Warm water, soft sand, plenty of sunshine—Florida’s definitely an ideal destination for a family beach vacation. And with miles and miles of coastline, there are plenty of places where you can spread out your towel and splash in the surf. As a Florida-based mom and frequent traveler around the Sunshine State, I’ve spent time on beaches all over the state, often with my daughter in tow. From secluded state parks to action-packed stretches of sand, there’s a beach for every age, interest, mood, and style. Here are my picks for the most family-friendly beaches in Florida.
1. Siesta Beach
Sarasota, Florida
Am I slightly biased because this is one of my local beaches? Maybe, but don’t just take my word for it. Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman has twice named Siesta Beach the “best beach in America,” and it’s easy to see why. Located on Siesta Key near downtown Sarasota on the state’s west coast, this kid-friendly beach has a wide expanse of soft, powdery white, quartz-crystal sand that somehow doesn’t get hot in the Florida sun. The water’s usually pretty calm here, there are lifeguards keeping watch, and everything you could possibly need is nearby, including restrooms, places to rent beach gear, and options for food and drinks.
Where to stay near Siesta Beach, Florida
At The Residences on Siesta Key Beach, two-, three-, and four-bedroom condo-style accommodations feature kitchens, washers and dryers, and lots of room for the whole family to spread out. A beachfront pool offers a sand-free swimming option, and the on-site fitness center makes it easy to squeeze in a workout.
2. Anastasia State Park Beach
St. Augustine, Florida
You’ll find four miles of white quartz sand beach at Anastasia State Park in historic St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the United States. Lifeguards monitor a designated swimming area from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and other amenities that rank this among the best beaches for families in Florida include covered picnic pavilions, restrooms, The Island Beach Shop and Grill, and free beach wheelchairs upon request. Animal lovers should keep an eye out for gopher tortoises, dolphins, and all kinds of birds (the park is located on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail).
Where to stay near Anastasia State Park Beach, Florida
Anastasia State Park’s 139 campsites offer a scenic and convenient spot for pitching a tent by the beach. If that’s not your speed, try the Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort, which offers one- and two-room suites (some with balconies and ocean views) and amenities like a large outdoor pool, free breakfast and evening reception, and a lobby bar specializing in rum-based drinks.
3. Red Reef Park
Boca Raton, Florida
In Boca Raton, the 40-acre oceanfront Red Reef Park has all of the most important amenities to make it one of the best family beaches in Florida, including year-round lifeguards, picnic and barbecue areas, public restrooms, and even a playground. It’s also home to a recreational snorkeling reef, a waterfront nine-hole golf course, and walking trails. The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is located inside the park as well, and the whole family can add to a day at the beach with a visit to its Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility and outdoor aquariums representing different Southeast Florida marine habitats.
Where to stay near Red Reef Park, Florida
Turn your Florida beach vacation into a sophisticated getaway at Beach Club at The Boca Raton, where you can enjoy a private stretch of beach with food and beverage service, three pools, a fleet of bicycles, a beachside fitness center, and water taxi service. The 212 guest rooms and suites feature coastal-meets-modern decor and complimentary mini bars and snacks in the rooms.
4. Clearwater Beach
Clearwater, Florida
A perennial favorite for family beach vacations in Florida, Clearwater Beach draws legions of visitors each year to its sugary white sand and clear shallow waters. Lifeguards watch over this stretch of the Gulf of Mexico, and family-friendly amenities include a playground, volleyball nets, and restrooms. There are lots of restaurants and shops within easy walking distance, and the free, year-round Sunsets at Pier 60 celebration begins two hours before sunset each night and features artisans and street performers. Given the beach’s immense popularity, it’s smart to plan your parking strategy in advance and secure your spot on the early side.
Where to stay near Clearwater Beach, Florida
Book one of the 253 guest rooms and suites at Sandpearl Resort and enjoy access to a 700-foot stretch of private beach, where you can rent a cabana and get food and beverage service from the hotel’s Tate Island Grill. Send the little ones to the kids club for nature walks and arts and crafts, then book a treatment at the Spa at Sandpearl for yourself.
5. Deerfield Beach
Deerfield Beach, Florida
Located on Florida’s East Coast, Deerfield Beach has been certified a “Blue Wave” beach by the Clean Beaches Coalition, which means it’s met certain criteria for excellence in areas like water quality and beach conditions. It’s not only a nice place to swim but it’s also a safe Florida beach destination for families, with lifeguards monitoring a one-mile stretch every day of the year. Surfing is allowed on the north side of the the International Fishing Pier (which is currently undergoing renovations), and if you’ve never ridden the waves before, Island Water Sports holds free Saturday morning surf lessons on the beach (and also offers private and group surfing, paddleboarding, and skimboarding lessons).
