Turtle Beach Access — Attraction in Siesta Key

This hidden, off the grid beach is exactly the kind I love and always go looking for! Turtle Beach is right next to Siesta Key, so if you’re looking for a much less busy location to still soak up some sun, salt air and hear those lovely ocean waves, this is your place!

Parking is free and there is a lot of it. They even have bathrooms and rinse stations, as well as a playground and picnic/ grilling area. My friends and I actually stopped at a to-go Daquiri bar that was literally minutes away from this beach, so there’s still a lot nearby without going directly into Siesta Key.

One thing that may be a letdown- the sand is not the crazy soft white that you find at SK or Clearwater. It’s more the characteristic darker sand of the Engelwood beaches. Personally, I don’t have a problem with it, but don’t come in expecting otherwise. This beach still has so much to offer!

The water is clear and gorgeous, there are plenty of shells to find and enjoyment to be had! There’s a sandbar if you swim out far enough, and I even saw a large school of manta rays swim by and it was the coolest thing ever. This is for sure a quiet gem beach I’ll...

Great semi private location and beach access that's open to the public all year round. No lifeguard on duty. A drown zone. It's no joke. Many have died. Heavy rip tide. Great place for pro swimmers or to see the sunset or catch some rays without the heavy traffic that siesta beach has. Very little sand left here, but thru are expanding due to storm causing major sand loss. This is a little known gem. Most tourists don't know turtle Beach exists. Great place for a picnic too. Or a walk on the beach. Remember NO Lifeguard. So be safe and enjoy this little known gem. They have a campground for motorhome drivers too. It's not cheap but it's luxurious. There are narcotics Anonymous meetings held in the gazebo on Saturday and Sunday mornings besides that it's open and no reservations are necessary for the giant gazebo. They have grills...

We go to the beach…somewhere…every weekend. It’s why we live in SWFL. So, I’m always looking for particular things that I like about beaches. Turtle beach highlights: free parking and plenty of it! We got there about 10am and there was plenty of parking available still. They have a shower station, picnic tables, launch area for kayaks, and a covered playground, the water was beautiful blues and greens in color. Negative: ugly sand, seaweed all over, and steep going down to the water with not much options for setting up. There were fishermen on both sides of us so not much area to swim in fear of getting caught in hooks or lines. Shelling was only going to happen if...