Enjoy our list of some best budget friendly & free beaches in Florida! Listed below are a variety of beaches – both on the west and east coast. Most will also include a brief description of the beach to help you determine if it’s a good fit.
At the top under the table of contents is an interactive map of ALL the best budget friendly and free in Florida. All of these locations are under $10. Be aware that if the trail is in a state park, it likely has an entrance fee of between $5-$10 dollars. Some locations may require an early start to get parking on the weekends, so please check with each municipality about parking considerations. The table of contents below will link you to different areas of Florida – use this!
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Map of Best Budget Friendly & Free Beaches in Florida
Panhandle
Visit the panhandle for white sandy beach and calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Below are some of the beach beaches in the area.
- Perdido Key Beach – The beach has white sands and clear blue waters. It is located on the barrier island of Perdido Key which extends for 15 miles. The very western tip is actually in Alabama.
- Hagen’s Cove Park – At Hagen’s Cove Park you can wade out along the beach to harvest your own scallops. Scallop season runs June – September, so you have a long season of scallop hunting.
- Pensacola Beach – Just east of Perdido Key is Pensacola Beach. Both Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach have the longest stretch of federally protected seashore in the US.
- St. Andrews State Park & Pier – A 1.5 mile long beach with white sand and emerald green waters which offers the perfect opportunity for fishing and swimming. The park is on a migratory path for multiple bird and butterfly species.
North Florida
The North Florida area includes Jacksonville, Lake City, Gainesville, and Ocala. In this area of Florida, you will mostly incur flat, long beaches with some waves.
Jacksonville
- Little and Big Talbot Island – These are some of the last remaining undeveloped and untouched barrier islands in Florida. They both have state parks on them and are known for their black rock beaches. You can hike, bike, or walk the Timucuan trail across both islands. At Big Talbot island you can take a trial down to Black Rock Beach.
- Jacksonville Beach – Known for its wide beaches, the sand is often compact enough that you can ride a bike along the beach for miles. The popular Jacksonville pier goes out 1300’ and therefore, is the perfect spot to throw a fishing line or see what the local fishermen are catching.
- Fort Clinch State Park – Enjoy a hike along the beach to view the Cumberland National Seashore, where you can sometimes spot wild horses. Also while you’re at the park explore the fort with its many rooms and see the cannons pointing across the river into Georgia.
- Black Rock Beach – This beach in Jacksonville contains unique and rare rock formations which create tide pools during low tide which are fun to explore. The beaches have gone through erosion over the years and some of the trees have fallen and died along the beach. Since the trees resemble skeletons the beach earned the nickname “boneyard beach”. Please note: The beach has a small parking lot and it is a half mile walk to the beach from the parking area.
Ponte Vedra & St. Augustine
- Ponte Vedra Beach – White sand beaches with a mix of luxury and recreation. You can also scour the beaches in search of shark teeth or bring your furry friend for a walk on the beach.
- St. Augustine Beach – If you have ever thought of driving on the beach right up to your favorite spot, you should check out Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach, and Crescent Beach. There are a total of 8 beach vehicle ramps that allow access onto the sand when conditions are right. Tide, sand and weather conditions play a factor to whether they are open or not.
Central Florida
In central Florida, you will find a variety of beaches on the east coast. The waters of the Atlantic are much rougher than the Gulf, so be prepared for waves in the fall and spring seasons, along with occasional heavy rip currents. In the summers, the waters are slightly calmer, allowing for more fishing, boogie boarding, and swimming.
Daytona Beach & Titusville Area
- Lighthouse Point Park – This park is located on the north shore of the Ponce De Leon inlet. It features elevated boardwalks, picnic shelters with BBQ grills, a small nature trail leading to an observation tower, fishing jetty and dog friendly swim beaches for your dog. The dog swim beaches are located on the inlet shoreline. It cost $10 for a day pass or $20 for an annual pass.
Melbourne & Vero Beach Area
- Sebastian Inlet State Park – It has a campground and boat launch on the south side of the inlet. On the north side, you can access a recreational swim area on the inlet which connects the Indian River and Atlantic Ocean. At low tide you can find all sorts of marine life in the swim area from fish, crabs and even dolphins if you’re lucky. It’s a great spot to spend the afternoon and have a BBQ or picnic. You can access the beach to relax, surf or do some beach fishing. There are 2 jetties (1 on the north side and 1 on the south side) which are very popular for fishing.
Ft. Piece, Stuart, & Port St. Lucie
- Fort Pierce Inlet State Park – South of the Sebastian Inlet you can find Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. It is located on the north side of the Fort Pierce Inlet and has a ½ mile long beach. It is a great recreational spot for families to spend the day or an afternoon. Popular activities include boating, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, beachcombing, sunbathing and bird watching. There is a reef located about 100 yards offshore from the beach.
- Bathtub Beach – Bathtub Beach is located in Stuart Florida. It’s popular because of its delicate reef system which protects the beach. The reef is a great place to snorkel or scuba dive and see all sorts of marine life.
- Ross Witham Beach – Also located in Stuart is this beach famous for its huge rock formations. This is one of the only ocean cliffs to be seen in the state of Florida. Also, the rocks give the coastline ledges and sea caves which are fun to explore. Just off the coast you can dive down and check out the George Valentine Shipwreck. There are no restrooms at this beach.
