13 Best Beaches in Fort Lauderdale (By a Local)
The rumors are true — the beaches in Fort Lauderdale are seriously incredible. It’s a growing destination for travelers seeking a tropical, beachside getaway right within the confines of the United States. And after living here for four years, I completely understand why.
Our beaches are gorgeous – the water is turquoise blue, crystal clear, and warm year-round. The sandy shores are soft and white while offering an immense amount of amenities right from your beach chair. In fact, our beaches are consistently ranked among the most beautiful beaches in Florida!
But don’t just take my word for it. Scroll below to see for yourself. Better yet, use this helpful guide to plan your next beach day while visiting the Ft Lauderdale area!
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13 Best Beaches In Greater Fort Lauderdale
The Greater Fort Lauderdale area encompasses all of Broward County and its 24 miles of sandy shores. Fort Lauderdale Beach is the epicenter for beachgoers but the surrounding cities offer some of the more popular beaches in the area.
Now let’s set you on your mission to find the best beach in Fort Lauderdale:
North Ocean Park
Hillsboro Beach
📍 Google Maps | Website | Metered Parking Lot, limited space, $3 – 6 per hour | Best Nearby Hotel: Royal Flamingo Villas
Thanks to the scenic Hillsboro Lighthouse, North Ocean Park in Hillsboro Beach is amongst the prettiest beaches in Fort Lauderdale. Ocean views are accompanied by the sheer entertainment boaters provide as they depart the choppy waters of Hillsboro Inlet.
However, nothing compares to the serenity the glistening Atlantic Ocean provides as you relax underneath the swaying palm trees.
🚨 Visit the Hillsboro Lighthouse: Only accessible by boat, tours depart from nearby Sands Dock on the hour, 7 times a day to reach the climbable lighthouse.
Fort Lauderdale Beach Park
Fort Lauderdale
📍 Google Maps | Website | Metered Parking Lot, $3 – 6 per hour | Best Nearby Hotel: The Lago Mar Beach Resort
The largest public beach in Fort Lauderdale features all the amenities you might ask for: basketball and volleyball courts, picnic tables, charcoal grills, restrooms, playgrounds, freshwater showers, and water sport rentals.
To top it off, Fort Lauderdale Beach Park is conveniently located across the street from the Bahia Mar Marina, the city’s top destination for boat tours around Fort Lauderdale – including the Water Taxi, Jungle Queen, glass-bottom snorkeling, and fishing charters.
📚 Related Reading: If you’re looking for fun things to do, Fort Lauderdale offers some excellent boating and water activities that make our list!
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
Dania Beach
📍 Google Maps | Website | State Park entrance fees, $2 – $8 depending on the mode of transportation and amount of people
Just south of Port Everglades in Dania Beach is Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, a testament to habitat conservation in the midst of a major metropolitan area. Despite the nearby port, pristine beach conditions remain resembling a natural barrier island from the past.
Additionally, the mangrove-lined waterways winding through Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park are excellent for water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding, and boating.
🦞 Looking for fresh seafood? After your day at the park, grab a bite to eat at the nearby Quarterdeck on Dania Beach Pier for the fresh catch of the day.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
📍 Google Maps | Website | Metered Lot & Street Parking, $4 – $6 per hour | Best Nearby Hotel: Beach Aqualina Apartments
With mid-century modern architecture spread throughout its shores, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a picturesque South Florida destination for family getaways and one of the best places to stay in Fort Lauderdale.
The small beach town offers a beautiful beach canopied with lush palms, a vibrant town square, restaurants serving up fresh seafood, and even a pristine coral reef accessible via snorkeling right from shore.
Vista Park
Fort Lauderdale
📍 Google Maps | Website | Metered Parking Lot, extremely limited space, $2 – $3 per hour
Along Fort Lauderdale’s Galt Mile is Vista Park, a reclusive beach in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The beach is popular for local scuba divers looking to explore the marine life in the shallow coral reef right offshore.
In fact, because of the thriving reef, it’s common for sea turtles to climb ashore at night in Vista Park to lay their eggs.
🌴 Local Tip: Loggerhead Park and Earl-Lifshey Ocean Park are two other beaches nearby if parking happens to be full at Vista Park.
South City Beach Park
Hallandale Beach
📍 Google Maps | Website | Metered parking lot, $3 – $6 per hour
If you’re staying in southern Broward County, add South City Beach Park in Hallandale Beach to your itinerary. This modern park, completed in 2015, has a volleyball court, beachside cafe, and playground along the sandy beach. Parking goes quick, so head to North City Beach Park up the road if need be.
📚 Related Reading: head a little further south and you’ll end up in Miami Beach, one of the best day trips from Fort Lauderdale during your stay.
Hollywood Beach
Hollywood
📍 Google Maps | Website | Metered Street & Lot Parking, $3 – $6 per hour | Best Nearby Hotel: Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort
The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, a pedestrian-only roadway paralleled to the Atlantic Ocean, is the main attraction along the shores of Hollywood Beach.
