A quiet, low-rise key with a handful of small beach accesses.
Longboat Key is in Manatee County, Florida, on the Gulf coast.
Longboat Key splits its beach access into a handful of small town-run lots rather than one main entrance. The largest sits at Atlas Street in Manatee County, with about thirty free parking spaces. Animals aren't allowed on any of the island's beaches, and there's no lifeguard on duty or restrooms at the accesses. Bradenton Beach is about six miles north and Lido Key Beach roughly seven miles south, both with more facilities.
Today's flag, water temperature, surf, wind, UV and tide times for Longboat Key load on this page automatically. Conditions change through the day, so nothing on this page is a substitute for the flag flying when you arrive.
Amenity details are Coasti's own notes and can go out of date. Fees, lifeguard seasons and dog rules are set locally.
Flags run from green for low hazard to double red for water closed — see what each flag color means.
Tide predictions come from NOAA station Longboats Key, Sarasota Bay (8726089).
Weather and marine forecasts come from the National Weather Service at Sarasota Bradenton Intl (KSRQ).
Red tide readings come from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission monitoring map.
Karenia brevis, the alga behind red tide, occurs naturally in Gulf waters and only causes trouble when it blooms. Those blooms tend to build through late summer and usually peak sometime between September and November. FWC's statewide monitoring map covers Longboat Key from the same rolling eight-day sampling as the rest of the coast, and readings here can differ from Bradenton Beach six miles north. See today's statewide red tide status.
That depends on the flag and the surf, and both change through the day. Coasti shows the posted lifeguard flag when a current one exists, and estimates from surf, wind and rip-current risk when it does not. Today's answer for Longboat Key loads at the top of this page.
Longboat Key has no lifeguard station, so no official flag is posted here. Coasti estimates the flag from conditions instead.
Parking at Longboat Key is free. Small unpaved town lots; ~30 spaces at Atlas St (4795 Gulf of Mexico Dr). Fees and lot hours change, so check locally before you go.
Dogs are not allowed on the beach at Longboat Key. Nearby rules vary, so check locally before you go.
It is quartz rather than crushed shell or coral. Quartz reflects more light, so it looks whiter and stays noticeably cooler underfoot on a hot afternoon.
More Manatee County beaches · All beaches Coasti covers · Red tide status · What the flags mean