15 Best Family Beaches in Florida

Vero Beach

The town of Vero Beach is ideal for a family vacation where you can stay at an oceanfront hotel, park the car for the week, and use bikes or your own two feet to get around. Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa is steps from the sand and wraps perks like beach cruiser bikes, stand-up paddleboards, and sea kayaks into the resort fee. Step out of the front lobby and you'll be within a five-minute walk of oceanfront restaurants like Waldo’s Restaurant, Mulligan’s Beach House, and The Lemon Tree. This stretch of Florida is called the Treasure Coast because Spanish galleons spilled their loot here during a hurricane in 1715. You can see items salvaged from that shipwreck just north of Vero Beach at the McLarty Treasure Museum.

Panama City Beach

Sunset dolphin cruises on the Gulf of Mexico, tours to undeveloped Shell Island just offshore, and 27 miles of glorious white sand make Panama City Beach a perennial Florida favorite. Families with young kids appreciate that the waters are usually as calm as a lake's — great for splashing in the shallows. The pristine beach at St. Andrews State Park is the perfect spot to play castaway. And for a more entertainment-oriented scene, check out the stores, restaurants, and IMAX movie theater at Pier Park.

Longboat Key

Northwest of downtown Sarasota, on Florida’s gorgeous Gulf Coast, this mostly residential beach town has some of the most beautiful and calmest stretches of coast in the state. Families love condominium-style properties like Sand Cay Beach Resort that make it easy to settle in and stay awhile with full kitchens and Gulf-front barbecue areas. For a break from the beach, take the family out to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, a roughly 20-minute drive, to see manatees and sea turtles.

Cocoa Beach

Rocket launches at nearby Cape Canaveral, nesting sea turtles at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and surf lessons on the same beaches where world champion Kelly Slater grew up are just a few reasons to visit Cocoa Beach. Kids love the talking African parrot at Beach Place Guesthouses, where apartment-style accommodations await along one of Florida’s most beautiful beachfronts.

Amelia Island

Active families will find lots to love on Amelia Island, the state's northernmost coastal community. Just north of Jacksonville, it has 23 miles of dedicated cycling lanes to explore, and renting a bike is a great way to hit the remote beaches of Fort Clinch State Park and cute downtown Fernandina Beach, with its restaurants and boutiques. Accommodation options span the luxe oceanfront Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island to SpringHill Suites Amelia Island, which is in a great location near the state park.

Pensacola Beach

Located on the barrier island of Santa Rosa, this beach town lies within the longest federally protected seashore in the country. On one side of the island, you get the Gulf of Mexico, and on the other, you get the shallow waters of a cove. One stretch facing Santa Rosa Sound has even been named Quietwater Beach because it's so calm — perfect for kids and timid swimmers. Families have good things to say about The Pensacola Beach Resort, which will arrange dolphin tours, kayaking and paddleboarding excursions, and snorkeling for guests.

Key Biscayne

Aerial shot of coast line with lighthouse on Bill Baggs Cape State Park — Jamie Ditaranto/Travel + Leisure

The Miami Beach fray can feel a bit frantic for some families. If you’re looking for mellower beaches and activities within easy striking distance of downtown Miami and Brickell, Key Biscayne is just across the causeway. Among the great family beaches here is the long, undeveloped stretch at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, where you can traipse the 109 steps up to the top of a historic lighthouse that dates to 1825. The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami fronts a lovely beach and has a Ritz Kids program that includes activities like water park days. It’s worth venturing offshore into Biscayne National Park, too, for snorkeling excursions and family-friendly boat trips into Biscayne Bay.

St. Pete Beach

St. Pete offers a classic beach vacation paired with city attractions. Stay right on the Gulf of Mexico at The Don CeSar, where you can take advantage of the hotel’s free bikes and two Gulf-front pools when you’re not building castles in the powdery white sand. Towel off to explore nearby downtown St. Petersburg, too, where the St. Pete Pier beckons with a bay beach, an ocean-themed playground, and a rooftop tiki bar and restaurant with beautiful views of the city.

Naples

One of Florida’s most storied and upscale Gulf towns also happens to be a wonderful family beach destination. Clam Pass Park offers picturesque scenery, calm waters, and a fun, complimentary tram ride from the parking lot to the sand. In North Naples, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort fronts one of the city's prettiest beaches, Vanderbilt, and has appealing family amenities like pools and sandcastle-building toys for playtime. When you're ready to explore, visit the Naples Lionel Train Museum, historic Naples Pier, and Naples Zoo, or make the drive south to Everglades National Park.

New Smyrna Beach

A throwback to old-school Florida, this East Coast town is a little over an hour’s drive from Orlando’s theme park attractions. New Smyrna Beach caters to families with small-town vibes and long, wide beaches that are easy to pedal a bike along thanks to the packed sand. There are plenty of hotels, condos, and vacation rentals along the beach itself, but for something different, stay at Black Dolphin Inn, a charming bed-and-breakfast tucked into an oak-lined neighborhood along the Indian River. Off-the-beach family activities include airboat tours along the St. Johns River and pontoon excursions with the Marine Discovery Center to spot manatees and dolphins.

St. Augustine Beach

Vacation Beach Houses in St. Augustine, Florida — Michael Warren/Getty Images

Founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers, St. Augustine is a family destination with history down every street and fabulous beaches to boot. The past comes to life as you explore downtown and the majestic fort, Castillo de San Marcos. When beach time calls, St. Augustine Beach offers waves that stay gentle most of the year — perfect for beginner surfers. Ocean Hammock Park is also worth visiting, with its playground and boardwalks crisscrossing scenic wetlands.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Paradise beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Park, Florida — Simon Dannhauer/Getty Images

While there aren’t many true beaches on the coral-rock island chain that is the Florida Keys, one of the best for families is at the end of Highway 1 in Key West at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Pack a picnic and your snorkeling gear to make the most of the region's best swimming beach, where you can always find a shady spot to lay out your towel under a tree. Nearby, the free Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is a perfect family stop to learn more about local wildlife.

Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Waves on beach on Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Florida — bentrussell/Getty Images

In the panhandle, Destin-Fort Walton Beach provides shallow, Caribbean-blue waters and sugar-fine sand. It's easy to do nothing but soak up the sun all day long, especially when you have everything you need at your hotel. Make the luxurious Henderson Beach Resort your base, making sure to reserve a beach chair. When you're ready to explore, take one of the complimentary beach cruisers out for a ride.

Hutchinson Island

One of the only places in Florida where you can go horseback riding on the beach, Hutchinson Island promises a mix of family fun along the Atlantic Coast of St. Lucie County. Stay right next to the ocean at the Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa to maximize sun and surf. It’s worth driving slightly north to visit downtown Fort Pierce’s restaurants, shops, and excellent farmers market, which is held every Saturday right along the Indian River.

Fort Lauderdale

Its reputation as a spring break and yachting paradise notwithstanding, Fort Lauderdale also attracts families with its 24 miles of beach and scenic riverfront neighborhoods. The boutique Pelican Grand Beach Resort fronts a private beach and has a lazy river and pool kids won’t want to get out of. When you do towel off, hop aboard the Water Taxi to cruise past the mansions and yachts lining the Intracoastal Waterway, or stroll Las Olas Boulevard’s ice cream shops, boutiques, and atmospheric cafes.