Best Kid-Friendly Beaches Near Miami | Mommy Poppins

Miami beaches are vacation destinations for tourists all year long—perfect spots for relaxing beach days with kids; staying active with fun outdoor games and sports; and enjoying nightly concerts nearby. We have compiled a list of some of the best Miami beaches and South Florida beaches in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties for families of all shapes and sizes.

Need more ideas to do this summer? Check out our Summer Activities Guide for South Florida Kids to stay busy, as well as features about Frost Science Museum, Free Summer Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals in Miami, and a Visitor’s Guide to Naples, Florida.

Kid-Friendly Beaches in Miami-Dade County

South Pointe Park Beach – Miami Beach

At the southernmost tip of Miami Beach sits South Pointe Park Beach, located at a larger park with an outdoor spray park, lifeguards, bathrooms, walking promenade, pier, playground, and restaurant. Parking may be difficult so head there early, or enjoy a walk to the beach (bring a beach cart). Watch the cruise ships go in and out of port.

MidBeach Park at Indian Park Beach – Miami Beach

Quiet and normally not too crowded, this beach has public restrooms, a playground, lifeguards, public showers, nearby restaurants, and sunbeds available for rent. Parking available for a fee. This quieter beach is away from the busier areas of Miami Beach —the water is usually calm, clear, and shallow, so you can walk out when wading.

North Shore Open Space Park – Miami Beach

The beach is the most northern one in Miami Beach, attached to a large open air park with bike trails and dog-walking pathways. The beach has volleyball, lifeguards, public restrooms, picnic tables, and showers. The amenities are presently being renovated making way for fresher, updated facilities.

 

Take the kids to Matheson Hammock Park Beach for calm, shallow waters. Photo courtesy of Miami Beach Advisor

Matheson Hammock Park – Coral Gables

Matheson Hammock Park beach is great for families because of its small size and manmade atoll pool (warm, safe waters), flushed naturally with the tidal action of Biscayne Bay.  The park has a full-service marina, bathrooms, lifeguards, showers, snack bar and restaurant, picnic pavilions, and nature trails. If you enjoy kite boarding, the active breezes and calm shallow waters make launching easy. Park for a small fee. 

Crandon Park – Key Biscayne

This two-mile beach has beautiful sand, calm water, ab promenade, restrooms, lifeguards, concession stands, multiple picnic areas, and a huge parking lot. Crandon Park also has playgrounds and a skate park. The sandbar makes a great beach for kids to swim out to, and walk or wade along its length. Kite boarding equipment rentals and lessons offered at the park’s water sports concessions  

Kid-Friendly Beaches in Broward County

Main Public Beach – Pompano Beach

The main public beach has warm, clear waters across three miles. Beach activities include water sports, volleyball, an interactive water fountain, playground, outdoor fitness equipment, walkways, and picnic areas. The beach has lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and barbecue grills.

 

Bring kids to the beach for a day of South Florida fun! Photo by @laurabaribeau, courtesy of the Discover Lauderdale By the Sea Facebook page.

Lauderdale by the Sea Beach – Lauderdale by the Sea

This 2.5-mile beach sits in a quaint beach town with restaurants, shops, restrooms, showers, and easy access to the beach. Lauderdale by the Sea Beach offers snorkeling and diving, with a living coral reef. The Friedt Family Park, behind Town Hall, has a children’s playground, bocce ball court, shuffleboard area, two tennis courts, a basketball court, and public bathroom.

Hollywood Beach and Broadwalk – Hollywood

Hollywood Beach is set along the 2.2-mile Broadwalk, a pedestrian-only roadway with cafes, bars, shops, public restrooms, and the Hollywood Bandshell, where you can hear live music. Rent bikes, enjoy the playground, and set up on the beach. Public parking available for a fee.

 

Tigertail Lake Recreation Water Park at Dania Beach offers inflatable fun for kids. Photo courtesy of Visit Florida. 

Ocean Park – Dania Beach

Dania Beach Ocean Park, a quieter beach in Fort Lauderdale, has public restrooms, lifeguards, a restaurant, and sandy beaches. At the entrance of Dania Beach sits Frank C. “Tootie” Adler Park, a great place to barbecue by the ocean while the kids enjoy the great outdoors. The Tigertail Lake Recreation Water Park entertains with inflatable water park rides.

South City Beach Park – Hallandale Beach

The “louder” of the two beaches in Hallandale Beach, South City Beach Park has parking, restrooms, outdoor showers, an open air pavilion, bocce courts, playground, sand volleyball, and a beachfront concession open daily. This beach is ADA accessible.

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park – Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park has full court basketball, a non-motorized boat ramp, grills, outdoor showers, picnic tables, playground, restrooms, lifeguards, and volleyball court. Parking can be tricky —try valeting your car at one of the local hotels (a short walk to one of the beach entrances).

Las Olas Beach – Fort Lauderdale

Busy Las Olas Beach is a great option for families that love the fun of an active beach town. Las Olas features outdoor showers, lifeguards, park benches, restrooms, splash pad (across from the beach in the park), and walking paths. Paid parking is available.

Kid-Friendly Beaches in Palm Beach County

Delray Municipal Beach – Delray Beach

This two-mile long municipal beach welcomes over 3 million visitors each year! Many of the beach entrances feature showers, bicycle and towel racks, and drinking fountains with bottle fillers. Free and paid parking available. This clean beach has lifeguards and safe waters for all ages. Public restrooms available. 

Lake Worth Municipal Beach – Lake Worth

Lake Worth beach has a laid back, relaxed vibe, with cabanas available to rent, places to picnic, public restrooms and showers, and swimmable water. Walk to nearby restaurants and ice cream shops and spend the entire day here.

Oceanfront Park – Boynton Beach

Oceanfront Park’s beach features lifeguards, playgrounds, fitness area, picnic areas with grills, tables and restrooms, and a concession stand cafe open daily. This beach has ADA accommodations and a relaxing scenery.

 

Ocean Inlet Park is a great option for families looking to enjoy a full day at the beach. Photo by @muchfuntotravel, courtesy of Trip Advisor.

Ocean Inlet Park – Ocean Ridge

At the southern end of The Palm Beaches, Ocean Inlet Park offers amazing beachfront property. Enjoy picnic areas, lifeguards, playgrounds, a marina, walking trail, fishing and boating areas, kayaking, free parking, newly renovated restrooms, a seating pavilion, snack bar, family picnic shelters, grills, showers, and restrooms.

DuBois Park – Jupiter

With guarded beach frontage on the intracoastal and lagooon side, playground, picnic areas, parking, bathrooms, showers, and a snorkeling lagoon, this beach is a good option for families with kids. DuBois Park beach has a man-made barrier of natural rock and concrete, which shelters a calm swimming area. This natural pool is replenished and cleaned by the currents of the inlet, and access to the swimming area is easy and well-marked.

Red Reef Park – Boca Raton

On the southern end of The Palm Beaches, this oceanfront park and beach offers a great location for snorkeling and beach play. The nearby Gumbo Limbo Nature Center introduces families to educational programs about sea turtles, conservation efforts, and local ecology.

Carlin Park – Jupiter

Sprawling Carlin Park’s beach has amenities for everyone! Activities include bocce ball, pickleball, tennis, sand volleyball, playgrounds, running trails, outdoor showers, bathrooms, picnic areas, and shelters with grills. The park’s Seabr​eeze Amphitheater​ hosts wonderful live music and events in the evening, making it a great excursion from day to night.