The 24 Florida beaches everyone should visit before they die

Clearwater

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 15 minutes
If crystal clear waters and sugar white sand are your thing, take advantage of Clearwater. There is aquatic fun on the beach and off. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is the home of Winter, the bottlenose dolphin featured in the movie Dolphin Tale.

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Siesta Key

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 30 minutes
Siesta Key is no joke. Lie down on the quartz white sand that TripAdvisor called “The Best Beach in the Nation” in 2015 and 2017 and watch the turquoise waves lap at the shoreline.

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St. Augustine

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours
With turquoise blue waters and cool winds blowing in from the sea, it’s no wonder the Spanish decided to settle the area in 1565. Hop on a jet ski, in the Nation’s oldest city, and zip across the waves outside the Castillo de San Marcos or take a casual stroll along the area’s 42 miles of beautiful beaches.

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Dry Tortugas National Park

Driving distance from Orlando: 6 hours 45 minutes
A hop, skip and a jump from civilization the beaches of the Dry Tortugas National Park are as beautiful as they are secluded, unless you count the birds. The seven tiny island of the Dry Tortugas are a vital layover for migrating birds traveling between South America and the United States, as well as being home to stunning, breathtaking beaches.

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Caladesi island State Park

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 30 minutes
One of the few completely natural islands along Florida’s Gulf Coast, what Caladesi Island lacks in modern amenities it makes up for in oceanfront splendor. Nature enthusiasts can spot wildlife while hiking the three mile nature trail through the island’s interior or paddling a three mile kayak trail through mangroves and bay, saltwater anglers can cast lines for redfish, snook and sea trout and beach goers can kick it on the shore and frolic in the waves.

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Blowing Rocks Preserve

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 30 minutes
A marvel of Floridian geology, during extreme high tides and after winter storms seas break against the rocks and force plumes of saltwater up to 50 feet skyward.

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Playalinda

Driving distance from Orlando: 1 hour 15 minutes
Tucked away in the Canaveral National Seashore is Playalinda. It’s a hidden gem among local surfers, a welcome reprieve from other more crowded Florida beaches and not a bad spot to watch a rocket shoot off from nearby Kennedy Space Center.

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Anna Maria Island

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 30 minutes
With it's broad beaches and relative distance from larger metropolitan areas, Anne Marie Island is a perfect place for some solitary beach time.

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Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

Driving distance from Orlando: 1 hour 30 minutes
On one side a shoreline of coquina rock stretches before the Atlantic ocean. On the other, lush gardens of coastal scrub marry with rich hammocks of towering live oaks, hickory and magnolia trees to create an ecological paradise. The tree-shaded areas are perfect for relaxing under after a dip in the ocean or stroll along the shore.

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Fort De Soto

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 30 minutes
With a wide tidal pool begging to be splashed in, sea shells of every color and humongous sand dollars, it’s no wonder Fort De Soto Park’s North Beach earned Parents magazine's top honors in 2011. Snorkel, canoe, kayak or swim in tropical waters or relax and soak up some rays.

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Boneyard Beach

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 30 minutes
A photographer's paradise, bleached white trees lie about the beach in stark contrast to the rolling blue ocean and static sandy terrain. As trees die they fall onto the beach and remain there until the ocean erodes them or takes them. If reflecting on the symbolism of this surreal scene distracts you too long, take a break to look for shells or take a dip in the ocean.

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Pine Island

Driving distance from Orlando: 3 hours
Despite being the largest island in Florida, with no traffic signals, tolls or high rises, it’s no stretch to say Pine Island is more of a rustic beach-goer destination. What Pine island lacks in bustling development it makes up for in fishing, drop a line right off the shore or check out the Matlacha Bridge "The World’s fishingest Bridge" where angles can be found day and night.

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Boynton State Park

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 45 minutes
Past the dunes and scrub is another great Florida beach. Paddle out and catch a wave or lax on the shore, nether are a bad choice.

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Lovers Key State Park

Driving distance from Orlando: 3 hours 30 minutes
For years it was said only lovers traveled to Lover's Key to enjoy its remote and solitary beach. Now the park is a haven for more than those looking for a romantic tryst. The addition of roads and bridges have made it easier for beachgoers to enjoy a day of shelling, swimming, picnicking or sunbathing.

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Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Driving distance from Orlando: 6 hours 45 minutes
Florida’s Southernmost State Park, colloquially referred to as Key West’s Best Beach, is a sight for beach starved eyes. Intermittent palm trees frame azure blue seas and waves lapping at coarse sticky sand to provide for an exceptionally scenic experience.Soak up Key West’s best beach by taking a walk and looking for shells or perusing the jetties and rock formations in the water which provide homes for parrotfish, yellowtail snapper and lobsters. Grab a snorkel and see for yourself.

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Crandon Park

Driving distance from Orlando: 4 hours
This is the kind of beach you see in swimwear ads, tropical and picturesque. A large sandbar protects the beach from strong ocean waves making it excellent for families with young children. For the more adventurous rent a kayak or a kite board and cruise the shoreline.

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South Beach

Driving distance from Orlando: 4 hours
South Beach is known the world over as a premier cultural and nightlife destination. What some may forget is that this vacation mecca in Miami also sports fine white sands and rolling blue waves that rival the world's best beaches.

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Sanibel Island

Driving distance from Orlando: 3 hours 30 minutes
Sanibel Island has 15 miles of beaches that are world renown for their pristine sands and abundant shells. There are no coral reefs around the island but there is still plenty of marine life, who make their home in the numerous artificial reefs and wrecks around the island.

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Amelia Island

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 45 minutes
Amelia Island is must do for any beach enthusiast. The relativity uncrowded beaches are a great jumping off point for SCUBA diving, parasailing or deep sea fishing.

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Atlantic Beach

Driving distance from Orlando: 2 hours 30 minutes
Atlantic beach, many experts believe, was the site of the first year round native American settlement in North America. The beach is a magnet for surfers, beach combers, campers, and bicyclists. Kick back and relax with some beach styled activities while appreciating the lifestyles of the indigenous Americans who previously inhabited these beautiful land.

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