With its year-round warm climate, South Florida has no shortage of fantastic beaches. Here are some of the best beaches in South Florida, and the reasons they’re so special.
Known for swaying palms, warm sun, and endless stretches of coast, South Florida is a beach destination in the United States. Whether you’re looking for an amenity-rich type of beach or a relaxing refuge away from the rest of the world, you are sure to find something to your taste along Florida’s gorgeous southern coast. Here are the best South Florida beaches for you to check out.
No two beaches are built the same and this list proves it. You can find beaches filled with activities such as watersports, beach volleyball courts, and food trucks, or you can find off-the-beaten-path gems that feel like a personal, untouched paradise. Here's a list of the top South Florida beach destinations for you to choose from.
Jump to:
Southwest Florida Beaches
1. Marco Island
To start, we have the stunning Marco Island – a South Florida destination known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Sitting in the Gulf of Mexico, among Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island beaches boast large stretches of white sand that spill into azure waters.
Marco Island has a couple of public beaches spread across the island, but Marco Beach’s endless stretch of soft white sand in between the city and the water is a great spot to unroll a beach blanket or rent a lounger, and people watch.
Where to stay: Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa
2. Tigertail Beach
Tigertail Beach is also located on Marco Island and is one of the island’s most popular beaches. Considerably less crowded than Marco Beach, Tigertail Beach is located next to a mangrove that gives a tucked-away vibe.
The beach has soft, white sand and is perfect for watching sea birds, shelling, and sunbathing. You can wade across a small lagoon or take the longer sandy path around to get to the beach.
3. Captiva Island
Captiva Island is known as a Gulf Coast gem among gems. Captiva has a natural, untouched feeling and boasts of soft sand and cerulean ocean water. This tranquil paradise offers visitors long stretches of sandy beaches and clear water for swimming, snorkeling, and parasailing.
Captiva Island is also known to have some pretty impressive seashells that visitors love to hunt for during their beach days. Plus, the sunsets on Captiva Island are radiant.
4. Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is the larger sister island to Captiva Island. Located just off the coast of Southern Florida, Sanibel Island is known for its gorgeous hidden beaches, soft white sand, and is one of the best beaches for shelling. There's even a shell museum!
Sanibel Island offers a breath of fresh air away from the busier, touristy-type beaches and islands in South Florida. There are still enough amenities nearby so that you don’t have to pack everything with you, but it’s quieter than most other beaches on this list.
5. Lovers Key State Park
Looking for a well-preserved, untouched paradise when it comes to a relaxing beach getaway in the Sunshine State? Look no further than Lovers Key State Park. A popular destination for beach weddings, this stretch of soft, white sand and mangrove is so stunning that the people of Florida pulled together to save it from becoming a resort strip.
Today, folks love to visit Lovers Key State Park for picnics, swimming, paddling, and exploring the nearby nature trails. The amenities are also impressive – raised boardwalks, beach wheelchairs, food stands, rentals, and restrooms. All were implemented with preservation in mind, of course.
6. Cayo Costa State Park
An impressive 9-mile stretch of beach awaits anyone visitor to Cayo Costa State Park. An unspoiled Gulf Coast Island, Cayo Costa State Park has a unique history of being the main fishing spot for the indigenous Calusa tribe that inhabited the area hundreds of years ago.
Today, this stunning beach offers a serene piece of Eden perfect for bird-watching, snorkeling, and cycling. There are also nearby concession stands and restaurants where you can stop in for a bite and escape the hot Florida sun. There are also restrooms and showers.
7. Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach has long topped lists for best beaches in America. Gorgeous, soft white sand and azure, shallow waters make Clearwater Beach perfect for families and those looking to mix urban adventure with a day of sunbathing.
There is a nearby promenade and boardwalk that houses some great amenities to make your day equal parts comfortable and exciting.
8. Fort Myers Beach
If you want to spend your day sunbathing, swimming, and partaking in sweet water sports, then Fort Myers Beach is the place for you.
The beach is a long stretch of sand that backs onto rental shacks and concession stands, and the water is shallow and calm. In fact, Fort Myers Beach is one of the safest gulfs available for swimming in South Florida.
9. Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key Beach is a popular family beach destination that has been ranked as being America’s Best beach in 2020. Siesta Key Beach is known for its powdery white sands, azure waters, and great amenities that make it easy to spend a day lounging, swimming, and playing.
