Siesta Beach
Photo from VisitSarastoa.com
Siesta Beach has been named as TripAdvisor’s best US beach in 2014 and 2015, among the top ten by National Geographic Traveler, and twice to the #1 spot on Dr. Beaches top beaches in the US. You can grill, grab takeout from nearby Siesta Market or Crescent Market and picnic while watching the sun set to the west over the turquoise water. Then head for a drink in the Village.
To see effects of hurricanes Helen and Milton in 2024 along with what is open on Siesta Key, watch Tampa Aerial Media’s 30-minute comprehensive update video. Frankly, the video also shows the beaches described in this section, so you may prefer to just watch it, albeit with commercials, then come back to review details in this section as needed.
Extensive parking is available and every amenity, except a swimming pool, is available at the main beach – Siesta – where Drum Circles happen every Sunday night with dancing and performances.
Siesta Beach has been named as TripAdvisor’s best US beach in 2014 and 2015, among the top ten by National Geographic Traveler, and twice to the #1 spot on Dr. Beaches top beaches in the US. You can grill, grab takeout from nearby Siesta Market or Crescent Market and picnic while watching the sun set to the west over the turquoise water. Then head for a drink in the Village.
To see effects of hurricanes Helen and Milton in 2024 along with what is open on Siesta Key, watch Tampa Aerial Media’s 30-minute comprehensive update video. Frankly, the video also shows the beaches described in this section, so you may prefer to just watch it, albeit with commercials, then come back to review details in this section as needed.
Extensive parking is available and every amenity, except a swimming pool, is available at the main beach – Siesta – where Drum Circles happen every Sunday night with dancing and performances.
Photo: Nancy R. on TripAdvisor, 10/2007
Photo; 51LisaZ on TripAdvisor, 9/2009
The Four Beaches
Siesta Key Village is 20 minutes by car south of downtown Sarasota, of course that is without traffic. Tamiami Trail (Rt. 41) is three lanes in each direction and moves along. But, it
can become a real slog as you near the bridges. There are two drawbridges; the northern Siesta Drive bridge goes to Bay Island and then through the Village, where there are public parking lots.
The southern Stickney Point Road bridge bypasses the traffic in the Village and main beach. Save time by taking it you are heading to Turtle Beach, which is far less crowded then Siesta Beach. There are four beaches shown in the picture to the right on Siesta Key. You can see the
The southern Stickney Point Road bridge bypasses the traffic in the Village and main beach. Save time by taking it you are heading to Turtle Beach, which is far less crowded then Siesta Beach. There are four beaches shown in the picture to the right on Siesta Key. You can see the
concentration of restaurants in the Village in the north end of the Key, and at the Stickney Point Road bridge.
Beach Access Points
On Siesta Key the town maintains public ways to the beach called Access Points. Use them to get on the beaches if you don’t want to stick with the main Siesta Beach which can get quite crowded. We’ll go through all the Siesta Key beaches and the best way to access them in this section, with details on parking at the access points.
First up upon driving over the bridge to Siesta Key is Shell Beach, which is described in the next section.
Beach Access Points
On Siesta Key the town maintains public ways to the beach called Access Points. Use them to get on the beaches if you don’t want to stick with the main Siesta Beach which can get quite crowded. We’ll go through all the Siesta Key beaches and the best way to access them in this section, with details on parking at the access points.
First up upon driving over the bridge to Siesta Key is Shell Beach, which is described in the next section.
