Siesta Key Beach

This is a must see if you are in the area. Absolutely beautiful especially wonderful sunset. Magical. That being said because of that it is usually crowded.
Clearly a public beach
This is for healthy walkers. Long from parking lot (free). But lovely scenery. So, you’ll see lots of beach walkers.
As others have said the sand is the white and softest you’ll ever see.
I think it is good for families because you kids are very likely to find a friend to dig in the sand with.

The sand at this beach is so soft and white and cool, the water was however a HUGE disappointment. All the gulf side beaches I have been to, have been so beautiful with Crystal CLEAR water to swim in, you can go super deep and still see your feet. This one is NOT like that. It is actually super murky almost brown water. So I am not sure what makes this beach #1. The parking was a huge plus, but that was about it. I am glad I experienced it once, but will not be going back.

I love Siesta Beach! It is by far the cleanest, most well-​maintained beach I’ve ever been to! Even the parking lot was clean and well-​maintained. The snack shack is a nice bonus!
The sand is awesome… it’s completely white and cool to the touch! You can walk on the sand barefoot even on a hot day! If you’re into looking for seashells, Siesta Beach is a pretty decent place for it. It’s definitely a popular beach but not overcrowded (on most days).
It’s surrounded by a pretty nice neighborhood too! Quiet, not too busy, residential area with several vacation bungalows.
I definitely recommend checking it out for an hour or two if you’re in the area!

We are here on a relaxing family vacation and that is exactly what we are experiencing! Definitely recommend staying somewhere with beach front access. We stayed at Aloha Kai and it was perfect! We have been to Hawaii 2 times and this beach most definitely compares! We have also been at Hilton Head and the Pacific side in CA, this beach is far the most beautiful of those. Out girls are 5^th-​9^th grade and it was just perfect! Trying to talk our extended family into a Christmas Vacation here!!!

This should be the world’s finest, whitest sand and featuring America’s number one ranked beach, Siesta Key Beach is an eight mile barrier island graced with two more beaches, Crescent Beach and Turtle Beach.
Siesta Key is located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, just an hour south of Tampa. Part of prestigious Sarasota County, Siesta Key is only a bridge away from the «epicenter» of Florida’s Culture, Sarasota.
I love this beach. It’s perfect for kids and all ages. There’s umbrellas to rent. You can use noodles and floats. The water is warm but refreshing. There’s a restaurant, bathrooms, park, playground, showers and foot washers. They are super neat and clean. The sand is so soft and does not get very hot. Lots of room to play, fly kites and relax.
Every Sunday, before sunset there are drummers lined up playing from sunset into the night and everyone gathers around dancing, it was a beautiful thing to experience. Parking is free. With limited parking, along Beach Road, expansive Crescent Beach has been rated as one of the «Top 10 Beaches in the World».
It is simply beautiful. Highly recommended for any beach lover. Even with crowded weekends, this destination is so worth it. I would have go all the time if I lived more closer.

What a pleasant surprise! So glad we decided to go out of out way a bit and visit this beach. No wonder its rated so high! Its beautiful! Although there was a wait for the restrooms, it was still not too dirty, wet, or gross in there. Loved how accessible the restrooms were. It was a bit hard to find parking but to be expected since its free.
Loved the white hourglass sand and the most beautiful shells that laced the beach. You can literally pick up the most fascinating shells if you just stick your hand in the waves.
Loved the volleyball court as well! Had a ball playing with my vball loving daughter. Lots of room to play, fly kites and relax.
Wished we had more time but a crazy storm blew in n sent everybody running for their lives lol it was a mess. People left coolers, umbrellas etc because it blew in so fast. I lost a sandal but totally worth it just to experience this magnificent beach.
Will definitely go back here again and only here if we go to Orlando.

Personally I think this is the best beach in Florida, whitest, finest sand. Huge and not so crowded. The food around the area not overpriced and tastes so good. They have clean, big bathroom and a play ground area for kids.

#1 Beach! Nothing to add! Now with the matts also no problems for strollers or anything with weels.

It’s true, it’s all true. Siesta beach is stunningly gorgeous. Walking across the silky cool sand on a blazing hot day is rather surreal. The water is calm and warm, and the beach itself is not overly crowded. There are tourists for sure, but it’s a calm, classy group compared to other Florida beaches. I went during the off season (April), so parking wasn’t a problem at all. Just keep in mind that there are not many restaurants in the area, so plan accordingly.

Best beach in not only the state of Florida but probably can hands down say in the entire USA! Sand is like walking on flour, never gets hot and very luxurious to walk on.
Huge beach, not just a tiny strip like most beaches.

This is pretty much the perfect beach… as long as you stay on it. From what I hear, the public parking can be pretty crowded, but we always stay at a place right on the beach, which eliminates any of those hassles. Either way, once you’re on the beach, you won’t find a better one anywhere. We’re talking white, talcum powder soft sand, clear blue water and usually, very calm conditions that are perfect for paddleboarding or just lazing around in a tube or on a raft. Heck, you even get the occasional pod of dolphins swimming near you, too. If you’re a beach fan, this place is paradise.

