Chastain Beach

Located near the city of Stuart, Chastain Beach - also known as Surfer’s Beach and "The Rocks" - is a scenic white-sand beach with some rocky portions. This beach is situated on an island named South Hutchinson Island in Martin County. This beach has a wonderful background of oceanfront homes. Many kinds of coastal tropical vegetation are present near this beach including sea grapes and palm trees. Chastain Beach has lifeguards on a seasonal basis. The beach and the area around it have many other amenities including restrooms, showers, and a boardwalk. Dogs on leash are allowed in Chastain Beach. Getting to Chastain Beach is easy - the beach is present near 1213 SouthEast MacArthur Boulevard, which is easily accessible from Florida State Road A1A and where two free parking lots are available. However, we recommend visiting this beach early as the parking lots here can fill up quickly. 

Chastain Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, fishing, swimming, tidepooling, snorkelling, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, bodyboarding, bodysurfing, skimboarding, kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, water-skiing, parasailing, and boating. The water near Chastain Beach occasionally offers fun surfing waves. Snorkelers also enter the water near this beach in order to explore its beautiful marine landscape and biodiversity. Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including dolphins, sea turtles, and a large variety of fish. However, if you are planning to enter the water near Chastain Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable and dangerous rip currents. The water here is also home to Portuguese-Man-of-War jellyfish which have a very painful sting and which is more prevalent during winters, as well as dangerous sharks (generally between January and March). Sea turtles also use Chastain Beach as a nesting spot usually between March and November 15. If you like birdwatching, you can also view many kinds of birds around Chastain Beach including pelicans, warblers, and terns. Chastain Beach is a popular spot for beachcombing and you can find a vibrant array of beautiful shells here. If you are planning to fish in the water near Chastain Beach, please make sure that you follow the local surfing regulations.

There are many attractions near Chastain Beach. House of Refuge Museum is set in a late 19th century building which was initially built to provide accommodation to stranded sailors - this house is a part of the United States’ National Register of Historic Places. The House of Refuge Museum now primarily showcases the evolution of naval life-saving equipment over the span of time. Shepard Park is a beautifully landscaped waterfront park which offers many amenities including benches, boat launching areas, barbecue grills, drinking water fountains, a fishing dock, a pavilion, picnic tables, a playground, restrooms, walkways, and a boardwalk. If you are looking for another attraction near Chastain Beach, the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center is a 57-acre center which is home to 4,300 species of plants and animals. The center also offers a 750,000-gallon Game Fish Lagoon, a touch tank, multiple nature trails, and informative educational programs.

There are many attractions near Chastain Beach. House of Refuge Museum is set in a late 19th century building which was initially built to provide accommodation to stranded sailors - this house is a part of the United States’ National Register of Historic Places. The House of Refuge Museum now primarily showcases the evolution of naval life-saving equipment over the span of time. Shepard Park is a beautifully landscaped waterfront park which offers many amenities including benches, boat launching areas, barbecue grills, drinking water fountains, a fishing dock, a pavilion, picnic tables, a playground, restrooms, walkways, and a boardwalk. If you are looking for another attraction near Chastain Beach, the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center is a 57-acre center which is home to 4,300 species of plants and animals. The center also offers a 750,000-gallon Game Fish Lagoon, a touch tank, multiple nature trails, and informative educational programs.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Chastain Beach within a 20-minute drive. District Table and Bar serves amazing gourmet dishes exhibiting Southern United States-style culinary influences.  Fresh Catch Seafood Grill is primarily known for serving fresh and delicious seafood and it also serves excellent chicken dishes, steaks, pastas, sandwiches, tacos, salads, and wraps. In addition, the restaurant also offers live music performances. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Chastain Beach, Aunt D’s Diner serves excellent dishes for breakfast and lunch including eggs, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and soups.

If you are looking for a hotel near Chastain Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Marriott Hutchinson Island Beach Resort, Golf & Marina offers many amenities including three pools, an exercise room, an 18-hole golf course, an American restaurant, and multiple tiki bars. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Hampton Inn & Suites Stuart-North which is a 20-minute drive away and offers many amenities including a pool, a fitness center, complimentary breakfast, and weekday breakfast bags to go. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Chastain Beach, the 2-Star Comfort Suites Stuart-Hutchinson Island offers many amenities including a gym, a pool, and complimentary breakfast.