The best beaches on Florida’s East Coast are perfect for swimming, surfing, snorkeling, fishing, relaxing, sunbathing, jet skiing, and many other exciting activities. Florida is home to many beautiful beaches and is one of the nation’s most popular destinations for basking on gorgeous sands near clear blue water. Florida’s East Coast beaches are also known for the waves. The East Coast is a surfer’s paradise, yet it’s still possible to find beaches with calm waters for swimming and snorkeling. Below are some of the best beaches on Florida’s east coast to check out on your next trip.
South Beach Park
South Beach Park in Vero Beach, Florida, has everything one could want on an east coast beach. It’s pristine, private, and majestic. The sand is soft, and the waves are perfect and popular for surfing and bodysurfing. Lifeguards are on duty to create a safe place for families to have fun at one of the top public beaches in Vero Beach. Vero Beach is also ideal for searching for lost treasure in the sand. It’s common to find treasure seekers with metal detectors in hand scanning for coins and jewels. South Beach is the kind of place that makes you want to buy a vacation home in the area. It’s a stunning beach in an incredible location.
Location: 1702 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963
Jupiter Beach
Jupiter Beach is known for having the clearest waters on the East Coast. It has a vibrant coral reef system, expansive areas for pet owners to enjoy the beach with their dogs, and the prettiest waters in Florida. The beach’s location in Jupiter near the Loxahatchee River and intercoastal waterway keeps the waters at a perfect temperature. Jupiter Beach is magical and one of the most spectacular beaches on Florida’s east coast.
Location: 2050 Florida A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477
Fort Lauderdale Beach
Fort Lauderdale Beach is steps away from luxury beachfront hotels, incredible restaurants, bars, and other spots that cater to a full, fun day at the beach. Fort Lauderdale is a fantastic spot for windsurfing, boating, jet skiing, and deep-sea fishing. Just north of the beach is Lauderdale by the Sea, one of the most popular places in Florida for scuba diving. The spot is even more accessible than the Florida Keys because the coral reefs are just a hundred yards from the beach. The area has become a diving capital and provides the perfect place for snorkeling.
Location: 998 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Miami Beach
Miami Beach is home to Miami’s quintessential beaches, filled with locals and tourists who want to enjoy its soft, powdery white sand and stunning turquoise water. Explore South Beach and South Pointe Beach, surrounded by palm trees and steps away from beautiful Art Deco buildings. Miami Beach feels very tropical and offers the feeling of being in paradise. It has a magical charm and provides the type of beaches most people envision when dreaming of the perfect holiday vacation.
Location: 1130 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Jensen Beach Park
Jensen Beach Park, known as Sea Turtle Beach, is one of the most popular beaches in Jensen Beach, Florida, known for its nesting sea green turtles, loggerheads, and leatherbacks. Visitors can observe these magnificent creatures during guided night tours offered from March into November. Jensen Beach offers amenities like lifeguards for swimmers and surfers, and a concession stand for grabbing a bite to eat. It’s important to remember that disturbing the turtles or their nests is prohibited.
Location: 4191 NE Ocean Blvd, Jensen Beach, FL 34957
Key Biscayne Beach
Key Biscayne Beach is located on a stunning five-mile-long barrier island. It’s peaceful, with small waves and incredible views. The water is always the perfect temperature. Key Biscayne Beach is easy-going and usually uncrowded, making it ideal for getaways. It’s the perfect beach for people looking for a secluded spot away from the crowds and close to Bill Bags Cage Florida State Park.
Location: S Beachwalk, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, dubbed “World’s Most Famous Beach“, is known for its long history with NASCAR, but it’s also a hot spot for kids during Spring Break and locals who enjoy the beach year-round. The broad shoreline is over 500 feet wide at low tide, providing ample room to explore and enjoy the sand. Because it’s so broad, driving on the beach is permitted for a small fee of $20 per vehicle. The southern part of Daytona Beach, which is called Ponce Inlet, is a perfect place to paddle board and see dolphins and manatees. The waves are great for surfing, and the boardwalk with rides provides a one-of-a-kind experience. Daytona is one of the best beaches on the east coast of Florida.
Location: 838 E International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Stuart Beach
Stuart Beach, located in Martin County, Florida, offers a variety of amenities for a fun-filled beach day. Families can build sandcastles, play volleyball, or relax in the sun. Stuart Beach also features picnic pavilions, restrooms, showers, a playground, and the convenient Seaside Cafe. There are several beaches in Stuart that are much less populated and off the beaten path when compared to other beaches on the east coast of Florida.
Location: 825 NE Ocean Blvd. Stuart, FL 34996
Haulover Beach
Blue waters, soft sand, and plentiful areas to picnic and relax make Haulover Beach a popular attraction. The beach is connected to a fantastic park, golf course, and dog park. Haulover Beach is one of the most famous nude beaches in Florida, having an area for nudists who want to bask in the sun without getting tan lines. It’s the perfect spot to rent an umbrella for $20 or a chair for $25 and enjoy the ocean. Blind Creek Beach in St. Lucie County, Florida, is another clothing-optional beach on Florida’s east coast. The beach is smaller, friendlier, and more relaxing than Haulover Beach. Blind Creek Beach is ideal for people on the Treasure Coast who feel more comfortable in a smaller crowd.
