Englewood Florida Guide: Beaches, Things To Do & Local Tips
Discover Englewood, Florida—one of the Gulf Coast’s hidden gems known for its beautiful beaches, shark tooth hunting, and laid-back atmosphere. Explore Englewood Beach, Stump Pass State Park, and Manasota Beach while finding the best things to do, restaurants, and local tips.
Englewood is Florida's Hidden Gem
As a pelican flies, Englewood is situated about twenty-eight (28) miles south of Sarasota and about forty (40) miles north of Fort Myers Beach.
Unlike most coastal cities in Florida, Englewood does not have a major freeway close by and the nearest highway is seven (7) miles away. This has kept Englewood under the radar and Florida's best kept secret.
Englewood, FL is home to five (5) beautiful public beaches, thriving intracoastal waters and plenty of fun things to do.
Things To Do In Englewood, Florida
Best Beaches In Englewood, Florida
Englewood is home to five (5) beautiful public beaches, all located on barrier islands that are separated by the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW).
Stump Pass Beach State Park
Englewood Beach (County)
Blind Pass Beach (County)
Manasota Beach (County)
Don Pedro Island State Park (only accessible by boat or ferry).
Why People Love Englewood, Florida
Englewood has not developed like many of its sister cities.
Englewood has many open spaces, tall trees and mangrove lined creeks, Many of the these areas have been protected by being designated as park.
There are no tall buildings in Englewood and condos are no more than four (4) stories high on its barrier island. Englewood has kept the "small town" feel while being in paradise.
SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT ENGLEWOOD FLORIDA
CLOSEST AIRPORTS TO ENGLEWOOD, FL
Sarasota 42 miles (50 min)
Fort Myers 75 miles (1 hr. 15 min)
Tampa 90 miles (1 hr. 30 min.)
All three (3) airports are modern, nice and organized well.
ENGLEWOOD IS SHARED BY TWO COUNTIES
Englewood is not a city,
but is an unincorporated town.
Englewood is county run and shared by both Sarasota and Charlotte Counties.
The counties also share students and schools.
ENGLEWOOD COMMUNITIES
There are other "city-less" communities around Englewood.
Many people in and around Englewood identify their community as being part of Englewood.
Some of the communities include:
Manasota, Grove City, Cape Haze, Rotonda West and Placida.
ENGLEWOOD'S HOME PRICES HAVE INCREASED
Home prices have practically doubled from 2020 to 2023.
Rent has also sky rocketed . Unfortunately, pushing out many local families.
Englewood is still more affordable than other Florida beach towns.
ENGLEWOOD'S NEARBY
STATE COLLEGES
Florida College System is a system of 28 public community colleges and state colleges in Florida.
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (Venice 10 miles)
Florida Southwestern State College (Punta Gorda 30 miles)
ENGLEWOOD'S NEARBY STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGES
There are 12 public State Universities throughout Florida.
University of South Florida Sarasota Campus and New College of Florida (Sarasota 45 miles)
Florida Gulf coast University (Fort Myers (75 miles)
TAMIAMI TRIAL (41)
US Highway 41 or Tamiami Trail was built to connect Tampa and Miami, hence the name Ta-Miami Trail.
Originally, Tamiami Trail was supposed to go right through Englewood, but the plans changed (lucky for us).
ENGLEWOOD BEACH WATERFEST
Englewood hosts the Offshore Powerboat Association World Championship known as Englewood Beach Waterfest in November.
The fun goes all weekend with a preparty, a block party, the races and a poker run.
ENGLEWOOD'S SNOW BIRDS
The Englewood “Snowbirds” usually visit from October to April.
But lately, they seem to be arriving earlier and staying later.
The town has a much more local feel from May to September.
HURRICANE IAN 2022
On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall and was a powerful Category 5 hurricane and the third-costliest weather disaster on record.
The eyewall hung around Englewood for 5 hours. In addition to the 150 mph winds, Englewood also received about 27 inches of rain.
ENGLEWOOD'S YOUTUBER
DANNY DUNCAN
Popular YouTuber Danny Duncan grew up in Englewood and still has a big presence.
There is a merchandise shop on Dearborn Street and it sounds like he is building a miniature golf course on Dearborn St. too.
ENGLEWOOD HAS ALMOST 10 MILES OF BEACH
From Manasota Key Beach to the end of Stump Pass Beach is almost 10 miles long.
Its all public up to the high tide water line too.
If you count Don Pedro Island, its doubled.
TRAVEL TO ENGLEWOOD, FLORIDA
Englewood, Florida is a beautiful coastal town located in Sarasota County. With its pristine beaches, charming downtown area, and abundance of outdoor activities, Englewood is the perfect destination for those seeking a relaxing and enjoyable vacation. Whether you're looking to soak up the sun, explore the local art scene, or simply unwind in a peaceful setting, Englewood has something for everyone.
Dearborn Street is a charming and historic area located in the heart of Englewood, Florida. With its unique shops, restaurants, and galleries, it's the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring. Whether you're a local or a visitor, Dearborn Street is a must-see destination in Englewood.
Englewood, Florida is a hidden gem for travelers seeking a peaceful getaway. With a variety of hotels to choose from, you can find the perfect place to rest after a day of exploring. From relaxing on the beach to kayaking through mangroves, there are plenty of things to do in Englewood. Start planning your trip today!
GUIDE TO ENGLEWOOD, FL
.webp)
.png)
