Nothing says summer like a road trip to the beach. Prepare to be impressed and sweaty when that beach is in Florida! Florida has many beautiful beaches, many of which are ideal for travelers looking for a safe, fun, and family-friendly beach vacation. target. Low crime rates, presence of lifeguards, protected areas, clean water, gentle waves, and soft sand are important considerations when choosing a safe beach. Florida’s best beaches tick all of these boxes.
Whether travelers want to enjoy the calm, warm waters of Marco Island’s Gulf of Mexico beaches or snorkel the cool Atlantic beaches of St. Augustine and Fort Lauderdale, You can always find the perfect beach to visit for your purpose. Summer vacation. Here are the 10 safest beaches in Florida to visit in the summer.
What You Need to Know About Traveling to Florida in the Summer
Visiting Florida in the summer has both pros and cons. On the positive side, everything from airfare to hotel rooms is cheaper, and fewer people flock to the state’s beautiful beaches. Downsides include hot and humid weather and hurricane risk.
10/10 venice beach
Venice Beach is one of the best beach towns on the Florida Gulf Coast. It also has 14 miles of beautiful beaches. Its namesake, Venice Beach, is one of the best places to visit with curious children. Known as the ‘Shark Tooth Capital of the World’, this beautiful beach is the perfect place to look for these fossilized treasures.
As one of the most popular beaches in the area, there are plenty of facilities to enhance a day’s stay. With fishing piers, boardwalks, restrooms, concessions, pavilions and beach volleyball courts, you can spend hours relaxing.
Also, coral reefs are not far from the shore, making it a great place for snorkeling and scuba diving.Not a fan of underwater adventures? Look at the horizon There are several dolphins and turtles that call this beach home and love to make an appearance.
9/10 Fort Lauderdale Beach
A lifeguard on duty at Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Fort Lauderdale is one of Florida’s most visited cities, with more than 13 million visitors each year. His one of the city’s top attractions is on Fort Lauderdale Beach on the east shore. The city has 24 miles of silky, golden sand, but this beach is one of the best in Fort Lauderdale.
The sand here is clean and golden and stretches for seven miles. Palm-lined, long boardwalks are perfect for rollerblading, walking and people-watching.
While at the beach, tourists can work on their tans, snorkel offshore, swim, fish, and bury each other in the sand. Lifeguards are on hand to make sure every visit is a safe one, and there are plenty of picnic tables to enjoy your meal.
If you get hungry, there are various restaurants and plenty of shops nearby. Be prepared to stay a night (or three) as there are many great hotels nearby.
8/10 sanibel island beach
Sanibel Island is the perfect place to visit to forget everything. Those looking to unplug and unwind will find it easy to adapt to the island’s laid-back lifestyle. Shelling is one of the best things to do on Sanibel Island, especially for travelers with children.
In fact, Sanibel Island is considered one of the best gunnery spots in North America.
Bowman’s Beach is one of the best beaches on the island for shelling. A haven for families looking for a one-stop-shop for a fun-filled day out, the beach has facilities like restrooms, showers, grills, and picnic tables, as well as a playground and a boat launch for kayaks and canoes.
Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park is another winner when it comes to safe beaches. The sand here is soft, the water is warm and calm, and there’s a 19th-century lighthouse that can be used as a selfie backdrop.
Would you like to find treasures buried by the seaside? Rumor has it that the famous pirate Black Cesar hid his loot here.
7/10 key biscayne
Key Biscayne, often referred to as Miami Beach, is a luxury barrier island just 20 minutes off Miami’s south coast. Its greatest feature is its paradise, sandwiched between two parks: Crandon Park to the north and Bill Bugs Cape Florida State Park to the south.
Both feature protected beaches perfect for families looking to splash around safely on the shore.
The beaches of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park are a great place to enjoy fun water activities such as kayaking, fishing, and snorkeling. It’s also home to the iconic Cape Florida Lights, the oldest structure in the Miami-Dade area.
Crandon Park Beach is the perfect place for those who need constant entertainment during their Florida beach vacation. This two-mile sandy beach is near the park’s tennis center, golf course, nature center, and water sports rental facilities.
