Sarasota City Beaches
There aren’t many public beaches on the bay in the downtown Sarasota area as beaches, when they exist, are usually part of private condo complexes. After extensive study, we’ve found just two bay front swimming beaches in mainland Sarasota.
Indian Beach is public park with swimming facilities near town, but it’s three miles north (a ten-minute drive) from the city center. Also there are some tiny beaches tucked into Bayfront Park, which is right in the downtown area. We’ll review them below.
Indian Beach is public park with swimming facilities near town, but it’s three miles north (a ten-minute drive) from the city center. Also there are some tiny beaches tucked into Bayfront Park, which is right in the downtown area. We’ll review them below.
Indian Beach Park
This one-acre public is tucked away with no designated parking. It has a 300-foot beach, although sometime not much is uncovered at high tide. Probably best reached on bicycle, or the ever-available Veo shared scooters, it is a serene spot where swimming is allowed.
Photo to the right by Sarasota Photography
With no services (rest rooms, lifeguards, etc.) available, it is more of a neighborhood beach for dog walking and watching sunsets, which is possible when you face west over water.
Bayfront Park
The public Bayfront Park has small spots, the Park is described in detail in this writer’s VisitSarasotaNow.com website.
Man-made, Bayfront Park was created out of the dredged material from the construction of the marina. It has free
extensive parking for up to four hours nearby. There are small beaches set into the rock and rubble along the coast line. There is a restroom in the park, along with a tiki bar and restaurant. There is also a splash fountain for the kids.
Image from TheSwimGuide.org
There won’t be much privacy as these beaches are right off the path that runs around the peninsula. However, you can sunbath on the grass in the park and use the tiny beaches when you feel taking a dip to cool off. Or sit at the nearby water-side tiki bar for a snack and drink.
Extensive searches fail to bring up other beach options south of Sarasota on the mainland, until you head south to Venice. It seems everyone prefers the ocean front beaches on the barrier reef islands to swimming in the bay.
Extensive searches fail to bring up other beach options south of Sarasota on the mainland, until you head south to Venice. It seems everyone prefers the ocean front beaches on the barrier reef islands to swimming in the bay.
The next section reviews beaches on the keys associated with Sarasota, starting with the northernmost Anna Maria Island or AMI.