This gorgeous stretch of coast is paradisal, especially when the pastel sunsets on the water. There are a lot of fun activities to do nearby and the beach is outfitted with restrooms, showers, and nearby dining options.
10. Lido Beach
Renowned for its pristine coast and eco-tourism, Lido Beach is a hidden gem in the popular Sarasota area. Not only is the beach easily accessible, but there is also great parking and amenities taking away the headache that comes with meticulous planning – it's easy to pack up and spend a day on Lido Beach.
Lido Beach is also known to have some gorgeous sunsets, so you’ll want to make sure to stick around until evening while visiting. And be sure to check out the restaurants in St. Armands Circle for dinner.
11. Anna Maria Island
If you want great beaches as well as fascinating historic sights, then a visit to Anna Maria Island is sure to satisfy you. With spectacular views of Florida’s Gulf Coast, spending a day on Anna Maria Island is a no-brainer.
Anna Maria Island is known for its stunning 7-mile stretch of pristine beaches, calm waters, and overall laidback vibe. The shallow waters continue with no sudden deep drop off making it perfect for swimming. However, if you wanted to do some water sports, you can find rental shacks with snorkel gear to rent if you want. There are also concession stands scattered along the beaches.
Southeast Florida Beaches
12. Cocoa Beach
Known as being one of the most charming beach towns in Florida, Cocoa Beach is a wonderful destination for a relaxing getaway filled with dips in the warm waters and getting your tan on. Cocoa Beach is also famed for its swells and it's not uncommon to see surfers converge on the water in an attempt to ride the waves. This makes the beach a great spot for watching water sports as well.
The spectacular, soft, white sand of Cocoa Beach is made even more remarkable by the gorgeous cerulean waters it borders. For those looking to stretch the party into the evening, there is a great selection of nightlife venues around Cocoa Beach with live music performances.
13. Delray Beach
Delray Beach is perfect for those looking to have just a bit more fun than lounging in the sun all day. Delray Beach borders a lively main street that houses plenty of bars, restaurants, and cafes to peruse in between dips in the clear waters.
Delray Beach is tropical and inviting with soft sand and azure waters perfect for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, kite-surfing, and pretty much any other watersport you can think of.
14. West Palm Beach
If you’re still shopping around for a gorgeous gulf beach that mixes tropical paradise and urban exploration, then try West Palm Beach. The Beach stretches from a bustling downtown filled with shops, dining, and nightlife.
The sand is soft and the waters are cerulean and the further down you go, the quieter the beach gets. There are great amenities nearby including showers, restrooms, and rental shops where you can rent watersport gear for an exciting day at the beach.
15. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Another stunning beach to add to the list of bustling paradises with nearby amenities, Lauderdale-by-the-sea is a great spot to check out while in South Florida. The Lauderdale-by-the-sea Beach is located just outside the charming seaside town by the same name and just north of Fort Lauderdale Beach. It boasts great amenities including showers, restrooms, rental stands, and nearby restaurants.
The beach has soft, white sand and the clear, blue water that South Florida is known for. The waters are calm making this a great place to swim for people of all ages.
16. Dania Beach
If you don’t need all the fuss of watersports and would rather spend your day rotating between sunbathing and swimming, then Dania Beach is the place for you. Equipped with showers, restrooms, grills, and fishing facilities off the pier, Dania Beach offers everything you need for a great day spent by the water.
17. Hollywood Beach
Known to be one of the most stunning beaches on Florida’s Atlantic coast, Hollywood beach packs a powerful punch when it comes to the best beaches in the Florida lineup.
The beach welcomes a great crowd of people of all ages and makes for the perfect spot to unroll your towel and people watch all day long. The waters a crystal blue and clear enough to see your feet in while the sand is plush, soft, and a dream to lay on.
18. Deerfield Beach
If you need a break from large urban centers and their crowded beaches, then you’ll find Deerfield Beach a welcoming town and beach. A laidback beach town, Deerfield Beach is perfectly low-key while still offering all the great amenities you’d find in larger towns and cities.
Deerfield Beach has warm sand, clear waters, and an alcove that hugs you into privacy. Deerfield Beach is also rated as being one of Florida’s cleanest beaches so you can count on a pristine stretch of paradise each time you visit. The beach is lined with showers and public restrooms, and you’re not too far removed from the restaurants to walk over and enjoy a mid-day meal.
