SARASOTA COUNTY BEACHES

From the famous white sands of Siesta Beach to the shark

tooth fossils that inexplicably wash up along Brohard
Beach, Sarasota County’s beaches are consistently ranked
among the best in the world. Use this guide to find the
best place to spend your family’s beach vacation.

North Lido Beach

400 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236
North Lido Beach is located on Lido Key, one quarter mile northwest of St. Armand’s Circle, off John Ringling
Blvd. The beach is easy to get to, yet visitors experience privacy. Caution must be used when swimming at this
beach for there are no lifeguards on duty and the currents are very swift.

Amenities:
 77 acres of land  nature trail  swimming
 3,000 linear feet of gulf  No lifeguards on duty.  undeveloped land
beach frontage  parking
 fishing  passive recreation

History:
 North Lido Beach was purchased by the City of Sarasota in 1977.
 The beach is still city owned, but county operated and maintained.
 During December of 1990, the City Commission approved a three step North Lido Management Plan
developed by the Sarasota County Parks and Recreation . The plan, which has been created in order to
maintain and preserve the natural beach, was implemented in January 1991. It includes a cleanup campaign,
protection of nesting birds, designation of a trail system, and vegetation management.
 The beach is easy to get to, yet visitors can experience privacy.
 Please use caution when swimming at this beach for there are no lifeguards on duty and the currents are
very swift.
 

Lido Beach
400 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236
Lido Beach is located on Lido Key, one half mile southwest of St. Armand’s Circle, on Ben Franklin Drive.

Amenities:

 15 acres of land  handicapped accessible  playground equipment

 3,100 linear feet of gulf observation decks  recreation building
beach frontage  indoor rental,  rest rooms
 400 parking spaces swimming.  swimming
  beach wheelchairs  Lifeguards are on
 concessions duty year round.
 gift shop  picnicking

History:
 Since the opening of Lido Key to automobile traffic in 1926, Lido Beach has been a popular spot for
bathers.
 In August of that year John Ringling, Samuel Gumpertz, and Owen Burns built a $30,000 pavilion, dock
and bathhouses south of the present park.
 In May of 1940, the Lido Beach Casino opened on a 1300 foot section of Lido Beach which the City of
Sarasota had purchased from the John Ringling Estate.
 Designed by Ralph Twitchell and funded partially by federal WPA money, the $250,000 Casino combined
Art Deco, Modern and Frank Lloyd Wright features to create a sparkling modern structure which became a
magnet for residents and visitors.
 By the end of the 1950’s poor management had resulted in a deteriorated building and an operational debt.
A bond issue to remodel and modernize the Casino passed in 1964, but the building was demolished in 1969
before any work was done.
 The remodeling and modernizing took the form of a new building which was designed by Edward J. “Tim”
Seibert and opened in 1970.
 This site became the responsibility of Sarasota County to operate and maintain as the result of the
consolidation of the City of Sarasota and County Parks and Recreation on April 1, 1990.
 (city owned, county operated)
 

South Lido Beach

190 Taft Dr. and 2201 Ben Franklin Dr., Sarasota, FL 34236
South Lido park is located on Ben Franklin Drive at the southern tip of Lido Key. The 100 acre park interacts with
four significant bodies of water; The Gulf of Mexico, Big Pass, Sarasota Bay and Brushy Bayou. The southern,
beach portion of the park offers expansive views of the emerging skyline of downtown Sarasota and the Gulf of
Mexico. It also has a great picnic area that is shaded by towering Australian Pines. A separate facility at the north
end of the park offers its own nature trail which includes scenic overlooks and boardwalks. Also, at the northern
portion of the park are rest room facilities, a picnic area, a canoe launch, and a self guided canoe trail.
 
Amenities:
 100 acres of land  fishing fitness/jogging  passive recreation area
 640 linear feet of gulf trail  picnicking
beach frontage  grills  play equipment
 3,500 linear feet of Big  Lifeguards on duty  observation tower and
Pass frontage during weekends from decks
 Designated swimming Memorial Day to Labor  rest rooms
areas are marked due to Day.  swimming
very swift currents.  multi-purpose field  undeveloped land
 canoeing, self-guided  nature trails (2)
trail  parking areas
 Siesta Beach
948 Beach Road, Sarasota, FL 34242
This beach has been ranked #1 in the world by multiple sources, including the famed Dr. Beach. Siesta Beach is
known as one of the most beautiful beaches found anywhere. At the “Great International White Sand Beach
Challenge”, Siesta Beach was recognized as having the, “whitest and finest sand in the world.” Shallow water depth
in the near shore areas together with year round lifeguard protection, make this one of the safest most popular
beaches in the County.

