There’s nothing like the Florida beaches, and in the Boca Raton area, you can find 2 miles of pristine beaches and ocean shoreline to enjoy. The city beaches are clean, have lifeguards on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and offer lots of activities for beachgoers, whether you like to relax on the sand or get out on the water for activities. Take a look at some of the top beaches in and near Boca Raton.
1. South Beach Park Pavilion
South Beach Park Pavilion is a large park featuring a beach known for beautiful white sand and lots of activities. This beach has a great surf, and whether you enjoy it on a surfboard or boogie board is up to you. The large area provides plenty of space to spread out, and the beach doesn’t attract as much traffic as some of the other Boca Raton beaches, so you can enjoy time by the water without huge crowds. This Boca Raton beach is also a popular spot for stand-up paddleboarding, whether you’re a novice or an experienced SUP paddler.
Surf fishing is another fun activity available at South Beach Park Pavilion. Just make sure to check the times, since fishing in the designated swimming areas during regular swimming hours is not allowed.
2. Red Reef Park
Red Reef Park has something for everyone. The park covers over 67 acres of land and provides beach access. The park is the perfect place for a day outside with swimming, snorkeling, and surf fishing if you head to the beach. It’s also home to the Red Reef Executive Golf Course and the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
Red Reef Park’s beach is one of the best places for snorkeling. It features an elaborate human-made reef that’s easy to get to, making it perfect for swimmers and snorkelers of all experience levels. As you swim out to the reef, you’re sure to run into all kinds of sea life, from eels to snooks and hundreds of other species of fish. Once you get to the reef, you’ll find colorful displays of vegetation and underwater life. Take the time to explore the sponges, coral, and sea plants.
Kids love this beach, which features lots of sand to dig in, and they can even go shark-tooth hunting. Lifeguards are on duty every day all year round. When you need a break from the sun, Red Reef Park has a renovated boardwalk with covered pavilions where you can sit for lunch, or you can sit on one of the benches and enjoy the view of the ocean. At the end of the boardwalk, a brick walkway leads you to South Beach Park.
3. Spanish River Park
Spanish River Park covers 95 acres on the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll find plenty of parking on the west side of state Road A1A, with access to the beach through three different tunnels that pass under the highway. Spanish River Park is one of the few Boca Raton parks that allow dogs during certain hours.
Bark Beach is the designated area at Spanish River Park for dogs. You can let your four-legged friend run off-leash in the designated area, as long as you have a permit. It’s $31 per dog for residents or $167 per dog for nonresidents. If you’re just visiting the Boca Raton area, you can get a weekend pass for just $11 per dog.
The park has 10 pavilions with a capacity for up to 200 people, as well as over 125 picnic tables. Lifeguards are on duty every day at the Spanish River Park beach from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
When you’ve had enough of sitting in the sun and want to get up for a walk, you can either stay on the beach or head to the park’s nature trails. The trails are all well-kept and mulched and offer a nice quiet walk through the woods.
The break at Spanish River park provides a reliable surf, with the best conditions usually found during the summer months. The waves break both left and right, with good surf at all stages of the tide.
4. South Inlet Park
South Inlet Park has 850 feet of beach. The beach is wheelchair accessible, and lifeguards are on duty seven days a week. You’ll find picnic areas with grills at South Inlet Park, along with a picnic shelter. If the kids want to get off the beach, there’s a play structure for them to use. Parking is $3 per hour during the week and $4 per hour on the weekends.
The jetties are a popular spot for fishing at this Boca Raton park. Just keep in mind that the surf crashes into the rocks with quite a bit of force, so be cautious.
South Inlet Park’s beach is small, but it doesn’t see a lot of crowds, which makes it feel like a private beach. It has clean restrooms and showers.
5. Deerfield Beach
Deerfield Beach is a low-key beach town featuring the award-winning Blue Wave Beach. The beach has nine lifeguard towers with lifeguards on duty 365 days a year. Surfing is allowed on the north side of the pier and south of tower 7. You’ll also find volleyball courts and recreation areas on the north side of the pier.
Deerfield Beach has a wonderful boardwalk that runs for over a mile. It’s a beautiful walk, with grass and palm trees just a few steps away from the sand. The boardwalk offers beachgoers a place to get out of the sun and off the sand. You can pick your chair up and park it on the grass under the shade of a palm tree.
If you want to spend the day fishing, the International Fishing Pier at the boardwalk is the place to go. You can rent a rod and reel if needed and get your bait right at the pier. Even if you don’t want to fish, you can walk out on the pier to watch the fishing and get some great views of the ocean.
The beaches in the Boca Raton area are perfect for residents, and they attract many visitors who take family vacations or head to Florida for the winter. We hope you liked our list. Did we miss one of your favorite Boca Raton beaches? If so, let us know so we can add it!