Longboat Key is the quiet one. It's a long, skinny island just north of Lido Key, mostly homes, condos and resorts, with miles of beach and hardly any crowds. That's the appeal, but it also means the beaches work differently than Siesta or Lido: no big public lot, no lifeguards and only small parking areas. This Longboat Key guide explains how to get onto the beach, how to find Beer Can Island, and what to expect when you visit.
Longboat Key at a Glance
- Where it is: a barrier island about 11 miles long, between Lido Key to the south and Anna Maria Island to the north. The southern part is in Sarasota County and the northern part is in Manatee County.
- Getting there: from St. Armands Circle, drive north through Lido Key and over the New Pass Bridge. Gulf of Mexico Drive runs the length of the island.
- Beach access: about a dozen public accesses marked with blue signs, most with small, unpaved parking areas.
- Beach hours: the town closes public beaches and accesses from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Lifeguards: none. Longboat's beaches are not monitored.
- Beach rules: no animals and no alcohol on the beach, per the town's posted beach rules.
What Longboat Key Is Like
Longboat feels like a long, green, residential drive with the Gulf on one side and Sarasota Bay on the other. There's no main street or beach village like Siesta has, and no bars on the sand. What you get instead is space: long walks, shelling, birds, and sunsets with only a handful of people around.
It's busiest from January through April. The town says its population swells from roughly 8,000 to more than 24,000 in peak season, so expect traffic on Gulf of Mexico Drive at rush hour and plan beach runs for mornings or later in the afternoon.
Longboat Key Public Beach Access and Parking
The Town of Longboat Key lists these public beach accesses. Parking counts are approximate, because most lots are not paved or striped.
- 2825 Gulf of Mexico Drive: park at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road (about 40 spaces, depending on what's happening at Town Hall).
- 3175 Gulf of Mexico Drive: parking on Mayfield Street (about 19 spaces).
- 3355 Gulf of Mexico Drive: parking on Westfield Street (about 20 spaces).
- 3495 Gulf of Mexico Drive: accessible parking on site, plus parking across the street on Longview Street (about 30 spaces).
- 4001 Gulf of Mexico Drive: park at Bayfront Park (4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive) and walk across the road.
- 4711 and 4795 Gulf of Mexico Drive: accessible parking on site. The 4795 access (Atlas Street) has about 30 spaces.
- 6399 Gulfside Road: parking on General Harris Street (about 15 spaces).
- 100 Broadway Street: accessible parking on site (about 31 spaces). This also serves the 6847 Gulf of Mexico Drive access.
- 100 North Shore Road: about 30 spaces, at the north end of the island near Beer Can Island.
- 7055 Seabreeze Avenue: walk-in only, no parking.
Several accesses were closed or walk-in only for a while after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, and conditions can change after any storm. If a lot is closed or full, move on to the next one. Don't park on the shoulder or in private lots, since Longboat enforces parking closely.
Most accesses have no restrooms and nothing to buy, so bring water and plan ahead.
Bayfront Park: The Easy Mid-Key Stop
Bayfront Park at 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive is the closest thing Longboat has to a home base. It sits on the bay side, with tennis, pickleball, basketball and shuffleboard courts, a playground, a fenced dog park and a kayak launch on Sarasota Bay. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are run there by a local outfitter. From the park, cross Gulf of Mexico Drive to the beach access at 4001.
It's a good stop if you're traveling with a dog (the dog park is the place for them, since dogs aren't allowed on the beach) or if you want to paddle the calm bay in the morning and walk the Gulf beach in the afternoon.
Beer Can Island (Greer Island)
At the very north tip of Longboat Key, where the island meets Longboat Pass, is a sandy point locals call Beer Can Island. It's also known as Greer Island. Despite the name, it isn't really an island anymore. Shifting sand has joined it to Longboat, so it's a peninsula of wide beach, mangroves and weathered driftwood, with the Longboat Pass Bridge to Anna Maria Island in view.
The name comes from its past as a party spot. Today it's mostly a place for long walks, shelling, photography and birding. In winter, look for black skimmers, oystercatchers and plovers on the sand flats.
- How to get there: park at the North Shore Road access (about 30 spaces) or the Broadway Street access (about 31 spaces) and walk north along the beach.
- Facilities: none. No restrooms, no shade structures and no lifeguards.
- Tides and currents: high tide can shrink the beach a lot, and the current in Longboat Pass is strong. Don't swim near the pass.
