Best Beaches in Key West ✔️ 10 Local Recommendations!

The Florida Keys are arguably considered one of America’s greatest locations. With tons of of small islands to discover and huge untouched magnificence, the Keys are actually a exceptional feat of nature.

Key West, the southernmost Key, is well-known for having that “Old Florida” vibe that vacationers and this Florida native can’t get sufficient of.

Even although Key West will not be an enormous island, there are all kinds of various seashores for everybody’s enjoyment. You can discover full of life seashores with a wide range of actions, seashores for households the place the water is shallow and calm, the very best seashores for water sports activities, and even a canine seashore for many who simply can’t go away Fido behind!

In this text, I allow you to in on all of the native secrets and techniques of which seashore to go to and why! Plan forward and take advantage of out of your time within the Keys by determining what seashore vibe is most aligned along with your journey! Depending on what you might be in search of, it goes with out saying that Key West has one thing particular in retailer for you.

So let’s dive into this record of the very best seashores in Key West – from an area!

If you might be in a rush

Beaches could also be free however there are some actions that you are able to do on every seashore which can be actually widespread and must be booked prematurely, like those under:

1. Spend time with the household at South Beach, Key West

South Beach in Key West is a household favourite because of the seashore’s calm, shallow waters. This seashore is the good setting for the little ones to splash round in secure, calm waters whereas the adults unwind and absorb the solar with an unimaginable view.

Some of the facilities this seashore has to supply are some beachside refreshment stands, lounge chair leases, and, in case you forgot towels, you possibly can even lease some at South Beach. There are water fountains on-site and even a small cafe to seize a fast chunk at.

While households love this seashore, additionally it is a wonderful seashore for anybody who’s in search of a laid-back and enjoyable environment, glorious water for swimming, and beautiful views.

For households with younger children, the one actual downside is the lack of public restrooms. However, a number of the close by institutions are very welcoming and sort in relation to utilizing their loos.

PRO TIP: If you occur to be at South Beach in Key West later within the day, don’t miss the sundown from Emma Carrero Cates Pier, which is situated on the West facet of the seashore.

2. Enjoy crystal clear water at Smathers Beach

Smathers Beach is without doubt one of the hottest and well-known seashores in Key West. It can also be one of many largest seashores in Key West, so it might get fairly crowded at instances.

Smathers seashore is liked by households and all kinds of vacationers for its glorious swimming situations. The shoreline has a gradual slope which lets you stroll fairly far out with out going too deep.

Smathers Beach boasts 2 miles of pristine white sandy shores, beautiful views, and unimaginable water to splash round in. It additionally presents loads of facilities, together with the fundamentals, like showers, loos, volleyball courts, and all kinds of distributors.

Smathers Beach has a lot to supply beachgoers. Along the seashore, you can see a number of water sport rental distributors, the place your subsequent water journey awaits! Some of the leases accessible to you might be lounge chairs, umbrellas for shade, snorkels, jet skis, kayaks, in addition to all kinds of different water sports activities tools.

You may also go parasailing! This unimaginable parasailing tour at Smathers Beach is SO a lot enjoyable, and you may select between 1, 2, or 3 seats so you can even associate with your companion or associates!

PRO TIP: It can get a bit crowded at peak instances of the day, so I’d suggest getting there early to stake out your seashore spot earlier than the crowds roll in.

3. Escape the crowds at Simonton Beach

Simonton Beach is without doubt one of the many beautiful seashores in Key West. This quaint seashore is the right place for folk to go who need to keep away from crowds and have a peaceable and secluded seashore day.

Located on the beautiful Gulf facet of Key West, it’s well-known for being one of many solely public seashores in downtown Key West.

Only steps away from Mallory Square, this small, pet-friendly seashore is without doubt one of the greatest seashores within the Florida Keys. Since the beachfront is fairly small at Simonton Beach, it’s suggested to get there early to safe your seashore spot. Even although it doesn’t get as crowded as different seashores, the dimensions makes it, so it fills up fairly shortly.

