7 Small Beach Towns to Visit in Florida

Hollywood Beach

Located just 15 minutes away from the Fort Lauderdale Airport, Hollywood Beach is easily overlooked due to its more popular neighbors, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, but this also makes Hollywood the perfect place to stay in South Florida! You are just 20 mins from downtown Fort Lauderdale and about 30 minutes away from Miami Beach so you can get the best of all worlds! The Hollywood Beach Boardwalk is the most popular hangout in town with a ton of cute places to eat and drink right on the beach.

For things to do in Hollywood check out my Hollywood, FL Travel Guide.

Indian Rocks Beach

IRB is a short drive from Tampa and St Petersburg and makes for a perfect weekend getaway. There are 27 beach accesses in town and a bunch of things to do nearby.

Check out my IRB Mini Vacay + Indian Rocks Beach Vlog for some recommendations!

Jupiter

Although Jupiter is known for its fancy mansions and golf courses, their beaches are unlike any other beaches in Florida. (Blowing Rocks Beach pictured above) The water is insanely gorgeous and there are endless things to do on the water.

For things to do in Jupiter check out this article.

Longboat Key

If you're looking for a quiet beach getaway I highly recommend Longboat Key. One thing to note about the key is that they do not have any chain restaurants. Everything is locally owned and small, but St. Armands Circle is just down the road with lots of restaurants and shops. (local + chain)

Check out 2 Days in Longboat Key for my recommendations!

Marco Island

The purest little gem of Southwest Florida. The water, the beaches, everything about MI is perfection. It's like instant relaxation when you cross over the bridge. Highly recommend visiting!

For where to stay, what to do and where to eat check out my Marco Island Travel Guide.

Melbourne Beach

Located on the Space Coast about an hour south of Orlando, Melbourne Beach is the perfect town to visit if you're looking to just relax by the beach. The beaches are big and dog friendly, which is so awesome.

Be sure to check out Sand on the Beach, Yellow Dog Cafe, and Ocean 302.

Siesta Key

Talk about a stunning beach! The water is crystal clear and the sand feels like actual baby powder. That in itself is enough to visit. It is located just 20 mins south of Longboat Key if you want to explore 2 beach towns in one weekend!

Be sure to check out Siesta Key Village for some good food + shopping, Siesta Key Oyster Bar is super good!