The 11 Best Beaches in Miami

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.

Strung along the Rickenbacker Causeway with a picture-perfect downtown skyline behind you, Hobie is Miami's beloved dog beach and windsurfing hub, with free parking and shallow, calm bay water that's safe for pups and toddlers alike. Locals rate it 4.6 across 3,000+ reviews for the mellow vibe, watersport rentals, and killer sunsets. Honest caveat: it's a narrow causeway strip, not a wide sandy beach, and reviewers regularly flag seaweed, litter, and jammed parking on weekends; the bay water isn't as clean or clear as open-ocean beaches. Note the causeway toll to get out here.

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.

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.

A man-made atoll lagoon beach that draws locals over tourists, making it unusually calm and beautiful for Miami — ideal for swimming (the enclosed water is safe for non-swimmers), walking trails, picnicking, and waterfront views toward Key Biscayne. The heavy tree canopy and shade are the real highlight, and there's a high-end restaurant (Noma) on-site if you want to splurge. The main caveat is parking: it costs $11, which several visitors find steep for a park visit.

Haulover Park is a long, well-kept oceanside park with clear water, white sandy beaches, and a jetty area good for snorkeling — reviewers spotted large fish around the rocks and sea bed. You can rent lounge chairs, walk or jog the coastal path, bike, skate, and catch events like the annual kite day. Caveat: the picnic area near the jetty gets very crowded, so arrive early if you want a table.

Cape Florida Beach is a calm, well-maintained public beach inside Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne, known for flat, shallow water that's safe for kids and a peaceful atmosphere far quieter than Miami's busier shores. Walk the full length of the beach toward the historic lighthouse, catch the sunset, and use the public restrooms and shelters on site. There is no food or drink for sale on the beach, so bring everything you need — or rent an umbrella and two chairs for $40. Note that alcohol is not permitted, and on busy days guards may hold traffic at the entrance, so budget extra time getting in and out.

Siesta Beach is a wide, Gulf-side beach famous for its powdery white quartz sand — so fine it's been compared to flour — and exceptionally shallow, calm, clear water you can wade out hundreds of feet in. Rent a pair of beach chairs and an umbrella (around $75), or bring your own gear for volleyball, soccer, or just floating in the turquoise shallows; lifeguards are on duty until about 5 pm. The one real caveat: parking is free but fills up fast, especially on weekends, and there's a solid walk from the lot to the waterline.

Nicknamed 'Florida's Riviera,' Sunny Isles offers a broad ribbon of soft white sand and calm Atlantic swimming that families love, anchored by the scenic Newport Fishing Pier. It's more relaxed and spacious than South Beach while still having plenty of amenities and food nearby. Honest caveat: the shoreline is walled by a canyon of luxury condo and resort towers, so it can feel more resort-manufactured than neighborhoody, and public beach parking is scarce and pricey since most spaces belong to hotels. Best accessed early or via a nearby garage.

Nixon Beach Sandbar is a natural sandbar on Biscayne Bay off Key Biscayne, accessible only by boat, where locals anchor up for swimming and socializing in calm, clear, shallow water. It's a go-to spot for a classic Miami boat day — drop anchor, wade in, and hang out with the local boating crowd. Weekdays are noticeably quieter and more private, but weekends can get packed and loud, so it's hit or miss if you're after a relaxing vibe.

Technically in Broward but a genuine Miamian getaway, Hollywood pairs a clean family beach with a 2.5-mile brick Broadwalk that Travel + Leisure named one of America's best, lined with cafes, ice-cream stands, and bike rentals. Locals love it for shallow, kid-friendly swimming, a laid-back retro vibe, and prices well below South Beach. Honest caveat: it's about 40 minutes north of downtown Miami, weekend crowds pack both the sand and the Broadwalk, and parking meters and garages add up fast. Come on a weekday morning for the best of it.