Quartz sand, top-ranked

99% quartz-crystal sand that stays cool underfoot, lifeguards daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year round, two concession stands and free beach wheelchairs. Dogs are not permitted.

Quiet stretch

The quieter, undeveloped stretch of Siesta Key with small free lots and no on-sand facilities. Bring what you need.

Family pick

Free parking, restrooms, a playground and picnic areas at the quieter south end of Siesta Key. Details stay thin where unverified.

Steps from St. Armands

Soft white sand next to St. Armands Circle dining. Free pavilion lot parking with some metered street parking on Ben Franklin Drive. Dogs are not permitted.

Nature + kayak launch

Beach access at Lido Key’s south end with nature trails and a kayak launch. This is a park beach access, not an open Gulf beach: the sand is on the bay and pass side.

Bayfront, not Gulf

A bayfront park and marina on Sarasota Bay, not a Gulf beach: lawns, playground and the marina on bay water. Pick it for a park day and city-water views.

Oldest public beach

Sarasota County’s oldest public beach: free parking that fills fast in season, year-round lifeguards, a canoe and kayak launch, a 1954 historic pavilion and the sunset drum circle Wednesdays and Saturdays. Dogs are not permitted.

Jetty, fishing & surf

County park at the north jetty of Venice Inlet: free parking, lifeguards, fishing, surfing and boat-watching. The North Jetty walkway is open.

1964 sail pavilion

The city’s in-town beach at the west end of Venice Avenue: free parking, county lifeguards available, a food concession, restrooms, two sand volleyball courts and the iconic 1964 sail pavilion. Blue Wave certified.

County’s only dog beach

The 700-foot Venice Fishing Pier plus Brohard Paw Park, Sarasota County’s only off-leash dog beach, open daily 7 a.m. to dusk with separate small and large fenced sections. South Brohard beside it is humans only.

Shark tooth capital

Largely natural and one of the longest undeveloped stretches in the county, with a boardwalk, nature trail and kayak launch. The top shark-tooth hunting beach; walk-in access while its parking is closed.

Island south beach

The southern beach on Anna Maria Island: roughly 857 free parking spaces, lifeguards, restrooms, showers, changing cabanas, playground, volleyball, grills, pavilions and an on-beach cafe with free beach wheelchairs. No pets on any Manatee County beach; no alcohol, no glass.

Wide shallow entry

Central island beach at Holmes Beach with lifeguards daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., restrooms, showers and a snack bar. No pets on any Manatee County beach.

Bay swimming

Four acres at the north tip of Anna Maria Island with playgrounds, picnic tables and grills, restrooms and showers, calm shallow bay water and views of the Sunshine Skyway. A bayfront park with bay swimming, not a Gulf beach.

Five islands + dog beach

Pinellas County park reached via the Pinellas Bayway (cashless tolls): five interconnected islands, a historic fort, fishing piers, a recreation trail, the PAW Playground dog park and a separate off-leash dog park beach. No lifeguards on the park beaches: swim at your own risk.

Wide Gulf sand

The classic Gulf beach town west of St. Petersburg with a long public beachfront. Verified details only here: check current access and metered parking before you go.

ADA mat path

Metered parking via ParkMobile, Gulf Front Park with an ADA mat path to the sand, and beach wheelchairs rented at City Hall. Dogs are not allowed on most of the beachfront except a small section at the southeastern tip.

Beach plus a fishing village

Beach access lots sit west of Gulf Boulevard with metered parking, and John’s Pass anchors fishing, boating and waterfront dining at the south end of town. Verified items only: check current access and parking before you go.

900-ft boardwalk

Englewood’s main Gulf beach at the north end of Manasota Key with a 900-foot boardwalk and three covered lookouts, restrooms, showers, volleyball, basketball, horseshoe pits, a playground and pavilions with picnic tables and grills. Beach wheelchairs available 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parking reopened per 2026 sources: subject to change.

Sunset favorite

Free parking, restrooms, a canoe and kayak launch, fishing, grills, a picnic shelter, playground and swimming, popular for sunsets. No lifeguards; pets are not allowed on the beach.

Natural Gulf sand

Pavilions, picnic tables, restrooms, a lifeguard station, outdoor showers, free parking and boat ramps on the Sarasota County end of Manasota Key. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

Quiet natural beach

Florida state park at the south end of Manasota Key open 8 a.m. to sunset with a per-vehicle entry fee, no lifeguards, a quieter natural beach and good shelling and fishing. Pavilion availability is unverified.

River beach, not Gulf

A sandy beach along the Caloosahatchee River, NOT a Gulf beach: a 640-foot fishing pier, a seasonal public pool, racquetball, shuffleboard, horseshoe pits and grilling and picnic areas. The park is undergoing redevelopment with temporary restroom trailers: subject to change.

Nearest classic Gulf beach

The nearest classic Gulf beach for the Cape Coral and Fort Myers area, on Estero Island: the Times Square area has metered parking and beach accesses line Estero Blvd. Subject to change after storm recovery: check current conditions.

Leashed dogs allowed

At the west end of Estero Island (50 Estero Blvd): metered parking, open sunrise to half an hour past sunset, accessible, and leashed dogs are allowed on the beach. Subject to change.

Shelling capital

Regional option connected by the Sanibel Causeway, known for shelling, including Bowman’s Beach and the causeway beaches. Leashed dogs are allowed year round on most Sanibel beaches. Keep verified details only: check the city beach page for status.