Inverness, Florida sits inland in Citrus County and is not directly on the ocean. The nearest Gulf Coast beaches are typically within an hour to a couple of hours by car, depending on the exact beach you choose. Direct answer:
- Closest coast-accessible beaches by driving are along the Gulf of Mexico, with options like Fort Island Gulf Beach and Crystal River area being among the nearer spots, roughly 20–30 miles away as the crow flies, but about 35–60 minutes by road depending on traffic and exact destination. The better-known oceanfront getaways further west include Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach, which are generally around 75–90 miles away by road and can take about 1.5–2 hours to reach. For longer day trips, Siesta Key and Cocoa Beach are roughly 2–3 hours away by car. These estimates depend on the specific route and traffic conditions. [nearest coast references cited]
