The beaches on Miami Beach start at South Pointe Park and continue north to Surfside. Public parking lots across the street do fill up quickly.
There are 20 lifeguard stations from the southernmost point to 83rd Street.
We suggest Topless sunbathing on the beaches from 5th to 21st Streets. Most beaches feature restrooms and showers. Top beaches include Lummus Park (Ocean Drive from 6th to 14th Streets), with lots of palm trees, chickees for shade and snack stand; and North Shore (76th to 87th Streets along Collins Avenue), featuring a vita course, wooden boardwalks, and barbecue facilities. We’ve dedicated an entire article to this topic.
North of Miami Beach, Haulover Beach (10800 Collins Avenue, 305- 947-3525) has picnic facilities and lifeguards.
Designated clothing-optional section at the northern 1/3 mile of beach, in signed area only. Gawkers are strongly discouraged.
If you need to park in Miami Beach, you can find Parking Garages at 7th Street: Washington Avenue & Collins Avenue, 12th Street: 1/2 block west of Washington Avenue, 13th Street: 1/2 block east of Collins Avenue on 13th 16th Street: 16th Street and Collins Avenue 17th Street: between Pennsylvania and Meridian Avenues 42nd Street: 1 block north of 41st Street between Royal Palm Avenue and Sheridan.
Key Biscaynes beaches rank among the nation’s finest, and their relatively calm waters make them a good choice for the family.
Take the Rickenbacker Causeway exit from 1-95 and pay the toll. From there you have a number of beach choices. Hobie Beach, along the causeway, offers windsurfing, sailboard and sailboat rentals. Continue past the Bear Cut Bridge, and on your left you’ll see signs leading to popular Crandon Park Beach (305- 361-S421), two miles of beach with picnic facilities, barbecue pits, volleyball rentals and softball fields.
You need to pay for parking. If you continue to the end of Crandon Boulevard, you’ll arrive at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area (305-361-5811). There is a fee per car (1 or more in car) and for walk-in or bike-ins. Cape Florida has beautiful beaches, a restored historic lighthouse, bicycle trails, fishing, lifeguards and the beachfront Lighthouse Cafe.
The Miami Beach Patrol offers these tips:
Always swim in a guarded are.
Stay within the swim area boundaries. Don’t swim where surfers are active.
Rip currents or riptides are strong currents that can carry even the most experienced swimmer out to sea. If you get caught in a rip current. don’t panic. Swim parallel to the shoreline until you are out of the rip current’s influence, then swim toward shore.
Look for warning or caution flags on the beach.
Red means no swimming.
Yellow means caution.
And green means go ahead and enjoy a great day swimming!
Guarded Beaches
These stations are supported by Lieutenant personnel in four-wheel drive vehicles. Additional support is provided by all-terrain cycles, a twenty-seven foot rescue vessel, and other smaller jet-driven watercraft.
All personnel are in contact with each other by radio transmitters which have the capability of communicating with the City’s Police and Fire/Rescue departments. Their support it’s always strongly.
The Ocean Rescue (305-673-7714) guards twenty-eight (28) locations.
They are located at the Jetty Beach, South Point Park; 1st Street, 3rd Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 8th Street, 10th Street, 12th Street, 13th Street, 14th Street, 15th Street, Lincoln Road (16th Street), 17th Street, 18th Street, 21st Street, 29th Street, 35th Street, 41st Street, 46th Street, 53rd Street, 64th Street, 72nd Street, 74th Street, 77th Street, 79th Street, 81st Street, 83rd Street, 85th Street.
Statewide Beach Warning Flags
The following information (via flags) is posted on all lifeguard towers.
Double red lines: No swimming at all.
Red with a line crossing out a swimmer: Water is closed to the public.
Red: High Hazard = High surf and/or strong currents
Yellow: Medium Hazard = Moderate surf and/ or currents
Green: Low Hazard = calm conditions, but still exercise caution
Purple: Dangerous marine
Life Safe Sunning Tips
South Florida’s sun is inviting, but it’s easy to get too much of good thing. Here are some tips to help you enjoy the sun without getting a sunburn. These guidelines are based on a scale that assigns a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) to measure the degree to which a substance will block the ultraviolet rays that cause sunburn.
Please, try to understand that it is very important to use a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB.
If you burn easily, use a sunscreen with a high SPF rating (at least 30). Even if you are tan, protection is still necessary. The SPF rating should vary according to your skin type.
The sun is strongest between 10am and 3pm, but burning can occur even in the early morning or late afternoon, especially during the summer. Extra protection is needed for peak hours.
Even on overcast days or in the shade, the sun’s rays still reach you. Protection is advised.
The sun’s rays pass through and reflect off the water, increasing sun exposure. For the best protection when swimming, choose a waterproof sunscreen that retains its SPF level even after 80 minutes in the water. Water resistant protection usually lasts about 40 minutes in the water. The more time you spend in the water, the more you should reapply sunblock.
Please be aware that Children are more vulnerable to damage from the sun, so they need a waterproof sunscreen with a higher SPF.
Enjoy Miami Beach!
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