Are you looking for the best beaches in South Florida to visit? If so, we have you covered!
From Miami to Key West or Naples to Marco Island, there are several great South Florida beaches that make this list!
These beaches offer the warmest weather in the state and have plenty of attractions nearby, as well.
In this post, I’ll cover 11 of the best beaches in South Florida to visit on your next trip to the Sunshine State.
South Beach in Miami is my favorite; which beach do you love most? Let’s dive in!
11 Amazing South Florida Beaches To Visit!
1. Fort Lauderdale Beach, Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Beach in Southwest Florida is a mecca for outdoor activities, from swimming and snorkeling to paddle boarding and surfing.
Besides warm temperatures, one of the best things about this Atlantic Coast destination is the abundance of amazing restaurants, luxurious hotels, and fun beachfront promenades.
Relax on the sand, people-watch, go rollerblading, and treat yourself to mouth-watering seafood.
📌 Address: 1100 Seabreeze Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316, USA
2. South Beach, Marco Island
If you’re looking for a beautiful place for a beach day, South Beach on Marco Island could be perfect.
This is a favorite spot on the Island, so be sure to get there early to secure parking.
One of the best times to go is before 10 a.m. Enjoy the calm waters and swim out to a sandbar when the tide is low.
This beach is a wonderful place to go shelling.
In January, the average high temperature is around 74ºF.
📌 Address: 870 County Rd 951, Marco Island, FL 34145, United States
3. South Beach, Miami Beach
If you’re looking for a perfect place to enjoy gorgeous beaches, water parks, golf courses, and Art Deco architecture, look no further than South Beach in Miami Beach.
This South Florida gem is a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing vibe, eat delicious Miami cuisine, and enjoy an evening walk.
Swim, take your kids to the playground near 3rd Street, and soak in the sunshine.
Note that this beach does get quite busy, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.
📌 Address: Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
4. Smathers Beach, Key West
If you’re in search of warm Florida beaches in January, Smathers Beach could make for a great time.
This is one of the most popular beaches in the Florida Keys–an area known for rocky shores.
Fortunately, Smathers Beach is kept well stocked with white sand.
The blue-green water, dancing palm trees, and beautiful vistas of the Atlantic make this a prime place to spend a day.
You’ll want to wear water shoes due to the rocks near the shore.
📌 Address: 2601 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040, United States
5. Ocean Reef Park, West Palm Beach
Explore the underwater world at Ocean Reef Park in West Palm Beach.
This park is an incredible place to snorkel and free dive.
The coral reefs are quite close to the beach and feature 700 feet of marine life and coral beds.
If you prefer not to get wet, this is also a lovely place to walk or jog in the morning or evening and to check out the sand dunes from the boardwalks.
Amenities at Ocean Reef Park include shaded picnic areas, grills, restrooms, parking, and boardwalks.
📌 Address: 3860 N Ocean Dr, Riviera Beach, FL 33404, United States
6. Delray Public Beach, Delray Beach
Delray Beach is one of the most festive beach towns around. It’s extra walkable and has a fun vibe.
Build sandcastles, swim, bury each other in the powdery sand, swim in the ocean, and enjoy people-watching.
This beach is a favorite among locals who come for kitesurfing, parasailing, or drinking in the vistas.
Be sure to stop by the historic downtown to check out the restaurants, entertainment, and art shops.
📌 Address: 400 S Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach, FL 33483, United States
7. Cannon Beach, Key Largo
If you’ve set your sights on Key Largo, Cannon Beach is one of the best beaches in the area.
It is located inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Although it is a bit rocky (water shoes are recommended), people do enjoy swimming here.
There’s even an old Spanish shipwreck some visitors swim out to.
This beach isn’t quite up to the white-sand crystalline-water standards of Miami’s beaches, but for the Keys–which tend to be rocky rather than sandy–it’s a nice spot.
While you’re in the park, you can camp, go birding, and hike the nature trails.
📌 Address: 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037, USA
8. Tigertail Beach, Marco Island
Some of the best beaches in the world are located on Marco Island. And chief among these is Tigertail Beach.
It gets its name from its thin curving shape which resembles a tiger tail.
This beach is ideal if you like long walks, shelling, and watching the sunset.
Everything is very clean, and there is a place for picnics as well as restrooms.
Sand Dollar Spit, at the northern tip of the beach, is a great place to search for shells and sand dollars.
📌 Address: 430 Hernando Dr, Marco Island, FL 34145, United States
9. Red Reef Park, Boca Raton
Red Reef Park in Boca Raton is another fabulous place to visit in January.
You can surf, fish, snorkel, swim, and check out the nature center.
In total, the park contains 67 acres laced with boardwalks, gazebos, barbecue grills, green spaces for playing and picnics, and playgrounds.
The shallow waters of the beach make it perfect for kids.
There’s even golf, a Marine Biology lab, and nature trails.
📌 Address: 1400 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432, United States
10. Delnor Wiggins State Park Beach, Naples
The beach at Delnor Wiggins State Park is a bustling spot for snorkeling, swimming, and enjoying the beauties of nature.
Although there used to be more amenities, the park is still recuperating from a hurricane, so things are a bit more basic than they used to be.
The water is great for kids, and parking is conveniently located close to the beach. No long treks here!
Note: You might have to wait for parking if you go on a busy day, as the rangers can only let in so many cars at a time.
Swimming, snorkeling, and watching the sunset are three of the top things to do here.
📌 Address: 11135 Gulf Shore Dr, Naples, FL 34108, United States
11. Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West
Possibly the best beach in Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor is a state park with an amazing beach and a pre-Civil War fortress.
Learn a little history, then rent a sunbed and relax on the gorgeous shoreline.
The water is deliciously warm, and the park has all of the amenities you could ask for.
There are restrooms, showers, picnic areas, a restaurant, a small shop, and grills.
Just be sure to outfit the whole family with water shoes because this beach is man-made and has a rocky bed.
📌 Address: 601 Howard England Way, Key West, FL 33040, United States
Amazing Beaches In South Florida To Visit: Final Thoughts
Heading to South Florida means the most beautiful beaches, lots of awesome restaurants, and fun things to do in the area.
Whether it’s Miami, the Florida Keys, or Naples, South Florida features some of the clearest water and relaxing vibes.
Which of these best beaches in South Florida do you plan to visit?
You may be interested in these related posts:
11 Best (And Warmest) Florida Beaches To Visit In January!
6 Amazing Florida Atlantic Beaches To Visit!
Visting Florida In March: Everything You Need To Know!
Visting Florida In April: Everything You Need To Know!
10 Best Places For Kayaking With Manatees In Florida!
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