Travelers’ Picks: The Most Breathtaking Beaches in the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are famous for their sunshine, shoreline, and snorkeling. But their beaches? Not so much. As longtime Floridians, we can vouch that the Keys are not exactly the best place to grab a sun chair and a mojito. Whereas Miami is the perfect place for beachside bars, and Sanibel Island is ideal for a relaxing sandy vacation, the Keys are more famous for their nature. Think of a waterfront that’s crawling with mangroves, fossilized coral, and lots of seaweed. They are beautiful in their own right, but they don’t compare to the white sand beaches of Brazil. 

Just because the Keys aren’t the ideal place for beach hopping, however, doesn’t mean that there are zero nice beaches on the archipelago. Many Floridians — ourselves included — have enjoyed relaxing afternoons on local sands. If you hope to add a beach day or two to your vacation itinerary, worry not. We have put together a list of the best beaches in the Florida Keys. Using our firsthand knowledge of the archipelago, in addition to traveler reviews, we have compiled a series of recommendations that will hopefully allow you to enjoy your holiday to the fullest.

Anyone planning on spending time in Key West should swing by Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park — or “Fort Zach,” as locals affectionately call it. This incredible Florida Keys beach destination is perfect for everyone from sunbathers to history buffs. With white sands, gorgeous palm trees, and a pristine shoreline, Fort Zach provides visitors with the ideal place to stock up on Vitamin D. Folks looking to engage in historical enrichment will be thrilled to check out the old fortress just beside the shore. Constructed in 1866, this structure played a key role in the Civil War and The Spanish-American War. In that sense, Fort Zach is an awesome attraction for people with a wide range of interests.

Previous visitors applaud this beach for its stunning scenery. Writing in the r/KeyWest subreddit of Reddit, one traveler wrote, “… everything from the beach to the water is beautiful and you can walk around the fort and such as well.” Locals also tend to enjoy this beach. On the same subreddit thread, one Floridian shared, “Fort Zach beach is the nicest with the cleanest water … As a local it’s the only beach I use. They have a nice commissary for food, snacks, drinks, beer, [and] wine.” When planning your visit, however, keep in mind that as of April 7, 2025, the beach has closed to undergo maintenance. Small beachfront areas, however, will open over time. 

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a traditional oceanside vacation, you might consider heading to Marathon, Florida. This municipality is home to one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys: Sombrero Beach. You’ll find well-groomed sands, clear water, and plenty of space to lounge here. As noted by past visitors, Sombrero Beach is particularly well-equipped with public facilities. In the words of one satisfied Google reviewer, “I’ve been to several beaches and this one is by far the best … The bathrooms are clean with actually running water. The showers are outside, but I was able to wash my hair and get a good a rinse off. There are also several nice shelters around with tables and a playground.”

As a bonus, Marathon’s location toward the middle of the Florida Keys makes it relatively easy to reach. Located just one hour from Key West and one hour from Key Largo, Marathon is the perfect place for a beachside getaway. Pack a picnic, load up your car, and head down to Sombrero Beach. As one of the few classic beach destinations in the Keys, Sombrero Beach is worth the drive. After all, as one traveler wrote on Yelp, “Probably the best beach we visited while in the Florida Keys. The Keys don’t have many sandy stretches of beach, to begin with, so this was a nice gem to find on the southern tip of Marathon.”

While spending time at the beach during daylight hours is certainly rewarding, catching a seaside sunset is something else entirely. One of the most romantic spots to watch the sun sink below the waves is Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach in Key West, Florida. Thanks to its fantastic pier, this is by far one of the best Florida Key beaches for gazing at the sky. As one previous visitor put it on Google reviews, “This location offers one of Key West’s prime sunset viewing spots, ideal for capturing the island’s famous evening sky. The real advantage here is the convenient free public parking nearby.” The same reviewer went on to applaud the “prime sunset viewing location on the pier.”

The best part is that there are a number of fabulous restaurants near Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach. Writing on Tripadvisor, one traveler remarked, “If you want to spend some time at the ‘beach,’ I’d suggest going to Higg’s Beach, Salute is a beachside restaurant with great food and great KeyLime Pie…. White Street Pier is a very very short walk from Higg’s as well as the KW Gardens Club…. the views from each place rival any view on the island … breathtaking!” Head to the beach, watch the famous Key West sunset from the pier, then stroll to a nearby restaurant for a relaxing meal. There may be no better way to spend a Florida evening.

For a multi-sport beach experience, head to Big Pine Key’s Bahia Honda State Park. There, you’ll find a pair of side-by-side beaches – Calusa Beach and Loggerhead Beach — where visitors can take advantage of a wide variety of activities. Interested in snorkeling? Stroll to the state park’s concession stand and rent some equipment in your size. In the mood to paddle through the waves? Kayak rentals are available. Calusa Beach and Loggerhead Beach are two of the best beaches in the Florida Keys, as they provide a resort-like experience in a public park.

According to past travelers, the quality of the snorkeling in the area is excellent. As one visitor wrote on Google reviews, “They weren’t wrong about the snorkeling. While we didn’t try the other beaches, there were plenty of small fish in the rocks … Many people were walking on top of it to take pictures but there were enough fish here to keep my kids entertained for the better part of an hour.” 

As a bonus, the park facilities are also said to be fantastic. A second Google reviewer applauded their cleanliness, writing, “This park is really beautiful, there is everything. Picnic tables with grills, some with shade, which you have to get to early, or bring your own umbrella … bathrooms, showers, everything [is] clean and tidy.” This makes Calusa Beach and Loggerhead Beach fantastic places to spend an afternoon.