Where to stay near Deerfield Beach, Florida
Located right across the street from the beach and fishing pier, the pet-friendly Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort offers 172 modern guest rooms and suites, some with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the ocean. When you’re not on the sand, you can head to the hotel’s fitness center or heated pool, or walk to the many nearby shops and restaurants.
6. Hollywood Beach
Hollywood, Florida
Want a lot of options for your day at the beach? Head to Hollywood Beach, which sits between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Yes, there’s a very pretty swath of sand leading to the Atlantic Ocean, where lifeguards keep watch every day of the year. But there’s so much more to do here, and you can access it all by heading out on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. This paved brick pathway travels along the shore past an array of beachfront shops and restaurants and spots like Charnow Park, where you’ll find playgrounds and a splash fountain for the kids. You can rent bikes for pedaling the Broadwalk or visit one of the self-service PADL kiosks to rent paddleboards for some family time out on the water.
Where to stay near Hollywood Beach, Florida
With a prime location right on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk and the laidback vibe for which the brand is known, the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is a great pick for families. Amenities include two beachfront pools, a waterslide, a FlowRider Double surfing simulator, and places where you can enjoy a cheeseburger in paradise or margarita.
7. Cocoa Beach Pier
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Tweens and teens will love the beach scene at legendary surf spot Cocoa Beach Pier in Cocoa Beach, the closest Florida beach town to all the best Orlando theme parks. Grab a spot on the sand to watch experienced shredders at what’s considered the “East Coast Surfing Capital,” or book a private or semi-private surf lesson to try hanging ten yourself. This isn’t necessarily a relax-on-the-sand kind of beach, but families with older kids will find lots of activity and good people watching. Like most of the best family beaches in Florida, Cocoa Beach has year-round lifeguards, showers, and beach volleyball courts. Its namesake pier is lined with shops and restaurants and extends 800 feet into the Atlantic.
Where to stay near Cocoa Beach Pier, Florida
The oceanfront Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort has loads of two-bedroom suites with full kitchens, two bathrooms, and easy access to the beach. But you don’t even need to go down to the sand to cool off thanks to the hotel’s Wakulla Water Play Experience with a pool, splash pad, and lazy river.
8. Crandon Park Beach
Key Biscayne, Florida
A two-mile stretch of soft white sand in Key Biscayne, family-friendly Crandon Park Beach consistently earns praise for its beauty and calm waters thanks to an offshore sandbar. (Lifeguards are on hand just in case, of course.) The beach offers plenty of parking and a wide range of amenities that put it among the best family beaches in Florida, including concession stands, picnic areas with grills, cabana rentals, beach wheelchairs, and kiteboard equipment rentals and lessons. There’s a whole lot to explore here beyond the beach, too, like the Crandon Park Amusement Center with its restored carousel and outdoor roller rink.
Where to stay near Crandon Park Beach, Florida
Many of the rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami have private full- or half-balconies with views of the Atlantic Ocean or Biscayne Bay. Kids will love the hotel’s 1,200-foot stretch of beach and zero-entry pool, while grownups can serve and volley at the largest Ritz-Carlton tennis center or book a treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Spa.
9. Clam Pass Park Beach
Naples, Florida
A boardwalk travels through a mangrove forest down to the beach at the popular Clam Pass Park on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Amenities include public restrooms, a snack bar, and a beach concession that rents chairs, cabanas, canoes, and kayaks. (Loaner lifejackets and a beach wheelchair are also available.) There are no lifeguards here, but the City of Naples’s Beach Patrol monitors area beaches daily and assists with any medical emergencies that arise. Clam Pass Park’s 35 acres of coastal habitat is a great place to spot birds, butterflies, and a variety of marine life, and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida offers guided nature walks Monday through Saturday from December to April.
Where to stay near Clam Pass Park Beach, Florida
Stay in style at Naples Grande Beach Resort, situated on 23 acres with access to three miles of beach. The whole family will find ways to have fun here, with a list of amenities that includes three pools (one with a waterslide), complimentary bicycles, an 18-hole golf course, 15 tennis courts, a luxe spa, and multiple restaurants and bars.
