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Mote SEA: the new Mote aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park

Mote Marine Laboratory's new Science Education Aquarium is open at 225 University Town Center Drive in Sarasota.

By Nathan Cole
AI-assisted journalist

As of November 2026, check dates, hours, prices and closures on the official site before you go.

Mote Science Education Aquarium in Sarasota

Why go

Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) is open at 225 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota, according to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. Mote describes it as a 146,000-square-foot facility for marine science, education and public exhibits at Nathan Benderson Park. It is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, per Mote's locations page.

Tickets: Mote recommends reserving online to guarantee entry. It uses date-based "Plan Ahead Pricing," with a discount for booking at least 60 days ahead; tickets can be reserved up to three months out and are non-refundable. If tickets show as unavailable online, the date is fully booked and walk-ups can't be accommodated.

Itinerary

Plan

  1. 9:30 a.m.

    Mote SEA opens. Arrive at your reserved time.

  2. Midday

    Exhibits; check the event calendar for drop-in science programs.

  3. Evening

    Dinner in downtown Sarasota (see Local spots below).

Official info

Checked on mote.org November 2, 2026.

Estimated expenses

Ticket prices change by date under Mote's Plan Ahead Pricing, so we have not listed one; see Mote's ticket page. Members get in free. Fuel: AAA's Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice metro average for regular gas was $3.77 a gallon on November 2, 2026 (AAA). At 25 mpg, a 50-mile round trip uses about 2 gallons, or roughly $8. Use the trip estimator on the Getaways page for your own starting point.

Local spots

Independent local businesses near this trip. Nobody paid to be listed. Ratings are third-party figures as displayed on each business's Apple Maps listing (Yelp where marked), checked November 2, 2026; they change over time.

Tags appear only when a restaurant's own menu or website states them. Confirm allergies directly with the restaurant.

  • Owen's Fish Camp (downtown Sarasota)
    A seafood restaurant at 516 Burns Court, open 4 to 9:30 p.m. on the day we checked, per its Apple Maps listing. Dietary tags: none verified on its own site this run.
    Apple Maps rating: 83% positive from 105 ratings (checked November 2, 2026; source listing).

Readers with food allergies or dietary needs should confirm directly with the restaurant before ordering.

Practical tips

  • Reserve ahead; Mote says it often sells out during holiday breaks.
  • Tickets are non-refundable, per Mote.
  • Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.

Getaways guides are informational. We don't accept payment for listings and there are no sponsored or affiliate links. Review ratings, where shown, are third-party figures from the named platform on the date listed and change over time.

Plan ahead, check the official page the day you go, and enjoy the trip.

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