So you’re dreaming of relaxing in paradise on Key West beaches and the first thing that comes to mind are swaying palm trees and endless shoreline as far as you can see. But there’s something wrong with that picture. There aren’t many beaches in Key West.
What? As surprising as that is, it’s true.
But… Key West is basically an island with a bridge, so what gives on the beaches?
Since The Keys are home to America’s only living coral reef and the third largest barrier reef in the world, the reef protects the Keys from big waves. Without big waves, the natural mechanism to create sand (and sandy beaches) doesn’t exist, so most of the beaches in Key West are man-made.
With that in mind, there are some nice Key West public beaches that we’ve found. There are only a handful of beaches in Key West and some of them are not so great. We’ve visited several and have come up with our list for the best beaches in Key West with four of our favorites.
Here’s our countdown of top picks for the best beaches in Key West.
Check out the full video and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. It helps us a ton!
Top 4 Best Beaches in Key West, FL
Simonton Street Beach, Key West
Cozy Local Favorite | Simonton St, Key West, FL 33040
When we stayed with a friend on our visit during Fantasy Fest, she pointed us to a local favorite beach in Key West that’s close to Duval Street. Simonton Street Beach is a cozy little spot that probably only holds thirty or so people comfortably, but it’s a free public beach in Key West.
Home to Lagerheads beach bar in Key West, you can grab a drink, order from their seafood menu, and rent the chaise lounge chairs that rest near the shoreline. There’s a short concrete pier you can walk to the end of that shoots out into the water where people fish. The water is clear to swim but watch for some rocks that might be hiding underwater. Floating buoys lines keep children from venturing too far out into the water.
If you don’t feel like paying the price to rent chairs, be sure to bring your own to relax in the sand. Bathrooms are nearby and parking is ample since Lagerheads welcomes patrons.
Smathers Beach, Key West
Endless Palms | 2601 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040
On the southern side of Key West along A1A lies a long stretch of peaceful sandy beach that has palm trees dotting the landscape perfect to hang a hammock. Smathers Beach is probably the best public beach in Key West if you like solitude and a wide view of sand and palm trees. It has ample parking along A1A that is also free.
Walking up one of the many walkways, we passed under palm trees and emerged out onto a wide sandy beach greeted by a young topless sunbather enjoying the view. Now this isn’t necessarily a nude beach in Key West, but the solitude probably made it feel relaxed. But hey, when in Key West right?
Higgs Beach, Key West
Little Bit of Everything | 1000 Atlantic Blvd, Key West, FL 33040
Also resting along the south side of the island is a free, sandy public beach in Key West that deserves a visit. Higgs Beach boasts a large swimming area as well as a long concrete pier to walk out and enjoy the view, especially at sunrise.
Toward the end of the pier are steps that lead down into the warm water. The water is shallow and the entire swimming area is a great spot to relax, float and soak. You can enter from the shoreline, but be sure to watch out for the sharp rocks that are tough on the feet.
If you visit Higgs Beach, be sure to check out this great little restaurant called Salute! On the Beach. Grab a drink and a bite at this Italian restaurant inspired with Caribbean flavors. We sat outside to enjoy the view.
At Higgs Beach parking is free and beach chairs are available to rent as well as snorkel gear that might be worth it on clear days. One thing to note is that if you’re looking for an upscale pristine beach, you might be disappointed as the sand is a little dirty but overall it’s a great beach to have an afternoon relaxing in the water.
Many people find the African cemetery worth a visit and if you want a real treat, a hidden gem in Key West near Higgs Beach is West Martello Gardens and Fort. This is an old fort that has been transformed by the Key West Garden Club as a sanctuary of greenery with many types of tropical plants and a butterfly garden. You won’t be disappointed.
Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, Key West
Best Beach in Key West | 601 Howard England Way, Key West, FL 33040
This brings us to our top pick for best beach in Key West!
Fort Zachary Taylor is an amazing beach that we love visiting every time we go to Key West. It’s part of the Florida State Park system with the feel of a natural forest combined with tropical beaches that has several coves to swim and snorkel. At its tip is a rock jetty that shoots out into the water with great views of passing boats and cruise ships. It’s also the Southernmost beach in Key West that the public can visit.
The best way to get this beautiful beach is by car or bicycle as the walk is fairly long in the sun. You have to pay to enter the park which is a per vehicle (~$7 for two people) or pedestrian fee ($2.50 per person). Although not free, it’s well worth visiting this gorgeous beach while in Key West. You won’t find another like it. We consider Fort Zachary Taylor to be the nicest beach in Key West.
Relax in the shade under a canopy of trees, hang a couple hammocks and chill, or soak up some rays on the beach near the water. On calm ocean days, the water is clear enough to see colorful fish around the large masses of rocks in the water so bringing or renting snorkel gear is a good idea. Since the beach is man-made, consider bringing flip flops or sandals to save your feet since the sand is a little rocky underfoot.
There’s a restaurant at Fort Zachary called Cayo Hueso Cafe that’s open for breakfast, lunch, or snacks. It has the typical beach bites you’d expect from burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches but also has a veggie burger if you’re vegetarian. It’s worth bringing snacks and drinks if you don’t want to buy them because this is a beach that you could relax at for hours. Don’t worry, there’s bathrooms and a water fountain attached to the restaurant.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our countdown to the best beach in Key West! There’s a lot to do when you’re here from walking Duval Street, seeing the sunset at Mallory Square, amazing water sports, and all of the great restaurants in Key West.
⮞ CHECK OUT OUR CURRENT GEAR ⮜
CAMERA GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO ??
- GoPro Hero 8 – An incredible game-changer! Check it out.
- Samsung Phones – What we’ve used so far to take our videos!
- Nikon DSLR Camera – But would recommend this much newer Nikon
- Phone Tripod Mount – secures our phones nicely
- Mini-Tripod – awesome as a hand held!
- Travel Tripod – 5-Section Carbon Fiber
Let us know if you’ve been to any of these beaches or have favorites of your own in the comments below!
0 Comments