Amenities:
 40 acres of land at this  grills  Sand
beach  Lifeguards are on Sculpturing Contest
 2,400 linear feet of gulf duty year round.  Sandy Claws
beach frontage  pavilion Arts and Crafts
 available for rental:  playground equipment Festival
group size picnic  rest rooms  Sandy Claws
shelters(2)  safety building which Beach Run
 13 beach accesses includes an information  “Say I Do
along Beach Road with area Again”
limited parking  Special events  small size picnic
 20 station fitness trail throughout the year shelters(8)
 800 space parking lot including:  soccer field
 ball field  Kids’ Summer  tennis courts(4 lighted)
 beach wheelchairs Fun Run Series  tree shaded picnicking
 concessions  volleyball courts(10)
 

Turtle Beach
8918 Midnight Pass Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242
Primarily used by locals, this beach has many of the same qualities as Siesta Beach without all the traffic. It’s ‘our
little secret’ beach and tends to be more relaxing.

Amenities:

 2,600 linear feet of  fishing  playground

beach frontage  horseshoe pits  restrooms
 boat ramps  parking area  swimming
 canoe / kayak launch  picnic shelters  volleyball court
area  grills
 

Nokomis Beach
901 Casey Key Road, Nokomis, FL 34275
Nokomis Beach is located on Casey Key directly west of the Albee Road Bridge. It is Sarasota County’s oldest
public beach. This is a family oriented beach and is also popular for fishing and picnicking.

Amenities:
 23 acres of land  concession stand  picnicking
 1,700 linear feet of gulf  dune walkovers  rest rooms
beach frontage  Lifeguards are on  small picnic shelters
 3,200 linear feet of duty year round.  swimming
Intercostal frontage  parking  
 boardwalk and deck  passive recreation area
 boat ramps (2)  pavilion
Brohard Beach
1600 Harbor Drive South, Venice, FL 34285
Brohard Beach is located in the southern most part of the City of Venice, on the Venice Airport property on Harbor
Drive.

Amenities:
 84 acres of land  great  bird watching  Sharky’s Restaurant
 4,800 linear feet of  limited parking  snack bar
shoreline along the Gulf  passive recreation area  swimming
of Mexico  paw park  United States Coast
 bait shop  Pelican Man Sanctuary Guard Flotilla Training
 City of Venice  picnicking Center
municipal fishing pier  No Lifeguards are on  wetlands
 dog friendly beach duty
 fishing  rest rooms
 

Brohard Beach – Paws Park

1600 Harbor Drive South, Venice, FL 34285
Brohard Beach is located in the southernmost part of the City of Venice, on the Venice Airport property on Harbor
Drive.

Amenities:
 Dog Friendly  great  bird watching  Sharky’s Restaurant
 84 acres of land  limited parking  snack bar
 4,800 linear feet of  passive recreation area  swimming
shoreline along the Gulf  paw park  United States Coast
of Mexico  Pelican Man Sanctuary Guard Flotilla Training
 bait shop  picnicking Center
 City of Venice  No Lifeguards are on  wetlands
municipal fishing pier duty
 fishing  rest rooms
 

Manasota Beach
8570 Manasota Key Road, Manasota Key, FL 34223
Manasota Beach is located at the west end of Manasota Beach Road. The beach is situated between the Gulf and the
Intercostal Waterway. As a convenience on the Intercostals side, a boat ramp and docking facilities are available
allowing access to the Bays and Gulf. The 620 feet of dockage becomes a scenic boardwalk that meanders through
the mangroves. A wonderful place to spend your leisure time whether you are interested in swimming, boating,
fishing, walking, collecting shells.

Amenities:
 14 acres gulf to bay  fishing  picnic shelter- large
 1,394 linear feet of gulf  Joseph Daniel  picnic shelters- small 7
beach frontage Anderson picnic shelter  picnicking
 boat ramps (2)  Lifeguards are on  rest rooms
 boardwalk duty year round.  swimming
 docking facilities  parking area  volleyball courts: 1
 dune walkovers  passive recreation area outdoor/beach