86°
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
42%
26
Sarasota County, FL · Gulf of Mexico
Lido Beach
400 Benjamin Franklin Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
Sarasota's main public Gulf beach — at the south end of St. Armands Circle (the shopping/dining island). Year-round lifeguard staffing, a 25-meter public lap pool right at the beach, and the Lido Island Grill concession. South Lido Park 1.5 miles south is the wilder, kayak-and-mangroves alternative.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
Thunderstorms · NWS alert active · 42% rain
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. South wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 5am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79. South southeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Weather
- 86°F air — ideal beach weather
- 42% rain — rain likely at some point
Water
- 86°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 18 at 4:10pm edt until july 21 at 8:00pm edt by nws tampa bay ruskin fl
15 /100
skip
0 Swim
39 Sunbathe
14 Walk
26 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Water level 0.6 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 4:10PM EDT until July 21 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...South winds around 20 knots with gusts up to 30 knots and seas 4 to 7 feet expected. * WHERE...Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM, Coastal waters from Englewood to Tarpon Springs FL out 20 NM, Waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 to 60 NM and Waters from Englewood to Tarpon Springs FL out 20 to 60 NM. * WHEN...From 8 AM Sunday to 8 PM EDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
86°F
Mostly Clear
Wind
17 mph
S
Rain
42%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
9 Very High
High 11 AM–01 PM · burn in ~22m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 02 PM
Tomorrow
86°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water
Water Temp
86°F
Swimming weather
Water Quality
Clean
10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 6mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (FLZ160)
The TBW office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- FLZ139 Coastal Levy-Coastal Citrus-Coastal Hernando-Coastal Pasco — Cedar Key, Yankeetown, Crystal River, n/a
- FLZ050 Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota — Clearwater Beach, Saint Pete Beach, n/a
- FLZ162 Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee — Manasota Key, Palm Island, Captiva, Sanibel, n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:46 AM
Sunset
8:26 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:29 AM | High | 1.7 ft |
| 11:29 AM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| 5:34 PM | High | 2.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:28 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 6:47 AM | High | 1.8 ft |
| 12:38 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 6:36 PM | High | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:57 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 7:12 AM | High | 2.0 ft |
| 1:51 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 7:46 PM | High | 1.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:23 AM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| 7:44 AM | High | 2.1 ft |
| 3:10 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 9:29 PM | High | 1.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:45 AM | Low | 1.2 ft |
| 8:22 AM | High | 2.2 ft |
| 4:32 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 9:08 AM | High | 2.3 ft |
| 5:49 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 10:02 AM | High | 2.4 ft |
| 6:52 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8726520, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
86°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
67%
8
87°
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
67%
7
89°
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
28%
25
88°
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
21%
41
89°
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
18%
41
89°
Mostly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
30%
34
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 9 — very high
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 17 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 86°F
- optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 42% rain chance
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Free 400-space lot on Ben Franklin Dr right at the beach.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on the beach, in the park, and at the pool. Brohard Beach Paw Park in Venice (~30 min south) is the only off-leash dog beach in Sarasota County.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
400 Benjamin Franklin Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Lido Beach today?
Lido Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Lido Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on the beach, in the park, and at the pool. Brohard Beach Paw Park in Venice (~30 min south) is the only off-leash dog beach in Sarasota County.
Is there an entry fee at Lido Beach?
Entry to Lido Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Lido Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Lido Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Lido Beach?
Amenities at Lido Beach include lifeguards (year-round), restrooms, showers, 25m lap pool, Lido Island Grill, pavilion, beach wheelchairs (free).
When is the water warmest at Lido Beach?
The Gulf of Mexico is bathwater-warm by mid-summer — 84-88°F is typical from July through September on the FL Gulf, TX coast, and AL/MS coast. Swimming comfortable from April through October on most of the Gulf.
Where is Lido Beach located?
Lido Beach is in Sarasota County, FL, at 400 Benjamin Franklin Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS