Best LGBTQ Beaches in Florida

Located in the city of Hollywood, Hollywood Beach is a large beach with white sand. This beach is situated in a neighborhood which is also called Hollywood Beach. High-rise oceanfront buildings and tropical vegetation are also present near this beach. A grassy recreational park named Hollywood North Beach Park is present in the beach’s northern part. In addition, a two-and-a-half miles long promenade named Hollywood Beach Boardwalk is also present near the beach. The beach’s hip yet pleasant atmosphere has been praised by New Times Broward-Palm Beach which has labeled it as one of the best beaches in Broward County. In addition, the beach’s family-friendly nature has also been praised by the Fodor’s Travel Guide. 

Home to the famous Daytona International Speedway and Motorsports Hall of Fame, Daytona Beach isn't limited by its racing tracks. Above all else, it's a tropical playground and a stunning beach.

Located less than an hour from Orlando, Daytona Beach is easily accessible. Although it can get crowded during the summer and NASCAR races, park on the beach’s side streets to dodge the traffic and congestion. Once you’re at Daytona however, you’ll find that it is truly worth it. With 23 miles of pristine beachfront, it’s the epitome of tropical paradise. With vibrant turquoise waters, glistening golden sand, vibrant sunsets, and sky-scraping palm trees, Daytona Beach looks like it belongs on a postcard. It’s the perfect place to lounge on the sand, tan, and bask in incredible views of the Atlantic.

While Daytona’s a great beach for lounging, it’s also an ideal place for adventurers. Temperate waters during low tide make the beach ideal for snorkeling, swimming, paddle boarding, fishing, and kayaking. And with large waves during high tide, it’s perfect for surfers and boogie boarders looking to catch only the Atlantic’s most exhilarating waves.

For beachgoers seeking a change of pace after a day of fun in the sun, Daytona Beach has plenty to do. Looking for a day of shopping? Visit the Tanger Outlets Daytona, a local outlet mall offering incredible deals on coveted brands such as Hugo Boss, Armani, Coach, Joie, Rag & Bone, Lululemon, Michael Kors, Theory, Tory Burch, True Religion, Vince, Polo Ralph Lauren, Adidas, and Nike. Prefer a nourishing spa day? Visit Ocean Waters Spa, a well-reviewed local spa known for its excellent facials, manicures, pedicures, and massages.

At Daytona Beach, hungry beachgoers are in luck. With a number of top-notch local restaurants offering unique dining experiences, Daytona is the perfect place to grab a bite. For authentic old-school Italian comfort food, visit Don Vito’s Italian Restaurant, a family-run local spot loved by locals for its eggplant parmigiana, lasagna, and stromboli. Prefer a romantic and adventurous night of fine dining? Dine at The Cellar, an upscale chef-driven hotspot known for its homemade pastas and excellent osso buco. For beachgoers spending the night in Daytona, the Plaza Resort and Spa and the Holiday Inn Daytona Beach on the Ocean offer guests spacious oceanfront rooms and excellent service.

Located to the north of St. Augustine, Vilano Beach is a large beach with brown sand. This beach is situated in a town (also named Vilano Beach) and has a backdrop of oceanfront residential houses. A pier named Vilano Beach fishing pier is also present near this beach. 

Located in the city of Delray Beach, Delray Municipal Beach - also known as Delray Public Beach and Delray Beach Municipal Beach - is a popular large and clean white-sand beach with nearby palm trees. Many kinds of plants are also present around Delray Municipal Beach including beach stars, necklace pods, and sea grapes. Delray Municipal Beach was named the 22nd Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” This one-and-a-half-mile-long beach was listed by Travel Holiday magazine as one of the top beaches in the South-eastern United States. 

Located along Florida’s central coastline, Clearwater Beach is an immensely popular beach that has soft white sand. This wide beach is situated in Pinellas County and spans over two-and-a-half miles. Clearwater Beach’s reputation as one of the United States’ premier beach destinations is not simply a tall claim - the beach has received many accolades from travel websites and media publications. The beach has been named the 5th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach" - and was also featured by Tripadvisor’s Travellers Choice awards in 2016, 2018, and 2019. USA Today also listed Clearwater Beach as the "best beach town in Florida" in 2013. A 1,000 feet-long concrete pier named Pier 60 is also present in Clearwater Beach

Located in the community of Ruskin in Hillsborough County, Bahia Beach is a small white sand beach. The beach is part of the Bahia Beach Nature Reserve along the shores of Tampa Bay and has a beautiful background of a marina, shops, a few hotels, a restaurant, and a nearby park.

We’ve all heard of Miami’s South Beach. Featured heavily in iconic films such as Scarface, Miami Vice, Baywatch, Goldfinger, and Ride Along, it’s one of the world’s most famed and instantly recognizable beaches. With its iconic Ocean Drive, renowned restaurants, luxury shopping, opulent hotels and resorts, and bustling nightclubs, South Beach is possibly the world’s most popular beach destination. Additionally, Miami Beach – South was named theBest Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.”

When you arrive at South Beach, you’ll immediately notice the beach’s incredible views. From the sand, beachgoers marvel at Miami Beach’s skyline. With its art-deco architecture, dramatic modern high-rises, and sky-scraping palm trees, the skyline is arguably South Florida’s most iconic sight.

Once you walk onto South Beach’s glistening golden sand, you’ll see that South Beach is more than just a tourist destination. It’s a naturally stunning beach in its own right. With vibrant turquoise water and glistening golden, it’s the perfect place to lounge and enjoy nature while just steps from the big city. While you’re there, be sure to catch South Beach’s vibrant sunsets, which peak at around 7 pm.

Located in the southeastern part of the island-city of Key West, Smathers Beach is a popular half-mile long narrow beach with white sand and rocky jetties.  This beach is one of the largest beaches in Key West – it was listed as one of the six best beaches in Key West by Southern Living magazine and it was also listed as one of the best beaches in Key West by Travel+Leisure magazine.

Sebastian Beach is one of the most popular beaches for gay beachgoers and recently named the “Hottest U.S. Gay Beach” by Out Traveler. Located across the Ritz Carlton and at the corner of Sebastian Street and A1A, Sebastian Street Beach is often frequented by gay men and is surrounded by guesthouses. Beachgoers rave about how clean the water and sand is. The waves aren’t calm, but the water is warm enough to enjoy a swim. There are lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent, and the presence of lifeguards makes for a relaxing atmosphere.