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Does Sarasota have a lot of beaches?
- Yes! There are a lot of great beaches in and around Sarasota, with several dozen miles of coastline to be enjoyed in this area.
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Are all Sarasota beaches the same?
- No, every beach is different, with some being better suited to certain activities, such as swimming, shelling, or sunbathing.
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How can I choose the right beach in Sarasota?
- If you’re planning a trip to Sarasota and want to visit the right beaches for you, read on for some key details and overviews of the area’s best beaches.
Best Time to Visit Sarasota Beaches
- March to May – Best overall time with warm temps, low humidity, and ideal beach conditions.
- June to August – Peak summer with hot weather, perfect for swimming and enjoying lively beach scenes.
- September to November – Fewer crowds, pleasant weather, and great for relaxing beach days.
- December to February – Mild winter escape with sunny skies and peaceful shorelines.
- Year-Round – Beaches like Siesta Key, Lido Key, and Longboat Key offer beauty and warm Gulf waters anytime.
⮕ Venice Beach
Explore unusual fossil hunting and enjoy sunny walks along shark tooth-filled shores.
This beach shares a name with the famous Venice Beach of Los Angeles, but it's not quite the same. Venice Beach in Sarasota is an extra special location and new visitors are blown away when they see what makes this beach so special. The nickname of Venice Beach is 'Shark Tooth Capital of the World' and this is because you simply can't walk along this beach without spotting some shark teeth that have been washed up onto the shore.
Many visitors end up taking a tooth or two home with them as unique souvenirs, and this beach is also fitted out with some great amenities like a boardwalk, concessions, and a picnic area. Outdoor showers can also be found here, along with restrooms, and lifeguards are always on duty to keep everyone safe.
⮕ Turtle Beach
Visit family-friendly picnic spots and watch for nesting turtles in summer.
As the name suggests, Turtle Beach is a very popular spot with sea turtles. Many of them can be seen nesting on the shore, making for a truly incredible site, and it's not uncommon to see dolphins in this area too. This Sarasota beach is situated on the southern part of Siesta Key and features a lot of useful amenities like a playing area for the kids, picnic areas, boat ramps, a boardwalk, and restrooms.
There are a couple of great restaurants right nearby too, as well as the very popular Turtle Beach Campground for visitors who want to spend the night on Siesta Key. Kayaking is quite popular at this location, and Turtle Beach is actually one of the least-visited beaches in Sarasota, so it's a good pick for people who want to avoid the crowds.
⮕ Caspersen Beach
Discover exciting shelling opportunities and walk along natural, undeveloped shoreline.
Head to Caspersen Beach to look for shells.
⮕ Longboat Key
Relax on romantic white sands and savor peaceful beachside escapes.
If you're looking for one of the purest, cleanest, most untouched stretches of beaches in all of Florida, Longboat Key is the place to visit.
⮕ Lido Beach
Enjoy affordable seaside fun and swim near shops and dining in Sarasota.
Situated over on Lido Key, Lido Beach is one of Sarasota's prettiest and most popular beaches. Unlike some of the other Sarasota beaches on our list, this one can get crowded sometimes, but there's plenty of space for every guest, so you never get the feeling that it's too busy. The white sands here are simply stunning and the water itself always seems to be warm, calm, and welcoming.
This beach offers easy access and a lot of great amenities like chair and umbrella rentals, concession stands, a nearby restaurant, and more. There's also a community swimming pool at Lido Beach which is open for most of the year. It costs a few dollars to gain access to the pool, but if you're interested in taking a swim and relaxing with family or friends, it's a great spot to do so.
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