While this seashore is fairly small, there isn’t any scarcity of facilities. Simonton Beach has a ship ramp, on-site tools leases for umbrellas and chairs, in addition to a small picnic space and public restrooms. There can also be normally a meals vendor on-site.

There can also be a restaurant proper subsequent to the seashore that gives a plethora of water sports activities leases if you wish to take your seashore day to the following stage. Among the leases are jet skis, boats, constitution excursions for snorkeling, dolphin watching, fishing, island excursions, and sundown cruises.

NOTE: While the seashore has luscious soft-white sand, the water is usually a bit rocky, so it’s suggested to carry some water sneakers or swim with warning.

Want to go to Key West however don’t need to drive? Book a day journey from Miami to Key West with elective actions included!

4. Spend the day at Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park

Known domestically as Higgs Beach, this seashore and the encircling park have a lot to supply. It is straightforward to spend the entire day exploring and mendacity within the sand at Higgs Beach.

If you need to spend the day at Higgs Beach, with the assorted rental retailers, you possibly can lease seashore chairs and umbrellas, volleyball nets, snorkeling tools, and all kinds of water sports activities leases.

Higgs Beach is one other among the best seashores for households in Key West, with shallow, secure water and a stimulating playground situated proper on the seashore. There can also be a canine park in your fur infants to get pleasure from!

Higgs Beach additionally has showers, public restrooms, and free parking. Key West’s Higgs Beach additionally has historic significance. As you wander round, chances are you’ll discover some plaques in addition to an unlucky however traditionally vital former Nineteenth-century graveyard the place the enslaved have been laid to relaxation.

There can also be a phenomenal pier at Higgs Beach for fishing, having fun with the sundown, and all kinds of wildlife viewing!

5. Snorkel at Fort Zachary Taylor Beach

Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is effectively generally known as one of the crucial genuine seashores in Key West. It has this title resulting from its pure shoreline of coral rocks as an alternative of imported sand.

Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is without doubt one of the greatest seashores for nature lovers in Key West. It’s well-known for its considerable wildlife and foliage, each on land and underwater!

This Key West seashore is without doubt one of the greatest seashores for snorkeling in Key West. Snorkelers will see all kinds of marine life, from colleges of fish to sea turtles, huge grouper, dolphins, and a lot extra!

If you want a break from the solar, make the most of the assorted nature trails that Fort Zachary Taylor Beach has to supply.

Another choice is to take a ranger-guided tour of the half and see a number of the Civil War-era fortifications. This is a good seashore in Key West for each nature lovers and historical past buffs alike!

6. Go tenting at Bahia Honda State Park

Bahia Honda State Park is without doubt one of the greatest seashores close to Key West for tenting and experiencing the beautiful nature that the Keys have to supply.

Bahia Honda State Park is a real Florida gem that you’re not going to need to miss out in your journey to Key West.

For anybody who can’t get sufficient of the beautiful Florida Keys, tenting is a wonderful choice, and Bahia Honda State Park is the very best place to do it! Some of the sensible tenting facilities are electrical energy, water, in addition to a concession stand open through the day.

Some of the unimaginable marine life you possibly can count on to see in your journey to Bahia Honda State Park consists of little reef fish, nurse sharks, barracuda, sea turtles, and a lot extra! This is a brilliant widespread vacation spot for snorkeling, having fun with nature, enjoyable, exploring, and a wide range of different seashore and island actions.

Bahia Honda State Park can also be residence to the endangered Miami Blue butterfly that was as soon as regarded as extinct! If you get fortunate, you would possibly be capable of spot this beautiful tiny little blue butterfly.  

Want to do some dolphin viewing whilst you’re in Key West? Hang out with bottlenose dolphins of their pure habitat for the final word cruise expertise!

7. Get some relaxation at Rest Beach

Rest Beach is situated throughout the identical park as Higgs Beach and is a beautiful small seashore good for dawn and sundown viewing.

This Key West seashore can typically refill and get a bit crowded resulting from its small measurement. Regardless, it’s a pretty seashore effectively price trying out in your journey to Key West.

If you might be in search of a spot to view the sundown in Key West however need to get away from all of the Mallory Park sundown festivities, Rest Beach gives the right tranquil setting so that you can watch the sundown and unwind.

