Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Beach
Repeatedly ranked America’s best beach. Its 99% pure quartz sand is white as flour and doesn’t burn your feet, and the calm, shallow water is ideal for families to play in and watch the sunset.
Siesta Beach lies in the middle of Siesta Key, south of Sarasota. Its sand is almost pure quartz, extremely fine and snow-white, so it stays cool underfoot even under strong sun. It has repeatedly topped American best-beach rankings. The beach is wide, with shallow, gentle water. The red lifeguard tower is the iconic photo spot. The beach has lifeguards, showers, restrooms, food kiosks and play areas. Every Sunday evening before sunset, impromptu drum circles often gather on the sand. Parking is free, but in peak-season weekends the lot fills before 10 a.m. You can take the free Siesta Key trolley instead. To the north, Siesta Key Village has restaurants and bars, which makes it a good place for dinner. Note: there are stingrays in the shallows, so shuffle your feet when entering the water. In summer, protect yourself from sun exposure and be alert for thunderstorms.
Opening hours
06:00–24:00
Nearby sights
- Lido Key Mangrove Tunnels
- Turtle Beach (Siesta Key)
- St. Armands Circle
- Lido Key Beach
- Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
- Bayfront Park & Unconditional Surrender
- Historic Spanish Point
- Sarasota Jungle Gardens