Travel Tips

Enjoy the peaceful lifestyle and the pristine beaches of Manasota Key

Manasota Key has a similar relationship with Englewood as Casey Key has with Nokomis. Manasota Key is another barrier island that connects to Englewood by two bridges, the most famous being the Manasota Bridge on the northern end of Englewood and Manasota Key. The barrier island runs parallel to Englewood with Lemon Bay separating the two and the Gulf of Mexico on the other side of the island. With only one main road, Manasota Key Road ends at Englewood Beach and Stump Pass State Park at the Southern end of the island. The small strip of land is best known for its unspoiled beauty, since the zoning in the area does not allow for high-rise hotels or traffic lights on the island. The only establishments you will see are family owned condominiums and apartments, a few small restaurants, and some larger family homes at the North end of the island. Don’t leave the Sarasota area without driving, biking or walking through the Manasota Key area to enjoy the refreshing beauty of the Gulf Coast in its most beautiful untouched habitat.

In the small area of Manasota Key there are two spectacular beaches, Manasota Beach and Blind Pass Beach, which offers hiking trails, swimming, fishing and a great place to relax on the beach. Both beaches have lifeguards on duty year round, which makes this a great place to take the kids for a day at the beach. The Manasota Key area is also a popular place to search for sharks’ fossils and visitors often find beautiful shells. There is also a docking and launching area in the middle of the island, where you can gain immediate access to Lemon Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

You can reach Manasota Key by leaving Venice towards US-41 South and then veering onto SR 776. Before you get to Englewood, take a right onto Manasota Beach Road and you will find yourself going towards the Manasota Bridge. You can also access Manasota Key by following SR 776 all the way down to Beach Road and then head north away from Englewood Beach. If you have the time on your vacation, Manasota Key is an afternoon trip you won’t soon forget.