Hi
I am the driver in my family and we are driving on a Sat from Vistana Resort Orlando to Sarasota Lido Beach. Have just discovered we travel on Memorial Day weekend!!!How busy is it likely to be, how long should it take and any hints on directions?I am a bit nervous!!

Don't be nervous. There's main highway between the two cities (4 west towards Tampa and 75 south) that will make the trip bearable. It should take 1 little over 2 hours.

We have a place in Bradenton (right next to Sarasota) and visitors drive over to Orandlo and back in a day it is so easy.

Thanks Feeling better already. I believe the area is beautiful and a total change to Orlando

tmh has expressed it right. I understand your concern because it is a holiday weekend, but that's always a busy stretch. I have no reason to think it would be busier on that Saturday than any other Saturday.

After you take I-4 to I-75 and head South on that, you should exit I-75 at the Fruitville Road exit (I believe that's the second Sarasota exit heading south). It is well marked, but you'll follow Fruitville Road to the West (your right, coming off the highway) all the way until it ends -- a good 5 or more miles. It ends at US 41 and you'll turn left, then after a few blocks turn right to go across the bridges and onto Lido Key (signs will say St. Armand's and "beaches"). It's well marked and should be no problem at all.

The stretch from Orlando to Tampa on I-4 is always bad, and right now there's a lot of construction going on from Lakeland to Tampa. That might slow you but not considerably.

Once you get to I-75 (Tampa) you should have smooth sailing...er, driving.

Thanks Guys
Am impressed at speed & details of replies

Think it may take more like 3 hrs., esp. given what you have to do to get from I-75 over to Lido, and the possibility of a delay here and there in Orlando corridors.

And the Saturday will have less traffic than Friday night or Monday. The worst holiday traffic is always at the beginning and end of the weekend. If you can delay your drive until Saturday afternoon, even better, since some holiday makers don't set out til Sat morning.

And don't forget to drive on the right-hand side of the road.

I-4 West has been really bad with lots of traffic. We drive it often to the west coast. It'll clear up past Lakeland where the road widens. I would give yourself 3 hours max and leave in the morning rather than the evening.

There's an article in the paper about a bridge closing in Sarasota on I-75 due to some horrendous semi-truck accident. I should have taken better notes but the one thing I recall was that there's an hour long detour. Check it out.

That closing is near NorthPort, well south of Sarasota, in fact south of Venice. No problem for the itinerary above. But it sure is a mess for those going south from Sarasota to Ft. Myers and will apparently be so for several weeks. Right now there is no southbound on I-75 and everyone must exit for a big detour. Within a day or two they will route one lane of southbound onto the northbound side which will also be one lane. At that time it will be bad for both north and south bound traffic.

Thank you all for info -!!!

Patick: I heard on WINK TV, that the one lane southbound will be opening tonight, though it will be VERY slow going. Judy