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Key West is Florida Keys’ southernmost island and one of the Sunshine State’s most iconic subtropical vacation spots. The island is renowned for its pastel conch-style properties, lively nightlife, and beautiful palm tree-lined beaches. It also offers easy access to impressive coral reefs, which is a major attraction for fans of snorkeling and diving.
Key West, Florida, is the perfect destination for those who want to hit the beach for sunbathing, swimming, or watersports on their getaway. The only challenge is deciding which beaches to visit during your stay. To help you plan your trip, check out this list of the 11 best Key West beaches and why each spot is so special.
1. Smathers Beach
Location: 2601 S. Roosevelt Boulevard
Smathers Beach is one of Key West’s largest beaches, and many consider it to be the best. It’s a beautiful beach with a pristine white sand shoreline that gently slopes into the ocean.
This means there’s a long stretch of shallow waters to paddle in, which is perfect for unconfident swimmers and families with young children. The beach is very popular for sunbathing, and rental shops are available to hire umbrellas and beach chairs. There are also volleyball courts so you can challenge your friends to a tournament.
Vendors provide rentals of snorkeling gear, kayaks, jet skis, and other water sports equipment at Smathers Beach. Keep in mind that the currents here are very mild, so this isn’t the ideal beach for surfing. With restrooms, showers, and food and drink stalls in abundance, it’s easy to spend a full day at this beloved public beach, but be prepared to arrive early to get a good spot.
2. Simonton Beach
Location: 5 Simonton Street
Simonton Beach is situated on the Gulf of Mexico side of the island and is the only public beach in Downtown Key West. It’s just a few steps away from Mallory Square, which comes to life in the evening as locals and tourists gather to watch the impressive sunset. Simonton is a sand beach suitable for sunbathing, but rocks close to the shoreline can make it tricky to wade out without water shoes.
Despite its small size, Simonto’s prime location means that it has an excellent array of amenities. You’ll find chair and umbrella rentals, restrooms, picnic tables, water sports rentals, and restaurants nearby. You can also join one of the sunset cruises and charter tours if you want to head out into the Gulf.
3. Higgs Beach
Location: 1000 Atlantic Boulevard
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park, better known simply as Higgs Beach, is renowned for its underwater marine park which is accessible from shore. This allows snorkelers to witness beautiful marine life without the need for a boat trip. The beach also has historical significance — it sits beside the 19th-century African Burial Ground, which commemorates the lives lost during the transatlantic slave trade.
Higgs Beach offers free parking and plenty of amenities, including restrooms, showers, and rentals for kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and volleyball. It’s also close to other attractions, including West Martello Tower, Astro City Playground, a dog park, and tennis and pickleball courts.
4. Dog Beach
Location: 1500 Vernon Avenue
This small beach is ideal for people visiting Key West with their furry friends. It’s just 20 feet across and is dotted with rocks, but it’s the perfect space to let your dog off the leash to splash in the ocean and burn off some energy. They’ll love nosing around in the rock pools, and you don’t have to worry about them pestering sunbathers because Dog Beach is rarely used by anyone but dog owners.
It can be tricky to find Dog Beach as it is not well signposted, but look out for Louie’s Backyard, a restaurant that adjoins the beach. If you want to grab a bite to eat, this popular dining spot is also happy for your furry friend to join you.
5. South Beach
Location: South end of Duval Street
South Beach is situated at the southernmost end of Key West. It’s particularly popular with families thanks to its shallow, crystal-clear waters, and the relaxed, peaceful atmosphere makes it perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Sunbed hire is available, and there are a few vendors selling smoothies, frozen drinks, and snacks.
The biggest downside of South Beach is that there aren’t any public restrooms. Luckily, there are a few cafes nearby that are usually happy for visitors to use their facilities if they make a small purchase. Since South Beach is situated right at the end of bustling Duval Street, there are plenty of eateries and attractions within walking distance if you want to spend a full day in the area.
