THE BEACH DATABASE.
Sand and surf at Main Beach Park

✳ A FIELD GUIDE TO GOOD BEACH DAYS

Find your
kind of beach.

More salt air. Less guesswork.
Discover the coast, with the details that matter.

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Main Beach ParkFernandina Beach · Northeast Florida

Beach quote of the day

Even after we leave the beach, a little of its light stays with us—the shimmer on the water, the warmth of the sand, the wish to return. Perhaps loving the coast means carrying that blue somewhere inside us.

Beach Quotes

YOUR KIND OF BEACH DAY

What matters to your day?

Find a beach and entrance that fit your essentials.

1. Who’s coming?

A dog selects Dogs allowed. Kids suggests lifeguard coverage and restrooms; you can adjust these below.

2. Must have

Every requirement must be verified at the recommended entrance. Lifeguard coverage is not live tower duty.

Access & facilities

Activities & rules

Show accessibility & facility options

Step-free routes end at sand, not necessarily the water. Mats can leave a sand gap; wheelchair service can require advance booking or off-site pickup. Picnic shelters are park facilities, not shade on the beach.

Add preferences
Would like (optional)

Preferences help rank eligible beaches; they never override your requirements. Selecting a choice here moves it out of Must have.

Access & facilities

Activities & rules

Show accessibility & facility options

Step-free routes end at sand, not necessarily the water. Mats can leave a sand gap; wheelchair service can require advance booking or off-site pickup. Picnic shelters are park facilities, not shade on the beach.

3. What kind of day? (optional)

Choose one to guide ranking. Based on existing editorial assessments, not today’s crowds, calm water or swimming safety. Tap again to clear.

Required surfing suitability limits matches; a surfing day prioritizes stronger editorial suitability.

Choose a county or area, or use your location, for distances. Location stays on this device.

Distances are straight-line estimates to approximate shoreline references, not driving miles, travel times or entrance coordinates. County/area distances start at an approximate shoreline center. Islands may need bridges, ferries or boats; check the guide’s arrival route.

Choose a requirement or preference to find matching beaches.

A planning guide, not live conditions. Check flags, guard duty and closures before leaving and on arrival.

Starting local. Growing coast by coast.399 beach guides · Florida

THE FLORIDA COASTAL COLLECTION

A coast worth getting to know.

From Amelia Island along the Atlantic coast to the Florida Keys, then around the Gulf through Escambia County. Explore ocean beaches, coastal bays and boat-access islands.

PLAN A BETTER BEACH DAY

Explore a planning question

Short, researched advice for the day you have in mind. Photo credits are in the linked beach guides.

Sunset from an Apollo Beach boardwalkApollo versus PlayalindaWhich national-seashore approach fits your day?James H. Nance Park on the Indialantic shorelineRestrooms & lifeguards on the Space CoastWhere should you start when facilities and guards matter?Surf and shoreline at Vilano Beach.Accessible entrances near St. AugustineWhich route has a mat, a ramp or a remaining sand gap?Cocoa Beach Atlantic shorelinePlan a beach day from OrlandoWhich coast stop suits your Orlando day trip?USGS/USDA aerial view centered on Mickler’s Landing.Dog-friendly beaches, with the real restrictionsWhere can your dog come, and under what restrictions?Haulover Beach · 2010-06-17 08:06:42 · Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY 2.0A dog day in South FloridaChoose a designated dog-beach segment, not an entire shoreline: compare Hollywood, Haulover and the timed 21st Street Bark Beach.Crandon Beach · 10 February 2008 (original upload date) · Paulkondratuk3194 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Parking for a South Florida beach dayCompare Haulover and Crandon beach lots, weekday prices and demand; separate dog, marina and ocean-beach parking charges.

All planning guides ↗

Vegetated sand slopes of NaNa dune at American Beach on Amelia Island, Florida

NEW FROM THE BEACH BLOG · Beach History

American Beach: A Beach Day with a Deeper History

On Amelia Island, a story of Black enterprise, seaside vacations and the Beach Lady’s preservation work gives a day by the ocean a different depth.

· 6 min read

Read the story ↗Visit the Beach Blog ↗

GOOD DETAILS. BETTER DAYS.

A little planning.
A lot more ocean.

Can the dog come? Is there a lifeguard? Where do you park? We’re collecting the answers, one beach at a time.

The ocean changes. Check before you go.

Beach profiles are planning guides, not live surf or water-quality reports. Follow local flags and posted closures.

Beach forecast ↗

Browse every beach guide

Amelia Island beach access directory ↗ · Duval County beach access directory ↗ · St. Johns County beach access directory ↗ · Flagler County beach access directory ↗ · Volusia County beach access directory ↗ · Brevard County beach access directory ↗ · Indian River County access directory ↗ · St. Lucie County access directory ↗ · Pasco County access directory ↗ · Santa Rosa County access directory ↗ · Escambia County access directory ↗ · Okaloosa County access directory ↗ · Walton County access directory ↗ · Bay County access directory ↗ · Gulf County access directory ↗ · Franklin County access directory ↗ · Wakulla County access directory ↗ · Taylor County access directory ↗ · Dixie County access directory ↗ · Levy County access directory ↗ · Citrus County access directory ↗ · Hernando County access directory ↗ · Pinellas County access directory ↗ · Hillsborough County access directory ↗ · Manatee County access directory ↗ · Sarasota County access directory ↗ · Charlotte County access directory ↗ · Lee County access directory ↗ · Collier County access directory ↗ · Monroe County access directory ↗ · Miami-Dade County access directory ↗ · Broward County access directory ↗ · Palm Beach County access directory ↗ · Martin County access directory ↗ · Fernandina Beach city access directory ↗ · Atlantic Beach access directory ↗ · Neptune Beach access directory ↗ · Jacksonville Beach access directory ↗

PLAN BY INTEREST

Find the right Florida beach

All published Florida counties

Browse Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.