Florida boasts numerous serene and secluded beaches away from the typical tourist spots. If you want a memorable getaway, consider these five uncrowded beaches in Florida that offer tranquility and beautiful surroundings:
Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key: Known for its stunning views and calm, shallow waters thanks to offshore reefs, Bahia Honda State Park is a 524-acre park in Big Pine Key, Florida that includes Bahia Honda Key and three beaches:
- Sandspur Beach: The largest beach, located on the island’s southeast end
- Loggerhead Beach: Faces the Atlantic Ocean and has shallow water
- Calusa Beach: The smallest beach, located on the island’s northwest side
The park is known for its clear water, sunsets, and snorkeling. Popular activities include swimming, sunbathing, and building sandcastles. The park is ideal for families and offers a relatively crowd-free environment. It’s especially quiet during winter, even though the campsites are popular among RV campers. More details about this state park can be found on the Florida State Parks website.Some say the park is a great place to visit for an active day or a few hours of beach time. The park is located at 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, Florida 33043. The phone number is (305) 872-3210. There is an entrance fee of $8 per vehicle, which can be paid by cash or credit card.
Satellite Beach, Brevard County: Located south of Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach is perfect for those seeking a quieter beach day. It features several small parking lots, particularly on the north end, which are less frequented even during peak times. More about Satellite Beach can be explored here. Satellite Beach is a coastal city located in Brevard County, Florida, USA. It is situated with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Banana River to the west. Located in a region where tropical and temperate climatic zones overlap, the average temperature in Satellite Beach during this time of the year is a low of 69°F and a high of 83°F.
The City of Satellite Beach has 16 beach crossovers, including 3 Beach parks with parking, restrooms, showers and covered picnic tables. The majority of beach accesses within the city are pedestrian access or have very limited parking and do not have public facilities.
Hightower Beach Park: 31 parking spaces (2 ADA); over 18 acres and 2,800 feet of beachfront. Amenities include ADA dune crossover, restrooms, showers, covered picnic areas, 560-foot wooden boardwalk with beach and wildlife observation areas, education signage, and benches.
Pelican Beach Park: 131 parking spaces (6 ADA); 1 EV charging station. Amenities include event venue and pavilions available for reservation, ADA dune crossover, ADA restrooms, ADA outdoor showers, grills, little free library, 2 sand volleyball courts.
Crotty Park: 1.5 acres with parking with 13 paved parking spaces and approximately 45 unpaved. There are no facilities.
Shell Street Beach: 18 parking spaces (2 ADA). Amenities include covered picnic areas and restrooms.
Satellite Beach offers a variety of parks, recreational facilities, and pristine beaches, making it one of the largest oceanfront communities in South Brevard County. Residents and visitors can enjoy activities such as hiking, walking, and dog parks at the Satellite Beach Sports and Recreation Park, which spans 35 acres of public space.
Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County: Fort De Soto Beach is located within Fort De Soto Park, which is situated in Pinellas County, Florida. The park covers five interconnected islands (keys) and spans 1,136 acres. It is known for its natural beauty and diverse ecosystems, including beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods, and native plants.
Fort De Soto Park offers miles of serene, sandy shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. The North Beach in the park is particularly popular for families, with a pirate ship playground and a large tidal pool for kids to splash around in. The park is also accessible to wheelchair users and has paved trails, accessible facilities, and beach wheelchairs available for use.
One of the unique features of Fort De Soto Park is its dog-friendly beach. It is the only beach in the area where dogs are allowed off-leash in a designated area. There are separate fenced-in areas for large and small dogs, as well as water stations for them.
In addition to its beaches, Fort De Soto Park offers various recreational activities. Visitors can rent canoes or kayaks to explore the park’s waterways and look for wildlife such as turtles, anhingas, and dolphins. There is also a fishing pier near the dog beach, where visitors can drop a line and a bait and tackle shop for supplies.
Fort De Soto Park is known for its historical significance as well. It is home to a Spanish-American War-era fort, which visitors can explore. The fort features cannons and offers sweeping views from its top.
Fort De Soto Beach remains a popular destination for its natural beauty, family-friendly amenities, dog-friendly beach, recreational activities, and historical attractions. The beach remains uncrowded and provides a perfect escape for those looking for peace as well as adventure. Further information is available on their official site.
Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach: This beach is celebrated for its pristine conditions and emerald waters. Located in the Florida Panhandle along Scenic Highway 30A near Ft. Walton, it promises a quiet retreat with opportunities for fishing, paddling, and birdwatching. Visit the State Park website for more. Grayton Beach consistently ranks among the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the United States.
The beach is less crowded than nearby public beaches, providing a more peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. Grayton Beach State Park is known for its beautiful beach, massive dunes, abundant wildlife, and shimmering Western Lake, which is one of the three coastal dune lakes.
The park offers a world-class shoreline, making it a popular destination for sunbathing and enjoying the beach. Grayton Beach State Park is home to three coastal dune lakes, which are a natural phenomenon found in only four countries worldwide and two states in the U.S.
- Visitors can explore the backwaters of Western Lake, a 100-acre coastal dune lake, by bringing their own canoe or kayak or renting one from the ranger station.
- The park provides facilities for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, and camping .
- Anglers can fish from the shore or book a fishing charter to reach deeper waters.
- Scuba divers can visit the Underwater Museum of Art, located less than a mile from the shore of Grayton Beach State Park .
- The park offers hiking and biking trails, allowing visitors to explore the dunes and observe wildlife such as deer, foxes, sea turtles, and various bird species.
Amenities
Grayton Beach State Park offers duplex cabins equipped with amenities such as gas fireplaces, central heating and air conditioning, kitchens, screened-in porches, and outdoor grills.The park also has two ADA cabins for guests with special needs.
Visitors can access the Walton County paved walking/bike path that runs the full length of County Road 30-A, passing through all the seaside villages of South Walton.
Location and Directions
Grayton Beach State Park is located on Scenic 30A, south of US 98, approximately halfway between Panama City Beach and Destin. To reach the park, take county road 283 south of US 98 and turn left at the stop sign on 30A, approximately half a mile east of the intersection of Scenic 30A and county road 283.
.
Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville: Offering a long stretch of peaceful, untouched beach alongside opportunities for boating, birdwatching, and other recreational activities, this national seashore is a sanctuary for nature lovers. Notably, it also provides a unique vantage point for watching rocket launches from nearby Kennedy Space Center on occasion.
Canaveral National Seashore is a national park located between New Smyrna Beach and Titusville, Florida, in Volusia and Brevard Counties. The park is split between Brevard and Volusia counties, with 9 miles of the seashore in Brevard County and 15 miles in Volusia County. Canaveral National Seashore consists of 24 miles of beaches, dunes, mangrove wetlands, and a large portion of the Mosquito Lagoon. It is also the longest expanse of undeveloped land along the East Coast of Florida.
Features and Accessibility
Canaveral National Seashore is composed of various wildlife habitats, including dunes, hammocks, lagoons, salt marshes, and pine flatlands. Located within the Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge, it is home to more than 1,000 plant species and 310 bird species. The park also serves as a nesting ground for sea turtles.
The accessibility of Canaveral National Seashore varies throughout the park. Visitors can reflect on the barrier island and explore ancient Timucua shell mounds. Fishing is also a popular activity at Mosquito Lagoon or the Atlantic Ocean, but visitors are advised to be prepared before fishing. The park has visitor centers where visitors can obtain park information.
Location and Directions
Canaveral National Seashore is located along Florida’s East coast in both Volusia and Brevard counties. To access Apollo Beach, visitors can take I-95 to exit 249, then continue east until it turns into A1A. They can then follow A1A south to the park entrance. To access Playalinda Beach, visitors can take I-95 to exit 220. If you plan on catching a rocket launch from Playalinda, call in advance to make sure the beach will be open, as it is closed for certain launches and ALWAYS closes at dusk.
Operating Hours and Facilities
Canaveral National Seashore operates from dawn until dusk. The park does not have buildings, but there are small restrooms at each parking lot. Visitors are advised to bring their own food and water as there is no running water in the park.
More details can be found on the National Park Service website. These five beaches not only offer an escape from crowds but also feature unique natural beauty and recreational opportunities, making them perfect for a vacation or even a one day serene getaway. If you are looking for that “off the beaten path” Florida getaway