South Florida
Jupiter & West Palm
- Blowing Rocks – Enjoy snorkeling and swimming at this beach in Hobe Sound on Jupiter Island. It is known for its underwater passageways that filter water down to the beach and then back up into beautiful geysers. When the rocks are visible, they make great climbing structures.
- DuBois Park – This beach is a popular snorkeling spot due to the tide pools in the area. Parking can be limited on the weekends.
- Jupiter Beach Park – This inlet is a popular spot for snorkeling, fishing, boating and picnics, within view of the Jupiter Lighthouse and boats coming into the inlet.
Fort Lauderdale & Miami
- Key Biscayne – Famous for its boating and water sports, it has beautiful beaches, nature preserves and restaurants with great views. This island has 2 parks located on the island, 1 at each end. It is also home to the Cape Florida Lighthouse, the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade county.
- Virginia Key – North of Key Biscayne is the barrier island Virginia Key. You can stay for the day or rent a small cabin to extend your stay on the island. The island has a 4 mile bike trail, playground, picnic pavilions and even a vintage carousel you can ride for free on the weekends.
Florida Keys
- John Pennekamp State Park – The park contains two beaches: Cannon Beach & Far Beach. Cannon beach gest its name from the large cannon that sits on the beach. Also, it is the best beach to snorkel from. If you venture out about 100’ off shore you can snorkel an old spanish shipwreck with real cannons. Far Beach offers more shade than Cannon Beach and is a great spot for swimming and relaxing.
- Curry Hammock State Park – The park offers a campground which lets you camp along the beach and be right next to the water. Biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, kiteboarding and kayaking are popular activities at Curry Hammock. The park has 2 kayak trails that go around the island – paddle out far enough at low tide and you can hang out on an underwater sandbar! You can rent kayaks and paddleboards at the park so you don’t need to bring your own. It does not have strong currents so it’s great for families with small children. Curry Hammock is on a migration route so it’s a great spot to see hawks and osprey in the fall.
Gulf Coast
Enjoy scenic views on the Florida Gulf Coast with calm waters and great shelling opportunities. In the Gulf Coast section, we included Tampa, Bradenton, Venice, Ft. Myers, Naples, and everything in between.
Tampa Area & North of Tampa
- Fort Desoto Park – Desoto Park is made up of 5 offshore islands. You can visit the old fort and see the cannons pointing towards Tampa Bay. You can kayak and go explore between the islands on the paddling trail. This park has excellent fishing opportunities and has a fishing pier near the off-leash dog beach. You may also camp at the park so make sure to book in advance as it fills up quickly.
- Hunter Springs Park – Hunter Springs Park is located in Crystal River Florida along the Gulf Coast. It has a riverfront beach, playground for the kids, picnic areas and kayak/canoe launches. This is a great spot for swimming and snorkeling. If you’re lucky you may even see some manatees. There is a boardwalk that goes along the water where it’s common to see water birds.
- Treasure Island – This is a 3 mile stretch of beach and is known for being exceptionally wide. As you get to the edges of the beach it thins out some. It also has a trail which is great for biking, skateboarding, and dog walking.
- Caladesi Island State Park – This is one of Florida’s untouched beaches along the Gulf Coast and can only be accessed by ferry, private boat or kayak. The ferry departs from Honeymoon Island and takes about 20 minutes. If you like to kayak, you can paddle through a mangrove forest. However, if that’s not your style, take a walk down a nature trail to check out the Scharrer homestead located on the island.
- Honeymoon Island State Park – This beach sits right next to Caladesi Island State Park. In fact, the two used to be one barrier island but was split in two by a hurricane in 1921. The beach is 4 miles long and even has a 3 mile trail to hike and explore. This is the terminal for the ferry going to Caladesi Island.
Bradenton & Sarasota
- Longboat Key – Off the coast of Sarasota on the west coast of Florida is Longboat Key. It is a barrier island that is 12 miles long with white sand beaches. There are resorts, fine dining, an aquarium and even has 2 PGA approved golf courses on the island.
- Venice Beach – Located south of Sarasota, Venice has 14 miles of beaches. Venice is known as the shark tooth capital of the world for its fossilized shark teeth that are abundant along the beaches. Experts say the best place to find teeth is near the Venice jetty.
Ft. Myers & Naples Area
- Lovers Key State Park – This state park is located south of Fort Myers on a series of secluded barrier islands. It used to be only accessible by boat and was rumored only lovers would make the journey to the islands which gave way to the name “Lovers Island”. The beach on Lovers Key is 2.5 miles long of white sand beaches. You can kayak in the preserve, tan on the beaches, collect shells along the waterline or even walk, bike or run the 5 miles of multi-use trails.
Sanibel Island – Known as the seashell capital of the world. This barrier island stretches from east to west for 15 miles in length and is 5 miles at its widest point. It is also known for its quiet and clean beaches.
That’s a wrap for all the free best beaches in Florida. If you’re looking for more exciting things to do in Florida, head over to our page on the Florida Springs or the home page. As always, if you know of a great amazing beach that didn’t make the list, please feel free to get in touch!