For Sarasota County anglers, Ken Thompson Park Kayak Beach is a go-to saltwater ramp on Sarasota Bay. The surrounding water rewards early starts, and this launch keeps you close to the action without a long idle out to the good stuff. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
Share your photo of Ken Thompson Park Kayak Beach
Been to this ramp? Add a photo to help other Florida boaters know what to expect.
Photos are reviewed before appearing on the site. JPG/PNG/HEIC, up to 15 MB.
At a glance
- County
- Sarasota
- City
- Sarasota
- Waterbody
- Sarasota Bay
- Water type
- Salt or Brackish Water
- Ramp type
- Hand Launch Only
- Ramp surface
- Sandy Kayak Beach,Sandy Kayak Beach
- Dock
- No Dock
- Parking surface
- Paved - Asphalt or Concrete
- Restroom
- Flush Toilet
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- City of Sarasota
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- Daylight Hoiurs
Address: 1700 Ken Thomson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236 · Coordinates: 27.336045, -82.572799
Get directions on Google Maps →
Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Rinse your trailer and engine with fresh water after launching in salt — corrosion is the enemy on Florida's coast.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is Port Manatee, about 21 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
Been to Ken Thompson Park Kayak Beach? Share tide tips, parking notes, or what you caught. Sign in with Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Disqus — comments are reviewed before appearing. See our privacy notes on Disqus for what's shared.