Englewood is one of Florida’s cities with the most laid-back atmosphere. This vibrant community is home to some of the best, most pristine beaches on the widely famed Gulf of Mexico.
The coastal turquoise waters of this region allow for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, boating, and scuba diving.
The beaches here are also awash with shark teeth and shells, making beachcombing so much fun!
Check out what Englewood has to offer!
Beaches near Englewood:
- Englewood Beach
- Blind Pass Beach
- Stump Pass Beach State Park
- Manasota Key Beach
- Caspersen Beach
- Nokomis Public Beach
- Venice Beach
- Don Pedro Island State Park
- Gasparilla Island State Park
- Turtle Beach
- Siesta Key Beach
1. Englewood Beach
- Distance from Englewood: 4 miles (10 min)
- Activities: swimming, picnics, sunset watching, shelling, snorkeling
- Amenities: volleyball court, basketball pitch, barbecue grill, bathrooms, playground, rental chairs, boardwalk, outside showers
Englewood Beach is one of those few quiet shorelines where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and unwind. It’s one of the nearest beaches to Englewood.
There’s a fairly lengthy fishing pier, volleyball courts for players, and barbecue grills for food lovers.
On a perfect day, the water on Englewood Beach is clean, transparent, and warm. You can also play with seashells or hunt some shark teeth.
Just across the street from this beach, there are a few amazing restaurants for seafood. Some have live bands to entertain customers.
Yet, there’s a slight pickle with Englewood Beach- parking is a problem. It takes a while to find a spot if you aren’t an early bird.
2. Blind Pass Beach
- Distance from Englewood: 7 miles (15 min)
- Activities: swimming, fishing, beachcombing, nature walking
- Amenities: canoe launch, fishing dock, mangrove trails, restrooms, parking, showers
Like colorful paintings, narrow gulf-side beaches, too, are a wonder to behold. Imagine the tectonic shifts pulling everything away and leaving a mystic narrow strip of land. One such splendid spot is Blind Pass Beach.
This beach is dotted with pear-green mangroves, within which hiking trails cut through, leading to the dockside.
While on the waterside, you can freely launch a kayak or canoe or take a plunge in its crystal clear waters.
Blind Pass Beach has tons of shells and shark teeth. So if you are after treasure hunting, this coastline should be on top of your holiday destinations list.
3. Stump Pass Beach State Park
- Distance from Englewood: 5 miles (10 min)
- Activities: swimming, treasure hunting, birding, sunset watching, paddling, kayaking
- Amenities: Restrooms, bathrooms, outdoor shower
Just because you are a little cash-strapped doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy some nice beach moments.
If you happen to be in or visit Englewood, an affordable choice to explore would be Stump Pass Beach State Park. Its rustic beauty aside, this place is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
You can soak your body in the ocean, walk along its edges to collect shells and shark teeth, or cut through neon-green vegetation and shrubs for a pleasant walk.
While at Stump Pass Beach State Park, you’ll also get an opportunity to catch the tranquil Gulf coast sunsets.
This parking lot is a little small, though, so be sure to arrive early to secure a spot.
4. Manasota Key Beach
- Distance from Englewood: 4 miles (10 min)
- Activities: swimming, boating, beachcombing, sunset watching
- Amenities: boat ramps, paved boardwalks, picnic tables, restrooms, parking, sheltered resting spots, lifeguard, rental umbrellas and seats
If you have an appetite to explore barrier island beaches, there’s Manasota Key Beach, just 10 minutes from Englewood.
This tapered strip of land will appeal to those who prefer hidden gems far from tourist-dense city centers. There’s a wide stretch of soft sands that families can relax on and build castles.
Where the sand ends, lush green tropical foliage takes over, creating a picturesque canvas. If you choose to stick around till evening, be ready for the most superior views of the sunset.
In addition to the ocean and the beach, there is a boat ramp on the key’s opposite side. You can launch kayaks or canoes and explore Lemon Bay with all its natural wonders.
5. Caspersen Beach
- Distance from Englewood: 13 miles (25 min)
- Activities: collecting sea artifacts, swimming, sunset watching
- Amenities: boardwalk, bathrooms, ramp, showers
Are you into DIY beach crafts? If you answered yes, then Caspersen Beach is another relic-hunting coastline for sea artifact lovers. Here, you can collect boatloads of seashells and fossilized shark teeth.
This Florida coastline is not just for jewelry designers and art collectors. The water is pretty clean for swimming, boating, and snorkeling activities. Take the smoothly paved boardwalk, and it will lead you straight to the water shores and other parts of the beach.
Caspersen Beach has a tropical scene thanks to the mangroves and palm trees rimmed to its edges. There are a few trails that snake through for some relaxing nature walks. Try to get here early as parking, while free, tends to get crazy.
