Venice is a Gulf-coast city in Sarasota County, Southwest Florida, about 19 miles south of Sarasota, and 73 miles south of Tampa, and 60 miles north of Fort Myers.
Much of the visitor area sits on “Venice Island,” a portion of the mainland separated by the Intracoastal Waterway and linked by bridges.
Quick Facts
- Region: Southwest Florida, Gulf of Mexico coast.
- County: Sarasota County (part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota metro).
- Orientation: City includes Venice Island (created by the Intracoastal Waterway; reached via city bridges).
- Known for: The “Shark Tooth Capital of the World” (teeth wash up on local beaches).
- Nearest airports: SRQ, Sarasota, (~29 miles) and RSW, Fort Myers, (~70 miles).
Where is Venice Florida exactly? (How it sits on the coast)
Venice is one of the few West-Coast Florida cities with its historic downtown directly on the mainland coastline. The Intracoastal Waterway runs behind the beachside district, effectively creating Venice Island and giving the city its canals-and-bridges feel.
Venice gets its name from similar canals, bridges and waterways in Italy.
Distances & driving times
- Sarasota to Venice: about 19 mi via US-41 (30–35 min).
- Tampa to Venice: about 72 mi via I-75 (1 hr 10–20 min).
- Fort Myers to Venice: ~60 mi via I-75 (≈1 hr 10–20 min).
I-75 access: Use Exit 193 (Jacaranda Blvd); Exit 195 (Laurel Rd) or Exit 191 (River Rd) also connect toward Venice and the US-41 corridor. US-41 is also known as the Tamiami Trail as it runs south and the across the Sunshine State.
Getting There – Easy Directions to Venice
- From Tampa/St. Pete: I-75 south to Exit 193, then west/south to US-41 (Tamiami Trail) and follow signs for Venice Ave / Downtown / Beaches.
- From Fort Myers or Naples: I-75 north to Exit 191/193/195, then west to US-41 into Venice.
- From SRQ Airport: 28 mi south via US-41 or I-75 to Exit 193.
- From RSW Airport: 71 mi north via I-75.
What Venice is Known For
- Beaches & shark teeth: Venice Beach, Caspersen Beach and the Venice Jetty area are famed for fossilized shark teeth.
- Strollable downtown: Mediterranean-Revival core on and near Venice Ave with cafés and boutiques (city visitor core).
- Things To Do in Venice Florida
FAQs
Is Venice, Florida on the Gulf or the Atlantic?
Gulf of Mexico—it’s a Southwest Florida city on the Gulf coast.
What county is Venice, Florida in?
Sarasota County.
Is Venice actually on an island?
Locals say “Venice Island” for the beach/downtown area created by the Intracoastal Waterway; it’s connected to the rest of the city by bridges.
How far is Venice from Sarasota, Tampa, and Fort Myers?
About 19 mi from Sarasota, ~73 mi from Tampa, ~60 mi from Fort Myers (driving).
Why is Venice called the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World”?
Layers offshore and along the shorelines regularly yield fossil shark teeth; the area even hosts a Shark’s Tooth Festival.
What are the closest airports to Venice?
SRQ (Sarasota–Bradenton) ~28 miles; RSW (Fort Myers) ~71 miles.
Which interstate exits lead to Venice?
I-75 Exits 191, 193, and 195 feed the Venice/US-41 corridor; Exit 193 (Jacaranda Blvd) is the most direct for many beach/downtown routes.
Why is Venice the Shark Tooth Capital
Venice sits on top of a shallow, fossil-rich seabed, and Gulf currents keep pushing those fossils—especially shark teeth—onto its beaches. That unique geology + easy beach access is why it’s called Florida’s (and often “the world’s”) Shark Tooth Capital.
Here’s the why in plain English:
- Fossil layer right offshore. The Venice coastline lies over a phosphate-rich fossil bed (part of the region that includes the Peace River Formation) that’s only ~18–35 feet below the seafloor.
- Waves & storms act like a conveyor belt. Surf and storm action erode that layer and move fossil material into the shallows and then up onto the beach, especially after rough weather.
- Shallow shelf close to shore. The nearshore bottom makes it easy for wave energy to stir up and deposit fossils regularly—hence why Venice, Caspersen, and nearby beaches are famous for finds.
- Teeth fossilize well. Shark skeletons are cartilage (which doesn’t fossilize easily), but teeth mineralize and survive—so they’re the most common prize washing up here, from small reef sharks to rare megalodon teeth.
- It’s a whole local culture. The area hosts an annual Sharks Tooth Festival and visitor info points people to the best hunting spots (e.g., Caspersen Beach, Venice Beach, the jetties).
If you’re going: start at Caspersen Beach (often the richest beach for finds), bring a small sand sifter or scoop, and try after a blow or low tide—your odds go up.
Sources & Official Contacts
- City of Venice (contacts, civic info).
- Wikipedia – Venice, Florida (location, Venice Island/ICW context, county placement).
- Visit Venice / Visit Sarasota (shark teeth & beach orientation).
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This article originally appeared here and was republished with permission.
