Longboat Key Beaches
Longboat Key is part of Sarasota, see the photo to the right. It has mile after mile of beautiful, sugary sand beaches. The beaches are all public, but as private condo complexes line the
Photo: Visit Sarasota County on Facebook
shore, you need to use the pathways between the condos to access the beach. While there are many of these, 12 are designated as “public” of which about ten have some parking nearby, which is shown on the map below.
Use your GPS to locate them while driving north on Gulf of Mexico Drive and park when you see an open spot. Information about the 12 public beach accesses is here. Each is marked with a “Public Beach Access” sign.
There’s nothing out there – no tiki-bars, bathrooms, concessions or lifeguards. Just miles of gorgeous beach, so come with an umbrella, suntan lotion and food/drink. However, at 4052 Gulf Drive there is extensive parking for the Bayfront Park on LB Key, open 5am to 11pm, which has a 1,350 square foot indoor Recreation Center, a playground, a basketball court, shuffleboard courts, a multi-purpose open field, three pickleball courts, a tennis court, picnic tables, restrooms and parking for a public beach access located point located across the street.
There are even Level 2 charging stations available and a dog park where unleashing a dog is mandatory. So if you don’t see a spot along the way, half-way down the key look for the park on the right as the best option to find a spot to access LB Key’s beach.
Use your GPS to locate them while driving north on Gulf of Mexico Drive and park when you see an open spot. Information about the 12 public beach accesses is here. Each is marked with a “Public Beach Access” sign.
There’s nothing out there – no tiki-bars, bathrooms, concessions or lifeguards. Just miles of gorgeous beach, so come with an umbrella, suntan lotion and food/drink. However, at 4052 Gulf Drive there is extensive parking for the Bayfront Park on LB Key, open 5am to 11pm, which has a 1,350 square foot indoor Recreation Center, a playground, a basketball court, shuffleboard courts, a multi-purpose open field, three pickleball courts, a tennis court, picnic tables, restrooms and parking for a public beach access located point located across the street.
There are even Level 2 charging stations available and a dog park where unleashing a dog is mandatory. So if you don’t see a spot along the way, half-way down the key look for the park on the right as the best option to find a spot to access LB Key’s beach.
The furthest south beach, Little Beach, is pretty unknown. It is on the bay and is accessed by visiting Quick Point Nature Preserve which has parking. Quick Point has an easy 0.8 mile trail (no dogs allowed). It’s a kid friendly place with a small board walk and lookout point. There are a couple tiki-covered picnic areas. Probably no bathrooms. The beach is tiny (Signage: No Nudity!) but dolphins swim by.
Photos by Cherie L., 4/27/2023 on Yelp.com