- By boat: it's also a popular stop for boaters, so weekends can get lively offshore.
- Dogs: leave them at home. Dogs aren't allowed on Longboat Key beaches.
Where to Eat on Longboat Key
Longboat doesn't have a dining district, so most visitors eat at their resort, at a handful of restaurants along Gulf of Mexico Drive, or off the island. Harry's Continental Kitchens, a longtime Longboat restaurant and deli, reopened in November 2024 after the hurricanes. Hours on the key can be seasonal, so call ahead, especially in late summer and early fall.
For more choice, St. Armands Circle is a short drive south over the New Pass Bridge, with more than 130 shops and restaurants. See our St. Armands Circle guide for parking and where to eat.
Know Before You Go
- Swim smart. With no lifeguards, watch for rip currents and stay out of the water near Longboat Pass and New Pass.
- Check conditions. Mote Marine Laboratory's Beach Conditions Reporting System (visitbeaches.org) covers both the Sarasota and Manatee County sides of Longboat. The state also tests beach water at the 100 Broadway Street and 3495 Gulf of Mexico Drive accesses.
- Sea turtle season runs May 1 to October 31. Take your gear off the beach at night and keep lights off the sand.
- Getting around without a car: Breeze OnDemand, the county's curb to curb ride service, covers Lido and Longboat Key. Call 941-300-1553 to book.
- Stay for sunset. Every Gulf access faces west.
What to Bring (and a Longboat Souvenir)
Because there's nowhere to buy anything at the beach, pack before you go. If you're coming from Lido or downtown, The Sarasota Style at 410 St. Armands Circle is right on your way:
- Sunscreen and lip balm. There's very little shade at the accesses. We carry Sun Bum Mineral Sunscreen Spray and SPF 30 lip balm.
- A hat. The Longboat Key Rempa cap in navy is a favorite.
- A sun shirt for the walk to Beer Can Island. The Longboat TASC All Day Long Sleeve is light and soft, with built-in coverage.
- A warm layer for winter sunsets. The women's Longboat Key Mock Neck fleece and the Longboat Timber Crew sweatshirt are made for breezy January evenings.
- Plenty of water in a bottle that stays cold.
Our Longboat Key collection has tees, sweatshirts, hats and a kids tee with the Longboat Key logo. The Longboat Key Tee is the classic.
Longboat Key Guide FAQ
Are there public beaches on Longboat Key?
Yes. The Town of Longboat Key has about a dozen public beach accesses along Gulf of Mexico Drive, marked with blue signs. Most have small, unpaved parking areas.
Is parking free at Longboat Key beaches?
The public beach accesses listed by the town have free parking, but the lots are small, from about 15 to 40 spaces. If one is full, try the next access.
Are there lifeguards on Longboat Key?
No. Longboat Key's beaches are not monitored by lifeguards, so swim carefully and watch for rip currents.
Are dogs allowed on Longboat Key beaches?
No. Animals are not allowed on Longboat's beaches. Bayfront Park at 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive has a fenced dog park.
Can you drink alcohol on Longboat Key beaches?
No. The town's beach rules list alcoholic beverages among prohibited activities, and alcohol is not allowed on Town-owned property.
Where is Beer Can Island?
Beer Can Island, also called Greer Island, is the sandy north tip of Longboat Key at Longboat Pass. Park at the North Shore Road or Broadway Street access and walk north along the beach.
Is Beer Can Island really an island?
Not anymore. Shifting sand has connected it to Longboat Key, so it's now a peninsula of beach, mangroves and driftwood.
Does Beer Can Island have restrooms?
No. There are no restrooms, concessions or lifeguards, so bring water and sun protection.
Can you swim at Beer Can Island?
Wading on calm days is common, but the current in Longboat Pass is strong and there are no lifeguards. Stay out of the water near the pass.
What are Longboat Key beach hours?
Public beaches and accesses on Longboat Key are closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless signs say otherwise.
How far is Longboat Key from St. Armands Circle?
Close. Drive north through Lido Key and over the New Pass Bridge, and you're on the south end of Longboat.
Trying to choose between the islands? Read our Siesta Key vs. Lido Key vs. Longboat Key comparison, or see our Lido Beach guide for the island just south of Longboat. Then stop by the shop on St. Armands Circle, open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Top photo: Ebyabe, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.
