Top 10 Florida Gulf Coast Beaches You Must See

Top 10 Florida Gulf Coast Beaches You Must See


Once you start researching Florida Gulf Coast beaches, you may realize that you have far more selection than you initially expected. Perhaps you’ve heard of the most popular options like Clearwater Beach, but there are many others that are just as beautiful and entertaining.

Our Top Picks for Florida Gulf Coast Beaches:

Your goals for your upcoming vacation will determine which one of the Florida Gulf Coast beaches is right for you, and the following options may suit you perfectly.

  1. Indian Shores: You’ll find this beach tucked between Clearwater and St. Petersburg on a barrier island in southern Florida. If you enjoy nature or you’re a birdwatcher, you must visit Town Square Nature Park and the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. You may also want to head out on the water for a day of boating or fishing.

  2. Pass-A-Grille Beach: If you follow the Gulf Coast south of Indian Shores, you’ll find this small beach at the end of the barrier island, just south of St. Pete Beach. There are some fun inns in this area, and bottlenose dolphins are known to play close to shore for easy viewing. Fishing is a popular activity here, and this is your access point to the Shell Key Preserve.

  3. Fort De Soto Park: There is a small, family-friendly beach located in this state park in the city of Tierra Verde. The park covers five islands, and this is where many local boat enthusiasts spend most of their time. You can visit the beach’s historic fort or rent a bike and head off in the scenic trails. Most visitors simply lounge on the beach or spend their time fishing and boating.

  4. Redington Beach: This town is located just north of Madeira Beach on a barrier island in southern Florida. You could visit Redington Beach, Madeira Beach, and North Redington Beach in one vacation. Redington has some family-friendly restaurants and a small park for younger children in addition to a beautiful beach for swimming and relaxation.

  5. Treasure Island: This is a three-mile beach with soft white sand. You can walk along the one-mile Treasure Island Beach Trail to find a variety of shops, hotels, bars, and restaurants. This is considered a good option for family vacations.

  6. Clam Pass Park: This is a family-friendly beach park located in the Naples area. It features a nice boardwalk with spectacular views and a trolley that every member of the family will enjoy riding. You can also rent a catamaran or kayak to explore the water.

  7. Marco Island: This is a beautiful island with miles of sandy beaches that are perfect for romantic vacations as well as family vacations. While you can rent equipment to enjoy a variety of water sports, there are also some unusual beach activities to enjoy. For instance, don’t forget to walk through the butterfly garden before you leave. There are some private beaches on the island, so make sure to discover the public access points before heading out for the sand.

  8. John Beasley Park: This is one of the public beaches near the city of Destin, and it’s positioned right off the boardwalk with beautiful clear green water stretching alongside sugar-white sand. Surfing, snorkeling, and fishing are popular activities here, but you can also take advantage of the volleyball court or let your kids run on the playground. You’ll find this beach on Miracle Strip Parkway in the Fort Walton Beach area.

  9. Henderson Beach State Park: Access this beach from Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin. It’s the perfect pick for a fall visit because the white sandy beach has added color from morning glories and other wildflowers. Make sure to walk along the nature trail, and you can camp at this beach for if you’re traveling on a budget.

  10.  Anna Maria Island: For crystal clear waters and miles of soft white sand, this is the island that you want to visit. For a quiet spot that’s hard to find but worth the effort, find Bean Point. You enter off of Gladiolus Avenue and head in the opposite direction of the walkway leading to the beach. There are many shells at this point, and the sand is incredibly soft. 

You can still consider Clearwater, St. Petersburg and other well-known Florida Gulf Coast beaches good options for your trip, but you don’t want to miss out on other options either. Do your research into these beaches and others, and you’ll find the right beach for your goals. Do you want to relax, or are you out for romance? Do you need family-friendly attractions, or are you a food lover ready to taste the Gulf Coast? Your answers to those questions will point you to the best Florida Gulf Coast beach. 

Related Articles:

Home > Gulf Coast in Florida > Top 10 Florida Golf Coast Beaches