Turtle Beach

Turtle Beach is located a few miles south of Siesta Key Beach. While less popular with some people, it has its own attractive features visitors enjoy.

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Beach & Ocean Conditions

Turtle Beach

Quieter stretches of sand, darker crystals, and, of course, turtles. The name traces back to the endangered sea turtles that come home to nest. With roughly 2,600 feet of beach open to the public, the turtles still come every season to nest and provide a home to their broods of baby turtles. With ever-present tourism and building of condos and hotels, the turtles have been protected by local authorities to preserve this ancient journey to continue birthing new turtles for the next generation. Aside from turtles, families and visitors come from all over the world to visit the shores of Siesta Key, including Turtle Beach. The sands attract beach goers who love the quiet tranquility of sandy shores and beautiful wildlife present in the area.

 

 

INFO

Park Office

  • 8918 Midnight Pass Road
    Sarasota, FL 34242

Hours

  • Park/Beach Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Park GPS Coordinates

  • Lattidude: 27.21918771118053
  • Longitude: -82.51758220617708

Turtle Beach

Lots of activities are family friendly and geared towards tourists. Staycationers can amp up the fun by trying some of their more popular activities including photography during turtle nesting season (from a distance), camping at the campground, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, picnicking and enjoying the nearby playgrounds for those with smaller children.

Photo Credit: (scgov.net)

Turtle Beach Amenities

Showers & Bathrooms

When visitors come to Turtle Beach, they will find lots of amenities. Although smaller than Siesta Key Beach, Turtle Beach still offers a shelter/pavilion and access to restrooms and a rinse station. 

Concessions

Turtle Beach does not offer concessions. Nearby Siesta Key Beach offers this amenity.

Accommodations

Turtle Beach is on the quieter end of Siesta Key. Some accommodations include smaller accommodations and small Old-Florida style resort hotels. VRBO and rental companies have available apartments and homes to stay for long weekends or full weeks. Many properties are on the bay and are pet-friendly.

 

Local Activities

Beach walking is a favorite for people who just want a leisurely stroll. Turtle Beach is unique for its finely crushed shells and fossilized material mixed with quartz sand. It is harder on the feet so shoes are recommended. However, some cool finds might include fossilized shark teeth and interesting shells to add to a collection. Shell collecting is a popular way to preserve memories from a trip to the beach.

Be sure to check out boat tours. Local companies hire out boats or do their own tours on the water. Launch a kayak, small watercraft or take advantage of a tour to see some manatees and dolphins in the wild

Turtle Beach Campground is located right next to Turtle Beach. This space allows for tent and RV camping. This allows for lots of access to the beach with electrical hookups and wi-fi available.

Photo Credit: (turtlebeachgrill.com)

Where to Dine

The dining is fine everywhere in Turtle Beach. A quieter place to relax, there are still great places to eat with family and friends. Across the street you will find Turtle Beach Grill, and Turtles Restaurant. Captain Curt’s Crab and Oyster Bar or wine bars, bistros, and tiki bars and grills are located near the beach. More dining options are available toward Siesta Key Beach.

 

Parking

There are approximately 300 parking spots available for guests and visitors to Turtle Beach. The free Siesta Breeze Trolley offers rides to the beach along with ride sharing companies who will get visitors to their destination without worrying about parking. There are also rentals of scooters and bikes with racks available to park and easier spots to park for the scooters.

 

Photo Credit: (siestakeybikeandkayak.com)

Grab Some Gear

Siesta Key Bike and Kayak rents water equipment including boogie boards, snorkel gear, kayaks and more. They also rent foldable carts, chairs, Bob joggers for smaller kids and various other things to make a beach trip better. A to Z Baby, Beach, and Bike also offer rentals geared towards families with younger kids including car seats and cribs for accommodations. Various other companies rent umbrellas, chairs, and beach equipment along with scooters and mopeds.

 

Browse Suncoast Merch

Explore Suncoast Tee

$19

Happy Camper Tee

$19

Hello Sunshine Florida Beach Tee

$20

Here Comes the Summer Sunglasses Tee

$20

ust Add Water Kayak Tee

$19

Sarasota Best Life Tee

$19

Siesta Key Pink Dolphin Tee

$19

Suncoast Florida Retro Tee

$19

Turtle Beach FAQ

A: Visitors may camp at Turtle Beach Campground. There is no pet policy. The campground features wi-fi, hookups for electrical and water, RV and tent camping and more.

 

A: Turtle Beach is named for nesting turtles that come to shore each season. Endangered animals, they nest from May to October. Visitors are allowed to view them from a respectable distance. Watch for their nests and give lots of space. Due to their endangered status, they are protected and should not be picked up.

 

A: Turtle Beach does not have lifeguard stations.

 

A: There are no concessions on this quieter stretch of beach but restrooms, a playground, and picnic tables and pavilions are available to guests. Nearby dining options are available walking distance from the beach or by trolley.

 

A: Some seasons bring a red tide which makes it unsuitable for swimming. Notices will be put up for guests and visitors. The beach itself has a decent slope and drop-off from shallow to deeper water. Think of it as going from ankle deep to thigh-deep quick (which can be dangerous for anyone, especially younger kids). Water is calm and clear but watch for elevation changes in the water

 

Activities To Check Out

Locations To Check Out