The 4 Best Beaches in Miami
Ranked by our editorial Friend Score and filterable to exactly what you want — every pick verified and sourced, the way a local friend would tell it.
- 1Crandon Park Beach7.9/10$
A two-mile crescent of soft sand on Key Biscayne where an offshore sandbar keeps the water calm, shallow, and warm — the Miami beach locals bring their kids to. Grills, cabanas, and 3,000-plus parking spots make it an easy full day. The honest caveat: weekend afternoons the lots fill and the picnic areas get crowded, so come early or aim for a weekday.
crandon parkkey biscayne beachfamily beach miamicalm water beachbest beach miamikid friendly beach“Families really enjoy the beaches here—the sand is soft, there are no riptides, there's a great view of the Atlantic, and parking is both inexpensive and plentiful.”— Fodor's Travel
- 2Haulover Beach Park7.8/10$
A 177-acre county park with 1.4 miles of wide, breezy Atlantic beach famous for kite flying and the largest legal clothing-optional beach in the U.S. (north end, between towers #12 and #16). Entry is free and it's genuinely local. The catch: parking costs $7 weekdays/$10 weekends, water can get seaweed and rough surf, and there are no boardwalk restaurants.
beachclothing optional beachnude beachkite flyingmiami beachdog park“North of Miami Beach, this soft, sandy stretch of the Atlantic is considered one of the best nude beaches in the world.”— Fodor's Travel
- 3$
A quietly moving stretch of Biscayne Bay shoreline that opened in 1945 as Miami's only beach for African Americans under segregation. Come for calm, shallow water ideal for little kids, an antique oceanside carousel, a mini train through the wetlands, and coastal hammock trails. Honest caveat: the swimming beach is small and can look mucky near the causeway, and there's usually no lifeguard.
virginia key beachhistoric beach miamicivil rights landmarkcalm water beachfamily beach miamiantique carousel“This historic park is home to pristine beaches and waterfront spaces, which have hosted a variety of music festivals and other local events.”— Time Out Miami
- 4free
The postcard: wide white-sand beach, turquoise water, pastel Art Deco hotels, and the neon strip of Ocean Drive. The beach itself is genuinely world-class and free. Ocean Drive's restaurants are a tourist gauntlet, though — $25 cocktails, hidden charges, aggressive hosts. Swim and people-watch here; eat literally anywhere else. Skip it and you haven't seen Miami.
south beachocean drivemiami beachwhite sand beachswimmingsunbathing“A sparkling confection of sunshine, style and beautiful people, South Beach embodies the good life.”— Lonely Planet
