Known for its crystal clear waters and stunning coral reefs, Key Largo is home to some of the best beaches in the Florida Keys. From the popular John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to the secluded Harry Harris Park, Key Largo’s beaches offer something for every beachgoer.
Key Largo is a great place to spend a few nights before heading down to Key West. There are plenty of things to do in Key Largo and hotels and restaurants in Key Largo are much easier on the wallet. We recommend spending 2-4 nights in Key Largo. It’s a great place to base yourself when exploring the Florida Keys.
With powdery white sand and vibrant marine life, these beaches are a must for relaxing and enjoying the Florida sun. One thing to note is that there are both public and private Key Largo beaches. We will focus on the public beaches in Key Largo. Let’s explore the best beaches in Key Largo!
The Best Key Largo Beaches
1. Far Beach – Key Largo
Key Largo, known as the gateway to the Florida Keys, is located between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. If you are driving from Miami to Key West, when you arrive in the Keys, the first beach you come across is Far Beach. With its soft white sand, black mangroves and tall palm trees, this Key Largo beach is popular with locals and tourists alike.
When we visited, there was a small tour operator with a snorkel on one end of the beach. We didn’t want a tour but were able to rent snorkel gear for the whole family. With the diverse fish, coral and marine life found in the waters, this is where you will find the best snorkeling in Key Largo.
The beach also has wooden benches and a picnic area located at the end. At one end, you can spot a wooden ramp with wheelchair access to the beach and other amenities like showers and picnic tables. Nearby, there are hiking trails that allow visitors to do some bird watching.
Far Beach is a public beach in Key Largo, but there is a State Park entrance fee per vehicle of only $8.50. This fee also gets you to Cannon Beach. Visit 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 got its name because of the 17th century naval cannons scattered on the sand. Legend has it that the cannons came from an old shipwreck.
Cannon Beach is great for kids. The shape of the bay helps to provide calm water. Because the beach is located in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, there are many water sports available. Diving and snorkeling in the Florida Keys are world famous and here is no exception. We got to see the famous USS Spiegel Grove and the underwater Christ of Abyss statue when we dived in Key Largo.
On our trip, the water was a little murky so we waited another day before deciding to rent snorkeling gear. Instead we took a glass bottom boat tour which provided amazing underwater scenes with tropical fish and colorful corals. The State Park is home to the 3rd largest coral reef in the world and many shipwrecks.
3. Harry Harris Beach and Park – Tavernier
This beach is definitely one of the best family beaches in Key Largo, as Harry Harris Park has more to offer than just a beach. The park is complete with public barbecue grills, covered picnic tables and restrooms. Technically, it’s in Tavernier, Florida, but only 10 minutes from Key Largo.
We came across the park when looking for playgrounds in Key Largo. There are two playgrounds with slides, swings, swings and more. If you’re traveling with toddlers, always look 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 to check out is Founder’s Park in Islamorada. You could spend all day here. There is a wonderful beach, an Olympic size pool, picnic areas, tennis courts, basketball court, dog park, the best playground in Islamorada and much more.
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4. Anne’s Beach – Islamorada
One of the most beautiful beaches in Key Largo is Anne’s Beach. It’s technically in Islamorada, but it’s only 35 minutes from Key Largo. It was named in honor of the environmentally conscious Anne Eaton, who spent her life fighting to preserve the area’s natural beauty.
Anna Beach is located on the Atlantic Ocean, which can be windy, but because the beach is very shallow, the water remains relatively calm. Because of the wind, it’s a great beach for kitesurfing, paddleboarding and kayaking. There is a small shallow swimming area that is good for kids to swim in, but overall, not the best beach for swimming.
Other Best Florida Keys Beaches to Visit
We tried to keep this list to Key Largo beaches. However, there are plenty of other Florida Keys beaches to visit when driving to Key West that we wanted to mention. Here are some of our favorite beaches in the Florida Keys.
5. Founder’s Park Beach
Another nice stretch of sand near Key Largo is inside Founder’s Park in Islamorada. Our family loves this park, which offers lots of outdoor recreation. There are some nice playgrounds here, perfect for traveling to the Florida Keys with little ones!
On our last trip, we visited this park several times and found it almost empty most of the time, which is impressive because this is a great beach in the Florida Keys. The sunsets are nice here too, it’s a great family beach spot!
6. Sombrero Beach – Marathon
We were amazed by this wonderful white sand beach in Marathon. Initially we were looking for playgrounds in Marathon for the kids as we had time to burn off after breakfast in Marathon. Not only did we find an amazing playground, but one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys.
Sombrero Beach is a five minute drive from the Overseas Highway. From April to October, loggerhead turtles come to the beach to lay their eggs at night. Be sure to visit it turtle hospital; it’s one of the best things to do in Marathon.
7. Smather’s Beach – Key West
If you’re looking for the best beach in Key West, you’ll find yourself at Smather’s Beach. It is a beautiful, long, sandy beach with wonderful sunrises. Whenever we visit, it’s never too busy. we can always find a place to sit and relax.
Most tourists in town don’t head to the beach and instead visit other attractions in Key West. They are out eating at the best restaurants in town or staying out late at the bars on Duval Street. So if you’re a beach lover, be sure to head to Smather’s Beach.
Where do you like to spend the day in Key Largo?
We’re always looking for new places to check out. Please comment below on what you think are the best beaches in Key Largo.