6. Nokomis Public Beach
- Distance from Englewood: 15 miles (25 min)
- Activities: swimming, treasure hunting, boating, canoeing, paddleboarding
- Amenities: concession stands, restrooms, free parking, outdoor showers
Nokomis Public Beach is the perfect combination of wild and developed. It’s known for clear waters, shark teeth artifacts, and the drum circle – a celebration of life with drumbeats and dancing.
The beach itself offers free parking and feels pristine and wild. Yet, there are plenty of amenities nearby, including restaurants, hotels, and lodges.
Like most beaches around Englewood, the water here is clear and inviting, offering swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Every Wednesday and Saturday, just before the sunset, the beach comes alive with drumbeats, music, and dancing as the local community rejoices and celebrates life.
7. Venice Beach
- Distance from Englewood: 13 miles (25 min)
- Activities: swimming, beachcombing, boating, canoeing, paddleboarding
- Amenities: concession stands, restrooms, parking, outdoor showers
Are you looking for a calm beach where you can lounge and catch up on some reading? Well, guess what… Venice Beach is precisely that…and more. This place is as peaceful as nirvana.
Let’s not even talk about its pristine beauty. The place beams with love, and it’s also a darling amongst many locals and tourists alike.
And like other beaches near Englewood, this one, too, is ideal for swimming, boating, shelling, and watersports.
Venice Beach is also strategically located next to food joints and stores that rent out toys, shovels, and other vital beach equipment.
8. Don Pedro Island State Park
- Distance from Englewood: 9 miles (15 min)
- Activities: swimming, snorkeling, hiking, shelling, kayaking
- Amenities: picnic tables, large grill, pavilion, bathroom, pier, kayak launch
Englewood has many beaches with magnificent vistas. That goes without saying, right? However, Don Pedro Island State Park’s deep green vegetation makes it an unrivaled spectacle.
Here, you can indulge in various activities such as snorkeling, shelling, hiking, kayaking, and collecting a few shark teeth.
Don Pedro Island State Park is rarely crowded, which could be a good thing. Plus, the place is one of the cheapest water spots to explore.
9. Gasparilla Island State Park
- Distance from Englewood: 20 miles (35 min)
- Activities: swimming, fishing, snorkeling, shelling
- Amenities: restrooms, parking spots, showers
Gasparilla Island State Park is one of the Gulf of Mexico beaches with some of the clearest waters. You can see the bottom without any difficulty, making it great for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Kids have a great time collecting shells and beachcombing here. And there’s a historic lighthouse on sight worth checking out as well.
There is plenty of parking on site. Nevertheless, you would need to arrive early to easily secure a spot.
The water is pristine for swimming, and since manatees come all the way to this shore, you’ll possibly bump into a few.
Even when the day draws into dusk, Gasparilla Island State Park doesn’t disappoint. The beach offers some of the most arresting views of the sunset.
Afterward, you can hit the nearby Gasparilla Inn and Club to unwind.
10. Turtle Beach
- Distance from Englewood: 28 miles (45 min)
- Activities: swimming, picnicking, shelling, kayaking
- Amenities: playground, restrooms, kayak launch, bathroom
Crowded beaches can be very fun because there are lots of people to mingle with. But if you’d rather visit a place with less human population, Turtle Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast might be your ideal choice.
This spot is tranquil, with little to no tidal waves. Unlike Siesta Key Beach, below, there are plenty of shells to collect. While enjoying the area, you’ll see many turtles as well as their nests.
Turtle Beach is well kept, and there is a decent number of amenities to make your adventure as fulfilling as possible.
With fewer crowds in the area,
photographers will also find it the perfect mecca for shooting stills.
11. Siesta Key Beach
- Distance from Englewood: 27 miles (45 min)
- Activities: swimming, picnicking, playing tennis, biking
- Amenities: playground, tennis court, lifeguard, local shops, parking, restaurant, showers
If you are looking for a beach with the wildest fun activities, Siesta Key Beach might just tick that box for you.
This beach is a grand spectacle not only in size but in beauty as well. Images don’t do it justice. You’d have to visit it to experience its full splendor.
Its proximity to the city center makes it a top choice for those who would like to do some shopping or dine in city restaurants. Any amenity you can think of, this beach has – lifeguards, shades, gift shops, picnic tables, etc.
The most notable aspect of Siesta Key Beach is its soft powdery sands. It’s so much smoother and doesn’t heat up even on extremely sunny days.
The water is pristine without ocean weeds or sharp rocks. Yet, this beach is normally a top choice for many people, so it tends to get a bit overcrowded.
