Manasota Beach

Located in the small town of Englewood, Manasota Beach is a small, narrow, and remote beach situated near the northern end of the Manasota Key neighborhood. Manasota Beach faces the Gulf of Mexico and has a dune system filled with coastal vegetation. Manasota Beach is a well-known destination for fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, birdwatching, and wildlife watching. 

Manasota Beach offers many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, boat ramps, picnic tables, barbecues, trails, a boardwalk, a volleyball court, and a fishing pier. 

There are many fun activities at Manasota Beach including swimming, hiking, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, birdwatching, and wildlife watching, and beach walking. 

Getting to Manasota Beach is very easy – the beach’s free parking lot is situated near 8570 Manasota Key Road and is within walking distance to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Manasota Beach, you can drive 35 minutes to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium which is home to sea creatures including jellyfish, great white sharks, captive killer whales, rockfishes, African penguins, and the Pacific Sea nettles. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are spread across 15 acres and feature preserved collections of more than 20,000 plants including orchids, bromeliads, banyans, bamboo, wildflowers, a butterfly garden, a koi pond, and an edible garden. The historical Sarasota Opera House has been the performance stage for many world-renowned artists including Elvis Presley, Will Rogers, Charlton Heston, and Dorothy Lamour. Another great attraction near Manasota Beach is St. Armands Circle which is well-regarded for its shopping centers, boutiques, ancient shops, and restaurants. 

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 15-minute drive of Manasota Beach. Turtle Beach Grill is a tropical American bar-restaurant featuring live music from Thursdays to Sundays on the patio deck and has outdoor as well as indoor seating. The vegetarian-friendly Turtles on the Little Sarasota Bay is an American Caribbean restaurant with a diverse seafood-focused menu and happy-hour deals. Another good restaurant near Manasota Beach is the waterfront Ophelia’s on the Bay – it was mentioned in "‘The 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in the US"’ list by Business Insider.

If you are looking for a hotel near Manasota Beach, there are many hotels within a 20-minute drive. Spread across 440 acres, The Resort at Longboat Key Club is a 4-Star beachfront hotel featuring a golf course, spa, gym, an oceanside pool, six restaurants, 20 tennis courts, and bike and water sports equipment rentals. The 3-Star pet-friendly hotel Lido Beach Resort has a pool, bar, gym, convenience store, and two restaurants with one on the roof. If you are looking for affordable hotels near Manasota Beach, the 3-Star Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach offers a lounge, pool, gift shop, and restaurant – and Holiday Inn Sarasota - Lido Beach welcomes pets and has a poolside bar, restaurant, and fitness center.