Sarasota Vacation Rentals Guide 

Found in Central West Florida, Sarasota is the perfect vacation spot for families, snowbirds, golfers, fishermen, beachgoers, with world-class arts, culture, dining, and shopping. 

Sarasota is a vibrant destination location south of Tampa on Florida's west coast. With a population of 56,000, the Sarasota boundary also includes Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key, Otter Key, Coon Key and some of Siesta Key. These keys give access to white sandy beaches and clear water, complimented by the prosperity and culture of the city.

The City of Sarasota, Florida

SARASOTA

The City of Sarasota boasts its beautiful beaches, diverse dining, and arts & culture. There is not many cities in Florida comparable to the cultural and artistic offerings Sarasota provides. The city was formerly the winter home for the Ringling Brothers Circus and built up profoundly by Charles Ringling, which is still evident today. It was also home to acclaimed author Stephen King. Without the inconveniences of a big city, there are great beaches, stores, restaurants, golfing and fishing. There is never an idle moment in this paradise!

Highlights of Sarasota

• Pristine white sandy beaches: Lido Key Beach and Siesta Beach, voted the best beach in America 
• Kayak through the Sarasota mangroves
• Cultural attractions including Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Opera, and Asolo Repertory Theatre
• Myakka River State Park

Things to Do in Sarasota

Sarasota is one of the most popular vacation destinations on Florida's Gulf Coast, the perfect Florida getaway for relaxing beach escapes as well as sophisticated snowbirds. Here’s a great list of things to do to help you find out if it’s the perfect fit for your next vacation. 

• Visit the Mote Aquarium (marine laboratory) to see some of Florida's rescued wildlife including manatees, turtles, and dolphins
• Big cat habitat
• Visit the John and Marble Ringling Museum of Art 
• Take a walk in the Sarasota Jungle Gardens to feed flamingos
• Water Activities: boat rentals, parasailing, beaching, swimming, shelling
• Visit St. Armands Circle for shopping, restaurants, and beach access
• Fishing & charter boat tours
• Golfing
• Shopping (University Town Centre)
• Fine dining and casual restaurants

Annual Events

Be sure to book your vacation during one of these fun and exciting events.

• Sarasota County Fair; great for all ages (March)
• Sarasota Jazz Festival (March)
• Florida International Air Show (April)
• The Sarasota Music Festival hosted by the Florida West Coast Symphony (June)
• Sarasota Film Festival (March)
• Sarasota Chalk Festival (the first international street painting festival in the US) (November)
• The Sarasota Marathon (October)

EXPLORE BEAUTIFUL VACATION RENTALS IN SARASOTA

Search, find and book your Sarasota, Florida vacation rental on Florida Rental By Owners website (FLARBO). Exclusively for travelers wishing to communicate and book directly with the owner. There are no traveler fees for using Florida Rental By Owners website. Owners are screened and verified for ownership. All transactions occur directly with the owner. Read reviews and guest experiences to ensure your vacation rental will meet your goals.  We have many homes to meet the demands of over a million travelers and you can find accommodations of every kind to suit many visitor types. Singles, couples, small and large families, reunions, sports groups, and business visitors. Bring Fido too, we have lots of pet-friendly homes to offer in addition to other niche vacation types such as boat-friendly, large groups, budget-friendly and more!

Statistics about Sarasota

Use the search filters on Florida Rental By Owners website to look for accommodations meeting your criteria. There are currently over 163 properties in the Sarasota area listed for rent. There are 90 condos advertised out of 163 properties. The majority of properties listed have heated pools - 124 rentals which make this an ideal year-round destination. Many winter travelers are looking for long-term rental options, choosing the long term suitability filter renders 66 rental options for snowbirds. People loving traveling with their family members. In the Sarasota area, there are 130 rentals that are family-friendly vacation rentals.

Vacation Rental Price information pertaining to the Sarasota, Florida area

Currently, prices range from 825$ per week during the low season which typically runs from the end of August to the month of November. January is also considered a low season month. You can expect to pay the highest rates during the high-season running from February through to the first or second week of April where prices of larger homes can cost over $5,600 per week. The summer months, June and July are also favorite times for local travelers from the state of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to escape to the coast for cooler breezes and boating. There are 27 vacation rentals with docks available in the Sarasota area.

Accommodation Types in Sarasota, Florida

There is an abundance of vacation rental dwelling types, the majority ranging from condos to private homes: 

• 53 rentals are listed as "house" rentals, accounting for 32.5% of the housing types
• 90 rentals are listed as "condo" rentals, are another popular rental type accounting for 55.2% of the short term rental housing types
• 1 rental is listed as "townhouses"
• 3 rentals are listed as "bungalows"

Good Times to Sarasota, Florida

With the fabulous weather patterns year-round, any time and month of the year are good times to visit Sarasota. Peak seasons follow the school year and holiday periods with peaks from February to mid-April and the summer months of June and July are great times for the whole family to visit. Off-season from mid-August to the third week in November offers the least expensive and quietest times of the year to rent a Sarasota property. During the month of March, there is an abundance of events and festivals such as the Sarasota Film Festival, Sarasota Jazz Festival, Sarasota County Fair that are always fun to attend.

Do you have questions about the Sarasota, Florida area? 

Join our Local Facebook Travel Group and ask one of the local experts.

Traveling to Sarasota

Sarasota has a major airport within 30 minutes of the downtown core as well as other larger airports close by. Whether you live in the United States, Canada, Europe and beyond you are sure to find a final destination close by. 

Traveling to Sarasota by Car from Major U.S. Cities

For those driving in, Hwy. I-75 is a direct route to Sarasota, but the I-10 or Hwy. 20 can be taken westbound to Hwys. 77, 79, 231. Consider driving these distances from major cities to Sarasota;

• Birmingham, AL - 624 miles

• Atlanta, GA - 509 miles

• New Orleans, LA - 711 miles

• Nashville, TN - 758 miles

• Little Rock, AR - 984 miles

• Louisville, KY - 930 miles

Traveling to Sarasota by Plane

There is an abundance of airports to choose from all within 1 hour's drive of Sarasota, Florida. Whether you live in the United States, Canada, Europe and beyond you are sure to find a final destination close by. Below are some statistics in relation to driving distance that Sarasota, Florida is from some major airports in the area. 

Sarasota - Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)

The Sarasota - Bradenton International Airport is the closest airport to the city, approximately 3 miles. This airport is serviced by seven major carriers - 2 Canadian: Air Canada & West Jet. U.S. carriers: United, American, Delta, Elite, and Jet Blue Flights (not offered year-round since it is considered a tourist destination check with each carrier)

St Petersburg-Clearwater Airport (PIE)

St. Pete-Clearwater Airport is located approximately an hour's drive from Sarasota. It is a destination for low-cost carriers. The main airline carrier is Allegiant Air. PIE is less busy than Tampa International Airport and is frequently used by pilots of private planes and executive jets.

Southwest Florida Airport (RSW)

Southwest Florida Airport is located in Fort Myers, Florida. A little over an hour's drive from Sarasota, it's also a great choice for flying into to get to this vacation destination

Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Tampa International Airport is also approximately an hour's drive from Sarasota (56 miles). This airport is served by over 20 major airline carriers.

Transportation in Sarasota

There is an abundance of transportation options at the major airports including Uber, taxis, shuttles and limousine services. Most are open 24 hours a day but we highly suggest booking transportation in advance.  There are lots of transportation shuttles available, but your own vehicle will give you much more freedom to come and go as you please. There are also lots of local restaurants to explore, not to mention the endless attractions and shopping! 

Sarasota Monthly Average Weather Chart