Closest, prettiest Gulf Beach from The Villages
 

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?

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.

Our favorite is Indian Rocks beach on the gulf. Relatively quiet without large hotels/condos.

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!

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.

Port Orange

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.

On the Gulf ?

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.

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.

Siesta Key
 

We love Siesta Key.

Siesta Key

Day trip beach
 

I'm a native Floridian and have visited almost everywhere in Florida.


Google Maps

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

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.

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.

We like Clearwater.

You are spot on. Been to both
and I really like Indian Rock beach and the view at Frenchy’s is awesome.

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.

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.

Google top ten beaches in the USA .

Don’t go on Friday-Monday. Weekend traffic

[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?

Siesta Key, hands down.

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!

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.

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!

No, it’s on the east coast and no where near as beautiful as the west coast/gulf

Siesta Key is the best -- Here's why!
 

Anna Maria Island

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.

Honeymoon Island is the best!

Honeymoon Island State Park | Florida State Parks

It's still recovering from hurricanes but is the best beach/island that is closest to TV.

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!