SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — It's been just over two weeks since Hurricane Milton barreled through the Tampa Bay area, a region already battered by Hurricane Helene just weeks before. Milton displaced mountains of sand along Florida's Gulf Coast and scattered debris across the area.
While communities recover and rebuild damaged homes and property, many have wondered about our beaches, some of the most popular in the country. With millions of "snowbirds" from the north and more travelers coming for the upcoming holidays, not having visitors allowed on the beaches is a concern for tourism.
There is good news — the beaches are recovering, too, and many are ready to have residents and visitors walk along the sand and enjoy what they have to offer.
What Tampa Bay area beaches are open?
Here's a look at the latest on beach closures and reopenings in each county.
Citrus County
Find the latest beach conditions by visiting Citrus County's website here.
Hernando County
To see the latest openings and closures of beaches and parks in Hernando County, click or tap here.
Pinellas County
Pinellas County's tourism agency says that there "are no county-wide restrictions on beach access." Keep in mind that individual municipalities may have limitations.
The Treasure Island Police Department announced this week that "most of our beautiful beaches are now open to the public." However, Sunset Beach remains closed, public restrooms are closed, and parking lots are limited.
Fort De Soto Park, Sand Key Park, Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park are also closed, according to Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.
In addition to the information above, you can find the latest updates, by clicking or tapping here.
Sarasota County
Thursday morning, Sarasota County government officials announced it was reopening access to some of its beaches to the public. Those include the following:
- Siesta Beach
- Nokomis Beach
- North and South Brohard
- Maxine Barritt Park on Venice Island
Access to the barrier islands, including Siesta Beach, will also be welcoming visitors. Boat ramps at Nokomis Beach, Manasota Beach and Blackburn Point will also be reopened.
In addition to the information above, you can find the latest updates on beaches by clicking or tapping here.
Manatee County
Find the latest beach conditions by visiting Manatee County's website here.
