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Where to park
Where to leave the car
Metered bays along South Roosevelt Boulevard.
Key West's longest beach, best at sunrise with the kite surfers
The island's longest public beach, on the Atlantic side by the airport. The water is shallow and warm rather than deep, and the concessions rent kayaks, paddleboards and jet skis along its length.
Where to park
Metered bays along South Roosevelt Boulevard.
When to arrive
Sunrise, before the tour buses and the midday heat.
Tours & excursions · Best-sellers on Viator
Hand-picked from Viator's top-rated experiences on Florida, sorted by review volume and average rating. Free cancellation up to 24 h before, reserve now and pay later.
Single-day admission to the best coaster park in Florida outside Orlando, with the option to add Adventure Island water park next door. Rope-drop Iron Gwazi and ride the Serengeti train before the afternoon heat.
Combined admission to LEGOLAND Florida and the adjoining Peppa Pig Theme Park at Winter Haven, built inside the historic Cypress Gardens. Aimed squarely at children between two and twelve.
Round-trip transport from the Orlando resort area to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Merritt Island, with admission and the two-hour Apollo/Saturn V bus tour included.
Airboat through the sawgrass prairies west of Miami with a naturalist, followed by an alligator and wildlife presentation at the park. Transfers from Miami Beach and downtown are available.
Timed-entry admission to Rapids Water Park at Riviera Beach, an hour north of Miami, with Big Thunder, Brain Drain and a dedicated toddler lagoon. Parking is paid separately at the gate.
Admission to Zoo Miami's 300-hectare cageless habitats or to Jungle Island on Watson Island, with parrot and primate encounters a few minutes from South Beach.
Guided walk through the largest Art Deco district in the world and across the bay into Little Havana, with a cigar-rolling stop and a Cuban coffee window.
Coach day trip down the Overseas Highway to Key West, with free time on Duval Street and optional snorkelling, catamaran or hop-on trolley add-ons.
Catamaran cruise out of Clearwater Beach along the Gulf coast, with wild dolphins alongside the boat and the sun going down over the water on the return leg.
Tasting walk through Tampa's cigar quarter, taking in a 1905 bakery, a Cuban sandwich, a cigar demonstration and the brick streets between them.
Small-boat safari from Everglades City through the mangrove maze of the Ten Thousand Islands, with dolphins, manatees, roseate spoonbills and a shelling stop.
Unlimited all-day travel on the Fort Lauderdale water taxi, calling at Las Olas, the beach, the Riverwalk and Hollywood, with commentary on the Millionaire's Row mansions.
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How you get there
Step-free from the pavement, several ramps.
What you'll find
Local tips
Around this beach
Nearest villages on Florida — sorted by distance. Ideal bases for staying close to the beach.
Guide to the linked village
See town guide →Asked by first-time visitors
Every question people put to an AI assistant before a first visit, answered here in full — best time to go, itinerary, entry requirements, safety, transport and where to stay, plus the details guidebooks skip.
Practical questions about this beach
Key West's longest beach, best at sunrise with the kite surfers. The island's longest public beach, on the Atlantic side by the airport. The water is shallow and warm rather than deep, and the concessions rent kayaks, paddleboards and jet skis along its length. It's a town beach in Key West, Florida: 800 m long, imported sand over a coral shelf, with water described as very shallow, warm, 25–31 °c.
Metered bays along South Roosevelt Boulevard.
Sunrise, before the tour buses and the midday heat.
Step-free from the pavement, several ramps.
On site: Watersport hire, Showers, Food trucks and Volleyball.
Water shoes help — the shelf turns to coral rubble in places Fort Zachary Taylor has clearer water and shade for a small entry fee Bahia Honda, an hour up US-1, is the best beach in the Keys
Prompt pack
Use them as they are, then bring the answers back to us — we correct what the machine gets wrong about Smathers Beach with local eyes.
Human verification: every answer above has been checked against what is actually open, bookable and walkable in Smathers Beach — not generated and left unread.
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Editorial notice
Editorial summary produced with AI support and reviewed by a human editor. Facts are as reported by the sources linked in the text. Verify anything important before you act on it. Spotted an error? Use the contact form and we will correct it.
Last reviewed · 30 July 2026
Prices & times
All prices and times on this page are estimates and change often. They are a starting point from an independent editor, never official or guaranteed figures. Always check the final price and the opening hours with the official venue or operator before you book or travel.
Checked · 30 July 2026