People who aren’t from Florida may have a hard time believing this, but East Coast Beaches are wildly different from West Coast Beaches – so much so that people who enjoy one of them, may want nothing to do with the other. But to those of us who just straight up love the beach, thanks to Florida’s unique shape and location, just a few hours’ drive can cause you to experience both in the same day (and if you time it right, witnessing both sunrise and sunset over the ocean).
In my previous article, we explored the West Coast beaches , we got to experience laid back white-powder sand beaches lined with shade trees and calm lapping waves rolling in from the Gulf of Mexico. These are the beaches you want to find yourself at for a relaxing day under an umbrella listening to easy-going music, sipping a cool drink, and watching the kids build sand-castles before heading out into the warm waters to snorkel and hunt for sand dollars.
East Coast beaches are nothing like the West Coast beaches in Florida. All along the East Coast you’ll find wide beaches with sand so strongly packed that in many spots along the northern coast’s cars are allowed to drive and park on them. Shade is often hard to come by near the beach due to strong winds that are ever-present as they swipe up the coast along the Florida Current. The waves are strong and surfing is common, especially at world-famous (thanks to Ron Jon Surf Shop) Cocoa Beach. Thanks to that Florida Current pulling up waters from the tropics, the water along the East Coast is still warm, though often doesn’t become the summer-time bath water that is common on the West.
Yet it is precisely all those differences that make East Coast beaches so great! Along the Gulf, it’s easy to feel way too close to your neighbors, especially if they are drinking or sharing their awful taste in music too loud – not so along the Atlantic with so many spacious and wide beaches. While the calm waves of the Gulf are nice to wade out into and see schools of shimmering fish darting about, the crashing of the waves back East are soothing to your very soul and help drown out the worries of life. While there is often little in the way of shade along the beach, the sun is why so many seek out the sandy expanses.
I’ve certainly spent more time along the Gulf Coast, but I have made plenty of sojourns to the sunrise side of the State in past years, and I have plenty of recommendations of beaches I’ve enjoyed.
First Coast
Jacksonville & Saint Augustine – While some of my first memories of the beach are from Jacksonville Beach, I’ve spent little time along the First Coast (the most northern stretch of the Atlantic Coast of Florida) as an adult. Certainly, on my list to get back to. And when I do, I’ll provide updates to this article.
Fun Coast
Daytona – While some maps of the State don’t even show the Fun Coast as a dedicated Coast, I have to admire Daytona being direct and claiming the name all for themselves on their own map. While this is certainly a major beach destination for many when they journey to Florida (Spring Breakers and Harley Davidson fans have chunks of the calendar set aside for this city, not to mention NASCAR fans – heck Daytona is where car racing got its start!), I can’t say that I recommend this be a destination for you if you’re looking for great Florida beaches. The beach itself is fine, but everything surrounding it is a crowded mess of nonsense. The aforementioned Spring Breakers, Bikers, and NASCAR fans are not known for their quiet sober enjoyment of the beach. Maybe just avoid this beach unless you belong to one of those three groups.
Space Coast
Okay, now we’re talking! Not only are the beaches in this part of the State excellent, but there is also the chance that the random rocket or spacecraft will take off overhead while you are laying out.
Cape Canaveral National Seashore (North Entrance)
Cape Canaveral National Seashore – Entrance Fee – Cape Canaveral National Seashore deserves its own article, and I can certainly see it getting one some day. This Park stretches some 24 miles of pristine and undeveloped coast just north of the famous Spaceport. Those 24 miles represent the largest undeveloped stretch of Atlantic coastline in the State, and it is truly amazing to take in and witness what the coast looked like to early explorers and inhabitants. The roads only goes a few miles into the Park (one from the North and one from the South), with the rest only accessible on foot. Once you start down the barren coast, you can truly find yourself alone with the waves and wildlife that are protected in the Park. One word of caution to those of you who may be opposed to such things, the last beach access point on both roads are clothing optional beaches (and are certainly not recommended for people who burn easily).
Playlinda Beach – Cape Canaveral National Seashore (South Entrance)
Playlinda Beach – Entrance Fee – Playlinda Beach is the Southern access point for Cape Canaveral National Seashore but deserves its own recommendation as it is the closest the public can get to launches from the Kennedy Space Center without being on the base. All of the above about the Cape Canaveral National Seashore extend to Playlinda as well, just with the occasional ground shake from a Falcon Heavy rocket taking off.
Treasure Coast
Apparently, I have never been in this large section of the Florida coast between the Cape and Fort Lauderdale. Vero Beach is very popular with people I’ve known, but I myself haven’t been before. I’ll add it to my list and look for updates in the future!
Gold Coast
I’m not sure if this section of the coast that encompasses the megalopolis of Fort Lauderdale and Miami is named because of the sand, the sun, the amount of money the tourist industry receives from the tourists, or the skin of the people who spend their days soaking in the rays, but it just feels so right. These beaches are some of the most popular in the entire world, and for good reason! The Miami area is alive with activity and fun and is certainly worthy of visiting.
South Beach
South Beach – I know, this might be a shocker to see me recommend after I talked down other beach tourist Meccas like Clearwater and Daytona, but there is something great about South Beach. In my experience, the drunken nonsense of the other Florida hotspots is mostly missing from the beach, and you can actually enjoy your time on the sand without worrying that you’ll witness someone throw up (maybe its because that’s all happening back at the hotel pool). The waves aren’t as wild as they are up north, and the beach is maintained with such excellence, that you find yourself feeling relaxed despite being near one of the largest population centers in the country. While it’s not easy or inexpensive to be in South Beach, the beach itself is divine and the sunrises are beyond worth waking up early for.
The Florida Keys
Many people who haven’t been to the Keys before assume that amazing beaches are everywhere. It’s a string of islands in the tropics! How can there not be tons of amazing beaches? The thing is, yes they are a string of islands in the tropics, but when the highest spot of land in all of the Keys is a mere 18 feet above sea level, there are not a lot of beaches to go around. But the few beaches that do exist are exceptional.
Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda State Park – Entrance Fee – Located just a few miles north of Key West, Bahia Honda State Park may have some of the absolute best stretches of sand in the entire State of Florida. Like most places in the Keys, the calm clear water surrounding the Key allows you to wade out exceptionally far before you have any need of swimming or treading water. What’s extra great about this Park is that it is not rare to find all sorts of beautiful Conch (massive shells commonly made into trumpets) and large colorful starfish in the shallow water.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park – Entrance Fee – Located 70 miles West of Key West and only reachable by boat or plane, this beach at the base of Fort Jefferson (a stunning 1800s fort rising out of the sea) is not at all easy to get to. However, those you do take the time, effort, and financing to reach it all will testify how worth it is. I wrote an entire article about this National Park after visiting it for Father’s Day a few years ago and if you read it, you’ll know how much I love this place. The waters are clear and filled with live coral reefs and colorful playful tropical fish that you’d normally only see in a fish tank. Once you tired of the beach (if that happens), you can dry off and explore the fort or get a cold drink back on the Ferry.
As you can tell, there are still plenty of places along the East Coast of Florida that I need to visit and soak up the sun on their beaches. I suspect that over the years, I may be revisiting this article and updating it with new favorite spots I’ve found as I continue to explore. You’ll also note that despite having been born there, I wrote nothing about the beaches along the Florida Panhandle and the two coasts up there (The Emerald Coast and the pique-my-interest Forgotten Coast). I hope to spend some time along those historically beautiful coasts in the not-too-distant future.
I love Florida Beaches, and I hope these guides help you find some beaches that you love and enjoy as well. Just remember the main theme of these guides: avoid Clearwater Beach at all costs 🙂