Great Runs in Sarasota, Florida
Note: This a summary of our Sarasota, Florida running guide. For all the best places to run in Sarasota, please visit the Great Runs website.
Sarasota is known for its great weather, sandy beaches, recreation, cultural amenities, and Italianate architecture influenced by Ringling’s Cà d’Zan. Our guide to running in Sarasota highlights the beauty of Sarasota Bay and the barrier islands, several larger parks on the outskirts of the city, and a couple of routes in lovely Venice, which is 20 miles south.
Our best runs in Sarasota are below. Click on each for further details.
Ringling Bridge/Causeway. The most dramatic run in the Sarasota area, with great water views and even a bit of elevation!
Siesta Key Beach. Named one of the best beaches in the United States, it’s also great for running, with white, firm sand over 8 miles.
Downtown Area & Historic Tour. A ‘runseeing tour’ of Sarasota’s lovely downtown.
Ringling Museum and Indian Beach Area. Near the Ringling Museum and the airport, good running pleasant roads, incorporating some interesting Sarasota sites and lovely homes.
Casey Key. Pleasant, low traffic road, with good views to the Gulf of Mexico, and some spectacular waterside homes.
Celery Fields Trails. Former celery fields are now a combination water collection zone, restored wetlands area, birding spot, and recreation area. ~4 miles of perimeter trails around marshlands.
Oscar Scherer State Park. 1,200 acre state park between Venice and Sarasota, with 15 miles of trails.
Nathan Benderson Park. Nice path around lake and rowing facility that makes for a good 5k+ loop.
Venice: Legacy Trail. A 10.8 mile former rail line, now a paved recreation trail running from Venice, north toward Sarasota.
Venice: Venetian Waterway and Park Trail. A lovely paved trail that runs along both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway, from historic downtown Venice south to the Shamrock Park Nature Center and Caspersen Beach.