19. Jupiter Island
Boasting 3.4 miles of gorgeous coastline, Jupiter Island has more than its fair share of beautiful beaches to fawn over and visit while in South Florida. Famed for warm azure waters and stunning nearby mangroves, Jupiter Island offers visitors a quieter refuge that just beckons to sunbathers and swimmers alike.
I want a smidge more activity with your beach day, you can also find a rental shack and rent paddleboards, snorkels, or surfboards and take to the water for an exciting day.
20. Hallandale Beach
Located just south of Hollywood Beach, Hallandale Beach is a vibrant beach filled with great amenities including outdoor showers, public restrooms, playgrounds, and even beach volleyball courts.
Hallandale Beach has all the makings to become your new favorite South Beach in Florida, soft sand, gorgeous waters, and every need met with the public facilities. Not to mention that there is an array of shops, restaurants, and even a shopping mall nearby should you need to escape from the hot sun.
21. Pompano Beach
Pompano Beach sits in the heart of Florida’s Gold Coast and bears the location rightly with its long stretch of pristine beach and cerulean ocean waves. More laidback than other beach metropolises, Pompano Beach offers all the great amenities of a city, while feeling like a small beach town.
The actual beach is gorgeous and is known for its fish population – making Pompano Beach a great place to scuba dive, boat, snorkel, and fish. The end of the fishing pier is even shaped like a fish!
Plus, the beaches are surprisingly quiet concerning that it borders a vibrant beach city. The beach has the usual amenities you’d expect including showers, restrooms, and rental shacks.
Where to stay: Beachcomber Resort and Club
Miami and the Florida Keys
22. South Beach, Miami Beach
South Beach and Miami Beach are usually used interchangeably which is doing each beach a disservice. Miami Beach is well, Miami Beach – the iconic stretch of sand where crowds of tourists flock to witness the bizarre and the wild. South Beach is something completely different.
Located a little further than Miami Beach, South Beach is the more popular cousin that houses great bars, restaurants, and shops at a walkable distance from the water – a key difference between the two. People love South Beach for its charm and selection of smaller, more boutique amenities. Both beaches are crowded but provide great sand and water for days spent at the beach people watching.
23. Crandon Park Beach, Key Biscayne
Located on the paradisal barrier island of Key Biscayne, Crandon Park Beach offers a diverse set of beaches, mangroves, and ecosystems. The waters are perfect for water activities such as canoeing, paddleboarding, and windsurfing while the shallower calm bits prove to be a swimmer's haven.
The long stretch of beach houses great amenities including showers, restaurants, and concession stands. There are also a few watersport gear rental stands where you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and kiteboards.
24. Bahia Honda State Park
If you’re looking for a natural paradise when it comes to your beach getaway, then may we suggest heading to Bahia Honda State Park. Soft, white-sand beaches, crystal clear cerulean waters, and gorgeous palms swaying in the breeze all welcome you to the stunning Bahia Honda State Park.
Perfect for bird-watching, swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking, visitors will be enthralled by this tropical paradise. On the beach, you can find concession stands, rental stands, showers, restrooms, and picnic facilities that are free to use.
25. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Key West
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is the perfect beach for the vacationer who also happens to be a bit of a history nerd. Located on the southern end of Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park offers a pristine beach with waters perfect for swimming, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and fishing.
The park also has some great amenities nearby such as showers, restrooms, picnic areas, and concession stands where you can buy snacks and rent water equipment. Once you’re done lounging on the beach, head to the historic Fort Zachary Taylor – a red brick fortress used to defend America’s southeastern coastline. You can do a guided tour and be taken back in time to the civil war and the Spanish-American war as you walk along the fortress bordering the ocean.
South Florida Beaches Have Something for Everyone
The incredible beaches listed above are only the very tip of the iceberg when it comes to beaches in South Florida. The sunny state’s reputation as keeper of the tropical in the United States is more than well-deserved with the seemingly endless stretches of azure waters, powder white sand, and warm sun.
Whether you’re going on a girl's trip or a family beach vacation, are looking to partake in exciting water sports or spend your days lounging with a drink in hand, need top-notch resorts or prefer secluded beaches, you are sure to find something perfect for your needs in South Florida.
For more Florida attractions, check out these amazing places in North Florida, and you are sure to find the next destination for your beach getaway.
Leave a Reply