View Full Version : Closest, prettiest Gulf Beach from The Villages
GreggC69
02-24-2025, 05:13 PM
As a relative newcomer to Florida, we are looking for the best Gulf beach for a day trip. Have heard much about the pure white sand, clear water and great sunsets. What locations do you recommend?
bsloan1960
02-24-2025, 05:55 PM
If you ever get the idea to go to Fort Myers Beach consider the following: Last week we sat in a 3 hours traffic jam to go the 4 miles to get over the bridge and off the island.As a relative newcomer to Florida, we are looking for the best Gulf beach for a day trip. Have heard much about the pure white sand, clear water and great sunsets. What locations do you recommend?
Altavia
02-24-2025, 06:27 PM
Our favorite is Indian Rocks beach on the gulf. Relatively quiet without large hotels/condos.
ResQme
02-25-2025, 08:30 AM
If you like quiet... Indian Rocks. If you want the whitest... Siesta Key (farther away though.) If you want to collect shells, go to Sanibel/Captiva (much farther away.) Do not go to Ft. Myers Beach!
MX rider
02-25-2025, 08:53 AM
Our friends live in Bonita Springs. According to them bumper to bumper traffic is non stop around them and in the Ft Myers area.
Try other options suggested here.
dewilson58
02-25-2025, 09:42 AM
Port Orange
bagboy
02-25-2025, 10:07 AM
Check with gulf coast news reports regarding red tide before going. It seems to be prevalent at present. Under normal circumstances, I'd recommend Siesta Key with a night or two stay.
rustyp
02-25-2025, 11:28 AM
Port Orange
On the Gulf ?
npwalters
02-25-2025, 12:25 PM
closest and prettiest don't co-exist from here. The prettiest are up near Panama City Beach and Ft Walton. There have been some good recommendations for the closest.
VApeople
02-25-2025, 01:46 PM
The good beaches in southern Florida are pretty crowded this time of year, so you could wait a few weeks until more of the tourists go home.
However, there are a lot of extremely beautiful other places in Florida to visit - like Bok Tower and other nearby springs, like Silver Springs, Rainbow Springs, Alexander Springs, and Rock Springs.
DrMack
02-25-2025, 01:53 PM
We love Siesta Key.
Kelevision
02-25-2025, 08:22 PM
Siesta Key
USOTR
02-26-2025, 05:26 AM
I'm a native Floridian and have visited almost everywhere in Florida.
Google Maps (https://maps.app.goo.gl/YVB1gXrtBSz28odz5)
Is a Google map link to Fort Island Beach.. Near Crystal River.. Straight west of The Villages.
It has white-sand beach featuring covered picnic tables & restrooms, plus a boat ramp & a fishing pier.
The magazine cover beaches your thinking of are in the Panhandle of Florida, and much to far away for a day trip.
Google Maps (https://maps.app.goo.gl/cxQFwpHHq85tajRQA)
Example Google map link for Cape San Blas.
Clearwater south to Fort Myers also have great beaches but come with lots of Snow Birds traffic and over crowed beaches.
La lamy
02-26-2025, 06:55 AM
Our favorite is Indian Rocks beach on the gulf. Relatively quiet without large hotels/condos.
Indian Rocks Beach is my recommendation as well. With a meal visit at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill in Clearwater. It's right on the beach so you have an awesome view if you ask for a patio table.
birdawg
02-26-2025, 07:05 AM
We like Clearwater.
daca55
02-26-2025, 07:46 AM
Indian Rocks Beach is my recommendation as well. With a meal visit at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill in Clearwater. It's right on the beach so you have an awesome view if you ask for a patio table.
You are spot on. Been to both
and I really like Indian Rock beach and the view at Frenchy’s is awesome.
Switter
02-26-2025, 07:48 AM
As a relative newcomer to Florida, we are looking for the best Gulf beach for a day trip. Have heard much about the pure white sand, clear water and great sunsets. What locations do you recommend?
I would just type beaches in Google Maps. You're less than a 2 hour from quite a few beaches. You'll wanna go check a bunch out and figure out what you like.
