Best Beaches in the Florida Keys

Local Keys Guide rounds up the best beaches in the Florida Keys, from the man-made beach at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo to the three beaches inside Bahia Honda State Park near Big Pine Key. The Keys aren't known for long sandy shorelines the way mainland Florida is, these coral islands are edged more by mangroves than by beach, so the real sand is worth knowing by name and town. Here's our list, pulled straight from our places directory, grouped by where you'll find each one.

Best Beaches in Key Largo

Start in Key Largo, the Diving Capital of the World.

• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo. Best known for snorkeling and diving, but it also has two small, man-made beaches, Cannon Beach and Far Beach, for swimming and picnicking after a day on the reef.

Best Beaches in Tavernier

Just south in Tavernier, a quieter Upper Keys stop.

• Harry Harris Park, 50 E Beach Rd, Tavernier. A man-made beach with shallow, protected water that's a local favorite for young kids, with picnic pavilions and grills right on the sand.

Best Beaches in Islamorada

Islamorada has two worth the stop.

• Anne's Beach, 73141 US-1, Islamorada. A shallow, family-friendly beach with a 1,300-foot boardwalk through the mangroves, popular with kiteboarders for its steady wind.
• Founder's Park and Beach, 87000 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada. A shallow-water beach on Florida Bay inside a 45-acre community park, with tiki huts, picnic tables, and a sand volleyball court.

Best Beaches in Marathon

Marathon, the Heart of the Florida Keys, has the most sand on this list.

• Sombrero Beach, 271 Sombrero Beach Rd, Marathon. A true white sand beach with calm, swimmable water, pavilions, and an ADA-accessible playground, one of the few beaches in the Keys that's both sandy and swimmable.
• Coco Plum Beach, 109 Coco Plum Dr, Marathon. A quieter, natural stretch of coastline bordered by mangroves, good for shelling and one of the few beaches in the Keys where leashed dogs are welcome.
• Curry Hammock State Park, 56200 Overseas Hwy, Marathon. A quiet beach inside a park that otherwise protects mangrove swamp and tropical hammock, with designated areas for kiteboarding and windsurfing.

Best Beaches in Big Pine Key

South toward Big Pine Key, home of the Key deer.

• Bahia Honda State Park, 36850 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key. Three distinct beaches, Calusa, Loggerhead, and Sandspur, with some of the clearest water in the Keys.

See the full list of parks and beaches, along with every other category, on our places directory.

Best beaches in the Florida Keys

Local Keys Guide's picks for the best beaches in the Florida Keys are Sombrero Beach and Coco Plum Beach in Marathon, Anne's Beach in Islamorada, and the three beaches inside Bahia Honda State Park near Big Pine Key. Each listing above links to its full details, address, and town page.