The 15 Best Beaches in Venice, Florida

Planning your next beach vacation to Florida? Escape the winter blues and warm up on the best beaches in Venice, FL. Located in Sarasota County, Venice is minutes away from dozens of beautiful beaches, each offering its own take on the perfect beach day.

Travelers seeking fun-filled afternoons trading jet skis, snorkeling, and volleyball will be well looked after around Venice. With some remote barrier islands close by, you can also easily find your own private patch of sand to watch the world go by. One thing is certain: soft white sand and sparkling blue ocean come standard here.

Ready to plan a sun-soaked Venice beach vacation? Find your paradise on one of these favorite Venice beaches.

Top-rated Venice, FL, beaches

Venice Beach

Perched on the western end of Venice Avenue near the historic downtown, Venice Beach is a local favorite. With its ease of access, rolling dunes, balmy ocean, and golden sand, this popular beach a must-visit.

Venice Beach

Officially known as Venice Municipal Beach, the stretch of sand lets those staying downtown enjoy a brief walk to the beautiful shoreline. There’s also free parking here. It’s limited, however, so arrive early. Near the parking area, you’ll find a food concession stand that’s handy for a midday feed.

After crossing the dunes to arrive at Venice Beach, you’ll have no shortage of fun things to do. It’s one of the top spots for surfing along the Gulf Coast. The nearby coral reef also teems with exotic marine life. On dry land, make use of the sand volleyball courts, boardwalks, and picnic tables for lunch.

Caspersen Beach

One of the best beaches in Venice, FL, Caspersen Beach is more rugged than most but has a glorious tranquil aura. Away from the resorts, condos, and traffic, Caspersen Beach is an untouched gem that grows quieter the more you move away from the central area.

Caspersen Beach

Venice is famed for the fossils and shells that are spread along its coast. But Caspersen Beach is the place to go for shellers on the hunt for fossilized shark teeth. As you explore the beach’s thrilling natural habitat, you’ll enjoy much more than the shell search. Venture along the sand or boardwalks to discover mangroves, saltwater marshes, and tidal flats.  

Caspersen Beach is great for a leisurely swim and some near-shore snorkeling. It’s also a popular kayak launch point to explore the Intracoastal Waterway.

Nokomis Beach

Spanning 22 acres, Nokomis Beach feels straight out of the 80s. It’s slightly north of downtown. The public beach is one of the oldest in the county. Its long history has made it a local institution, providing beachgoers with a fantastic social atmosphere.

Nokomis Beach

Backed by small mom-and-pop shops on Casey Key Road, Nokomis feels very small town and everyone seems to know each other. It’s here on Wednesdays and Saturdays that drum circles light up the beach with music, dance, and color.

The beach itself features snow-white sand that leads to calm waters where swimming and paddling is a delight. Nokomis Beach also has playgrounds, free parking, picnic tables, and the famous Pop’s Sunset Grill.

Brohard Beach

Home to the beloved Venice Fishing Pier, Brohard Beach is one of the best Venice beaches. From the powdery white sand, the fishing pier runs 700 feet out into the Gulf of Mexico. Importantly, anglers looking to catch some dinner need no fishing license. If you didn’t bring your equipment along, grab all your fishing gear, tackle, and bait at Papa’s Bait Shop.

You can access the beach from the city center via Harbor Drive, where you’ll also find local boardwalks for further exploration around Brohard Park.

If you aren’t much of a fisherman, kick back on the soft sand and enjoy the small waves rolling along the blue water. Stick around for a magical sunset, best admired from Sharky’s on the Pier, a beachfront restaurant and tiki bar. 

Brohard Paw Park

Also known as South Brohard Beach, Brohard Paw Park is one of the best places to go in Venice, FL, to take your furry friend for a day by the water. Off South Harbor Drive, you’ll first head into a fenced-off dog park leading to a walkway that connects to the shore.

