Hikes along beaches or trails that are connected to beachfront access along both Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast, as well as along barrier islands and bays and inlets throughout the state.
These hikes provide balmy salt breezes, sweeping scenery, and an opportunity to enjoy a swim after your walk.
In general, beach hikes are day hikes. While you can backpack the Seashore section of the Florida Trail, camping is not permitted along the beach itself.
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park allows backcountry camping in its wilderness area on a wild shore.
Florida’s Best Beach Hikes
These are beach hikes we consider some of the best in the state. Some are short and easy, others can take much of a day.
Some require arranging transportation by boat to get to remote barrier islands where you can ramble.
Anastasia State Park Anastasia State Park is windswept and sandy, with an arc of beach that stretches four miles to Matanzas Inlet, curving in on itself to face the ancient city of St. Augustine. 
Anclote Key Preserve State Park A place to play Robinson Crusoe for a day or overnight, Anclote Key Preserve State Park is an offshore gem in the Gulf of Mexico made up of four islands within sight of Tarpon Springs
Bald Point Maritime Hammock Trail A remote beach, a sweep of estuary, a broad bay, and the Gulf of Mexico: the beauty that surrounds this 1.3 mile nature trail at Bald Point invites full exploration on a 2 mile hike.
Barefoot Beach Preserve In a hidden corner of Collier County, Barefoot Beach Preserve provides immersion in nature at a beauty spot along two miles of natural shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico just north of Wiggins Pass. 
Blowing Rocks Preserve At one of Florida's most dramatic shorelines, explore a limestone bluff battered by Atlantic Ocean and beaches along the Indian River Lagoon.
Caladesi Island State Park Protecting a windswept shoreline and a variety of habitats on a barrier island, Caladesi Island State Park is one of the gems of the Florida State Parks system.
Canaveral National Seashore Canaveral National Seashore protects 58,000 acres of maritime hammocks, dunes, and coastline north of Cape Canaveral, a natural sandy cape that formed where ocean currents meet.
Caspersen Beach Park The southernmost beach in Venice, Caspersen Beach is best known for its bounty of fossil shark's teeth, which people scoop and stoop to dig out of the sand.
Cayo Costa State Park To spend a day or a weekend on your own deserted island? Heaven. This is one of the tougher and costlier state parks to get to, but well worth it. 
Coral Cove A spectacular example of a rare type of Florida coastline, Coral Cove features a dramatic rocky shoreline carved into unusual shapes by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Deer Lake State Park Home to one of the less-visible coastal dune lakes along the South Walton coast, Deer Lake State Park provides the opportunity to see both ends of this coastal dune lake.
Don Pedro Island State Park Imagine your own private island: a sweep of bright white sand along the shallows of the Gulf of Mexico. That's Don Pedro Island, a Florida State Park that is mostly offshore.
Florida Trail, Seashore In addition to bike paths and the scenic UWF-SRIA Dunes Preserve, the 32-mile Seashore section of the Florida Trail walks you along a beach to the trail's Northern Terminus. 
Fort Clinch State Park With 1,100 acres of pristine beaches, towering dunes, maritime forest, and estuarine tidal marshes, Fort Clinch State Park is one of Florida’s paramount recreational areas. 
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park With cool ocean breezes and a plunge in the surf after your hike, the 2.7-mile hiking loop at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in Jacksonville is a great choice for a summer outing
Little St. George Island Trails If you’re looking for remote along Florida’s coast, Little St. George Island in Apalachicola Bay has over 9 miles of undeveloped beach and several miles of trails, and is only accessible by boat.
Dune Ridge Trail Expect some elevation change along the Atlantic Coast on this traverse of coastal habitats that includes the tall oceanfront dunes and the beach itself.
St. Andrews Sandy Point One of the secrets of St. Andrews State Park is its gentle, sweeping beach along Sandy Point, a natural extension of the barrier island that divides Grand Lagoon from St. Andrews Bay.
Smyrna Dunes Park At Smyrna Dunes Park, this 2.4-mile hike scenic coastal hike is largely along an accessible boardwalk, with side trips off to the sea and inlet via more rugged approaches.
St. George Island State Park Blessed with brilliant white quartz sand, St. George Island State Park is a sparkling, quiet getaway protecting nearly 2,000 acres of coastal habitats on a barrier island between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. 
Stump Pass Beach State Park At the south tip of Manasota Key, Stump Pass Beach State Park sits at just the right angle to collect seashells like a scoop, so early risers have great shelling
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park With one of Florida's most beautiful sweeps of beach, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a linear preserve with tall dunes along three miles of shoreline.
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Notable for its historic landscaped gardens under a canopy of ancient live oaks, Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is also the home of one of Florida's rare rocky shorelines.