Venice, Florida
Brohard Beach & Paw Park
Two beaches share this park on Harbor Drive S, and they could not be less alike. Off-leash dogs get their own stretch of sand and a fenced play yard at Brohard Paw Park, while South Brohard beside it is humans only. It is the only dog-friendly beach in Sarasota County, and a Venice institution for sunrise walks.
Current Status Notice
Brohard Beach and Paw Park is open with free parking on Harbor Drive S. The Paw Park runs on city hours of 7 a.m. to dusk. Note that the adjacent Caspersen Beach lot remains closed after the 2024 storms: visitors heading there park here and walk or ride in along the Venetian Waterway Park trail.
At a Glance
- Parking
- Free
- Dogs
- Off-leash zone
- Paw Park hours
- 7 a.m. to dusk
- Restrooms
- Yes, adjacent
- Dog showers
- Yes
- Fishing pier
- Next door
- Boardwalk
- Wheelchair-accessible
- Lifeguards
- Seasonal
01 · Location
Location
Brohard Park sits on Harbor Drive S in Venice, about a mile south of downtown, with the Gulf on one side and the Venetian Waterway Park trail on the other. The Venice Fishing Pier is at the same park, and Caspersen Beach begins about a mile and a half further south along the same road.
02 · Parking
Parking
- Free parking at Brohard Park, on the Harbor Drive S side of the beach.
- This is also the practical overflow lot for Caspersen Beach, which is walk-in only right now: park here and follow the Venetian Waterway Park trail south.
- Peak season weekends fill the free lots; the fishing pier lot a short walk north is the backup.
03 · Facilities
Facilities
- Restrooms adjacent to the dog beach
- Dog showers and rinse water for after the sand
- Waste bags and dispensers at the Paw Park
- A fenced off-leash play yard beside the designated beach area
- A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk and shower areas at South Brohard
- Sharky's on the Pier restaurant and the fishing pier at the north end of the park
04 · Accessibility
Accessibility
- A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk runs through South Brohard toward the Gulf.
- The level parking-to-boardwalk route at the pier end of the park makes a full loop possible for visitors with limited mobility; confirm seasonal conditions with the city before visiting.
05 · Dogs & Pets
Dogs & Pets
Off-leash dogs are welcome at Brohard Paw Park, the only dog-friendly beach in Sarasota County, within the designated beach area and the fenced play yard. City hours are 7 a.m. to dusk. Free parking, dog showers, waste bags and adjacent restrooms make it an easy stop.
South Brohard, beside it, is humans only, with boardwalks and showers and none of the dog sand. Pick your side before you park: the leashes stay in the car on the Paw Park side and stay on at South Brohard.
06 · Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Sharky's on the Pier sits at the north end of the same park, beachfront at the base of the fishing pier, with food, drinks and live music most evenings. Historic downtown Venice is a mile north for cafes and restaurants, and the dining guide has the full Venice list.
07 · Chairs & Umbrellas
Chairs & Umbrellas
No on-beach chair and umbrella rentals are confirmed at Brohard. Bring your own chairs, blankets and shade, plus water for yourself and the dog. The dog park side is a beach day for the whole pack, so pack light and keep hands free for the leash.
08 · Water & Activities
Water & Activities
- Off-leash swimming for dogs in the designated beach area at the Paw Park: the only legal dog swim beach in Sarasota County
- Swimming for humans at South Brohard, with showers and boardwalk access
- The Venice Fishing Pier, about 700 feet over the Gulf: free, open 24/7, no Florida license required per city guidance; Papa's Bait Shop has tackle, rod rentals and bait
- Sunrise and sunset walks on the flat, paved trails of the Venetian Waterway Park at the park's inland edge
- Shark-tooth hunting picks up along this shoreline too, though Caspersen remains the classic spot a bit further south.
09 · Best For
Best For
10 · Important Rules
Important Rules
- Off-leash dogs belong in the designated Paw Park beach area and fenced play yard only, city hours 7 a.m. to dusk.
- South Brohard beside the Paw Park is humans only, leashes stay on; dogs are not allowed on that sand.
- Glass containers are prohibited on Sarasota County beaches; pick up after your dog and use the waste stations.
- Dogs are permitted on no Sarasota County beach except Brohard Paw Park; South Brohard and the beach near the pier are off limits to dogs. Check current city and county postings, which can vary.
- Check the day's conditions before swimming: beach flag status, visitbeaches.org and Florida Healthy Beaches advisories cover rip currents, red tide and water quality.
Plan your Brohard Beach day
Official City of Venice Paw Park page, directions and the Venice beach roundup.