Nokomis / Casey Key
Nokomis Beach
Sarasota County's oldest public beach, at the north end of Casey Key, and the beating heart of old-school beach culture here: year-round lifeguards, a fishing pier, a bay-side kayak launch and the free sunset drum circle that has drawn locals for decades.
At a Glance
- Parking
- Free, ~325 spaces
- Lifeguards
- Yes, year-round
- Restrooms
- Yes, both sides
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Fishing
- Pier + shore
- Food
- Concession + bait
- Kayak launch
- Yes, bay side
- Wheelchairs
- Yes, free
01 · Location
Location
Nokomis Beach Park is at 100 Casey Key Road in Nokomis, right where Casey Key Road meets the Gulf. From downtown Sarasota it is roughly 25 minutes south; from Venice, about 10 minutes north. The park spans the width of the island here, with the Gulf beach on one side and the bay and launch on the other.
02 · Parking
Parking
- Free parking in the main lot, roughly 325 gravel and sand spaces, with no time limit per Sarasota County.
- The lot fills up in peak season, especially around sunset. Extra free spaces line stretches of Casey Key Road, when posted.
- County lot hours are about 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with no overnight parking.
03 · Facilities
Facilities
- Restrooms on both the beach side and the bay side, plus outdoor showers
- Historic open-air pavilion with picnic tables, shelters and grills
- Playground and volleyball court
- Fishing pier and a bait shop
- On-beach concession stand
- Boat ramp plus canoe and kayak launch on the bay side
04 · Accessibility
Accessibility
- ADA parking and accessible restrooms are listed at the park.
- Free beach wheelchairs are available year-round from the lifeguards, roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., per Sarasota County.
- Outside lifeguard hours, contact the Sarasota County ADA office at 311 to arrange a chair.
05 · Dogs & Pets
Dogs & Pets
Dogs are not allowed at Nokomis Beach; signs are posted and the beach is a sea turtle nesting area. The nearest legal off-leash dog beach is Brohard Paw Park in Venice, about 10 minutes south. See the pet-friendly guide.
06 · Food & Drink
Food & Drink
A concession stand works the beach and a bait shop serves the anglers. For a sit-down meal, casual restaurants line the Casey Key Road corridor and downtown Nokomis is minutes away; the dining guide has suggestions.
07 · Chairs & Umbrellas
Chairs & Umbrellas
Chair and umbrella rentals are not confirmed at Nokomis Beach; bring your own. The concession stand sells snacks and drinks, and the drum-circle crowd customarily brings blankets, drums and folding chairs.
08 · Water & Activities
Water & Activities
- Swimming in lifeguarded Gulf water, year-round guards roughly 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
- Fishing from the pier or the beach; a Florida saltwater license is required for most anglers 16 and older.
- Kayaking and paddleboarding from the bay-side launch, with calm protected water behind the island.
- The drum circle: an informal local gathering near the lifeguard tower on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, warming up about an hour before sunset.
- Shelling and occasional shark-tooth finds along the shell line at low tide.
- Boat ramp available for powerboats heading into the bay or the Gulf.
09 · Best For
Best For
10 · Important Rules
Important Rules
- No dogs on the beach or at the park.
- Glass containers are prohibited on all Sarasota County beaches.
- Grilling only in the provided grills and pavilion barbecue areas; no open fires.
- The park and parking lots close around 10 p.m.; overnight parking is not allowed.
- Sea turtle nesting season, May through October: fill holes, remove beach furniture and trash at night, and keep lights off the beach.
Plan your Nokomis Beach day
Official Sarasota County park page and directions.