Location: 10800 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154
Palm Beach
Palm Beach is home to several beaches, but its most famous is Palm Beach Island. The beach is wide and beautiful and in a location renowned for the rich and famous. The beach feels upscale because it’s just steps from luxury shopping and dining. Palm Beach offers a serene and stunning beach with crystal-clear waters perfect for snorkeling. The beach is undeniably one of the most popular and well-known beaches in Florida on the east coast. It’s a famous tourist destination and is one of the prettiest beaches on Florida’s east coast in a very affluent area.
Location: 305 S Ocean Blvd, Palm Beach, FL 33480
Jacksonville Beach – Jacksonville
Jacksonville Beach is one of the most amazing beaches on the Northeast Coast. It has every amenity under the sun that one could ask for, including an incredible fishing pier, plenty of access points, restaurants, and a golf course. The beach has white sand and beautiful teal-blue water. Jacksonville Beach is a breath of fresh air for people looking for one of the best beaches on the east coast of Florida.
Location: 503 1st St N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
Jetty Park
Jetty Park in Fort Pierce offers a relaxing beachfront escape. It’s one of the top choices for those looking for beaches near Port St. Lucie, the area’s largest metro area. Visitors can learn about local history through historical kiosks and walk to local bars and restaurants that line the walkways. Jetty Park is right across the inlet from Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, which is extremely popular for kitesurfers, diving, and surfing in Fort Pierce. Cast a line for a variety of fish at the popular fishing jetty.
Location: 2098 Seaway Dr, Fort Pierce, FL 34949
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is 17 miles of beautiful white sand where you can drive and park just steps from the waves. It’s another excellent spot for surfing on Florida’s east coast, with good wave breaks for expert and amateur surfers. It’s also a fantastic beach for nature lovers. New Smyrna is also famous for having the most biodiverse estuary in North America, much of which can be viewed from a 2-and-a-half-mile-long boardwalk. Beachgoers have easy access to areas where they can view hundreds of different species of birds, dolphins, alligators, turtles, manatees, and other animals. Beachgoers should be forewarned that Smyrna is the shark capital of the world. Sharks migrate to the area from April through October. Despite the sharks, the beach is still an incredible sight and one of the best beaches on Florida’s East Coast.
Location: N Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach is famous among surfers due to its amazing year-round waves. Surfers love the rough waves and clean shores. The beach is full of excellent sandbanks and rolling dunes, which attract surfers from all over the nation. Each Florida beach is unique, and Cocoa Beach is also a great spot to watch a space launch. The Kennedy and Cape Canaveral Space Launch Centers are just a few miles away, making it possible to see launches from the beach.
Location: 3800 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Hollywood Beach
Hollywood Beach is a beautiful stretch of beach between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. It’s a popular destination for tourists who enjoy oceanfront hotels and resorts. The beach has plenty of parking and a unique and historic Broadwalk stretching over two miles along the Atlantic Ocean. The city also offers a convenient shuttle system called the Hollywood Sun Shuttle, designed to take tourists around the barrier island.
Location: 200 Jefferson St, Hollywood, FL 33019
Dania Beach
Dania Beach isn’t far from Hollywood Beach. It’s a quieter stretch of beach, less popular than Hollywood Beach, but just as beautiful. The beach is scenic for pictures and photography and perfect for relaxing or swimming. The beach is kid-friendly, with a playground nearby. Dania Beach earned the “Blue Wave Beaches” award for its fantastic beach and is a spot worth checking out.
Location: 300 N Beach Rd, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Ormond Beach
Ormond Beach is the hidden gem where locals escape the Daytona crowds. The beach is cozy and quiet and a perfect hideaway for people who want to be alone with their thoughts. Ormond Beach is just south of Daytona and has great waves and friendly people. It’s a lovely, clean beach and a great alternative to the larger, more popular beaches. Ormond Beach is a pretty beach town with interesting architecture and great restaurants. The city is colorful and vibrant and has one of the best beaches on Florida’s east coast.
Location: 21 Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32176
Fernandina Beach
Fernandina Beach is one of North Florida’s most amazing beaches. The area is highly rated as an incredible place to travel due to its history and charm. It’s also one of the few beaches in Florida where horses are permitted. The beach offers plenty of space for horseback riding with 13 miles of white sand. Fernandina Beach is the perfect getaway and one of the prettiest beaches in Florida on the East Coast.
Location: S Fletcher Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Las Olas Beach
Las Olas Beach is a fantastic beach close to a boardwalk filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, and boutiques. Las Olas Beach is always safe, with abundant security and lifeguard huts every thousand feet. Ocean Rescue supervises the beach, and lifeguards are on duty year-round, making it ideal for families with young children. Complimentary shower areas are plentiful so that beachgoers can get the sand off their feet. The beach is thoughtfully designed. The sunset and moon views from Las Olas Beach are amazing for Florida photography. It’s a slice of paradise in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Location: 240 Las Olas Cir, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Melbourne Beach and Spessard Holland North Beach Park
Melbourne Beach is a dreamy beach community, and its most popular beach is Spessard Holland North Beach. Spessard is a gem of a beach for people who live in central Florida and is worth the drive. It’s never overcrowded, always peaceful, and perfect for nature lovers who want to explore the ocean and surrounding areas. Spessard is a favorite among both tourists and native Floridians. The beach has great energy and is one of the best beaches on the east coast of Florida.
Location: Atlantic St, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
