Best Surf Beaches in Florida

Panama City Beach is a stunning vacation destination that combines tranquil, island paradise with bustling city life. A strip of skyscrapers sits along the golden sand, creating the paradoxical aesthetic that is unique to this Floridian beach. If you're looking for a beach with plenty of thrills and adventures, Panama City Beach is the destination for you.

This beach is the ultimate beach-palooza, with a myriad of watersports, including boating, fishing, parasailing, diving, and more. Take advantage of the opportunity to explore the turquoise waters of the Gulf Mexico by swimming with dolphins, deep-sea fishing on a charter boat, scuba diving through sunken ships and colorful reefs, and more. Scuba diving is especially popular among the artificial reefs of historic shipwrecks, including the Black Bart, World War II Liberty Ship, and Empire Mica. Further your underwater adventures with Panama City Dive Center, which offers diving lessons and the chance to become scuba-certified.

Jet-skiing on a Yamaha Waverunner is another popular beach activity. Enjoy your beach day by slicing through the bright blue waters at incredible speeds. Stand-up paddleboarding is another fun pastime on the beach or on nearby lagoons and rivers -- you can even fish or do yoga on your board! Parasailing is an adrenaline-filled experience above sparkling, blue coastline that many beachgoers go for during the summer months. At the end of the day, head to Saltwater Grill for amazing seafood and cocktails, or to Firefly for a romantic dinner under twinkling lights. It's clear that Panama City Beach is a legendary sandy paradise, complete with water activities, gorgeous views, and great food. Is Panama City Beach the beach for you? Come to Florida's northern coast yourself to find out.

Located near the city of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach is a large beach with pale cream sand. This beach is situated in a small city (also named St. Augustine Beach) on an island named Anastasia Island. 

Located in the city of Venice, Venice Public Beach is a one-mile-long, wide, and Blue Wave beach situated in front of Roberts Bay. Venice Public Beach has beautiful white sand and is an awesome destination for beachcombing for fossils such as shark teeth. The unique sail-styled pavilion at Venice Public Beach is a historic landmark that was built in 1964 making the beach very popular among tourists. Venice Public Beach is also a great spot for swimming, fishing, picnicking, and watching dolphins and shorebirds. 

Located just ten minutes south of Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach is one of South Florida’s most underrated beaches. Despite its stunning beauty and many unique activities, Deerfield Beach has stayed under the radar as a destination for beachgoers looking for a fun and laid back beach experience.

Above all else, Deerfield Beach is stunning. With its crystal clear baby blue water, long stretches of lush palm trees, scenic walking paths, smooth white sand, and picturesque rock structures, Deerfield is among South Florida’s most naturally beautiful beaches. Merely a ten-minute drive from both Boca Raton and Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach is easily accessible. And with its abundant street parking and garages, it’s convenient and perfect for a hassle-free beach day. When arriving at Deerfield, you’ll find that there are many ways for beachgoers to stay entertained. Looking for a restful beach day? Lounge with umbrellas and beach chairs and take in incredible views of the Atlantic. Prefer a beach day that’s more action-packed? Head to Quiet Waters Park, which offers campgrounds, fishing, a skate park, and the longest cable ski course in the world.

After you’ve had enough of the beach and want a change of pace, dine at one of Deerfield’s great local restaurants. To experience some of South Florida’s renowned Cuban food, head to Little Havana Restaurant, a local favorite known for its Cubanos, Havana-style chicken, and great steaks. For top-notch drinks and seafood, visit the Whale’s Rib, which is known for its freshly caught lobster, crab, and fish. And when the night is done, check-into the Embassy Suites by Hilton Deerfield Beach Resort or the Best Western Plus Deerfield Beach for spacious rooms and great service.

Located in the city of Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Rocks Beach is a two-and-seven-tenths-of-a-mile-long beach with white sand.  The city of Indian Rocks Beach was listed as one of the “Favorite Long-Weekend Destinations Of 2023” by the Southern Living magazine.

Naples Pier is a popular beach located in Naples, United States. The beach stretches for about 1,000 feet and has soft, white sand

Located near the Floridian city of St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach - also known as County Park Beach - is a large beach with soft white sand in Pinellas County. This beach is situated within a coastal city (also named St. Pete Beach) on a barrier island. St. Pete Beach was named as the best beach in the United States and the fifth best beach in the world by TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice awards in 2021 and was also named one of the 25 Best Beaches in the United States by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr Beach. In addition, the city of St. Pete Beach was also listed as one of the country’s top 10 beach towns by Parents magazine in 2013. 

Located along the Martin County shoreline, Hobe Sound Public Beach - also known as Hobe Sound Beach, Hobe Sound Public Beach Park, and Hobe Sound Martin County Beach Park - is a county-managed beach with white sand. Many kinds of plants are present near this beach including palm trees and beach grasses. 

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 Crescent Beach in South Florida, Crescent Beach is a large curve-shaped beach with white sand.  This beach was listed as one of the five best beaches of Florida by the media company Travel Noire and it was also listed as one of the five best beaches around St. Augustine by Lonely Planet.  This beach should not be confused with another Florida beach with a similar name – this beach is also known as Crescent Beach and it is located on a barrier island called Siesta Key in southeastern Florida.

Situated on Florida’s Space Coast an hour east of Orlando, Cocoa Beach is a tropical beach paradise that feels remote despite being accessible from the big city.

With lush trees and greenery, scenic walkways that lead to the beach’s thick white sand, and crystal clear water, Cocoa Beach is the quintessential Florida beach paradise. Getting there is a breeze, as the beach offers plentiful street parking. And once you arrive, you’ll find its amenities to be plentiful. Looking for a more restful beach day? Lounge on Cocoa Beach in comfort with chairs and picnic tables, and seek refuge from the sun with umbrellas. Prefer a day of adventure? Paddle-board, surf, snorkel, or swim in its crystal clear water. Hike through the beach’s nearby nature preserves, and explore stunning exotic wildlife and plants. Or grab your fishing rod and bait, and try to catch one of the Florida Space Coast’s many exotic fish.

Looking for a change of pace? For some top-notch fine dining and shopping, head to Cocoa Village, a revitalized riverside community with restaurants, galleries, local shops, and artist studios. Craving some authentic Southern Barbeque? Visit Cryderman’s Barbecue, a local favorite known for its mouthwatering brisket and excellent pork ribs. For some top-notch Thai grub, head to Thai Thai Cocoa Village, a local spot offering authentic Thai and Japanese cuisine with locally sourced beers and wines. Craving boba? Stop by Mima’s Cafe & Tea Bar and grab a refreshing milk tea or iced coffee. And for a day of learning and enrichment. visit the nearby Kennedy Space Center, where beachgoers can tour launch-pads, meet veteran astronauts, see giant rockets, interact with space simulators, and even view a rocket launch.

For beachgoers spending the night by Cocoa Beach, there are a number of excellent local hotels. At the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, experience top-tier service, luxurious and spacious rooms, and an incredible beachside location. Prefer a hotel offering unbeatable value? Check-in at the Best Western Cocoa Beach Hotel & Suites, an affordable hotel with spacious oceanfront suites.

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 in the city of Destin, Destin Beach is a beach with white sand.

Located along the Duval County shoreline, Jacksonville Beach - also known as Jax Beach - is a large beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated in a resort-city (also named Jacksonville Beach) near the city of Jacksonville. A quarter-of-a-mile long fishing pier named the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier is also present near this beach.