The fenced dog park has two sections for big and small pets. You’ll also find leash posts, fire hydrants, and waste bag dispensers.

Of course, the real fun is on the beach itself. Here, you can take your pet off the leash and let them run around, enjoy the warm waters of the Gulf, and its soft golden sand.

After an invigorating swim, the park has water bowls and even dog showers for your four-legged friend.

South Jetty Beach

In 1937, the Venice Jetties were created. These now mark the end of both South Jetty Beach and North Jetty Beach, with a dredged channel running between them. You can reach South Jetty Beach along Tarpon Center Drive, with free on-site parking.

South Jetty Beach

From here you can wander through Humphris Park to make it to the shore and the Venice Inlet. Much of the beach is a man-made stretch of rock, so South Jetty Beach isn’t the place to go for comfy sunbathing. However, it’s a popular destination for anglers. Surfers can also enjoy some consistent breaks here

Visitors can also wander along the rocky jetty to far-reaching views, making it a top spot to enjoy the golden hour.

North Jetty Beach

Although a stone’s throw away from South Jetty Beach, North Jetty Beach is on an entirely different island, Casey Key. The beach is popular with locals and traveling families who enjoy the North Jetty’s laid-back atmosphere and spread of amenities.

North Jetty Beach

Those driving in will find plenty of free parking off South Casey Key Road. The beach is also home to volleyball courts, food stands, bait shops, playgrounds, and picnic areas. You’ll never have a shortage of activities here, whether that’s playing games, swimming, fishing, or watching the boats come in and out.

The inlet part of North Jetty Beach is always humming with action as it’s a common launch point for small boats, kayaks, and SUPs. The channel is also frequented by dolphins. Stand ashore and keep an eye out for the friendly creatures leaping around.

Chauncy Howard Park

Opposite Venice Municipal Beach, Chauncy Howard Park offers a more secluded and peaceful downtown beach. It’s slightly north of Venice Beach and remains within walking distance from the center of town. As you walk onto the beach, the dunes slathered in sea oats disperse, leaving you with a wide open beach and few souls in sight.

Aside from providing a calmer beach day with the same soft white sand and balmy sea, Chauncy Howard Park is handicapped-accessible. The park was named after Chauncy Howard, a local activist. His family later donated money to create and develop the beachfront, making it accessible to wheelchair users.

Chauncy Howard Park also features park benches, showers, and bike racks if you feel like riding along the coast.

Service Club Park

North of the Venice Fishing Pier, Service Club Park straddles the line between beach day and park day. A boardwalk leads you from South Harbor Drive to the beach, first passing through shady picnic areas, mangrove habitats, and coastal pines.

After the brief but beautiful walk, the greenery makes way for the golden sand beach, stretching in both directions as far as the eye can see. It’s another underrated local beach, somewhat of a hidden gem tucked behind the coastal forest. You won’t find large groups here. With so much space, it’s easy to find a quiet patch of sand.

After a swim and some sun, go shark tooth hunting, chill in the shaded pavilions, and explore further along the park’s boardwalks.

Blind Pass Beach

With Manasota Key Road running in between, Blind Pass Beach offers access to both the Gulf of Mexico and Lemon Bay on either side of the barrier island. This will give you pause for thought as you figure out which body of water best suits your plans.

Blind Pass Beach

On the Gulf side, you’ll find 3,000 feet of waterfront with the soft turquoise sea rolling in and out. With its pleasant breeze, it’s a lovely place to plant the beach chair and umbrella for a day of light reading and intermittent swimming.

On the other side of the road is a protected lagoon, decked out with a fishing dock, trails through mangrove forests, and a kayak launch. The latter is a great way to explore the nearby coast.

Manasota Beach

Heading back toward downtown Venice, Manasota Beach is one of the most popular in the area. But as it’s further away, it doesn’t see crowds to match the esteem it’s held in.

Manasota Beach

Manasota Beach first opened in 1963, comprising a small stretch of 450 feet of sand on Manasota Key. Additional land was purchased over time, helping to mitigate the development of resorts. In fact, only a few local houses dot the surrounding coast.

Those lazing on the sand at Manasota Beach will love its peaceful atmosphere, only interrupted by the sounds of the Gulf. When lunch comes around, make use of the beach’s grill and picnic area before adding to your step count along the boardwalk leading to the beach’s boat ramps and beyond.

Englewood Beach

Also on Manasota Key, Englewood Beach comes with a lively atmosphere and several nearby beach shops and restaurants. Its differing personality from some of the quieter local beaches makes it great for those seeking a fun-filled day with the odd tropical cocktail thrown in.

Englewood Beach

The town of Englewood is a popular boating town on the mainland. However, you’ll have to cross the waterway to the barrier island to arrive at Englewood Beach.

Once you make it to the shoreline, you’ll be met with soft sand and electric blue water. The fun local atmosphere will put a smile on your face, and you’ll be ready to dive into the fun.

After ample beach time, wander across the road to Sand Bar Tiki and Grille for drinks, lunch, and live music.

Turtle Beach

On the southern end of Siesta Key, Turtle Bay is renowned for its glistening shells, effervescent water, and breathtaking tranquility. It’s tucked away from some of the more happening parts of the barrier island, providing time for you to reconvene with nature and enjoy a calming paradise.

Turtle Beach

The shelling at Turtle Beach is fantastic, adding a reason to enjoy a romantic walk on the beach. The water stays shallow close to shore, allowing for relaxing wading, and you can also rent kayaks and SUPs just behind the beach.

The beach’s tranquility is also loved by local animals, with turtles, manatees, and dolphins being consistent visitors. From May to October, Turtle Beach is also a vital nesting ground for turtles.

Crescent Beach

With crystal white sand, emerald-hued water, and spectacular sunsets, Crescent Beach ticks all the boxes. Located on nearby Siesta Key, the popular beach also has a lively crowd and is backed by rows of condos and resorts. In fact, you can barely see the shoreline as you drive along.

Freat Blue Heron on the Crescent Beach

Visitors can access the beach south of Stickney Point on Midnight Pass Road. After meandering through the concrete jungle, you’ll quickly forget the enclave of buildings as you gaze upon the bright ocean and sand as soft as snowflakes.

Like any busy vacation spot, there’s plenty of action on and off the beach. You’ll spot jet skiers and kitesurfers racing from end to end among the slow bobbing of kayaks and SUPs. You can also snorkel or wade in the shallow water before hitting up a nearby restaurant for lunch.

Siesta Key Beach

A mile north of Crescent Beach is the famous Siesta Key Beach, one of the most popular beaches near Sarasota. The beautiful beach attracts travelers from around the United States who seek picture-perfect white sand. The sand has even been labeled the best in the country, thanks to it being 99% pure quartz.

Siesta Key Beach

Spurred on by its natural beauty, beachgoers can take part in a range of fun activities. Snorkel by the rocks, enjoy some friendly competition on the volleyball and tennis courts, or take advantage of the many watercraft sports Siesta Key Beach offers.

RELATED: Top-Rated Things to Do in Siesta Key

The beach has a concession stand with all your favorite drinks and snacks, along with a shaded picnic area and playground. You’ll also be within walking distance of Siesta Key Village, with its quaint shops and tasty restaurants.

Treksplorer

Ryan O'Rourke is a seasoned traveler and the founder & editor of Treksplorer, a fiercely independent guide to mid-range luxury travel for busy people. With over 20 years of extensive travel experience, Ryan has journeyed through over 50 countries, uncovering hidden gems and sharing firsthand, unsponsored insights on what to see & do and where to eat, drink & stay. Backed by his travel experience and in-depth research, Ryan’s travel advice and writing has been featured in publications like the Huffington Post and Matador Network. You can connect with Ryan on Twitter/X at @rtorourke.

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