15 Best Beaches in Florida (2020)

Are you looking for the Best Beaches in Florida? White powdery sand, turquoise waters, and charming beach towns – The Sunshine State has no shortage of beautiful beaches or places to go for a dip in the sea or sunbathing.

The list is not in any particular order and the beaches are not ranked by the number. They’re all amazing and worth a visit. The number is just there as a reference to the 15 Best Beaches in Florida.

1. Siesta Key Beach

Want to experience the #1 beach with the finest sand in the world? Then you shouldn’t miss out on a visit to Siesta Key Beach!

The sand here flaunts more than 99% pure quartz, which is also great for keeping the sand cool even when the temperature is high. Siesta Key is located on the Southwestern Coast of Florida, about a 1-hour drive from Tampa.

Photo: Shutterstock

2. Bahia Honda

At Bahia Honda, you will find some of the finest sand stretches in the Florida Keys. It’s not too crowded considering the fact that it’s a 3-hour drive from Miami. But, the drive is well worth it if you want to spend time at the beach with lush surroundings.

Photo: Shutterstock

3. Venice Beach

This Florida beach is definitely worth checking out if you’re going to the Sarasota area. Venice Beach is Blue Wave Certified with white sand and sparkling clean water. It’s often lesser crowded than nearby Siesta Key beach, which is about 30 minutes away by car.

Moreover, Venice Beach is also a great place to find shark teeth, which can be an exciting activity with kids.

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4. Crandon Park Beach

This beautiful beach is located in Miami, namely in the northern part of Key Biscayne. In addition to the beach, there’s also a golf course, a marina, a tennis center and a nature park that visitors can enjoy.

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5. Smathers Beach

Heading to Key West in Florida? Smathers Beach is without a doubt one of the best beaches in Florida Key West. The turquoise crystal clear water, sandy beach, and swaying palms make up the perfect start of a nice vacation.

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6. Miramar Beach

This beautiful beach is located in the northwestern part of Florida, next to Pensacola and Destin. It’s one of the hidden beach gems of Florida that boasts a nice boulevard, lesser crowds, perfect blue-turquoise water, and white sand,

Moreover, it features luxurious accommodation and first-class shopping at the Silver Sands Premium Outlets. Miramar Beach also has great dining options and a wide range of water sports and activities.

Photo: Shutterstock

7. Fort Lauderdale

Another classic among the Beaches in Florida. There are actually several beaches in Fort Lauderdale, and they all have one thing in common, they’re all dreamy strips of white sand and turquoise water.

Some of the best beaches in the Fort Lauderdale area include Hillsboro, Deerfield, Hallandale, Dania, and of course the Fort Lauderdale beach itself! The main beach in Fort Lauderdale used to be a mecca for spring-breaking college students but has recently gotten a makeover into a chic beach destination.

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8. Caladesi Island State Park

This place is truly an untouched paradise, and it’s only accessible via a ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park, which makes it ideal to go for secluded stretches of white sandy beaches in Florida.

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9. South Beach Miami

One of the most touristy beaches in Florida, but for a good reason. On this 2.2-mile stretch of sand and turquoise water one can enjoy both lively parts filled with beautiful people and flashy cars as well as nearby bars and restaurants.

If you want to be in the midst of the hustle and bustle – Go to the section between 5th and 11th Streets. Locals usually hang out in SoFi (South of Fifth). Another popular part of South Beach in Miami is the 12th Street gay beach.

Photo: Shutterstock

10. Clearwater Beach

Another classic beach in Florida that attracts a lot of visitors is Clearwater Beach. There’s no shortage of resorts that will ensure a great vacation on the Sunshine State’s Western Riviera. And the sunsets are out of this world!

From here it’s also easy to get to Honeymoon Island State Park, which is a dream for couples who like natural beaches.

Photo: Shutterstock

11. Santa Rosa Beach

Santa Rosa is one of the most classic vacation destinations in the Sunshine State. It was founded in 1910 and no wonder why people keep coming back. This place is gorgeous with sugar-white sand and turquoise water.

It was recently named as one of the top 5 Favorite Towns in America by Travel + Leisure.

Photo: Shutterstock

12. Naples Beach

Golf courses, Gourmet restaurants, and boutique shops would be good enough reasons to come here as an upscale traveler. However, Naples Beach also happens to be one of the best beaches in Florida!

It’s quite close to Sanibel Island and Fort Myers, which is just 50 minutes away by car.

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13. Pensacola Beach

Regarded as the crown jewel of the Florida Beaches on the Gulf Coast and a picture-perfect place for a nice vacation. Pensacola consistently gets listed as one of the best beaches in Florida, and rightly so.

The dolphin-rich waters and beautiful sand, as well as the many activities, attracts a lot of visitors each year.

Photo: Goldenticket76 / Flickr – CC BY 2.0

14. Honeymoon Island State Park

If you want to get some romantic beach time with your lover in a secluded paradise – then Honeymoon Island probably is one of the best places to go in Florida. The natural beauty here is stunning, and you won’t find a lot of development here.

This State Park is perfect for nature lovers. If you’re living or going to the Tampa area, it’s just 40 minutes away by car from the city center.

Photo: Tinycherub / Flickr – CC BY-ND 2.0

15. Sanibel Island

This island is the perfect choice for families or those who want a quieter getaway. Sanibel Island is particularly famous for the many shells and it’s full of them, which makes a fun activity to find the most beautiful ones.

You can stay overnight or come here on a day trip. The easiest way to get here is by driving from Fort Myers.