10 Best Beaches in the Florida Keys

These beautiful Florida Keys beaches are ideal for boating, snorkeling, swimming, and more.

There are few domestic destinations dreamier than the Florida Keys. This breezy, sun-soaked archipelago is the very picture of a tropical retreat, with palm trees, clear blue waters, colorful kitsch, and a laid-back lifestyle that's practically foreign on the mainland.

However, there's one major vacation component missing from the overall Florida Keys schema: the beach. The idea that the destination is full of sandy stretches is a misconception; instead, the M.O. here is boating, snorkeling, and diving, not swimming in the shallows or sinking your toes into the sand.

Still, there are a few spots where you can get your beach fix. Here are 10 of the best.

Related: Florida Keys Travel Guide

Sunset Park Beach

It's not an abundance of amenities that makes Sunset Park Beach special. There are only a few benches, tables, and bathrooms, and not much room to sprawl out or play beach games. What you will find, however, is a nightly sunset spectacular. Located on Key Colony Beach in Marathon, this narrow sliver of sand is an ideal spot to relax and close out a day in paradise. After the sun goes down, head to Havana Jack's Oceanside Restaurant and Bar, 0.7 miles from the sunset spot, for a tequila cocktail under the thatched roof of its outdoor tiki bar.

Dry Tortugas National Park

A national park may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a Florida Keys vacation, but you won't want to miss Dry Tortugas. Because it's 99% water and only accessible by ferry or seaplane, the beaches across its seven islands serve more as launching pads for marine exploration than as places to kick back under an umbrella. Still, the contrast of the sun-bleached white sand against the turquoise water makes the beaches of Dry Tortugas some of the best. Because of its remoteness, you'll want to camp if you want more than a day in the national park.

The Beach at Little Palm Island Resort and Spa

This beach isn't open to the public and is, again, only accessible by plane or boat, but it's one of the best in the Keys. The five-star Little Palm Island Resort and Spa claims to be the only private island resort in the U.S., and the beach is a main feature. Guests are free to bounce between the sandy shore and the lagoon-style pool that has its own cocktail bar. From Little Palm Island, you can partake in all sorts of excursions, from scuba diving to sailing.

Smathers Beach

Smathers Beach is the biggest public beach in Key West and, understandably, also one of the most popular. In addition to sunning, you can play volleyball on the sand or try water sports like kayaking, Jet Skiing, windsurfing, and paddleboarding. Tour and rental companies right on the beach will make sure you have everything you need to get out on the cerulean water. Nearby food trucks make it easy to grab a snack.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

While John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is best known for its 70 nautical square miles of underwater attractions, landlubbers will find a lot to love here, too. There are quiet, hidden beaches where you can swim and relax in peace. Its convenient-from-the-mainland Key Largo location means you don't have to drive all the way south to Key West to enjoy the beach. If you feel like venturing out into the water, you'll find a colorful world teeming with life under the surface.

The Beach at Isla Bella Beach Resort

Another Florida Keys beach open to hotel guests only, the sandy stretch at Isla Bella Beach Resort is worth checking in for. Because beaches in the Florida Keys are a rarity, the 24-acre stretch at Isla Bella is a major draw. Guests can rest in any of the numerous lounge chairs on the sand, eat at the outdoor Beach Bar, play bocce ball on the beach, take a beach yoga class, or relax in one of the five sparkling pools on the property.

Calusa Beach

Calusa Beach is another popular option in the Keys. It's located within Bahia Honda State Park, between Big Pine Key and Marathon, on the Gulf side, which means its waters are sheltered and calm. The gentle Gulf is great for families with children who want to swim. Plus, Calusa Beach has ample parking and covered areas for picnicking. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, Bahia Honda State Park has a coral reef that you can snorkel.

Sombrero Beach

Located in Marathon, Sombrero Beach has everything you want — swaying palm trees, white sand, and beautiful water in varying shades of blue — and some things you didn't know you needed, like picnic pavilions, volleyball nets, a pier, restrooms, and public showers. You can also snorkel here, so it's a great spot for the adventurous and languorous alike. Just watch where you step from April through October — that's nesting season for endangered loggerhead sea turtles, and this beach is one of their favorites, too.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach

Located at the southern tip of Key West, this sun-soaked spot is the ultimate place for a picnic, swim, snorkel, or paddle. And while you're at it, you can squeeze in a little history. Fort Taylor, a National Historic Monument, predates the Civil War and is worth checking out — especially on the third weekend of each month, when you can catch historical reenactments. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is open every day from 8 a.m. until sundown, and admission costs $6 per vehicle.

Higgs Beach

Another Key West favorite, Higgs Beach has a cafe, Salute! On The Beach, a pier, and everything you need for a beach barbecue, public grills included. Swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, volleyball, tennis, and pickleball are all options here, and there are also two playgrounds for the kids. Beach accessories like chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, and paddleboards can be rented from Tropical Watersports, right next to the cafe.

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