Haulover Beach Park

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.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

How is Haulover different from South Beach?

Haulover is a county park north of Miami Beach proper, so it feels far more local and low-key than South Beach's scene. There's no Ocean Drive strip, no clubs, no pastel Art Deco backdrop, just a big natural beach, tunnels under Collins, and a working marina. Locals come here precisely to escape the tourist crowds and paid beachfront of South Beach.

What amenities are at the park besides the beach?

Quite a lot for a beach park: a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, a dog park, two marinas (Bill Bird Marina and Haulover Marine Center), picnic areas with tables and grills, and beach chair, umbrella and beach-wheelchair rentals. There are food and beverage concessions right on the sand, plus showers and restrooms, but no sit-down restaurants on the beach itself.

What's the deal with kite flying here?

Haulover's wide open lawns and steady ocean breeze make it one of the best kite-flying spots in South Florida. There's an on-site kite shop, Skyward Kites, selling kites, windsocks and spinners, and it hosts free kite events including the annual Kiteober Festival each October. On a windy weekend you'll see dozens of kites over the north end of the park.

Is Haulover good for families with kids?

Yes, if you stick to the southern, swimsuit portion of the beach. The wide sand, picnic shelters with grills, lifeguards and the kite scene make it a solid family day. Just be aware the northern third is clothing-optional, so keep your setup south of tower #12 if you'd rather not be near it.

Is Haulover Beach really clothing-optional, and where exactly?

Yes. The clothing-optional section is the northern third of the beach, roughly between lifeguard towers #12 and #16. It's widely considered the largest legal nude beach in the United States, and it's family-oriented and staffed by trained volunteers who explain beach etiquette. The rest of the beach, south of tower #12, is a normal swimsuit beach, so you can easily avoid the nude section if you prefer.

Is the water good for swimming, or is there seaweed?

The Atlantic here is open ocean, so conditions vary. On calm days it's beautiful for swimming, but surf can pick up and, like much of South Florida, the beach sometimes gets sargassum seaweed washing ashore, especially in late spring and summer. Lifeguards staff the beach and post flag warnings, so check the flags before going in.

How much does it cost to get in and park?

Beach and park entry is free. Parking is where you'll pay: roughly $7 for cars on weekdays and $10 on Fridays through Sundays and holidays, plus tax, with higher rates for boat trailers and RVs. Lots fill up on sunny weekends, so arrive before late morning.

How do I cross Collins Avenue to reach the beach?

The parking lots sit on the west side of Collins Avenue, and the beach is on the east side. You reach the sand through pedestrian tunnels that run under the highway, most commonly tunnels #4 and #5. It's the safe way across a busy six-lane road, so look for the tunnel signs rather than trying to cross at street level.

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