Siesta Key, Sarasota
Siesta Beach
Sarasota's signature beach: fine quartz sand that stays cool underfoot, gentle surf, full amenities and year-round lifeguards. If you only visit one Sarasota beach, this is usually the one, best for families, first-timers and anyone who wants everything in one parking lot.
At a Glance
- Parking
- Free, large lot
- Lifeguards
- Yes, year-round
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Fishing
- Shore fishing
- Food
- Concessions
- Chair rentals
- Yes, on site
- Wheelchairs
- Yes, free
01 · Location
Location
The main beach park is at 948 Beach Road on Siesta Key, about 15 minutes by car from downtown Sarasota across the Stickney Point Road bridge. The famous quartz-sand beach runs for about a mile along the Gulf, with the pavilion, lifeguard stands and concessions clustered around the main beach house.
02 · Parking
Parking
- Free parking in the main lot, roughly 850 spaces, per Sarasota County.
- County lot hours are about 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with no overnight parking. The wet-sand shoreline stays open 24 hours.
- RVs and trailers have designated spaces in the main lot.
- Peak season fills the lot by mid-morning. When it is full, use the smaller county access lots along Beach Road and walk, or park in Siesta Village and take the free Siesta Key trolley if it is running.
03 · Facilities
Facilities
- Restrooms and outdoor showers
- Historic pavilion with two concession stands
- Playground and volleyball courts
- Rentable group picnic pavilions
- On-site chair and umbrella rentals
- Lifeguard stands with the county flag system
Lifeguards are on duty year-round, roughly 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the off season and 10 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. in summer, per Sarasota County.
04 · Accessibility
Accessibility
- An access mat (Mobi-Mat) extends roughly 454 feet across the sand toward the Gulf, per Sarasota County.
- Free beach wheelchairs are available year-round, signed out at the main pavilion concession stand.
- Outside concession hours, call Sarasota County at 311 to arrange a wheelchair pickup.
05 · Dogs & Pets
Dogs & Pets
Dogs are not allowed on Siesta Beach. Sarasota County prohibits pets on all its Gulf beaches. The only legal off-leash dog beach in Sarasota County is Brohard Paw Park in Venice, about 25 minutes south, and Ken Thompson Park on City Island allows leashed dogs on the bayfront. See the pet-friendly guide for the details.
06 · Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Two concession stands operate out of the historic pavilion, the Sun Deck and the Sand Pavilion, with breakfast in the morning and food, drinks and snacks through the day, plus beachside delivery in season when weather allows. Siesta Village is a short drive north for sit-down dining, and the dining guide has a full roundup.
07 · Chairs & Umbrellas
Chairs & Umbrellas
Yes. The on-beach rental concession operates daily from about 9 a.m. and rents chairs, umbrellas and loungers from a booth near the concession stand. On busy days inventory sells out, so arrive early or bring your own.
08 · Water & Activities
Water & Activities
- Swimming in lifeguarded, usually gentle Gulf surf
- Shore fishing (a Florida saltwater license is required for most anglers 16 and older)
- Volleyball courts near the pavilion
- Shelling along the wet-sand line at low tide
- No kayak launch at the main beach. Paddlers head to Turtle Beach or South Lido Park instead.
- Snorkeling is best on calm, flat days; visibility varies.
09 · Best For
Best For
10 · Important Rules
Important Rules
- No dogs on the sand (Sarasota County).
- Glass containers are prohibited on all Sarasota County beaches.
- Alcohol is allowed for adults 21 and older; no open flames on the sand, use the provided grills and barbecue areas.
- Parking lots close around 10 p.m. and overnight parking is not allowed.
- May through October is sea turtle nesting season: fill in sand holes, remove beach furniture and trash at night, and keep lights off the beach after dark.
Plan your Siesta Beach day
Official Sarasota County park page and directions.