Flagler is my favorite and probably one of the closest, about an hour and a half. There's not a ton of "attractions" there, a few restaurants, but I think that's what makes it a lot quieter than places like Daytona or beaches near bigger Metro areas. If you wanna catch the sunset you'll have to go to the gulf side.
Oh, and Flagler is not white sand. I think it's ground up seashells. It also has big waves. I think that's why surfers go to the Atlantic side. Part of the appeal for me of the Atlantic side is the sound of the waves.
CrazyTiki
02-26-2025, 08:22 AM
As a native Floridian I have to say that Siesta Key is the nicest on the west coast but its a bit more of a drive to Sarasota County, about 2 hours.
Taltarzac725
02-26-2025, 08:33 AM
Google top ten beaches in the USA .
Nancy Rodriguez
02-26-2025, 08:52 AM
Don’t go on Friday-Monday. Weekend traffic
Lanieb
02-26-2025, 09:09 AM
[QUOTE=ResQme;2411877]If you like quiet... Indian Rocks. If you want the whitest... Siesta Key (farther away though.) If you want to collect shells, go to Sanibel/Captiva (much farther away.) Do not go to Ft. Myers Beach!
Didn’t Siesta key Beach get destroyed during the latest hurricane?
LonnyP
02-26-2025, 10:01 AM
Siesta Key, hands down.
TVTVTV
02-26-2025, 10:03 AM
Check with gulf coast news reports regarding red tide before going. It seems to be prevalent at present. Under normal circumstances, I'd recommend Siesta Key with a night or two stay.
Yes, very important to check if or where red tide and fish kills are before a beach trip. Nothing worse than a stinky beach filled with sargassum and red tide that can cause respiratory issues. When closer beaches on the gulf coast are bad, we go east to the Atlantic beaches. Google at least a few days before going so that you have an idea of where blooms are. Most of the year the beaches in FL are great!
TomSpasm
02-26-2025, 10:31 AM
Off the beaten track, try the Suntan Terrace Motel on Nokomis Beach, just south of Sarasota. Not fancy at all, but right on the beach with a pool on the intercoastal side, restaurant close by. 75S to 681 to 41, less traffic than the Sarasota mess. Note that two hurricanes last year hit southwest Florida and those areas all took a beating, so beaches may not be as good as they have been historically. Checking for red tide also a great idea, as I heard there was a recent outbreak in that area.
ElDiabloJoe
02-26-2025, 11:16 AM
The stunning beaches of 30A. That's an off-shoot highway along the highway between (roughly) PCB and Destin. Places like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach are STUNNING!
NayNayMarie
02-26-2025, 01:06 PM
On the Gulf ?
No, it’s on the east coast and no where near as beautiful as the west coast/gulf
Bonanza
02-26-2025, 03:51 PM
Without question -- Siesta Key is the best -- hand's down!
On the hottest day, you can always walk on the sand because it's quartz. In addition, it is so soft -- just like baby powder. You won't be disappointed!
Also, going through Sarasota to get to any of the keys -- it's a wonderful city with fine restaurants, the Ringling Museum, and Selby Botanical Gardens.
FloridaGuy66
02-26-2025, 11:09 PM
I really don't understand people here suggesting Fort Myers beach. There's MANY beaches better and several hours closer with traffic. The one thing Fort Myers beach does have though is some decent tiki bars along the beach.
Good options: Clearwater beach, Siesta key and Manasota key. Englewood beach is very nice as well but a bit further away.
AMB444
02-26-2025, 11:24 PM
Honeymoon Island is the best!
Honeymoon Island State Park | Florida State Parks (https://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland)
It's still recovering from hurricanes but is the best beach/island that is closest to TV.
AMB444
02-26-2025, 11:30 PM
The stunning beaches of 30A. That's an off-shoot highway along the highway between (roughly) PCB and Destin. Places like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach are STUNNING!
Could not agree more! My family and I have been in FLA for over 55 years traveling many times per year to stay in FLA. We've never stayed in the Panhandle. My first trip was last year to Destin area and it's true, the beaches are gorgeous!
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