Route #75 Siesta Key – Myakka River State Park – Nocatee

This route connects two very different sides of Florida: the famous beaches of the Gulf Coast and the wild rural interior of the peninsula. The ride begins on Siesta Key, one of the most celebrated barrier islands in the country for its white quartz sand and coastal scenery, and heads east across suburban communities, former ranch lands, and citrus groves before entering the vast wilderness of Myakka River State Park.

Along the way, the landscape shifts from tourist centers to open prairies, cattle ranches, canals, and rivers where wildlife is still abundant. The state park forms the natural heart of the route, with wetlands, forests, and the Myakka River winding through marshes and grasslands.

After leaving the park, the route continues through sparsely populated countryside and historic ghost towns such as Pine Level, once the county seat of DeSoto County, before ending in Nocatee, a small community along US 17 near the Peace River.

This route clearly shows the contrast between coastal, urban Florida and the quiet, rural, and almost untouched interior of the state.

This route can be found in Discovering Florida – Volume 3.