General information, not legal advice. Beach rules, fees and conditions change: follow posted signs, flags and lifeguard instructions.
Florida's beaches face two bodies of water. The Atlantic runs down the east coast, and the Gulf of Mexico washes the west coast and the Panhandle. DEP's Coastal Access Guide splits the state into three regions: the Panhandle, Southwest Florida and the Atlantic coast.1
Access points by region
Here's how the 2,190 DEP-listed public accesses break down:2
| Region | Accesses | Counties | Parking | Restrooms | Lifeguard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Coast | 1,266 | 12 | 62% | 23% | 38% |
| Southwest & Gulf Coast | 505 | 10 | 51% | 19% | 3% |
| Panhandle | 419 | 12 | 33% | 19% | 7% |
Percentages are the share of accesses where DEP recorded the feature. Blank fields count as not recorded.
The Atlantic coast
The Atlantic side has by far the most listed accesses. Long barrier islands and many street-end walkovers mean frequent, small access points, especially in southeast Florida's urban counties. Expect more surf than on the Gulf.
Southwest Florida and the Gulf coast
The Gulf coast from Tampa Bay south to the Keys is generally calmer water. Many accesses are in county and state parks, which often means parking fees but also restrooms and showers.
The Panhandle
The Panhandle also faces the Gulf. Accesses here include beach towns, state parks and national seashore areas, with fewer access points per mile than southeast Florida.
Sources
- Florida DEP, Florida Coastal Access Guide.
- Florida DEP, public beach access data layer.