Desoto Lakes is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sarasota County, Florida, United States.

[6] It is part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

[6] As of the 2000 US Census,[4] there were 3,198 people, 1,290 households, and 939 families residing in the CDP.

There were 1,352 housing units at an average density of 1,072.5 per square mile (414.1/km2).

19.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.