rd St

Where does the bus arrive in Sarasota?

Main arrival station: Cattleman Transfer Ctr - 5951 Porter Way

All buses from Fort Lauderdale arrive at one main station in Sarasota.

Bus stations in Sarasota:

  • Cattleman Transfer Ctr - 5951 Porter Way

Get around town with Moovit

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Need a return trip from Sarasota to Fort Lauderdale?

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