Siesta Key beach is one of the most famous beaches in Florida known for its many family-friendly amenities, sugar-white sand, and beautiful turquoise waters. If you are within at least two hours driving distance from Siesta Key Beach, Florida Gulf Coast’s number one beach, it’s definitely worth the visit.
Due to its popularity and amazing amenities, a little bit of planning can either make or break your visit. That being said please take a look at this list of things you should know before visiting Siesta Key Public Beach.
What Makes Siesta Key Public Beach Special for Families?
Siesta Key Public Beach has recently undergone a 21.5 million dollar renovation project that included the addition of more restrooms, more picnic areas, a pedestrian walkway, lookout towers, and concession stands. One thing we love about Siesta Key for families is that there is also a massive playground, tennis courts and volleyball courts. It makes it fun for families with members of all ages to come together and enjoy time on the beach. Especially for those who would rather be active than sitting around. There is plenty of free parking, though it fills up quickly during high-use times such as weekends, holidays and the summer. The landscaping in the parking lot and the concessions area is beautiful and a really nice touch. We also love that this beach can be accessible for handicap members of the family due to the fifteen feet wide esplanade following the distance of the park.
If you have older children or teenagers they will love the opportunity to kayak or rent a boat at Blind Pass Lagoon. Blind Pass Lagoon is a channel that is connected to the gulf and is very popular for kayakers. There are a lot of condos and vacation rentals in the area as well. At the far southern end of Siesta Key Beach, you will find the point of rocks. This is a fun and unique geologic feature that families will enjoy exploring. It’s known as a fun shell finding spot and a great place to view marine life and birds.
My kid’s loved the gentle waves and shallow warm water of this beautiful beach. We have been to many beaches in Florida and this is still their number one favorite and we can see why it is America’s Number 1 Beach!
Where is Siesta Key Beach in Florida?
Siesta Key beach is located about 7 miles south of Sarasota and about 1.5 hours from Fort Myers. It is easily accessible off of Interstate 75 in central Florida. It is a beautiful beach located on the Gulf of Mexico. Beach Road is the main road that brings you past the public pavilion and beach parking. You can view a map of the Siesta Key beach access points to better understand where it is or you can view Siesta Key beach directions on google. (insert map)
Where is Siesta Key Beach Public Beach Parking?
Siesta Key Beach has a large amount of public beach parking that is free for visitors. The lot is located directly in front of the public beach access off of Beach Road. While there are a large number of free parking spots available, they do fill up quickly on weekends, during spring break, school breaks, and summer. It is not uncommon for people to be seen circling the lot waiting for people to leave. If you do plan on coming during peak time- either plan on having someone drop you off or getting there early to get a good spot. During off-peak times, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a decent spot. You still may need to wait a few minutes like we did when we visited in the middle of January.
Things You Should Know Before You Visit Siesta Key Beach with Your Family:
It’s a bit of a walk.
It’s really good for you to know before you get there that the beach is a short hike from the parking lot. You need to have a plan of attack on how you are going to transport your stuff from your vehicle to your chosen spot on the beach. Most people either go minimal and bring all that they can carry- maybe a backpack, a few chairs and a cooler. Other people who want to bring a bit more gear, will want to consider bringing a beach cart or wagon to help haul out all of their gear. Either way, figure it out and have a plan before you go.
The lifeguard huts are different colors.
Why does this even matter? Well, first it makes the beach pop with color. But really they are that way to help with navigation. It’s very helpful for families to be able to choose which lifeguard stand they want to be near and to point it out to their children so that if they ever get lost or turned around they can look for the correct color lifeguard station and quickly find their way.
The seagulls are relentless.
They may be fun at first but after a while, they become a nuisance. The worst thing you can do is feed them because then they will NOT leave you alone. I was holding a sandwich and I turned to talk to my four-year-old and a seagull swooped down and almost hit me in the face trying to snatch my lunch. Watch your food closely and don’t leave any open bags of chips laying around because they will be gone the second you turn your back.
