Known for its crystal clear waters and stunning coral reefs, Key Largo is also home to some of the best beaches in the Florida Keys. From popular John Pennekamp Coral State Park to secluded Harry Harris Park, Key Largo beaches offer something for every beachgoer.
Key Largo is a great place to spend a few nights before heading to Key West. There are a lot of Key Largo Attractionsas well as hotels & Key Largo Restaurants Easier on the wallet. We recommend spending 2-4 nights in Key Largo. This is a great base when exploring the Florida Keys.
With powdery white sand and vibrant marine life, these beaches are a must-visit for relaxing and soaking up the Florida sunshine. One thing to note is that Key Largo has both public and private beaches. We will focus on Key Largo’s public beaches. Let’s explore the best beaches in Key Largo!
Best Beaches in Key Largo
1. Far Beach – Key Largo
Key Largo is known as the gateway to the Florida Keys, located between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. if you are Driving from Miami to Key WestThe first beach you encounter when arriving in the archipelago is Far Beach. With soft white sand, black mangroves and tall palm trees, Key Largo’s beaches are popular with locals and tourists alike.
When we visited there was a small snorkeling tour operator at one end of the beach. We didn’t want to travel, but we were able to rent snorkeling gear for the whole family. Different fish, corals and marine life can be found in the waters and here you can find Best Snorkeling in Key Largo.
There are also wooden benches and picnic areas at the end of the beach. On one side you’ll find a wooden ramp providing wheelchair access to the beach, as well as other facilities such as showers and picnic tables. There are walking trails nearby for bird watching.
Far Beach is a Key Largo public beachesbut the state park admission fee is only $8.50 per vehicle. This fee also gets you access to Cannon Beach. access John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park website for more details.
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2. Cannon Beach – Key Largo
One of the most famous beaches in Key Largo is Cannon Beach. It gets its name from the 17th-century naval cannons that dot the beach. Legend has it that these cannons came from an ancient shipwreck.
Cannon Beach is great for kids. The shape of the bay helps provide calm water. Since the beach is located within John Pennekamp Coral State Park, there are many water sports options available. The Florida Keys are world-famous for scuba diving and snorkeling, and this is no exception. While diving in Key Largo we saw the famous USS Spiegel Grove and the underwater statue of Christ of the Abyss.
During our trip the water was a bit murky so we waited another day before deciding to rent snorkeling equipment. Instead, we took a glass-bottom boat tour to admire the stunning underwater scenes of tropical fish and colorful coral. The state park is home to the third largest coral reef in the world and numerous shipwrecks.
3. Harry Harris Beach and Park – Tavernier
This beach is definitely one of the best family beaches in Key Largo because Harry Harris Park offers so much more than just a beach. The park features public grills, covered picnic tables and restrooms. Technically, it’s located in Tavernier, Florida, but is only 10 minutes from Key Largo.
While we were looking for a playground in Key Largo, we found ourselves in a park. There are two playgrounds with slides, swings, seesaws and more. If you’re traveling with a young child, you’re always looking for playgrounds and activities to burn off that extra energy at the end of the day. Harry Harris Beach is a great place for kids to play and watch the sunset.
Another nearby park worth checking out is located at islamorada. You can spend the whole day here. There’s a great beach, paddling pool, Olympic-sized pool, picnic areas, tennis courts, basketball courts, dog park, the best playground in Islamorada, and more.
Recommended Key Largo Snorkeling Trip
4. Annie’s Beach – Islamorada
One of the most beautiful beaches in Key Largo is Annie’s Beach. Technically it is in islamoradabut only 35 minutes from Key Largo. Named after environmentally conscious Anne Eaton, who spent her life fighting to preserve the area’s natural beauty.
Anne’s Beach is located on the Atlantic Ocean and can get very windy, but the water is relatively calm because the beach is shallow. Due to the wind, this is a great beach for kitesurfing, paddleboarding and kayaking. There is a small shallow swimming area which is great for kids to splash around in but overall it’s not the best beach for swimming.
Other Best Beaches to Visit in the Florida Keys
We tried to keep this list to Key Largo beaches. However, as we drove to Key West, we wanted to mention a few other beaches in the Florida Keys. Here are some of our favorite beaches in the Florida Keys.
5. Founders Park Beach
Another beautiful beach close to Key Largo is located at Founders Park in Islamorada. Our family loves this park, which offers so many outdoor recreational activities. There are some great playgrounds here that are perfect for visiting the Florida Keys with little ones!
We visited this park several times on our last trip and found it nearly empty most of the time, which was exciting since this is a great beach in the Florida Keys. The sunsets here are beautiful too, making it a great family beach spot!
6. Sombrero Beach – Marathon
We were amazed by this beautiful white sand beach in Marathon. We originally wanted to find a playground for the kids during the marathon as we had time to burn off after the race. marathon breakfast. Not only did we find a great playground, but we also found one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys.
Sombrero Beach is just five minutes’ drive from the Overseas Highway. From April to October, loggerhead sea turtles come to the beach at night to lay their eggs. Please be sure to visit sea turtle hospital;it is one of Best things to do in a marathon.
7. Smather Beach – Key West
If you are looking for Key West’s best beaches You will find yourself at Smather Beach. It’s a beautiful, long beach and the sunrise is beautiful. Whenever we visit, it’s never too crowded; we can always find a place to sit and relax.
Most visitors to the town do not go to the beach but visit other places Key West Attractions. they eat out Best restaurant in town or stay out late Duval Street Bars. So if you’re a beach lover, be sure to head to Smather’s Beach.
Where would you like to spend a day in Key Largo?
We are always looking for new places to go. Comment below what you think is the best beach in Key Largo.
