Siesta Key Public Beach

Siesta Beach is located on Beach Road on Siesta Key. Siesta Beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the world. It is recognized as having the whitest and finest sand in the world.
Click the image for a slide show of beaches on Siesta Key.
Unlike beaches elsewhere that are made up mostly of coral, Siesta Beach's sand is 99% quartz. Even on the hottest days, the sand is so reflective that it feels cool under foot. It's estimated that the sand on Siesta Beach is millions of years old, and started in the Appalachians and flowed down the rivers and was eventually deposited on the shores of Siesta Key.

Shallow water depth in the near shore area together with year round lifeguard protection, makes this one of the safest beaches in the County. Although there are more than 900 parking spaces, you better get there early if you want one. If you're staying on Siesta Key, there are plenty of public access points to the beach so it's a short walk from most of the north end of the key.

The beach's amenities include:

• rest rooms
• picnic tables
• volleyball courts (on the beach)
• tennis courts
• concession
• lounge & umbrella rentals
• playground equipment
• showers (outdoor)

Lifeguards are on duty year round. The lifeguard stands have been painted in primary colors to make it easier to keep track of where you and your children are. The stands are yellow, blue, green and red. Hopefully, it will cut down on problems of lost children.

For information on renting picnic shelters call 941-861-5000.

Turtle Beach

Turtle Beach is located on Midnight Pass Road near the south end of Siesta Key. It features a large picnic shelter and is very popular for family outings.
In the center of the park is Blind Pass Lagoon which connects to Little Sarasota Bay. Free boat ramps allow easy access to and from the Bay.
Although the sand at Turtle Beach isn't as fine as it is farther up the key, it makes up the difference in privacy. Here you'll be able to walk for miles down the beach. Since the closing of Midnight Pass, you can walk all the way down Casey Key.

Look carefully in the sand, and you'll find prehistoric petrified sharks teeth that are millions of years old.
Although the teeth you'll find on Turtle Beach won't be as nice as what you can find on Venice Beach just a little way south, the example here, shows that a little searching can turn up a nice sample.

The beach's amenities include:

• rest rooms
• a building for meetings
• boat ramps
• large group picnic shelters
• small picnic shelters
• horseshoe courts
• volleyball court
• playground equipment
• dune walkovers

There are no lifeguards on duty. For shelter rental information call
941-861-5000.

Palmer Point

Palmer Point Beach begins at the southern tip of Siesta Key and continues onto the north end of Casey Key. The northern part of the beach was the former home of Mote Marine Laboratory. Since the closing of Midnight Pass in 1984, the beach allows uninterrupted walking all the way down Casey Key.

The beach is a popular spot for boaters and people who walk there from Turtle Beach seeking some privacy.
There are no lifeguards and no facilities. The beach is a favorite spot for kayakers, fishing and SUP.

There is no parking and it is only accessible by walking north from Casey Key or south from Turtle Beach at the end of Blind Pass Road.

At beaches where lifeguards are on duty you'll find information on water conditions and temperatures. Be sure to pay attention to the flags flying and their color:

Green: All clear or good swimming conditions.

Yellow: Use caution for potentially high surf or dangerous currents and undertows.

One red flag means that the surf is high or there are dangerous currents, or both. Two red flags or a red flag with a swimmer symbol and white line through it indicate the water is closed to swimming, as conditions are too dangerous for even the strongest swimmers.

Purple: Hazardous Marine Life.