The Gulf Coast has some of the best beaches in America. A lot of our visitors ask which beach is the best in the Sarasota area and that’s an easy question to answer on its face, but like all things in this world, it depends on what you want from your beach day.

Siesta Key Beach is almost always ranked the top beach in Florida for so many reasons. For one, the beach is immense – both waterfront and the amount of beach back from the water’s edge. The white sand is 99% quartz, which means it never gets hot to touch. There are 976 parking spaces, tennis and volleyball courts, picnic areas, a snack bar and more. The water is shallow so the little kids can play without too much worrying about a big wave knocking them over. Siesta Key Beach is our top choice for anyone that hasn’t seen it – It’s a must visit for any visitors.

Here is a list of all the beaches within an hour of Sarasota. I’ve been to them all – they’re all amazing for different reasons.

Beaches by Location

Longboat Key

Bean Point Beach: 793 N Shore Dr, Anna Maria, FL 34216
Anna Maria / Manatee Public Beach: 4000 State Road 64 and Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
Cortez Beach: 698 Gulf Dr S, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Coquina Beach: Gulf Dr S, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Whitney Beach: 7000-7098 Seabreeze Ave, Longboat Key, FL 34228
Bayfront Park Beach: 4001 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key, FL 34228
Lido Key Beach: 400 Benjamin Franklin Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236

Sarasota

Siesta Key Beach: 948 Beach Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242
Crescent Beach: Stickney Point Rd, Siesta Key, FL 34242
Turtle Beach: 9000 Blind Pass Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242

Nokomis

Casey Key Beach: Casey Key Rd, Nokomis, FL 34275
Nokomis Beach: 115 S Casey Key Rd, Nokomis, FL 34275
North Jetty Beach: 1000 S Casey Key Rd, Nokomis, FL 34275

Venice

South Jetty Beach: 2000 Tarpon Center Dr, Venice, FL 34285
Venice Beach: 101 The Esplanade S, Venice, FL 34285
Venice Fishing Pier: 1600 Harbor Dr S, Venice, FL 34285
Paw Park Beach: 1850 Harbor Dr S, Venice, FL 34285
Casperson Beach: 4100 Harbor Dr, Venice, FL 34285
Manasota Key Beach: 8570 Manasota Key Rd, Englewood, FL 34223

Englewood

Blind Pass Beach: 7770 Manasota Key Rd, Englewood, FL 34223
Englewood Public Beach: 2095N Beach Rd, Englewood, FL 34223
Stump Pass Beach: Stump Pass Beach State Park, 935 Gulf Blvd, Englewood, FL 34223
Gasparilla Island State Park: 880 Belcher Rd, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Boca Royale Beach: 777 Gulf Blvd, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Gasparilla Island Lighthouse: 220 Gulf Blvd, Boca Grande, FL 33921