This is the most beautiful beach I’ve come to. I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale/​Miami and this beach beats anything they have.
The sand is like walking on powder. It’s white and silky and comfortable. It was 75 when we came out and it’s interesting to me that the sand is cool! Dig a few inches in and the sand is cool and damp.
No seaweed or garbage anywhere to be found. The beach itself is huge and the water very shallow and clear.
Not too many 18 – 30 year olds. Mostly families and older people which makes for a quieter beach although IT IS PACKED. I came on a Sunday so that may be why.
Also the sunset is amazing.
Their sign says it all. #1 beach in the USA according to Trip Advisor 2015! There is no lie that out of the 20 or so beaches I’ve been too this is by far the best!

Pro-​tip: get there before 11a to find parking in the smaller «public beach access #9» or «10» etc etc lots that line the main drag. There’s space for 8 – 15 cars at best, not 400 like the big public lots. So, the area of the beach the access lots lead to are much less crowded.
So the sand here is gorgeous of course. I’ve never felt anything like it — soft like flour or powder. White like the clouds in the sky. Just absolutely the rolls Royce of beach sand.
The water is turquoise. A little chilly in April, but otherwise nice. Nary a shell to be found.
My biggest problem with this beach is the foot traffic. It’s like a tour bus drops people off at one end of the beach and they all walk down to the other end. And then comes another group, walking from one end to the other. And another group. And another. It’s busier than the sidewalks of New York. Not my style.

This is a beautiful beach! No wonder it is the #1 beach.
While vacationing in Florida, I finally got to check this beach out. Yes its crowded, and parking wasn’t easy to find, but parking is free, and they just added more parking spaces .
Love the white cool sugar sand. But don’t take any home as a souvenir. Apparently its not allowed. I have a good friend who lives there and says its not allowed to take sand from the beach. How they would know sand is missing, I m not sure, but its true.
The water is beautiful, and very clean! You can buy food there and have lunch with a view!
I would highly recommend visiting Siesta key is ever in the area.

This beach is very nice. It is a hike to get to the water, but who can complain it’s gorgeous.
I came on a not so busy day but it’s clean and the sand is packed down enough that it’s easy to walk.
I would come back to this beach!

Beautiful beach. Soft sand and clear water. You can’t beat it. We come at least twice per year!

In the heart of Siesta Key, is a barrier island off the southwestern coast of Florida. Siesta Key was recently named one of the top beaches in the states. Soft and white powdered sand is gorgeous. Water is charming in its own way for as blue as it is. Great place to relax and spend for a stay-​cation.

Pro: Beautiful powder sand beach.
And dog friendly apparently. We have seen multiple dogs on the beach which is nice.
Con: Super crowded and parking took some to find a spot, you basically just have to stalk people leaving to get a spot if you come after 10 am.

Living in Florida certainly comes with its perks and those usually have something to do with sand and water and as nice as the sand is on the east coast the best sand in the state is definitely on the west coast. I can’t say for sure if this sand equals the powdered sugar white sands along the panhandle but it’s close. Commonly called sugar sand or barking sand because of the sounds given off when walking across it in bare feet it’s usually cooler to the touch and has much less grit because the grains are so much smaller.
Like most of the beaches on this side of Florida the water is always warmer and the clarity is unbelievable it’s no wonder Siesta Key is a popular destination for Floridians. The parking is in abundance here but living in Volusia County where driving on the beach is legal this beach requires a little more effort to get everything required for a perfect day at the beach. This beach is always a good choice…

— Short Synopsis —
A nice beach with parking along the key in various lots. It can get a bit crowded in some areas and the dead plants/​vegetation that wash up on the shore bring down the visual appeal.
The sand is dense, and cool to the touch; however, I think I enjoy the touch of the soft, powdery sand found a little more north in beaches like Clearwater.
Still, it is a nice beach and see why it is so popular.
— Detailed Review —
Walking along the beach, it is definitely more crowded toward the center where the main parking lot is, as expected. There also seem to be numerous people speaking French or other foreign languages. This, along with the number of tripadvisor review, indicates this place is a popular tourist destination.
One of the things I did enjoy was seeing was the small baby mussels (or some other shell fish) being washed above the sand by the waves. They would be washed above the sand by the retreating waves and then you could see them digging themselves back into the sand! This occurs periodically along the beach and intrigued me.
Also, there are not too many dense collection of shells along the beach to the point where it hurts to walk on them barefoot. This is good, as some beaches along the gulf have large collections of shells that hurt to walk on. There is also some washed up dead vegetation along Siesta Key, which does detract from the visual beauty of the beach.
It is also close to many nice places to go eat/​shopping/​other activities, which is always nice. I recommend Sun Garden Café for breakfast.
Overall, Siesta Key/​Beach is a nice beach with nothing too significantly bad with it.

Siesta Key Beach is in my opinion the most beautiful beach in the lower 48! It has been on the Travel Channel’s top Florida beaches and other top beach shows on the travel Channel as being one of the top beaches in America. If a top beach is based on beauty alone then Siesta Key Beach wins!
Harvard University’s geology department found the sand of Siesta Beach was 99% pure quartz. Unlike most beaches that are composed of crushed shells, rocks or lava, this sand is pure white and when I saw it I actually thought it was snow until I got out of the car and touched it. The sand has been described as «dazzling» and it is stated that it never feels hot.
It is said to be the only true white sand beach in the US.
When we went it was in the middle of winter and it wasn’t hot enough to swim. It was in the low 70’s but the beach was almost empty so we had it to ourselves and it was peaceful and beautiful.
It has a more classy vibe than any other Florida beach I have been to. Since I have only been once I am no expert on this beach but having been to most of the famous beaches in the US I can say it certainly is more beautiful than other beaches in the lower 48.