Caspersen Beach

Caspersen Beach is a nicely isolated little beach south of Venice, Florida that is excellent for shelling and finding shark teeth in the sand.

Caspersen Beach

Caspersen Beach is not like most other beaches in Florida. It is a great area to get away from big crowds and find something prehistoric buried in the crystals of sand. Prehistoric sharks’ teeth have been found all around the area including other shells. The southern two thirds of the beach were left to be more natural and secluded. A dune restoration system with walkovers helps preserve the shoreline for people to enjoy it as it once was. Check out why people come to this beach to enjoy the serenity and calm of an other worldly beach experience.

INFO

Park Office

  • 4100 Harbor Drive S.
    Venice, FL 34285

Hours

  • 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Park GPS Coordinates

  • Lattidude: 27.05072384603325
  • Longitude: -82.43936536726982

Walking Caspersen Beach

Meandering and walking the beach is one of the favorite activities of visitors to the area. The long stretch of beach goes all the way south to Manasota Key. A picnic lunch can be had on the sand or in designated picnic areas. Day walks are part of enjoying the natural beauty of the area and experiencing serenity in this rare gem of a beach.

Water Safety

People who visit should always check tide reports, storm watch reports, and water conditions prior to arrival. Caspersen Beach is in the Venice Beach area, known for shelling and being more natural. There have been sightings of sharks but it is not common. There is no lifeguard on duty so swimmers should proceed with extra caution.

 

Nature Walk

Caspersen Beach features an old-style rustic and protected miles long section of wild beach. The county park protects the beach with nature trails and goes along the Intercoastal Waterway. Watch out for deep sand and an incline while walking in some parts. There is parking available in many areas but people may want to park near Caspersen Beach Park for closest access to this nature trail. The trails may not be marked. There is an observation platform along the way with views of Red Lake, a lagoon near the Intracoastal Waterway.

Accommodations

There are many rentals dotted along Caspersen Beach and surrounding areas. This can include hotels, home rentals, condos, and more. These accommodations are steps away from the luxurious beach and offer many amenities and proximity to rentals for going out in the water.

 

Shark Tooth Hunting

Known as the Shark’s Tooth Capital of the World, Caspersen Beach is the perfect place to capture some amazing memories. Due to currents that deposit sediment on the shallow beach drop-offs, low tide can reveal shells, rocks, and fossilized shark’s teeth. The warm waters of the coastal beach used to be home to giant sharks, including megalodons. Their fossilized teeth have one long point and two shorter points and are very hard to break. Hunting for them requires a small garden shovel or pick, a sieve, and bucket or bag.

Wildlife Spotting

Caspersen Beach is a great place to bring a camera or binoculars and do some wildlife spotting. This includes crabs, herons, egrets, and other wildlife. There may be other marine life out in the water that can be seen easier from a kayak, canoe, or watercraft.

Caspersen Beach FAQ

People come from all around to check out the shells at this beach. It is a great place to find prehistoric sharks’ teeth. This and also the beautiful beach and water sports.

Caspersen features a boardwalk, free parking, and other amenities.

There is no lifeguard on duty at this beach at Caspersen Beach.

Yes, there is an ADA children’s playground near Caspersen beach for kids.

Blue Wave Certification

Blue Wave Certification is a program that offers national environmental certification to beaches. The local beach must work to keep it healthy and vibrant. This also ensures a pristine and natural beach area for everyone to enjoy.