Rest Beach even has a devoted Yoga Deck, the place you will discover morning and night yoga lessons with unimaginable views.

Want to relax on a sandbar and discover the coral reefs by kayak? This is an superior tour I did on my journey to Key West, and I extremely suggest benefiting from it. Sandbars are all the time tremendous enjoyable to calm down and splash round in! This tour additionally comes with lunch and drinks!

8. Explore Florida’s no.1 seashore at Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is a brilliant well-known vacation spot within the Florida Keys resulting from its considerable nature, impeccable views, and wonderful seashores.

This is actually among the best locations to go to within the Florida Keys and, frankly, all of Florida. People journey far and vast to view this unimaginable nationwide park with picturesque views of an previous wartime fort.

Although Dry Tortugas is a little bit of a methods away from Key West, it’s nonetheless thought of considered one of Key West’s seaside choices which can be effectively price trying out. Dry Tortugas National Park is barely accessible by boat, and conveniently sufficient, you possibly can catch the Dry Tortugas Ferry proper from Key West.

Make certain you intend a complete day to go to Dry Tortugas National Park. There is a lot to discover right here, and it’s important to take into account the time it takes to get to and from the island on a ferry. The seashore is actually a tropical paradise lined with palm timber and completely breathtaking views of crystalline Caribbean waters.

This is a good place to absorb the solar, discover, go snorkeling, swim in calm shallow waters, and discover the expansive coral reef system that this seashore has to supply.

Due to the presence of a shocking and sturdy coral reef, snorkeling is the primary water exercise that company can get pleasure from when visiting Dry Tortugas National Park. You can e-book some tour excursions by means of your ferry tickets as effectively.

Dry Tortugas additionally presents tenting with very restricted availability for many who simply can’t get sufficient. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you possibly can take a seaplane to get to Dry Tortugas as an alternative of taking the ferry.

PRO TIP: There aren’t any shops on the island, so be sure you pack some meals if it’s not included in your tickets!

9. Take your pup to Dog Beach

While Dog Beach is a extremely tiny seashore, pet dad and mom completely like it as it’s the solely place in Key West the place your pups can run freely on the seashore!

Both locals and guests with furry associates love going to this seashore with their canine. Dog-friendly seashores are one factor, however having the ability to let your canine off the lead is a complete different expertise that your fur child will completely love!

This is the one seashore that permits pups to run freely on Key West. Pups massive and small can get pleasure from this tremendous enjoyable seashore and splash about whereas their dad and mom chase after them ensuring they don’t shake off some seawater onto a close-by sunbather simply making an attempt to benefit from the seashore!

Your pup can play within the water, sniff across the coral, run freely, and play with different canine, all within the beautiful setting of Key West!

NOTE: It could also be considerably onerous to seek out Dog Beach. If you occur to overlook the small signal, simply step into the close by restaurant, Louie’s Backyard, a dog-friendly restaurant, and somebody will level you in the suitable route.

10. Soak up the solar at County Beach

County Beach is a good choice for many who need to absorb some solar however not essentially go swimming.

This will not be the very best swimming seashore, however it’s an unimaginable seashore for absorbing some rays and melting into your towel as your worries are washed away by the therapeutic powers of the solar.

County Beach is true between Rest Beach and Higgs Beach. If you do need to go swimming, simply hop on over to one of many neighboring seashores which can be nice for swimming and splashing about!

This vacation spot can also be extraordinarily photogenic, because it backs as much as the West Martello Tower. Perfect for photographers and people in search of instagrammable surroundings!

FAQs about greatest seashores in Key West

Conclusion

Key West has so many unimaginable seashores that it’s actually onerous to decide on. However, as a Florida Keys knowledgeable, I wished to provide the greatest seashores for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing and simply having fun with the pristine waters in Key West.

Key West is such an unimaginable feat of nature. Anywhere you go goes to be a phenomenal sight to see, with a lot to supply! These are a few of my favourite seashores in Key West, and I hope you get pleasure from them as a lot as I do!

With love and gratitude,

Amira G.