The island is accessible by way of two bridges connecting it to the mainland of Sarasota. Siesta Key has of four main areas: Siesta Beach, Crescent Beach, Turtle Beach and Siesta Key Village. You'll find a marina with boat launching and rental facilities on the south end of the key. Siesta Beach is the only beach with lifeguard services. It’s accessible from 13 access points and has a parking lot with 800 spaces, but has no camping facilities. You can camp farther south at Sarasota County’s Turtle Beach Campground, adjacent to the 14-acre Turtle Beach park. Turtle Beach has picnic pavilions and boat ramps, in addition to a beach area that's much quieter than Siesta Beach.
Turtle Beach Campground on Midnight Pass Road features 40 campsites appropriate for either tent or RV camping. Free Wi-Fi service is available throughout the campground, as well as full hookups and cable TV access. Rows of Australian pines line the campsites; picnic areas are shaded, and the restrooms have showers. Campers also have access to laundry room facilities. Thanks to the proximity to the beach, tent campers won’t mind mingling with RVs. All of the campsites are no farther than 700 feet from the water.
Visitors to Turtle Beach, a short walk from the campground, enjoy swimming, fishing and shelling. From Blind Pass Lagoon's boat ramps, at in the center of the park, you can launch your boat or kayak into Little Sarasota Bay and the Intercoastal Waterway. This beach is also home to many nesting sea turtles. To the north, near Siesta Beach, you can stroll around quaint Siesta Key Village, which features dozens of shops, a grocery store, post office and a variety of restaurants.
Because of the popularity of Turtle Beach Campground, you're required to make advance reservations. Sarasota County residents can make reservations 180 days in advance; non-county residents are limited to 90 days in advance. The maximum allowable stay is 30 out of any 45 days, and a minimum three-night stay is required for holiday weekends. Only six people are allowed per campsite, and one of them must be an adult. Animals and campfires are not permitted at Turtle Beach Campground. Electric service, hot water and cable television hookups are available to campers for an additional charge.
