SARASOTA
Where
Sarasota is blessed with an abundance of sun, sand and water, encompassing six islands that are home to beaches with a vast array of personalities and attributes, from famed stretches of sand like Siesta Key to hidden gems like Manasota Beach. Nokomis Beach on Casey Key is an alluring option you may not have heard of, and is located at 100 Casey Key Road, Nokomis, FL 34275.
Vibe
Quieter locals’ favorite with all the amenities. Popular, but never towel-to-towel crowded, Nokomis Beach holds bragging rights as Sarasota County's oldest public beach, doling out smiles with perks like free parking, a restaurant right on the beach, and restrooms. Here, expect to see beachgoers lounging under multi-hued umbrellas; families splashing in the tranquil, clear waters; and kids searching for colorful shells.
See, feel
Located in a mostly residential area, Nokomis Beach is easy on the eyes. No high rises mar the views, and generous dunes border the beach. The sand is latte-hued sand and resplendent with shells -- you may want to wear beach shoes—while the water is so clear you can see the shells underneath it. It drops off fairly quickly. While the water is normally calm, winds, tides and offshore systems can occasionally cause rough conditions.
On or near the beach
Nokomis Beach invites you to hunt for shells like Lightning Whelks, Cat’s Paws and Turkey Wings; swim; paddleboard or kayak the Gulf or bay; bird; play volleyball; fish; and watch spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of America. Events include yoga on the beach, starting at the North Jetty at 9 a.m. every day of the year; and the Drum Circle, a fun, family-friendly happening that pays homage to the sunset with its quirky rhythms on Wednesday and Saturday nights throughout the year (by the lifeguard stand on Nokomis Beach). Feed the fun with a picnic under the palms or nosh on beach fare at the Shark Tooth.
Accessibility
Nokomis Beach promises ADA parking and accessible restrooms. Beach wheelchairs can be obtained from the lifeguard towers free of charge, every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you need of a beach wheelchair outside those hours, please contact the Sarasota County ADA Coordinator three days before your visit to make a request at 941-861-5000 or adacoordinator@scgov.net.
Facilities
Amenities at Nokomis Beach include a boardwalk; a canoe/kayak launch; a boat ramp and dock; picnic shelters; the historic Nokomis Beach Plaza; a volleyball court; a playground; beachside restrooms; bayside portable restrooms; a fishing pier and parking. The Shark Tooth offers beer, cocktails, and fare like tacos and burgers; as well as SUP and kayak rentals. They also sell beach gear.
Lifeguards
Lifeguards protect Nokomis Beach year-round.
Parking
Nokomis Beach welcomes you with free parking, sited right next to the beach. It can fill on weekends and holidays, so plan accordingly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NOKOMIS BEACH
Q. Where is Nokomis Beach?
A. Nokomis Beach is on Casey Key in Sarasota County, on Florida's Gulf coast between Sarasota and Venice. It is reached from Albee Road, west of Tamiami Trail.
It is Sarasota County's oldest public beach, and it has kept an unpolished, local character that the county's larger and busier beaches have lost. See Sarasota County's Nokomis Beach Park page.
Q. Are there lifeguards?
A. Yes, year-round. Sarasota County lifeguards staff Nokomis Beach every day, typically from 10 a.m. to about 4:45 p.m. Here’s where you can find more lifeguard information.
That is daytime coverage only. Outside those hours the beach is unguarded. Lifeguards watch the water only when a flag is flying, so swim near a staffed tower and check the posted beach warning flags before you get in.
Q. What amenities are there?
A. Nokomis Beach has beachside restrooms, a boardwalk, picnic shelters, a volleyball court, a playground, a fishing pier, a canoe and kayak launch, a boat ramp and dock, and parking on both sides of the road.
The historic Nokomis Beach Plaza sits at the center of it. Portable restrooms serve the bayside area.
Q. Is the beach accessible for visitors with mobility needs?
A. Yes. Beach wheelchairs are available free of charge from the lifeguard towers, every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
If you need one outside those hours, contact the Sarasota County ADA coordinator at least three days before your visit at 941-861-5000 to arrange it.
Q. Can I bring my dog?
A. No. Dogs are not allowed on Nokomis Beach.
Dogs are prohibited at every Sarasota County beach with one exception: Brohard Paw Park in Venice, the county's only off-leash dog beach, next to the Venice Fishing Pier on Harbor Drive South. It has a fenced play yard with separate small- and large-dog sections, dog showers and a boardwalk to the sand. Dogs must have current license tags and vaccinations.
Q. What is the drum circle?
A. It is the beach's signature event. Every Wednesday and Saturday evening, starting about an hour before sunset, drummers, dancers and spectators gather near the lifeguard tower for a sunset celebration.
It began with a handful of locals around 2000 and now draws anywhere from a few dozen to several hundred people. Arrive early for parking on drum circle evenings.
Q. What is North Jetty Beach?
A. North Jetty Beach sits at the south end of Casey Key, at Venice Inlet, and is a separate park from Nokomis Beach proper.
It is the best-known surf spot in the area. When a storm system is churning the Gulf, surfers cross the state to ride the waves breaking on the jetty. It also draws anglers fishing from the rocks.
Q. What about sea turtles?
A. Nesting season in Sarasota County runs May 1 through Oct. 31, with nesting in the first half of the season and hatchlings emerging from roughly July onward.
Leave nests and their markers alone, fill in any holes you dig, take chairs, umbrellas and toys off the sand at night, and keep lights off the beach after dark. See the state's guidance on sea turtles and lights.
Q. What can I do here besides swim?
A. Shelling and shark-tooth hunting are both popular, since this stretch of coast is close to Venice, which is known for fossilized shark teeth washing ashore.
Fishing from the pier and the jetty, kayaking from the launch, birdwatching and sunset watching round out the list. A Florida saltwater fishing license may be required; check current rules on the FWC saltwater fishing licenses page.
Q. Where can I eat, and what's nearby?
A. There are casual restaurants and bars near the beach approach and along Albee Road, including waterfront spots on the inlet.
Historic downtown Venice, with its shops and restaurants, is a few minutes south, and Oscar Scherer State Park is close by inland for hiking and paddling.
Q. When is the best time to visit?
A. Winter and spring bring warm, drier weather and the area's peak season, so parking fills earliest then. Summer is hot and humid with the warmest water and afternoon thunderstorms, and is the quieter season on this coast.
In the winter, even when the air is pleasant the Gulf is often too cold for comfortable swimming. Check the forecast and the posted beach warning flags before you go.
