The Florida Gulf Coast was once a world of small beach towns. But in recent decades, sprawl has joined these towns into a metropolis, making many communities feel connected only by the endless traffic along the Interstate 75 corridor. However, there are still a few towns tucked away from the convenience and congestion of the highway, where you can feel a little disconnected with uncrowded beach towns perfect for unwinding in the sun and digging your toes in the sand.
One of those places is Englewood, located about 35 miles south of Sarasota. The vibe here contrasts with its more cosmopolitan neighbors like Cape Coral and North Port, with its eclectic downtown. It still has the small-town vibe many seek, but it’s not inconveniently located away from the big cities.
Englewood sits on the coast, but as is typical for Florida, the central part of the community lies on the mainland while Englewood Beach lies across a bridge on Manasota Key. The region has been hard hit by hurricanes in recent years, but restaurants and businesses are open, and there are plenty of reasons to visit this welcoming area. Most notably, the beach was reopened as of April 2025, so there’s once again public access for fun in the sand in Englewood Beach.
Beach communities and amenities in Englewood
Manasota Key is home to several beach parks and the small community of Englewood Beach. It’s only a 5-minute drive into downtown Englewood from here, so the only separation is the waterway you cross when driving onto the island. The main public beach access is Chadwick Park, and there’s also a fishing pier on the east side of the island on the waterway. Parking is a bit limited, however, so at the time of this writing, the county is providing free park-and-ride service from Tringali Park on the mainland, hourly Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The county also reopened Blind Pass Beach Park, sometimes called Middle Beach, located 3 miles north…