The Sweet Spot Between Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch."

The University Parkway corridor is where Sarasota and Manatee Counties blur together in the most convenient way possible. Anchored by the intersection of University Parkway and I-75, this stretch is home to the Mall at University Town Center. This legitimate regional shopping destination is where you’ll find Saks Fifth Avenue, 150+ stores, and an outdoor district that adds another 250 specialty shops and 80 restaurants. It is the commercial and lifestyle hub for much of the northern Sarasota market.

The residential neighborhoods along University Parkway span a wide range of price points and characters. University Park Country Club, which won a 'Best Overall Community Design in America' award from the National Association of Home Builders, is a gated golf community with championship courts and club facilities on the Sarasota side. Nearby, established neighborhoods offer maintenance-free living and easy airport access with Sarasota Bradenton International Airport roughly 10 to 15 minutes from most addresses on the corridor.

The SRQ Airport proximity is genuinely underrated as a lifestyle asset. Part-time residents and frequent travelers cite it constantly: no traffic nightmares, no long-term parking headaches. Tampa International is about an hour north for broader flight options. The UTC district itself continues to grow and as of 2026, more than a dozen new tenants are being added to the outdoor shopping district.

Local Insider: University Park Country Club is often confused with 'University Parkway' as a general corridor. If you're shopping University Park specifically, be precise — the gated community has bundled golf and specific HOA structures that differ substantially from the surrounding neighborhoods.