After years of record-setting visitation, Sarasota County’s tourism numbers have eased into a new rhythm—a normalization after the frenzy of pandemic-era growth. The beaches, however, have not slipped from the national conversation.

Rankings season now arrives on the Gulf Coast as predictably as sea turtle nesting. Every year, new lists roll in, traveler-voted, reader-ranked, survey-driven, and every year, one name surfaces: Siesta Beach. For Sarasota County, it has become less of a surprise. The suspense is simply how high it will land.

This year adds to a recent streak of acclaim. In 2025, Siesta Beach was named the best beach in the United States and ranked No. 4 in the world on Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards.

Tripadvisor's Best of the Best Beaches (U.S.)

Siesta Beach lands at No. 6 nationally on Tripadvisor’s U.S. list, which is based on traveler reviews and ratings collected over a 12-month period. In addition to Siesta Beach, Florida claims four of the top 10 spots: Clearwater Beach, St. Andrews State Park, Honeymoon Island State Park and Siesta Beach.  Here's the full list:

1. La Jolla Cove, California

2. Clearwater Beach, Florida

3. Poipu Beach Park, Hawaii

4. Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

5. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

6. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida

7. Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, Hawaii

8. St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach, Florida

9. Santa Monica State Beach, California

10. Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida

Condé Nast Traveler's Readers’ Choice Awards (U.S. Beaches)

Condé Nast Traveler’s rankings come from its annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, with more than 757,000 readers participating this year. On this reader-driven list, Siesta Beach ranks No. 8 nationwide, and Florida again performs strongly, with Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Siesta Beach all in the top 10.

1. Pensacola Beach, Florida

2. Navarre Beach, Florida

3. Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

4. Kaunaoa Beach (Mauna Kea Beach), Hawaii

5. Hapuna Beach State Park, Hawaii

6. Ka’anapali Beach, Hawaii

7. Kailua Beach Park, Hawaii

8. Siesta Beach, Florida

9. Trunk Beach, U.S. Virgin Islands

10. Orange Beach, Alabama