Parking is free but it can be difficult to get.
As I mentioned earlier in my article, the parking is very convenient, large, and free but it still fills up fast. You may have to be patient or have a backup plan for a different beach to visit in case you get frustrated waiting. Bradenton is also a nice beach and great for families and is not too far away. We showed up around lunchtime on a fairly busy weekday and were able to find parking within 5 minutes. On the weekend it may not be as easy.
You should plan to spend the day.
There is so much more to do here than just sit on the beach and play in the waves. The kids will for sure want to stop by the massive playground. You may want to consider a picnic in one of the many quiet shelter and picnic areas. We loved watching the sunset from some of the viewing towers. Others will enjoy a long stroll or a game of tennis or volleyball. You may want to bring some money, the ice cream at the concessions was one of my kid’s favorite parts of the day- as well as catching waves on their boogie boards.
Bring baby powder.
If you are not familiar with “sugar sand” commonly found in this area- it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s very fine and has the same look and feel as wet sugar. It’s so fine that it can be difficult to brush off. Because of this we highly suggest you sunscreen up in the parking lot or the paved entrance to the beach BEFORE you get to the sand. Once those kids hit the sand it’s difficult to get a good coat of sunscreen on them.
Once you are finished at the beach and back in the parking lot you can use baby powder to sprinkle on legs and feet and help wipe off any remaining sand. It’ll make the drive home way more comfortable. You’re welcome.
There are plenty of changing rooms and restrooms.
This is heavenly news for any parents with children. We love the large and spacious changing rooms to help change in and out of swimsuits and restrooms located near the concession stands as well as the playground. An added bonus is they often have a restroom trailer located in the parking lot for those times your kids “remember” they needed to use the facilities just as they got to the car.
What you should bring to Siesta Key Beach?
Just like any other beach visit with your family you want to bring ample sunscreen- even if it’s a cloudy day. A sun shelter is always a favorite. This beach does allow sun tents and we have found that to be a great investment for our family. You can rent umbrellas and beach loungers at Siesta Key. They also have a shop with some essentials in case you forget them.
We definitely recommend bringing UV shirts, towels, sand toys, boogie boards, a cooler with drinks and snacks and beach chairs. Baby powder for help getting the sand off when you’re done helps as well. If you plan on bringing a big haul, we highly suggest investing in a beach cart. It’ll make your life easier as it is a jaunt from the parking lot to the beach.
Our Favorite Siesta Key Beach Events
Weekly Drum Circle at Siesta Key
Every Sunday evening at dusk there is a drum circle located at Siesta Key Public Beach. Visitors are encouraged to participate either through being a spectator or dancing. This favorite is held every Sunday right after 5 pm (in the winter) or an hour before sunset. It’s a great way to gather as a community, enjoy the beauty of the area and witness a beautiful sunset while participating in a fun family event. If you are musically inclined you are welcome to bring your own drum to participate as well. In the event of rain, the drum circle is moved to a nearby shelter.
Spring Break at Siesta Key
Siesta Key is a popular Spring Break destination for both families and college students. Siesta Key is known for offering a more low key Spring break than your typical larger scale destinations. There are still clubs, plenty of hotel and vacation rentals options and lots of great places to eat. College students love that this beach (and all the beaches in Sarasota County) is completely free unlike other destinations on the Gulf such as St. Petes and Clearwater.
Many spring breakers enjoy staying in Siesta Key Village, a hub of vacation rentals and condos. The village has a fun and exciting nightlife and includes clubs, bars, restaurants, and famous shopping.
July 4th Fireworks in Siesta Key
Siesta Key Beach is a local favorite for celebrating July 4th. When you combine the beach, delicious food and amazing fireworks you know you are in store for a fantastic day celebrating our nation’s birthday. Due to its popularity, it is crowded and parking is hard to come by. Fireworks typically start at about 9:15 (or dusk) and are shot off by the volleyball courts. If you can find a spot anywhere on Crescent beach you will be in a good viewing position.
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