Englewood (Florida)
Englewood is a city with a bustling art community, authentic beach town atmosphere, and an abundance of aquatic activities on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida. In 2020, it was home to 21,000 people.
Understand
Englewood is enclosed on three sides by the Gulf of Mexico and the larger cities of Venice and Port Charlotte, which both have more shopping and action, but the beaches aren't as nice. Englewood has the necessities including Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Publix, and Bealls.
Folklore has it that in the 1920s, a candidate for mayor promised that if elected, he would guarantee to have the US 41 run through town. Venice and Port Charlotte took off instead.
Get in
Englewood is a 30-minute drive south from Sarasota/Bradenton Regional Airport (SRQ IATA), a 60-minute drive north from Fort Myers Regional Airport (RSW IATA), and a 75 minute drive south of Tampa International Airport (TPA IATA).
Englewood is accessible from I-75 from exit 191 River Rd and to a lesser extent 193 Jacaranda Blvd.
Get around
You'll need to get a rental car from the airport as public transportation is nearly non-existent, and is impossible to use from town-to-town.
See
Popular entertainment includes the beach, restaurants, and a small shopping district located primarily along Dearborn Street.
Do
- Englewood Beach
- 🌍 Stump Pass Beach State Park, 900 Gulf Blvd (south end of Manasota Key), ☏ +1 941-964-0375. 8AM to sunset.
- 🌍 Indian Mounds Park, 210 Winston Ave, ☏ +1 941-861-5000. Boat ramp and trails.
- 🌍 Blind Pass Beach, 6725 Manasota Key Rd, ☏ +1 941-861-5000. Canoeing and trails.
- 🌍 Lemon Bay Playhouse, 96 W Dearborn St, ☏ +1 941-475-6756. W–Sa 7:30PM, Su 2PM. Take in a play or concert.
Buy
- Lots of Florida trinket stores on Beach Road.
- Also, historic Dearborn street has galleries, shops and restaurants.
Eat
- 🌍 Cafe 776, 138 N Indiana Ave, ☏ +1 941-475-0819. Tu-Sa 11:30AM-8:30PM. Great fish and chips. Huge servings making the "plate charge" for an extra plate worth every penny. You'll still take home leftovers.
Drink
- Englewood Billiards and Brew, 622 N Indiana Ave, ☏ +1 941-474-2356.
Sleep
Englewood isn't big on hotel chains, but it offers a variety of beach resorts.
- 🌍 Sea Oats Beach Club, 1720 Gulf Blvd, ☏ +1 941-474-3611. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM.
- WannaB Inn, 985 Gulf Blvd, ☏ +1 941-474-3431, info@wannabinn.com. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM.
Go next
- To the northwest is Venice, Florida and, farther away, the Sarasota/Bradenton/Anna Maria Island metropolitan area.
- Over a causeway to the east is Port Charlotte, one of the main cities in this region of the state.