We’re located on the Gulf Coast of Florida in the Sarasota-Bradenton metro area with four exits off I-75. Our location in the Tampa Bay area is 12 miles – or about 20 minutes – northeast of downtown Sarasota and Siesta Key and less than an hour south of Tampa. View our regional map.

Which beach do you want to visit? The great thing about our community is that you have options. Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island and more are all about 15-18 miles from The Ranch, and a quick day trip will take you to the beaches of Clearwater, St. Petersburg and many others.

Lakewood Ranch is big, covering over 33,000 acres or about 50 square miles. That’s bigger than all of Disney World. Our community encompasses 10,000 acres of lakes and nature space and 150 miles of trails throughout our 36 villages, each with different home style and amenity options. All are convenient to our town centers, neighborhood shopping, business parks and top rated schools. View our community map.

At 50+ square miles, Lakewood Ranch has an estimated population of 72,000 with nearly 38,500 homes currently sold or leased.

Our villages range in size from 250 homes to 1,500 homes and offer a variety of different home types. Right now, 17 of our 36 villages are actively selling new construction homes, and two are exclusively for those aged 55 and better.

A “master-planned community” describes any new community that plans in advance where homes will be located in relation to other elements of a community, including schools, retail, restaurants, businesses, recreation and natural habitat.

An MPC also provides homeowners peace of mind, because it lays out a clear plan for infrastructure (such as roads and amenities), as well as sets a standard for maintenance as the community grows.

Lakewood Ranch is unique in the fact that it has been under the stewardship of one family for over 100 years. Through generations of careful planning and dedicated building, Lakewood Ranch has become a thriving community, and home to more than 72,000 residents.

Among other awards and accolades, Lakewood Ranch was named by RCLCO and John Burns, two leading real estate consulting firms, the best-selling community for all ages in the country since 2018. We have two actively selling villages exclusively for 55 and better, but we have residents of all ages throughout The Ranch. The median age of our residents is 53. Our wide array of home types, amenities and conveniences (schools, healthcare, professional opportunities, close proximity to cities) makes The Ranch an incredible choice at any age or stage of life. So, whether you’re just around the corner, in the next village, or all under one roof, multigen living at Lakewood Ranch can look however you’d like it.

Overall, Lakewood Ranch is a primary home community, meaning the majority of people who live here do so year-round. Of course, there are some residents whose homes on The Ranch are seasonal homes, but Lakewood Ranch doesn’t clear out in the summer like some other places throughout Florida. There’s a true sense of community and vitality that lasts throughout the year.

We welcome residents of every age, but for those in the market for age-restricted villages, we do have two villages that are exclusively for homeowners aged 55 and up:  Cresswind and Del Webb Catalina

As an award-winning multi-generational community, Lakewood Ranch is very family-oriented with new home options for all ages and lifestyles. The median age of our residents is 53.

If you love golf, you’ll love living here. Lakewood Ranch boasts a total of nine golf courses: one is members only, four are exclusive to Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club (membership required). The other four are located within individual villages, with resident access provided by HOA fees; these courses may also allow for daily passes to be purchased by non-residents. Many residents do own golf carts and are able to drive them around their villages. However, they are not allowed on all roads, so use outside of your own neighborhood is limited.

Yes, golf carts may be used within a village, or to travel short distances on non-major roadways, but are not permitted on main roads where travel speeds exceed 35 mph. When operating a golf cart inside Lakewood Ranch,  drivers should avoid sidewalks or trails, whenever possible, and adhere to HOA rules for parking. Golf carts driven outside a village must be registered with the DMV and be equipped with headlights, brake lights, turn signals and a windshield.

At Lakewood Ranch, you’re bound to discover something new around every bend of our 150-mile network of trails, sidewalks and bike lanes. We’re also home to 13 beautiful parks and within easy reach of several neighboring county and state parks.

We offer a variety of home types, including attached villas and townhomes from the $300s and single-family homes from the $400s. You’ll also find many options for rentals and senior living. For a more detailed listing of our available homes, check out our handy home finder. Or, enjoy browsing our Homes Lookbook with key features of several model homes.

There are a variety of rental options in Lakewood Ranch, including apartments, townhomes, and single-family rentals. For traditional rental neighborhoods, leases typically start with 7-month terms. Most short term / seasonal rentals are private homes which are rented out through property management companies. For these, the minimum rental period is 30 days, but is longer in many villages.

There are three exciting and dynamic town centers within Lakewood Ranch. Main Street, Waterside Place, and The Green each offer unique entertainment, dining, shopping and services, as well as living options. Sprinkled throughout The Ranch you’ll also find 12 neighborhood plazas for all the things needed in daily life, as well as The University Town Center nearby. Learn more about our town center and neighborhood plazas.

The Ranch includes 14 pre-schools, nine public and six private primary and secondary schools, and 10 campuses of higher education, with an emphasis on business, vocational, culinary and medical programs. Our primary and secondary schools are consistently top-rated. Learn more about them here.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is a top-rated hospital located right by Main Street. The Ranch is also home to numerous medical offices for nearly every type of visit, including emergencies, preventative care, specialists and more, all available without having to travel far. Learn more about healthcare at Lakewood Ranch here.

A majority of villages at The Ranch offer their own resident amenities accessed with their HOA fees, including pools, clubhouses, fitness centers, and racquet or sports courts. Additionally, most single-family homes can accommodate their own pool.

Each of our villages have HOA fees. What’s included in the fees varies from village to village. Generally, the fees cover village amenities, common area maintenance, some lawn care and irrigation. Fees vary depending on the size of your village, the level of maintenance, types of amenities, and your type of home. Fees range from $100 – $800 monthly, with most falling between $200 – $300 per month. For fee comparison, as well as a list of amenities and home types by village, click here.

Yes, ours is called a stewardship fee. It provides road infrastructure, maintenance of common area landscaping and parks and trails. Think of it like a city tax or HOA for the larger community (in addition to your village HOA and county tax), which goes toward keeping Lakewood Ranch looking beautiful.

The Ranch was built for business with five business parks, 2,645 companies (and counting) and an educated, skilled workforce of 20,246. Our thriving business sectors, with a focus on biotech, finance, retail, healthcare and technology, have helped make Lakewood Ranch one of the fastest growing regions in Florida. Additionally, the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance helps the people of its 700+ member companies make meaningful professional connections.

Our location in Manatee and Sarasota counties east of Interstate 75, and accessible from four interchanges means you’ll have plenty of options when commuting to Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, and Sarasota.

Being one of the fastest growing regions in Florida, we have an employee and customer base to help you grow your business to its fullest potential. 75% of our residents are college educated and 20% hold advanced degrees. Our average household income is $162K, with the median being $116K (that’s $43K higher than the Metropolitan Statistical Area, MSA).

Business owners may also join the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance for access to business connections, resources and advocacy.

Yes, for non-residents we offer a Stay & Play opportunity. With this option, guests can book stays at nearby hotels at discounted rates. Upon arrival, visit the Information Center to plan your trip around The Ranch and check out the community events calendar to truly get a taste of life at Lakewood Ranch.

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is only 9 miles away and Tampa International Airport (TPA) is about 55 miles away. Other options include airports in nearby cities like Ft. Myers, Orlando and St. Petersburg, all between 47 and 90 miles away.

If you’re interested in purchasing a new construction home, you have the opportunity to work directly with the builder. However, a large number of our homeowners choose to work with realtors. They can help facilitate the process, especially if you’re purchasing from a different area or out-of-state. Realtors can help identify your needs, manage communication with the builder, and explain the unique aspects of Florida living.

For assistance, here’s a list of local real estate offices.