If you want sun and sand in the continental United States, you can’t do much better than Florida. The state's Keys are filled with great beaches that attract visitors from near and far, there are certainly some that stand out among the rest. Here are ten of the best beaches in the Gulf's picturesque Florida Keys.
Florida Keys Best Beaches
1. Anne’s Beach
Island: Lower Matecumbe Key
Nearest town: Islamorada
Anne’s beach is great for the more adventurous tourist. It’s known as a nudist beach, but is very pleasant if you’re comfortable potentially seeing strangers in the buff. The water stays shallow for a long ways out and is full of wildlife, which makes for a great snorkeling experience. The shore is lined with mangrove trees, and there is a boardwalk for strolling. This beach does not charge admission.
2. Bahia Honda State Park
Island: Bahia Honda Key
Nearest town: Marathon
Bahia Honda State Park includes three beaches in two and a half miles of coastline. Calusa Beach is the smallest beach, but is also the main beach of the state park. It hosts a concessions stand, the souvenir shop, and the nature center. Its water is calm and shallow, with a reef close to shore and an abundance of aquatic wildlife making it an excellent snorkeling spot. Loggerhead Beach is narrower but longer than Calusa, with shallow water and kayak rentals. Sandspur Beach is less travelled than its neighbors, which has left it in a more natural state. An offshore reef keeps the water very shallow and calm, so it’s a great beach for families with small children. Admission to the state park is $8 per vehicle of 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists or additional passengers in vehicles, and $4 for single occupancy vehicles or motorcycles.
3. Curry Hammock State Park
Island: Long Point Key
Nearest town: Marathon
Curry Hammock State Park is one of the deeper beaches in The Keys. The ocean floor starts shallow, but has a steep slope and is better for strong swimmers or kayakers. If you have you own kayak, you can launch it at Curry Hammock, or you can rent one there. As well as paddling around the island, you can kayak through a mangrove trail that leads to the Gulf side of the island. Admission to the state park is $5 per vehicle of 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists or additional passengers in vehicles, and $4 for single occupancy vehicles or motorcycles.
4. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach
Island: Key West
Nearest towns: Key West
Out on the southern tip of Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor is a Civil War-era fort turned into a National Historic Landmark and a Florida State Park. The water is crystal clear and full of fish and live coral, so it’s a wonderful place to snorkel, but wear water shoes because the ocean floor is quite rocky. The fort itself is worth exploring and hosts occasional Civil War reenactments and an annual “haunted fort” (instead of a haunted house) on the weekend before Halloween. A beachfront café provides food you didn’t have to bring with you, which is very convenient if you decide not to drive, which you can easily do since the state park is a bikeable distance from Key West. Admission to the state park is $6 per vehicle of 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists or additional passengers in vehicles, and $4 for single occupancy vehicles or motorcycles.
5. Harry Harris Park
Island: Key Largo
Nearest town: Tavernier
Harry Harris Park is a small man-made beach in downtown Tavernier. It’s a great beach for kids, since it’s a shallow, protected lagoon located in a residential neighborhood off of busy main roads. It even has a playground, in case the sand and seawater aren’t enough for your kids. It also has a boat ramp, if you brought your boat on vacation with you. Harry Harris Park is free on weekdays, but admission is $5 for those over age 16 on weekends and federal holidays.
6. Higgs Beach and Rest Beach
Island: Key West
Nearest town: Key West
Higgs Beach and Rest Beach are neighboring beaches in the city of Key West. Higgs Beach is a very popular beach with a lot to offer: kayak and paddleboard rentals, beach volleyball and tennis courts, a bike path, a dog park, and a waterfront restaurant famous for (of course) their key lime pie. Rest Beach is smaller and more relaxed. It is known for its stunning sunrises, for those of you who like getting up literally at the crack of dawn, and has a yoga deck with nightly yoga classes. White Steer Pier divides the two beaches, offering sand-free strolls and free fishing. If you tire of the ocean’s offerings, there is also a Civil War-era fort nearby that now houses a botanical garden cultivated by the Key West Garden Club. The beaches charge no admission, and parking is also free.
7. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Island: Key Largo
Nearest town: Key Largo
This state park has two beaches, but those are not the main draw for visitors. In case the name didn’t give it away, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of the best snorkeling and scuba diving destinations in Florida. The Park Service has placed an early Spanish shipwreck about 100 feet off the beach, which provides both a unique snorkeling experience and a haven for fish. There’s also an underwater statue of Jesus, known as the Christ of the Abyss, placed near Dry Rocks reef. Admission to the state park is $5 per vehicle of 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists or additional passengers in vehicles, and $4 for single occupancy vehicles or motorcycles.
8. Long Key State Park
Island: Long Key
Nearest towns: Islamorada, Marathon
Long Key State Park is a favorite among campers and those with small children. The park offers full camping and hiking facilities and has three nature trails, two terrestrial and one aquatic. You can launch your own kayak or rent a canoe at the ranger station to explore the aquatic nature trail or the coral rock outcroppings. The water is shallow, calm, and usually extremely clear out to 100 yards, giving your children plenty of space to play. Admission to the state park is $5 per vehicle of 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists or additional passengers in vehicles, and $4 for single occupancy vehicles or motorcycles.
9. Smathers Beach
Island: Key West
Nearest towns: Key West
Just north of Higgs Beach, Smathers Beach is the longest beach in Key West. It’s a shallow beach, though not quite as picturesque as some others in the Keys, and is a popular location for weddings even though it has a reputation as a Spring Break/party beach. It includes restrooms, volleyball courts, and picnic areas. A local company offers parasailing, wind surfing, paddle board, kayak, and Hobie Cat rentals. Like Higgs and Rest Beaches, Smathers Beach does not charge admission.
10. Sombrero Beach
Island: Key Vaca
Nearest towns: Marathon
Sombrero Beach is two miles off of the main road in Marathon and is a favorite with locals. Beyond a rock-lined shore great for snorkeling and a crescent of white sand, the beach park includes grassy lawns shaded by palm trees for a break from the sun. Snorkeling and kayaking are both allowed, and the beach includes a kayak launch next to a short dock. The water here is deeper than in most beaches in the Keys, so it is recommended for strong swimmers. This beach does not charge admission.
This article was written by Stina Schweb.