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Beaches in Florida

53 beaches in Florida with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Escambia County has the most (7). The darkest skies are at Sand Beach (Bortle 2).

Top beaches

Siesta BeachBeach
Siesta BeachSarasota County
Playalinda BeachBeach
Playalinda BeachBrevard County
Smathers BeachBeach
Smathers BeachMonroe County
Mid-BeachBeach
Mid-BeachMiami-Dade County
Henderson Beach State ParkBeach
Henderson Beach State ParkOkaloosa County
Crandon ParkBeach
Crandon ParkMiami-Dade County
Kathryn Abbey Hanna ParkBeach
Kathryn Abbey Hanna ParkDuval County
Beach
Fort Island Gulf BeachCitrus County
Beach
Boneyard BeachDuval County
Beach
Anne's BeachMonroe County
Beach
Vanderbilt BeachCollier County
Beach
Beach Access 15AEscambia County

Beaches by county

All beaches (53)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Siesta BeachSarasota County1 mSiesta Key6
Playalinda BeachBrevard County—Titusville4
Smathers BeachMonroe County—Key West6
Mid-BeachMiami-Dade County—Isle of Normandy8
Henderson Beach State ParkOkaloosa County—Fort Walton Beach5
Crandon ParkMiami-Dade County—Key Biscayne7
Kathryn Abbey Hanna ParkDuval County—Atlantic Beach5
Fort Island Gulf BeachCitrus County1 mCrystal River4
Boneyard BeachDuval County—Fernandina Beach5
Anne's BeachMonroe County—Islamorada3
Vanderbilt BeachCollier County—Naples Park6
Beach Access 15AGulf IslandsEscambia County—Warrington5
Beach Access 15BGulf IslandsEscambia County—Warrington5
Beach Access 17AGulf IslandsEscambia County—Warrington5
Beach Access 19AGulf IslandsEscambia County—Gulf Breeze5
Beach Access 32AGulf IslandsSanta Rosa County—Woodlawn Beach5
Beach Access 33AGulf IslandsSanta Rosa County—Woodlawn Beach5
Beach Access 36AGulf IslandsSanta Rosa County—Woodlawn Beach5
Brackenridge Accessible Trail Beach AccessGulf IslandsSanta Rosa County—Gulf Breeze5
Clubhouse BeachEvergladesMonroe County—Marathon3
Apollo BeachHillsborough County1 mApollo Beach6
Apollo BeachVolusia County6 mOak Hill4
Big Bear BeachGlades County6 mBuckhead Ridge3
Bonita BeachLee County1 mBonita Springs5
Bonita BeachTaylor County1 mPerry2
Butler BeachSaint Johns County1 mButler Beach5
Caspersen BeachSarasota County1 mSouth Venice6
Cocoa Plum BeachMonroe County1 mMarathon3
Crescent BeachSarasota County1 mSiesta Key6
De Soto Beach (historical)Brevard County3 mCape Canaveral4
Dunedin BeachPinellas County2 mPalm Harbor6
Eatons BeachMarion County18 mThe Villages5
Eau Gallie BeachBrevard County1 mIndian Harbour Beach6
Englewood BeachCharlotte County1 mManasota Key5
Fort Lauderdale BeachBroward County6 mSunrise8
Hampton BeachMarion County19 mThe Villages4
Haulover BeachMiami-Dade County1 mBal Harbour8
Indian BeachSarasota County1 mNorth Sarasota7
Klondike BeachCanaveralBrevard County2 mMims4
Lido BeachPinellas County1 mSaint Pete Beach7
Manatee County BeachManatee County1 mHolmes Beach5
Money BeachGulf County1 mPort Saint Joe2
Mustin BeachGulf IslandsEscambia County1 mWarrington5
Navarre BeachEscambia County1 mNavarre6
Pass-a-Grille BeachPinellas County2 mTierra Verde6
San Carlos BeachGulf IslandsEscambia County1 mWarrington5
Sand BeachFranklin County1 mEastpoint2
Sarasota BeachSarasota County1 mSiesta Key6
Seminole BeachDuval County2 mAtlantic Beach5
Sunset BeachPinellas County1 mTarpon Springs7
Virginia BeachMiami-Dade County1 mKey Biscayne8
Wabasso BeachIndian River County3 mWabasso Beach5
Wilson BeachFranklin County6 mCarrabelle2

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph beaches

Beaches facing east suit sunrise and west-facing beaches suit sunset; wet sand mirrors the sky color during golden hour.

  • Time visits around low tide to reveal tide pools, sea stacks and reflective sand — check the tide widget below.
  • Slow shutter speeds (0.5–2 s) turn receding waves into streaks that lead toward the horizon.
  • Watch for sneaker waves; never turn your back on the ocean on exposed coasts.
  • Salt spray coats lenses quickly; wipe often and rinse gear afterward.
  • Fog and marine layers can make minimalist images; don't give up on grey days.

Season: Winter storms bring dramatic surf on Pacific coasts; summer and autumn sunsets are popular on Atlantic and Gulf beaches.