Nokomis Beach: Old Florida Charm on Casey Key

At the far south end of Casey Key sits Nokomis Beach Florida, a rustic reminder of what Florida’s Gulf Coast used to feel like. It’s not commercialized, it’s not polished, and that’s exactly its charm. With a dirt parking lot, a simple pavilion with restrooms, and dark, coarse sand that can burn bare feet in summer, Nokomis feels closer to Venice’s Turtle Beach than the powdery white sand of Siesta Key.

Sharing its southern border with the North Jetty, Nokomis Beach offers something many Gulf beaches don’t anymore—simplicity. Vintage vacation rentals dot the shoreline just north of the access before giving way to the mega-mansions of Casey Key. Over the bridge, Pop’s Sunset Grill is the closest thing you’ll find to a tiki bar. In every way, Nokomis Beach is a vintage beachgoing experience.

My First Visit

I first stumbled across Nokomis Beach almost 40 years ago. I had missed the turn at Albee Road toward the south bridge and suddenly saw a sign that simply read “Nokomis Beach.” Without it, I would have driven past.

Back then, the dirt parking lot was pitted with potholes deep enough to swallow a Fiat during rainy season. A stone’s throw to the south sat the North Jetty with its own dirt lot. It was raw, rugged, and real—what I now call Old Florida.

What struck me that first visit was not the sand or even the Gulf view. It was the people. Tourists flocked to Siesta, but Nokomis Beach seemed reserved for locals. The vibe was calmer, simpler. And as I’ve reminded myself many times over the years, the best beach is the one where I can actually find a parking space.

The Sand and Surf

The sand at Nokomis Beach is dark and coarse, much like Turtle Beach in south Siesta. It’s the kind of sand where walking feels like a workout—you sink slightly with each step. Forget about biking along the shore; the sloping beach makes that impossible.

But the payoff is in the Gulf itself. The water here is the same stunning turquoise as anywhere along Sarasota County, and the setting feels more private. It’s a place where you can still stretch out without feeling like you’re in the middle of a photo shoot or festival crowd.

The Nokomis Beach Drum Circle

One of the most unique experiences at Nokomis Beach is its drum circle, held on Wednesday and Saturday evenings during season. Over the years, my wife and I have enjoyed several evenings there, folding chairs in hand, ready for the rhythm.

If you’ve been to the drum circle at Siesta Key, you might expect the same scene. But Nokomis is different. At Siesta, the crowd presses into the circle, phones raised, tourists dancing in and out. At Nokomis, the circle stays respected. People gather several chairs deep around the drummers, clapping, swaying, sometimes dancing—but always letting the circle breathe.

Cycling the Casey Key Loop

Long before the Legacy Trail connected Sarasota to Venice, Nokomis Beach was a starting point for some of the most scenic cycling in the county.

Decades ago, several friends and I would meet at the Nokomis Beach lot at 8 a.m. on Saturday mornings. From there, we’d ride south along Casey Key Road—five miles of winding, shaded, Gulf-view perfection. The road was flat and desolate in those days, with far fewer mega-mansions than today. Sometimes we wouldn’t see a car the entire ride.

We’d loop across the swinging bridge at Blackburn Point Road, down U.S. 41, and back to Albee, circling back to Nokomis Beach. Along the way, we took water breaks not because we needed them but because we didn’t want to rush the views. Standing on the roadside, the Gulf stretched blue and endless, waves lapping only yards away.

Even today, the Casey Key loop remains a bucket-list ride for local cyclists. It’s scenic, challenging, and timeless.

Nostalgia and Old Florida

Nokomis Beach isn’t the kind of place you visit for amenities. There’s no boardwalk of shops, no tiki bars, no sprawling parking garage. Instead, you get potholes in the lot, coarse sand, and a Gulf view worth every bit of inconvenience.

It feels local. It feels authentic. It feels like the way Florida used to be—before luxury condos and sky-high hotel towers crowded out the simple beach day.

For my wife and me, nostalgia keeps us coming back. Sometimes we just cruise Casey Key Road for the mansions, sometimes we find a spot at Nokomis, and sometimes we wander down to the Jetty. If all else fails, we stop at Pop’s Sunset Grill.

That’s the beauty of Nokomis—it’s not about perfection, it’s about simplicity.

An Oldie But a Goodie - Nokomis Beach Florida on Casey Key

For longtime residents, it’s a reminder of the beaches we grew up with. For newcomers, it’s a chance to step back in time and see Florida as it once was. If you’re tired of fighting crowds for a parking spot on Siesta, or if you’re craving a simpler day by the water, Nokomis Beach is the escape you didn’t know you needed.

Nokomis Beach may not make glossy travel brochures, but that’s exactly why people love it. It’s quiet, rustic, and authentic—a place where locals gather, drummers keep time, and the Gulf rolls on just as it always has.