Florida boasts stunning beaches, but very few remain untouched by urban development. These days, it’s common to spot towering condominium buildings, crowded pies, and even loud bars along Florida’s shores. Enter Curry Hammock State Park. Located in Marathon, Florida, this gorgeous beach takes the concept of conservation to a whole new level. Curry Hammock represents the largest stretch of untouched land (approximately 1,000 acres) between Key Largo and Big Pine Key. This means the park is the perfect place for travelers to sprawl out on the sand and relish nature at its finest. An added bonus is that travelers can camp overnight at Curry Hammock, allowing them to sleep to the sound of the waves. For an urban jaunt, see Florida’s best beaches and vibrant cities on this scenic road trip.

According to past visitors, an overnight stay at the park is a must. “Perfect campground in every way! The staff is welcoming and friendly, the hosts maintain the large campsites impeccably by raking the gravel, cleaning the picnic table and grill, along with meticulously clean bathrooms! The ocean is heavenly and the bike path across the street is wonderful! I didn’t want to leave,” wrote one happy camper on Google reviews. A second visitor echoed this sentiment and even went so far as to praise the beach itself. “[A] Beautiful and [quiet] park. Great campground and day use area. Kayak rentals. Nice beach by Key standard,” they wrote on Google. Overall, Curry Hammock State Park is the ideal place to enjoy the outdoors.

Some travelers go to the beach to sunbathe and read a book, while others prefer to hike alongside the water. If you fall into the second category, consider going to Long Key State Park in Layton, Florida. Considered one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys, Long Key State Park is especially adored by hikers. With two distinct trails and several other pedestrian areas, this beach is a walkers’ paradise. Tackle the Golden Orb Nature Trail, where you can view everything from crabs to gumbo limbo trees. Afterward, check out the shorter Layton Trail, which will lead you through a stunning mangrove forest. 

Past visitors say Long Key State Park’s natural beauty is the main draw. As one Google reviewer wrote, “We stopped here on the drive down and hiked around for an hour or so. Beautiful mangroves and natural beach front. You’ll see lots of crabs and lizards running around.” Another traveler made a similar observation on Google, sharing, ” … when you come off the boardwalk look for hermit crabs. If you follow the path left there’s a nice bench to the right of the path where you can sit to enjoy an ocean view.” All in all, Long Key State Park is the perfect destination for anyone who wants to observe the unique flora and fauna of the Florida Keys.

Natural beaches may be beautiful, but there’s nothing quite like well-groomed resort sands. Folks looking for a manmade beach might contemplate booking a room at the White Gate Court Resort in Islamorada, Florida. This cozy waterside hotel does not just boast gorgeous views of the ocean but also a wonderful artificial beach where guests can lounge. 

Describing this destination on Fodor’s travel forum, one previous guest explained that the hotel offers “… ‘A ‘Key’s Style Beach’ which is a manmade beach on the bay side. Calm water. Crystal clear water. A manatee usually hangs around near the dock. Cottages with kitchens/kitchenettes. The grounds are just wonderful – old Florida/tropical grounds.” This guest was not the only one to enjoy the beach at the White Gate Court Resort. The hotel boasts 4.9 stars on Google and a plethora of gushing reviews to match. One visitor applauded the beach for its laid-back vibes. “Nice quiet spot to relax and enjoy the tranquility. Has boat docking. Beautiful place to swim,” they wrote on Google reviews.

Having stayed at this hotel, we concur with these words. During our stay at the resort, we could not help but be impressed by the beach and its low-key atmosphere. As traditional sands are not exactly common in the Keys, we were happy to just hang out at the hotel’s manmade beach — lounging in a hammock and staring at the water.

Traveling with kids can be stressful, but there is one beach on Little Duck Key that might just make things easier. Veterans Memorial Beach is perhaps the best beach in the Florida Keys for people traveling with little ones. The park offers fantastic facilities for families that need a nice place to enjoy a picnic. As an added bonus, the water at the beach is said to be a great depth for children. As one visitor wrote on Google reviews, “I love this park!! Nice to take little ones or folks who can’t swim to since it’s shallow for yards!!” The same traveler then went on to praise the picnic area, writing, “They have tables under a little roof/hut very nice to have.”

As for the rest of the infrastructure, visitors were pleased with the parking and restrooms. Sharing their experience on Google, a second adventurer exclaimed, “We loved this beach! We went fishing across the street on 7 mile bridge then went here to jump in the water. There was plenty of parking, even for our big 350 truck. The water was amazingly clear and not too deep. Perfect for kids. Free beach access, bathrooms and free parking, can’t beat it.” All in all, Veterans Memorial Beach is the perfect place for a family to take a dip and enjoy a picnic without worrying about the availability of restrooms and parking spaces.

Because the Florida Keys are not exactly known for their oceanside sands, crafting a list of the best beaches in the region was a tall order. To find options that would fit the bill, we relied on our knowledge of the area and online traveler reviews. We began our investigation by cross-referencing our favorite destinations with other travelers’ recommendations. Naturally, we discarded any picks that didn’t earn glowing reviews from other visitors, as our hope was to identify beaches that would have general appeal.

Interestingly, it didn’t take us long to understand that identifying the best beaches in the Florida Keys would be complicated. The more we researched, the more we realized that the beaches in this region rarely earn visitors’ admiration. The majority of the beaches that we found in travel guides or on Google Maps had low-star ratings. Very few achieved the standard minimum 4-star average that many travelers expect. With this reality in mind, we adjusted our search to focus on the few beaches that met this standard. The beaches listed above have all earned over 4 stars on travel review boards. Many are places that we have enjoyed over the years. All have come highly recommended by other visitors.