The strip is lined with beach bars and seafood restaurants while being traversed by beachgoers, cyclers, and joggers. It’s an exciting atmosphere, and one you should make time for if staying in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
Fort Lauderdale
📍 Google Maps | Website | State Park entrance fees, $2 – $8 depending on the method of transportation and amount of people | Best Nearby Hotel: Tropical Oasis Condos
On the corner of Sunrise Blvd and the A1A is Fort Lauderdale’s very own central park, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. The scenic barrier island is ripe with outdoor adventures including paddling, hiking, and fishing along the Intracoastal Waterway.
With all-day parking included in the entrance fee, the park offers the cheapest parking in Fort Lauderdale for a beach day.
📚 Related Reading: Just across the street is the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens – the former estate to two world-renowned artists. Today, it’s a fascinating museum tucked away in a natural coastal setting and one of our favorite places to visit in South Florida.
Deerfield Beach
Deerfield Beach
📍 Google Maps | Website | Metered street & lot parking, $3 – $6 per hour | Best Nearby Hotel: Vistalmar Beach Resort
Deerfield Beach is the northernmost city in Greater Fort Lauderdale before entering Palm Beach County. It’s a quaint area giving visitors a different change of pace from the beaches surrounding Fort Lauderdale Beach.
The fishing pier provides scenic views and the massive outdoor pavilion serves as an excellent gathering point for a family get-together or BBQ with friends.
👉 Read Next: The Top Beaches in South Florida
Pompano Beach Park
Pompano Beach
📍 Google Maps | Website | Metered Lot & Street Parking, $3 – $6 / hour | Best Nearby Hotel: Wave Beach Vacation Rentals
A once forgotten corner of Broward County, this newly renovated district is one of the best beaches in Greater Fort Lauderdale.
The city of Pompano Beach has done an excellent job building the scene with new bars, restaurants, exclusive shops, playgrounds, a fishing pier, and clean facilities. Lucky Fish Pompano Beach, in particular, is a good beachside tiki bar serving up Caribbean-style cuisine for an affordable price.
👉 Read Next: When is the Best Time to Visit Fort Lauderdale?
Hollywood North Beach Park
Hollywood
📍 Google Maps | Website | $10 All Day Parking or nearby metered street parking | Best Nearby Hotel: Villa Sinclair Beach Suites and Spa
For a more reclusive beach experience, check out Hollywood North Beach Park. Although still accessible to the hot spots of Hollywood Beach, the park is just far north enough to avoid the crowds of the Broadwalk.
Plus, the park has many amenities you’d need for a full beach day including a cafe, bathroom facilities, a playground, and a nearby walkway.
🚗 LOCAL TIP: if parking is full, head north to the side streets of Green Street or Pershing Street. Parking is a bit more expensive but the beach is beautiful and even less crowded than North Beach Park.
Las Olas Beach
Fort Lauderdale
📍 Google Maps | Website | Metered lot & street parking, $3 – $6 per hour
From downtown Fort Lauderdale head straight east on Las Olas Blvd to find the most popular beach in the city. You won’t find a lack of activity as the oceanfront is paralleled with beachside restaurants, dive bars, taquerias, and surf shops. In fact, there are so many activities on Las Olas that it even made our list of the best stuff to do in South Florida!
Across the street, at the newly renovated oceanside park, you’ll discover events like the Friday Night Sound Waves and a local Farmer’s Market on Saturdays!
📱Protect Your Phone at the Beach: As a boat Captain and avid beach bum, I use a Pelican Case to store my phone during all my ocean adventures. It’s a great thing to have if you plan to spend a lot of time along the shore.
Fort Lauderdale Jetties
Fort Lauderdale
📍 Google Maps | Metered Street Parking, $3 – $6 per hour
This secret stretch of sand next to Port Everglades is an excellent spot to bring your fishing pole along the rocky surface as you watch the freighters, cruise ships, and sport fishing charters motor in after a long day at sea. Parking may be difficult, but a quiet day at the jetties is well worth the challenge.
FAQs about Beaches in Fort Lauderdale
Does Fort Lauderdale have good beaches?
The beaches in Fort Lauderdale consistently rank among the best Florida beaches. Top beaches in the area include Hillsboro Beach, Pompano Beach, Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, and Hollywood Beach, which are some of the highest rated beaches in the state.
Is the water clear in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
The water in Fort Lauderdale is typically crystal clear. This is due to the nearby Gulf Stream, a major ocean current which brings warm blue water from the Gulf of Mexico close to Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Are Fort Lauderdale beaches safe to swim in?
The beaches in Fort Lauderdale are very safe to swim in. With minimal current, exceptional water quality, typically calm sea conditions, shy marine life inhabiting the nearby coral reefs, and professional lifeguards stationed above, visitors find safe swimming conditions at the beautiful beaches of Fort Lauderdale.
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Sun worshippers flock to Ft Lauderdale to sink their toes in our white sand beaches and crystal blue waters. It’s a great destination with some of our spots even making our list of the Best Florida Beaches.
We can’t wait for you to make the trip to South Florida and see for yourself!