Everything from paddleboards to kiteboards to cabanas can be rented here. Family friendly bonus: the water is calm.
6/10 Fort De Soto State Park
Fort De Soto State Park not only has two of Florida’s safest beaches, but also 1,136 acres and five islands to explore. Four de Soto is about a 40-minute day trip from nearby Tampa. Just 20 minutes from St. Petersburg, this delightful beach is perfect for a summer road trip.
North Beach is the island’s most popular beach. The best beach in the area for families, kids will spend hours running in the sand, climbing on equipment at the pirate ship playground, and splashing around in the tidal pools.
The park has many facilities, including a concession stand, two swim centers, two fishing piers (one under construction through winter 2023), restrooms, and picnic shelters.
While in the park, be sure to visit the historic 19th-century fort that gives it its name.
Here, tourists can enjoy spectacular views and may even learn something in the park’s museum.
Bring your pet? No worries. Dogs are allowed to run off-leash in certain areas of this dog-friendly beach. Dogs will love the paw play area.
The best time to visit the beaches of For de Soto State Park is during the weekdays when they are less crowded.
5/10 Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key’s beaches are award-winning for many reasons. In addition to having some of the clearest water of all Florida beaches, these silky soft white sands have been called some of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast.
Siesta Key Beach is a great beach for families, with concessions, restrooms, playgrounds, pavilions, tennis courts, free trolleys, and lots of land and water fun.
The crystal clear waters of this beach are warmer and calmer than those on the Atlantic coast, making it safe for families to surf.
Lifeguards are on duty and agents from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office regularly patrol the beach, but they are rarely needed.
4/10 St. Augustine Beach
When tourists first set foot in St. Augustine, it’s easy to think they’ve arrived in a European town. America’s oldest city, this charming place is a haven for travelers who want to soak up old-world charm in the heat of the sun. There are also plenty of exciting activities and he has 42 miles of gorgeous beaches.
Speaking of stingrays, St. Augustine’s best beach for sunbathing and playing is the namesake St. Augustine Beach. The city’s main public beach, this beach is where visitors will find coveted soft sands and the large St. Johns County Ocean Pier for fishing.
Families can enjoy the splash park, volleyball courts, shaded pavilions, restrooms, and picnic tables. Lifeguards are on duty seasonally.
St. Augustine Beach is pet-friendly, so bring your favorite four-legged family member. No one has to be left behind on this safe Florida beach.
3/10 Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach has been called one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States, and it’s easy to see why. As the name suggests, the water here is crystalline and the sand is so soft that it feels like walking on fine flour.
The beach stretches for miles and is wide enough for families and couples to have plenty of space to stretch out, play volleyball or chase each other in the sand.
Clearwater Beach has a lot to offer. Popular activities include swimming, kiteboarding, jet skiing, paddleboarding, parasailing and kayaking in calm waters.
Restaurants and hotels are nearby, as well as one of the best family attractions in town, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
2/10 cocoa beach
Cocoa Beach has plenty of fun activities for families. Located on a barrier island just south of Cape Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast, this Atlantic beach is he one of Florida’s safest beaches this summer. It’s also one of the best day trip destinations for those looking for a beach vacation from nearby Orlando.
Adventurers looking to hang ten will love the epic surf at this top Florida beach. In fact, Cocoa Beach was voted the best place to surf in America.
Don’t worry. Even with small children, you can swim safely and happily in the shallow waters close to the shore.
1/10 Marco Island Beach
Marco Island is a peaceful barrier island located on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Her one of Florida’s safest cities, this idyllic island has miles of the softest, whitest sand beaches and is an ideal place to visit with your family.
The island’s namesake beach is the most popular and therefore the most crowded. As such, San Marco Island Beach has the amenities and ample parking space to accommodate many visitors. Head north to find beachfront restaurants and less competition for places on the sand.
Shelling is a fun thing to do with your family at Tigertail Beach. It’s like spotting dolphins off the shore or digging in the sand. If you want to add mudflat kayaking or paddleboarding to your trip, a visit to Tigertail Beach is a must.