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Gainesville to Sarasota bus

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Gainesville - Sarasota Bus Timetable

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Journey Information

There is one daily bus from Gainesville to Sarasota. Traveling by bus from Gainesville to Sarasota usually takes around 12 hours and 30 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 7 hours and 15 minutes.

Distance160 mi (258 km)
Shortest duration7h 15m
Cheapest price€32.64
Most frequent serviceGreyhound
Bus lines1

What bus companies travel from Gainesville to Sarasota?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Gainesville 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
Greyhound112h 30m€45.02
  • Greyhound is the largest nationwide coach 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 Gainesville to Sarasota every day, with the average journey taking around 12 hours and 30 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Sarasota usually start from €33.

Frequently Asked Questions

The bus takes an average of 12 hours and 30 minutes to cover the 258 kilometers from Gainesville to Sarasota. However, the fastest bus only takes 7 hours and 15 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.

"Travelers prefer riding the bus on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in Sarasota. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet."

There is usually only one bus per day from Gainesville to Sarasota. It leaves the station in Gainesville at 06:00 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 Gainesville to Sarasota. However, it is not a direct bus, so you will have to get off your original vehicle to change buses during the trip.

City Information

Gainesville

Blessed with amazing natural landmarks and a vibrant cultural life, Gainesville offers a whole new Florida experience that is far from the decadence often associated with the state. If you wish to explore creative works made by local artists, head over to the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, which features great exhibitions that dive into the life of many inventors and entrepreneurs. Another great museum to visit is the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art. For those who want to marvel at the city’s natural landmarks, go for a hiking trip along the trails of Alfred A. Ring Park, or the Barr Hammock Preserve.

Gainesville’s local favorite is the 4 Rivers Smokehouse, which offers delicious briskets. For some of the freshest local dishes, head over to Alpin Bistro.

The main bus station in Gainesville is the Greyhound Bus Terminal located on NE 23rd Ave, which welcomes buses from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Houston and beyond. There is no rail service to Gainesville. However, the city is part of Amtrak’s network via the carrier’s Thruway bus service, which operates out of the same station. The main airport is the Gainesville Regional Airport, which lies in the northeast part of the city.

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 Gainesville?

Main departure station: Bus Terminal - 101 NE 23rd Ave

Gainesville’s bus terminal at 101 NE 23rd Ave is located a few miles north of downtown Gainesville, in a retail area including dollar stores and several takeout restaurants. Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway intercity buses operate trips from this station to cities like Orlando, Atlanta, and Miami. The station building has an information desk, restrooms, and vending machines for travelers’ convenience.

All bus stations in Gainesville:

  • Bus Terminal - 101 NE 23rd Ave

Where does the bus arrive in Sarasota?

Main arrival station: Cattleman Transfer Ctr - 5951 Porter Way

All buses from Gainesville 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 Gainesville?

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