2025 USMS Open Water Nationals has arrived -- we look forward to seeing you in Sarasota!

Visit the 2025 event page and carefully review all details to ensure a wonderful experience.

Contact USMS Event Services with any questions.

Parking and Arrival

There is a separate rowing event this weekend at Benderson Park. Rowing attendees will be charged for parking, but swimming attendees will not be charged. Here is a parking pass (print or display on phone when you arrive). Here is a venue and course map.

Please arrive close to the start of registration (3:00 pm on Friday and 9:00 am on Saturday) to allow plenty of time for check-in and applying tattoos.

Parking Pass

Updates and Reminders

The water temperature is currently 77 degrees. With hot weather expected, the water may be slightly warmer this weekend. Make sure to bring plenty of hydration for before and after your race.
If you haven't already done so, make sure to complete this form including the waiver prior to arriving at Benderson Park.
All swimmers will need to check-in at Benderson Park before the 1-mile on Friday (starting at 3:00 pm) and 5K on Saturday (starting at 9:00 am) to pick up their timing chips, tattoos, and race caps. Swimmers in both races will need to check-in both days.
Here is the course map. The 1-mile will be one loop and the 5K will be three loops.
There will a mandatory safety briefing near the finish tower (five story building) at 4:30 pm on Friday and 10:30 am on Saturday.
All swimmers will enter and exit the water through a chute on the beach adjacent to the finish tower.
After the safety briefing, swimmers will gather under the finish tower with one of four assigned groups and be sent off in waves several minutes apart.
You will have approximately 200 yards to warm-up while swimming from the beach (northeast corner of the lake) to the in-water start (northwest corner of the lake). Otherwise, there is no in-water warmup available.
Timing chips will be worn on both wrists. Touch the floating finish structure with either hand as you complete your swim. Timing chips MUST be returned as you exit the water.
Current USMS Rules will govern this event. See part 3 of the USMS Rule Book for details.
Spectators are welcome for the USA Swimming Open Water Nationals. Cheer on the best open water swimmers in the country! You are welcome to bring pop-up tents (with buckets!) and chairs for spectating.

Timeline

USMS Sprint-Distance Open Water Nationals (1-mile) on Friday, April 4

3:00-4:15 pm: athlete on-site registration
4:30 pm: mandatory safety meeting
5:00 pm: first wave starts

USMS Long-Distance Open Water Nationals (5K) on Saturday, April 5

9:00-10:15 am: athlete on-site registration
10:30 am: mandatory safety meeting
11:00 am: first wave starts

Swimwear and Caps

All swimwear shall be made from textile materials and not contain clasps or zippers. For both men and women, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck and shall not extend past the shoulder nor below the ankles. Wetsuits and neoprene caps are not allowed. No fins, buoys, or other devices will be allowed. You must wear the swim cap provided for your specific race.