6. County Beach
Location: 1100 Atlantic Boulevard
County Beach is a man-made beach with a flat sandy section and boulders to protect the area. It’s great for sunbathing but not very well suited to swimming or watersports. It tends to be much quieter than nearby Higgs Beach and Rest Beach, both of which are more popular with families. For this reason, couples and groups of adults looking to spend a peaceful couple of hours under the sun will love County Beach.
A big draw for this beach is its beauty. It sits right next to West Martello Tower which serves as a picturesque backdrop for those looking for a beachfront photo op. There aren’t many facilities directly on County Beach, but its close proximity to other popular beaches means that amenities aren’t too far away.
7. Fort Zachary Taylor Beach
Location: 601 Howard England Way
Many of Key West’s beaches are manmade, but Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is all-natural, with the shoreline predominantly comprised of ground coral. This section of the coastline offers excellent opportunities for snorkeling and diving, so if you are a fan of underwater life, this might be the best spot for you. In addition to reef-dwelling fish, divers have the chance to see dolphins, turtles, and barracuda in the ocean surrounding this beach.
A big benefit of visiting Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is its position in a beautiful state park. You can take a tour with a park ranger to learn more about the Civil War-era fort that once surrounded the area. Plus, there are lots of scenic nature trails to explore. If you plan to lounge on the beach itself for a while, you can hire chairs and umbrellas, and water sports equipment is also available to rent.
8. Bahia Honda State Park Beach
Location: Big Pine Key
The Travel Channel named Bahia Honda Beach as one of the top beaches in the US. It’s a 30-mile drive from Key West, but well worth it for the incredible views on offer. The park boasts a huge expanse of white sand and shallow blue waters for paddling and swimming. Camping is incredibly popular here, and there are great facilities for doing so, including fresh water, electricity, and a concessions shop.
There’s a wealth of marine life in the ocean off Bahia Honda, with snorkelers able to spot rays, barracuda, reef fish, and nurse sharks. There’s also plenty of native wildlife and fauna in the state park itself. If you’re lucky, you might see an endangered Miami Blue butterfly, which was once thought to be extinct until one was spotted here in 1999.
9. Dry Tortugas Beach
Location: Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas National Park
Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas National Park sits 90 miles away from Key West and is only accessible via ferry or seaplane. The journey is well worth it to take in the gorgeous sandy beach lined with palm trees and learn more about 19th-century Fort Jefferson.
Tours of the fort are available for those interested in military history. For those looking to lose themselves in nature, a snorkeling tour is an excellent way to see some marine life. You can easily do both when you book a day trip with the local ferry service. Keep in mind that there are no stores on the island, so pack plenty of food and drink for the day.
10. Sunset Key
Location: Sunset Key
Sunset Key is a 27-acre island that sits 500 yards away from Key West Harbor. It’s a private resort with a pristine white sand beach, hammocks, and thatched tiki huts. Cottages line the shore and offer incredible views of the Gulf, but staying in them doesn’t come cheap.
Luckily, you can enjoy the romantic atmosphere of Sunset Key for just a few hours when you book yourself into the resort’s day spa. There’s a full range of treatments and massages available, plus tailor-made packages for couples looking to spend a relaxing evening on the island. Tip: don’t forget to book a table at Latitude Cafe for a taste of Key West’s most delicious Caribbean cuisine.
11. Rest Beach
Location: White Street & Atlantic Boulevard
Situated just along the coast from Higgs Beach, is C.B. Harvey Rest Beach. This small but popular beach offers prime views of both sunrises and sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean.
The sunrises are particularly impressive, so it’s well worth getting up early and lounging on the sand as the day breaks. As for sunsets, the atmosphere is much quieter and calmer at Rest Beach than at the popular Mallory Park on the other side of the island, so head here for a more tranquil end to your day.
White Street Pier juts out into the water right in between Higgs Beach and Rest Beach. This is a great spot to take in the ocean views. Lots of locals come here to fish or simply hang out, so it has a friendly and relaxing atmosphere that’s perfect for a lazy day.
Find Your Favorite Key West Beach
There’s a beach in Key West to suit every traveler, no matter your preferred pace. Now you know about the island’s most popular beaches, be sure to visit as many as possible on your upcoming trip to choose your favorite.