10. Manatee Public Beach
Anna Maria Island, Florida
Start your Manatee Public Beach day at Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe with an order of all-you-can-eat pancakes. This is also the spot on Anna Maria Island where you can rent chairs and umbrellas; find beach restrooms, showers, and changing areas; and pick up T-shirts, towels, and other necessities at the gift shop. Lifeguards are on duty watching over the Gulf Coast shoreline, and a playground and volleyball courts offer alternatives to swimming. End the day back at the cafe area with an ice cream cone or drink at the Bamboo Beach Bar.
Where to stay near Manatee Public Beach, Florida
Each of the 31 guest rooms at Anna Maria Beach Resort features private balconies or patios and kitchenettes or full kitchens. The beachfront property also offers amenities like complimentary beach set-ups, a pool with cabanas available for rent, a firepit, grills, and outdoor games for plenty of Florida beach vacation fun.
11. Fort De Soto Park
Tierra Verde, Florida
The three miles of beach at Fort De Soto Park on the west central coast of Florida have earned well-deserved “best beach” honors from both Tripadvisor and “Dr. Beach” in years past. Start with the scenic setting among five interconnected islands, then add in amenities like a playground, picnic shelters, fishing piers, and canoe and kayak rentals, and you easily get one of the best family beaches in Florida. There’s even a special dog-friendly area where the family pup can go for a swim, and you can also explore the park’s namesake Spanish-American War-era fort. The only drawback? There are no lifeguards on duty at the park.
Where to stay near Fort De Soto Park, Florida
The park includes a 236-site family camping area with special spots for camping with pets and amenities like grills, washers and dryers, modern restrooms and showers, and a campground store. Or go for a traditional hotel stay at Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde, which offers apartment-inspired hotel suites with full-size kitchens, free daily breakfast, and an outdoor pool.
12. Grayton Beach State Park
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
The 2,000-acre Grayton Beach State Park on the Florida Panhandle includes a mile of beach with sugar white sand and emerald-hued water ideal for swimming and surf fishing. There are no lifeguards here, but the park does offer family-friendly amenities like picnic pavilions, restrooms, and a beach wheelchair that can be reserved. You can also explore a one-mile nature trail near the beach or paddle the park’s 100-acre coastal dune lake, a geographical feature found only in a few other places in the world. (Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the park.)
Where to stay near Grayton Beach State Park, Florida
Book one of the 30 two-bedroom, one-bath duplex cabins at the park (they have central heating and cooling, kitchens, and screened-in porches) and you’ll be just minutes from the beach. Or stay at the well-situated WaterColor Inn and Resort, where most guest rooms and suites overlook the Gulf and amenities include multiple pools, a lazy river, beach bonfire service, and access to bike, kayak, and paddleboard rentals.
13. Russell-Fields City Pier and Beach
Panama City Beach, Florida
Everyone in your family will find something to love about Russell-Fields City Pier and Beach on the Florida Panhandle. That includes your four-legged critters, who can enjoy the Dog Beach on the west side of the City Pier (dogs must be leashed). The whole area is known for its white sand and emerald Gulf waters, and there’s also beach volleyball courts, restrooms and showers, and lifeguards on duty from April through Labor Day weekend. Head out onto the 1,500-foot pier for some fishing or wildlife spotting, or walk across the street to Pier Park for lunch or a little shopping to get out of the sun.
Where to stay near Russell-Fields City Pier and Beach, Florida
Families have lots of room to spread out at SpringHill Suites Panama City Beach Beachfront, where some suites include bunk beds and all make it easy to get out on the sand. A free breakfast buffet is served daily, the outdoor pool overlooks the Gulf, and on-site dining options include a poolside bar and grill and ice cream and coffee shop.
14. Stuart Beach
Stuart, Florida
The entire family can enjoy Stuart Beach, where there are lifeguards on duty all day long. And when the kids need a break from the beautiful beach, there’s volleyball and basketball courts to keep them entertained. Pack a lunch to enjoy at a covered picnic table or grab something to eat or drink at the Seaside Café. Beach chairs, umbrellas, and other beach essentials are also available for rent to make your day on the sand more comfortable. After lunch, head just across the street to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center to learn more about stingrays, sea turtles, and other creatures you might have seen swimming by.
Where to stay near Stuart Beach, Florida
There are two ways to stay at Marriott Hutchinson Island Beach Resort. Opt for the condo-style suites at the Beachfront Tower to be close to the waves, or choose the main hotel for proximity to the resort’s three pools, golf course, and marina. Either way, you can’t really lose at this family-friendly Florida hotel that sits on 200 acres between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River.
