St. Armands Circle Map & Directions
St. Armands Circle is the circular shopping and dining district at the heart of Lido Key, Sarasota, Florida, roughly two miles west of downtown Sarasota across the John Ringling Causeway. This page is a practical map of the Circle and its surroundings: where it sits, how to get here, where to park, and how close everything is on foot.
The Circle itself is compact. Most visitors park once, walk the loop of shops and restaurants around Circle Park, and continue on foot to Lido Beach. Street names, landmarks, and walking times below are based on current city and association information, last verified August 2026.
Last verified: August 14, 2026
Interactive map of St. Armands Circle
St. Armands Circle sits at the center of Lido Key, with John Ringling Boulevard heading east to downtown Sarasota and Ben Franklin Drive heading west to Lido Beach.
The St. Armands Circle Association maintains the official interactive merchant map with every shop and restaurant pinned by quadrant. Use it together with this guide to plan a walking route.
Where is St. Armands Circle?
- Location
- St. Armands Key, Lido Key, Sarasota, FL 34236
- Coordinates
- 27.3188, -82.5770
- Distance to downtown
- About 2 miles west over the causeway
- Distance to SRQ airport
- About 7 miles, ~15 minutes
- Walk to Lido Beach
- About 0.4 mile, 5-10 minutes
St. Armands Circle was planned in the 1920s by circus magnate John Ringling and opened in 1926 as an upscale residential and shopping district. It is a literal circle: a park sits in the center, and shops and restaurants ring it along streets named for U.S. presidents. Today it is home to more than 130 stores, galleries, and restaurants, per the City of Sarasota.
The island is bounded by water on all sides: the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Sarasota Bay to the east, New Pass to the north, and Big Pass to the south.
How to get to St. Armands Circle
From downtown Sarasota
Take John Ringling Boulevard west and cross the John Ringling Causeway bridge. It is roughly two miles and about a 5-7 minute drive. Follow John Ringling Boulevard until it reaches the Circle. This is the route most visitors take, and it is the same road that continues west past the Circle to Lido Beach.
From Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
SRQ is about 7 miles from the Circle, roughly a 15-minute drive. Head south on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail), turn west onto John Ringling Boulevard, and cross the causeway to the Circle. U.S. 41 also connects to the airport from points north and south.
From I-75
Take exit 210 (Fruitville Road) or exit 207 (University Parkway) west to U.S. 41, turn south, then west onto John Ringling Boulevard toward the Circle.
From Longboat Key to the north
Cross the New Pass Bridge, continue on Gulf of Mexico Drive, and turn south onto Ben Franklin Drive toward the Circle and Lido Beach. State Road 789 connects Lido Key with Longboat Key.
By free trolley (Bay Runner)
The free, open-air BayRunner trolley runs between downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle, and Lido Beach with frequent stops. The St. Armands Circle Association lists Sunday-Thursday service from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. It is a practical way to avoid parking during events and peak season. See the parking and transportation guide for details.
Walking around the Circle
The layout is easy to read on foot. Circle Park anchors the center, ringed by the road that gives the district its name. Shops and restaurants line every side of the loop and the streets radiating from it:
- John Ringling Boulevard runs east from the Circle to the causeway and downtown.
- Boulevard of the Presidents splits into north and south arms around the west side of the park.
- Adams Drive and Fillmore Drive provide additional parking access north and south.
- Ben Franklin Drive heads west past the Circle toward Lido Beach and the beachfront hotels.
A full loop of the Circle is roughly a quarter mile, and you can walk from the busiest corner to the beach in about 5-10 minutes.
Parking overview
Parking on St. Armands and Lido Key is managed by the City of Sarasota Parking Division, with more than 1,600 public spaces around the Circle and beach. In brief:
- St. Armands Parking Garage (57 N. Adams Dr.): about 480 spaces, first hour free, then $2 for hour two and $1 per hour after, $23 daily maximum. EV charging on level 2.
