The 11 Best Florida Keys Beaches
Marking the most southerly point in the continental United States, the Florida Keys are a string of coral islands that stretch for about 125 miles from Miami to Key West. Lying between the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico you are assured year-round sunshine and a tropical climate. The islands are known for their palm-fringed beaches, clear waters, and laid-back atmosphere.
the Keys are probably better known for their diving and fishing than as a beach destination. This means that even though they are an incredibly popular tourist destination the beaches never feel to busy.
As a rule the beaches of the Florida Keys tend to be more protected than those on the mainland. This is because of the coral reefs which lie offshore which means not only are they safe for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding but the snorkeling is great. And while you won't find the endless white sand beaches that the Florida coast is famed for, the best beaches in the Keys won't disappoint, even if some of the beaches on the list have sand imported from the mainland.
The Florida Keys are also a great place to enjoy the beauty of the natural world. Be sure to take some time to explore the different islands, reefs, and mangroves and you may be lucky enough to spot turtles, key deer, manatees and a whole host of bird life.
We've compiled a list of best beaches in the Florida Keys for your next trip from Key Largo all the way down to Key West and beyond.
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1. Smathers Beach (Key West)
Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Although Key West isn't famous for its great beaches, Smathers Beach is worth a visit. This gorgeous beach is walking distance from the airport with warm water that stays shallow for quite a distance out into the sea, so it's a perfect place to splash around with the kids.
Keep in mind that although the sand feels nice, it tends to get quite hot underfoot in the scorching heat. The… read more »
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2. Fort Zachary Taylor Beach
© Chris Schieman Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Swimming
Set on the western tip of Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor is Florida's most southerly state park. It is also home to what is highly regarded as Key West's best beach.
A stretch of near-white coral sand, lapped by the clear blue waters of the what feels like the Caribbean Sea make this spot is idyllic. The look is completed by a backdrop of palm trees and Australian pines, making it… read more »
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3. Curry Hammock State Park
Ebyabe Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
- Kitesurfing
Curry Hammock State Park is set in the heart of the Florida Keys just to the north east of Marathon. Given how developed neighbouring keys are it is somewhat of a surprise just how pristine and wild this stretch of the Keys is.
Centered on Little Claw Key the park occupies over 1,000 acres of woodland (hammocks), mangrove and most importantly, beach! A stretch of powdery white sand, this sits in… read more »
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4. Harry Harris Park
Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Swimming
The beach at Harry Harris Park on Key Largo is one of the best family beaches in all of the Florida Keys. OK, so the beach is man-made with sand imported from the mainland, but who cares. Backed by swaying palms and parkland and with calm, clear water out front Harry Harris beach doesn't get many complaints.
One of the main attractions of Harry Harris Park beach is the large… read more »
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5. Higgs Beach (Key West)
Cristo Vlahos Great for:- Snorkeling
- Fishing
Set between Smathers Beach and Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is the somewhat lower key and smaller Higgs Beach. A very pleasant stretch of perfect white sand backed by tall palm trees Higgs is everything you would expect from a tropical beach.
However, not everything is as it seems - in fact the sand is actually imported from the Caribbean, something that is true of most of Key West's beaches.… read more »
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6. John Pennekamp State Park
Reinhard Link Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, to give it its full name, is more than just a beach. In fact there are several beaches, all of which face into the calm waters of Key Largo Sound. That said, most of the park is underwater - it's actually the first undersea park in the U.S., established in 1963.
The first thing to point out about the park and the beaches is you… read more »
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7. Anne's Beach
Ved Ivanov Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
- Kitesurfing
Located at Lower Matecumbe Key, Anne's Beach can be found in the village of Islamorada. Named for a local environmentalist called Anne Eaton after her death in 1992, its stretch of white sand provides a secluded spot to sunbath or enjoy some time in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Surrounded by native planting, the immediate entrance into the water is both shallow and calm year-round, like similar beaches… read more »
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8. Calusa Beach
Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Lying close to the southernmost point of Bahia Honda Key, one of the Florida Keys, Calusa Beach comes complete with palm trees and white sand gently-sloping into warm azure blue waters.
One of just a handful of great beaches in the keys, and one of very few that are entirely natural, Calusa Beach is part of Bahia Honda State Park. Encroached by grasses, it has a relatively narrow extent, and… read more »
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9. Sombrero Beach
Franz Stellbrink Great for:- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Swimming
A cosy backyard playground for Islanders, this is one of the best kept beach secrets in the Florida Keys and is located on Marathon Key. Visitors to this beach get to enjoy the soft sand and turquoise waters. It's not a large beach but your little piece of "sand estate" can be claimed regardless if it is crowded. There's plenty of places to park nearby too.
Popular activities on this beach… read more »
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10. Coco Plum Beach
© rjlerich Great for:- Snorkeling
Coco Plum Beach is one of the more naturalistic of beach settings within the chain of islands which make up the Florida Keys and is generally less crowded than others in the area. Enjoying the warm shallows of the Atlantic Ocean around the town on Marathon, it backs onto wetlands that provide a vital habitat for the region's bird and plant life.
Coco Plum Beach is also a known turtle nesting… read more »
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11. Dry Tortugas National Park
RuggyBearLA Great for:- Snorkeling
Dry Tortugas National Park sits in the Gulf of Mexico close to Florida's Key West and consists of seven islands surrounded by coral reefs. The main beaches are considered to be those on Garden Key, which is also home to Fort Jefferson, a nineteenth-century defensive position.
Loggerhead Key is best known for its visits by the turtles of the same name, while Loggerhead Reef is one of the region's best dive… read more »
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