Updated December 5, 2020
Everybody has an opinion about which are the best Florida beaches, and that opinion is subjective. It all depends on what you like when you go to the beach.
A surfer has different needs than a kite flyer.
Florida family vacations may include a beach, and each family member may have a different idea of the kind of beach they like.
A swimmer has different desires than a surf fisherman. A surfer dude has different desires than a shell gatherer.
A man who likes to admire bikini clad beauties has different desires than a man with a metal detector looking for treasure or jewelry.
Here are the things we like about our list of the best Florida beaches.
There are many more factors that are important to some people. Dr. Beach, the famous expert, has 50 criterion that he uses to evaluate his lists of the best beaches.
Many of the things that we like in a Florida beach require regular maintenance. That's why our list contains a lot of public beaches that are kept in good shape by the area's parks and recreation department or by the Florida State Park system.
Our list has at Florida beaches in each of the 8 geographic regions of the state. There is usually an admission fee of around $4.00/car to get into the State Parks to enjoy their great beaches.
Our list of the best Florida beaches is organized by the geographical regions of the state. Just click on the links below to see the beaches.
NORTHWEST
Grayton Beach State Park, Grayton Beach.
Panama City, beaches stretch both east and west.
Pensacola, great beaches all the way to the Alabama line.
Seaside, wonderful beaches soft white sand.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Santa Rosa Beach.
NORTH CENTRAL
NORTHEAST
Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach.
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area, Flagler Beach, camping allowed.
Jacksonville Beaches. Numerous beaches near Jacksonville, including the towns of Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach, all of them beautiful.
CENTRAL EAST
CENTRAL WEST
SOUTHWEST
Anna Maria Island, end of road town with quiet beach.
Boca Grande, miles of uncrowded beautiful sand.
Captiva Island, and Sanibel. Miles of white sand beach and sea shells.
Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples.
Fort Myers Beach, busy beach on Gulf.
Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach.
Englewood. Charming small town with great beaches.
Marco Island, Tigertail Beach, other white sand beaches.
Naples Beaches. Every east-west avenue in Naples ends at a beautiful white sand beach with a dune crossover. Every one of them is among the best beaches in Florida.
SOUTHEAST
Delray Beach. Numerous beaches within the city limits with easy access to the ocean.
Fort Lauderdale, great beaches with lots of dining places.
Haulover Beach. Great white sand, clothing optional but people with swim suits are welcome also in a separate area.
Key Biscayne. Many beaches within the city limits with easy access to the ocean, including the beautiful white sand beaches of Crandon Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is on the barrier island in North Palm Beach. Great beach, boardwalk, pavilions, and nature trails.
SPECIAL FEATURE
Florida's 12 Coasts and Their Popular Names
A statewide resource page on this website is beach and seashell related.
READ ABOUT FLORIDA BEACHES AND SEASHELLS
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