- Street parking: $1.50 per hour, enforced daily 8 a.m.-midnight, free on Sundays before 1 p.m. and on city holidays.
- Fillmore Lot: $1 per hour.
- Free parking zone: about 186 free spaces on North Boulevard of the Presidents north of Madison Drive.
- Lido Beach Pavilion lot: about 368 free spaces next to the sand.
Rates and enforcement hours were verified from City of Sarasota sources in August 2026. For a full breakdown of garages, lots, accessible parking, and tips, see the St. Armands Circle parking guide.
Distance from the Circle to Lido Beach
Lido Beach is about a 0.4-mile walk from the center of the Circle — roughly 5-10 minutes at a strolling pace. Walk west on John Ringling Boulevard, which becomes Ben Franklin Drive, to the Lido Beach Pavilion at 400 Ben Franklin Drive. You will pass the beachfront hotels on your right. The St. Armands Circle Association describes the beach as "a short walk" at the end of John Ringling Boulevard and Ben Franklin Drive.
You can comfortably do both in one day: beach morning, Circle lunch and shopping, sunset back on the sand. See the Lido Beach guide for full details.
Nearby landmarks and neighborhoods
- Lido Beach — public beach with pavilion, pool, and free parking, 0.4 mile west.
- South Lido Park / Ted Sperling Park — nature park at the south end of Lido Key with kayak launches and mangrove waterways (190 Taft Drive).
- North Lido Beach — quieter beach access at the north end of the island.
- New Pass Bridge — the northern connection to Longboat Key.
- John Ringling Causeway — the bridge over Sarasota Bay connecting the island to downtown Sarasota.
- Marina Jack — the downtown bayfront marina that marks the mainland end of the causeway, useful as a driving landmark.
- Circus Ring of Fame and historic statues — the centerpiece public art in Circle Park.
Public restrooms
Restrooms are not available in every business on the Circle, and most require you to be a customer. The reliable public options are the Lido Beach Pavilion restrooms (open daily from about 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and, on the mainland, public facilities at Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota. The St. Armands Circle Association publishes current public restroom locations, which is the best source to check before your visit.
Bus and trolley stops
The BayRunner trolley serves stops around the Circle, at the Lido Beach Pavilion, and along downtown Sarasota's Main Street. Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) also routes through the area, including the historic Route 18 to Lido Key. Stops near the Circle are within a short walk of the shops.
Frequently asked questions
Where is St. Armands Circle located?
St. Armands Circle is on St. Armands Key, the northern part of Lido Key, in Sarasota, Florida. It is about two miles west of downtown Sarasota across the John Ringling Causeway, between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
How do I get to St. Armands Circle from downtown Sarasota?
Take John Ringling Boulevard west over the John Ringling Causeway. It is about two miles and a 5-7 minute drive. A free BayRunner trolley also connects downtown and the Circle.
How far is St. Armands Circle from Sarasota-Bradenton Airport?
SRQ is about 7 miles from the Circle, roughly 15 minutes by car via U.S. 41 and John Ringling Boulevard.
Is St. Armands Circle near a beach?
Yes. Lido Beach is about a 0.4-mile walk (5-10 minutes) west from the Circle. North Lido Beach is a bit farther north, and South Lido Park is about two miles south.
What is the best parking option at the Circle?
The St. Armands Parking Garage (57 N. Adams Dr.) is the largest and closest structured option, with the first hour free after registering your plate. Free street parking is available on North Boulevard of the Presidents north of Madison Drive. For Lido Beach, use the free pavilion lot.
Can I walk between the Circle, the beach, and my hotel?
Yes. Most hotels on Lido Key, including Lido Beach Resort and Cirque St. Armands Beachside, are within a 5-10 minute walk of both the Circle and the beach. The whole area is very walkable.
Where to park and what to see next
Parking rates, garages, and tips — plus everything to do in the area.