Life 2.0Manasota Key is the quiet, old-Florida barrier island just south of Venice, off the shores of Englewood. Gulf beaches on one side, Lemon Bay on the other, and no high-rise skyline. If Siesta Key is the party and Longboat Key is the country club, Manasota Key is the beach cottage with a kayak leaning on the porch.
Where Is Manasota Key?
Manasota Key runs about 11 miles along the Gulf, from just south of Caspersen Beach in Venice down to Stump Pass. The north end is in Sarasota County and the south end is in Charlotte County, around Englewood Beach. Lemon Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway separate it from the mainland, and the whole island uses the Englewood ZIP code, 34223.
You get on the island by bridge from Manasota Beach Road on the north end, or by Beach Road from Englewood on the south end.
The name comes from the Manasota Lumber Company, which ran a sawmill in the area from 1918 to 1923. “Manasota” is a blend of Manatee and Sarasota.
The Beaches
- Manasota Beach: one of the least crowded beaches in Sarasota County, with lifeguards, picnic shelters, a boat ramp on the bay side and paved trails.
- Blind Pass Beach (locals call it Middle Beach): no lifeguards, but great for fishing, kayaking and the mangrove trails on the bay side.
- Englewood Beach: the busiest of the bunch, with picnic tables, volleyball and basketball courts and a playground.
- Stump Pass Beach State Park: at the southern tip. Hiking, fishing, snorkeling, and fewer people, which means more shells and shark teeth for the folks who walk out there.
Keep your eyes open for dolphins, manatees and loggerhead sea turtles, plus herons, egrets, ibis and frigate birds overhead.
Life on Manasota Key
Life here is about the water. Kayak and paddleboard tours go out on Lemon Bay, there are boat and jet ski rentals, and Englewood’s Dearborn Street, with its shops and restaurants, is a short drive across the bridge.
The Hermitage Artist Retreat sits right on Manasota Key Road and puts on free public events through the year: music, theater, art and talks, some of them right by the beach.
Homes on Manasota Key
You’ll find Gulf-front homes and estates, Lemon Bay-front homes with docks, older beach cottages, and low-rise condos near Englewood Beach. Many are second homes, so inventory moves with the seasons. Since the whole island is between the bay and the Gulf, almost every home is close to the water.
What to Know Before You Buy
- Flood zone and elevation. Ask for the elevation certificate and get an insurance quote early. See my flood zone guide.
- Which county? North end is Sarasota County, south end is Charlotte County. Taxes, permits and rules follow the county line.
- Dock and water depth. Lemon Bay can be shallow in spots. Check depth at low tide and your route to Stump Pass or Venice Inlet.
- Seawalls, docks and older homes. Get them inspected. Island salt air is hard on everything.
Manasota Key, Casey Key or Venice Island?
Casey Key is quieter and pricier, with big Gulf-to-bay estates. Venice Island lets you walk to downtown, the beach and the pier. Manasota Key sits in between: real beach-town quiet, more variety in price and style, and Englewood close by for everyday stuff.
Ready to Look at Manasota Key?
“We’ll Find a Great Home at the Best Price!”
Call or text Bill Garrison, RE/MAX Palm Realty, at 941-400-2307.
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