
Lakewood Ranch Community Spotlight
America's top-selling master-planned community, spanning Manatee and Sarasota counties.
At a Glance
A 33,000+ acre master-planned community east of I-75 spanning Manatee and Sarasota counties, with dozens of villages, top-rated schools, parks, and Main Street town centers.
Did You Know?
Lakewood Ranch has ranked as the #1 best-selling multigenerational master-planned community in the U.S. for several consecutive years (RCLCO).
What Stands Out
True walkable town centers (Lakewood Ranch Main Street, Waterside Place), more than 150 miles of trails, polo, golf, and a school footprint built into the master plan.
Fun Spots
- Waterside Place (Sarasota side)
- Lakewood Ranch Main Street
- Premier Sports Campus
- Sarasota Polo Club
- Nathan Benderson Park (rowing)
Distance to Key Spots
- Downtown Sarasota — 25 min
- UTC / Mall at University Town Center — 10 min
- Sarasota–Bradenton (SRQ) — 20 min
- Siesta Key Beach — 35 min
- Tampa International (TPA) — 55 min
Theme Park Distances
- Walt Disney World — 1 hr 35 min
- Universal Studios Orlando — 1 hr 45 min
- SeaWorld Orlando — 1 hr 40 min
- Busch Gardens Tampa — 1 hr
- LEGOLAND Florida — 1 hr 10 min
Popular Restaurants
- Grove Restaurant
- Libby's Neighborhood Brasserie (Waterside)
- Polo Grill
- Ed's Tavern
- MacAllister's Grill & Tavern
Airports
- Sarasota–Bradenton (SRQ) — 20 min
- St. Pete–Clearwater (PIE) — 55 min
- Tampa International (TPA) — 55 min
Medical
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center inside the community; Manatee Memorial and Sarasota Memorial nearby.
Schools & Education
Highly rated public schools (Lakewood Ranch HS, Out-of-Door Academy nearby) plus several charter and IB-track options.
Growth
Active villages still selling — Star Farms, Esplanade, Cresswind, Waterside Lakefront — with thousands of homes still in the pipeline.
Helpful Local Links
Realtor Tip
CDD fees and HOA structures vary widely by village — always pull the specific CDD/HOA disclosure for that village before quoting monthly carrying costs.
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