There’s plenty of adventure to be had in Florida, but sometimes you just want to take it easy and find one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys. We get it, every once in a while, it’s time to dial it down a notch and just enjoy life going by.
If you ask a casual Florida visitor about the best beaches in the Florida Keys, they will most likely say “silly person, the beaches in the Keys suck! Do yourself a favor and go to Destin”. Well, they wouldn’t necessarily be wrong, but they’re far from being right.
If you’re looking for sugary-sandy beaches, with beautiful views (as long as you’re looking towards the Gulf), and throngs of people pulling their beach cart from one of the million condos that line the beach, then yes, go to Destin.
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If you’re looking for quiet beaches, spectacular views no matter which way you look, laid back attitude, and don’t mind wearing water shoes, then you’re going to want to check out these beaches in the Florida Keys.
There are a lot of resorts both big and small in the Florida Keys with their own “beaches”. The bigger resorts generally have better and bigger beaches. But for the most part they are also usually private and for resort guests only. We’re going to focus on mostly public beaches here.
Gilberts Resort: Key Largo
Gilberts bucks the resort private beach trend with a small beach, two tiki bars (actually three), and you don’t have to be a resort guest. If your choice of car is a boat, you’re covered because they have plenty of dock space. The beach is sandy with a roped off swimming area. You can hang out in one of their cabanas (extra fee) and sip champagne while you snack on seafood. Or you can lounge on a beachside chair and enjoy the sounds of live music playing in the bar.
If you’re not content with just laying around, they have boat, kayak, and jet ski rentals available. The restaurant has delicious seafood as well as burgers and sandwiches, not to mention ice cold beer and their signature frozen drinks.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Two of the Best Beaches in the Florida Keys: Key Largo
There are two beaches at John Pennekamp State Park. Canon Beach is the bigger beach, it’s a decent sized sandy beach. There’s a 17th century canon underwater that you can snorkel to from the beach, and you’ll see plenty of marine life on your way there. Far Beach is a palm covered sandy beach that looks like a post card. The beaches are on Largo Sound not on the ocean, so on windy days the beaches are more protected. There are showers and changing rooms/bathrooms convenient to both beaches.
When you’re ready for a change from the beach, there’s a visitor’s center with a 30,000-gallon aquarium, a gift shop, and a food truck standing by. You can also rent a kayak or paddleboard and paddle the mangrove tunnels, take a glass bottom boat tour, enjoy one of their short nature trails, or their newly re-opened mangrove boardwalk.
Admission is $8 per car and $.50 for each person.
Anne’s Beach: Islamorada
A lot of people like to tout Anne’s Beach as a secret local’s beach, it’s not. It’s got bathrooms, and cool boardwalks that run through the trees with some covered picnic tables. It’s a nice place to hang out for a morning or afternoon but you’ll definitely need to bring the water shoes for this one.
There’s a small sliver of beach; the bottom is mud and seaweed. The water is clear of course and you can do some good snorkeling, but it’s not someplace where you’re going to hang out all day with the kids.
Sombrero Beach, One of the Best Beaches in the Florida Keys: Marathon
Sombrero Beach is someplace where you’ll hang out all day with the kids. There’s a park with volleyball courts, play areas, picnic areas and full facilities. Bring a cooler full of meat and cook up a feast at one of their grills. After you wait the required 30 minutes, head on out to the white sandy beach and jump in the Atlantic Ocean to cool off. The water is shallow and calm, and it’s perfect for floating so don’t forget the raft.
There is plenty of room on the sand, even though the beach will get crowded at times, and the turquoise water offers great views. Outside of the park there’s not a lot of shade so be sure to bring an umbrella or pop-up tent. Bonus! You don’t have to leave Rusty at home because the beach and park are dog friendly. The only downside is that you have to pay for parking ($5 for the first 2 hours, $2 an hour after that).
Veterans Memorial Beach, Secret Best Beaches in the Florida Keys: Little Duck Key
Just as you cross the Seven Mile Bridge there’s a little pocket park on the south side of The Overseas Highway. Veterans Memorial Beach is a quiet sandy beach with covered pavilions and picnic tables. The sandy/seaweed bottom under the clear water is perfect for relaxing in and cooling down on a hot Florida Keys day. Fantastic views are the norm of both the ocean and the Seven Mile Bridge. Bring your snorkel gear to spot fish among the salt grass.
Leashed dogs are allowed, but fires and grills aren’t so you’ll have to hit Publix and pick up your cold groceries. The facilities are port-a-potties. Free parking!
Bahia Honda State Park: Bahia Honda Key
There are three beaches at Bahia Honda State Park. Two on the Atlantic side and one on the Florida Bay side. There’s a gift shop in between Calusa Beach and Loggerhead beach with a grill, sandwiches, and snacks. They have snorkel gear rental, as well as souvenir and beach equipment sales. There is plenty of parking available, with that being said, when the park gets too crowded, they’ll close the front gate, so you’ll want to be sure to get there early.
Calusa Beach
Calusa Beach faces the Florida Bay and The Overseas Highway with views of the old Overseas Railway Bridge. Clear waters are perfect for snorkeling while the beach is long and sandy and are perfect for tanning. There are picnic tables scattered about and grills for grilling up the perfect surf and turf.
Loggerhead Beach
Loggerhead Beach is on the Atlantic side and has shallow clear water. Snorkeling is amazing, you can see multiple species of tropical fish, queen conchs litter the sea floor, and there are even spiny lobster prowling about. The beach is narrow in certain spots, but it opens up towards the Overseas Railroad Bridge.
Sandspur Beach
On the opposite side of the park is Sandspur Beach on the Atlantic. It features sandy beaches a mile long, but narrow and are perfect for hanging out. Sandspur beach is usually more secluded than the other two beaches. The snorkeling is just as good too. Restrooms and showers are conveniently located.
Admission into the park is $8.50 per vehicle with .50 charge per person. There is also camping and a boat ramp available. Before you leave for the day, make sure that you take a hike up to the top of the old Overseas Railway Bridge for wonderful views of the park and the waters around it.
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Smathers Beach, One of the Best Beaches in the Florida Keys For Views: Key West
Smathers Beach features beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea (Cuba is only 90 miles away) and great sandy beaches. It’s long enough that it doesn’t get too crowded and there are palm trees scattered about to provide shade. There are also chairs and umbrellas available to rent. Parasailing is available as well as kayak rentals.
The water is shallow and clear, perfect for snorkeling. Be forewarned, if you’re there in the summer the seaweed will pile up at times. The beach is free, but you do have to pay for parking.
Fort Zachery Taylor Historic State Park Beach: Key West
If you’re looking for a beach that has chair and umbrella rentals, a snack bar, snorkel gear rental, a fishing area, grills and picnic tables, to eat that fish that you caught, all being overlooked by a historic fort, then you’re in luck. Fort Zachery Taylor has it all.
Spend the morning at the fort, spend the afternoon doing fun beach stuff, then spend the evening watching an awesome sunset. That’s why this beach constantly is picked as the favorite beach in Key West. The entrance fee is $6 for a vehicle and 2 people, $.50 for each additional person.
So, the next time somebody tells you that there aren’t any good beaches in the Florida Keys, just agree with them, no use in letting everybody know about these gems.
If you’re looking for a secluded beach with spectacular snorkeling, fantastic ocean views, and is so remote the only way to get there is by boat or seaplane, then you’re looking for Dry Tortugas. Dry Tortugas National Park is a must visit when you’re in Key West, find out more here!
