7 beaches near Fort Lauderdale: Where to go for sun, sand, and surf

It's not exactly a secret that Fort Lauderdale is a beach city. Located on Florida's Atlantic coast and home to the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the city and the greater Fort Lauderdale area have some truly exceptional beaches. Almost from the moment you arrive at Fort Lauderdale Airport, you'll be surrounded by beautiful locations to swim, sunbathe, enjoy water sports, and experience everything else that makes Fort Lauderdale beaches so popular with travelers from across the United States and around the world.

With so many beaches to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision on where to spend your time. The beaches in Fort Lauderdale offer a variety of different seaside experiences, whether you want a lively family beach with lots of activities, a place to party the night away, or a more natural and isolated locale to enjoy the scenery.

Whatever kind of Fort Lauderdale beach you're looking for, you'll find it much easier to enjoy the coastline if you don't carry more than you need to. Leave your heavy bags behind at a Bounce luggage storage in Fort Lauderdale and check out these great Fort Lauderdale beaches for all the sand, sun, and surf you could possibly want.

Fort Lauderdale Beach

You can't really talk about beaches near Fort Lauderdale and not mention Fort Lauderdale beach itself. This seven-mile-long stretch of sand not far from the Port of Fort Lauderdale is like the living room of the city, and you'll find both locals and tourists hanging out on any of the many warm and sunny days the city gets.

Travel distance from Fort Lauderdale

Zero, basically. Fort Lauderdale Beach lies on the eastern edge of the city itself and is a part of the downtown core.

Activity recommendations

Water sports: Fort Lauderdale Beach Park is a phenomenal location for trying new water-based activities. You can go stand-up paddle boarding, jet skiing, water skiing, parasailing, or enjoy just about every other water sport imaginable from Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. Easily one of the best beaches near Fort Lauderdale for staying active, there are tons of businesses on this beach that will rent you equipment or give you lessons so you can enjoy the water in many different ways.

Food: Since it's located close to the heart of the city, Fort Lauderdale Beach is surrounded by some great restaurants. In fact, some of the best restaurants in the city are here. Plus, with so much beachfront land, there are lots of places for food trucks to set up and serve exciting cuisine to beachgoers. Whether you want a fancy meal at a restaurant overlooking the sea or would rather grab a quick hotdog from a food truck, you'll find all the options you could possibly want for food here.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park: Located just behind Fort Lauderdale Beach itself, you'll find this popular park. The park preserves native Florida mangrove forests and has a freshwater lagoon, so it's a great place to go fishing or take a hike through a natural environment right in the heart of the city.

South City Beach Park

Located a few miles south of Fort Lauderdale, the suburban town of Hallandale Beach is home to two great beaches, South City Beach and North City. Of the two, City Beach Park is more lively and offers greater amenities, but it's nice to have a choice of beaches to explore while you're here.

Travel distance from Fort Lauderdale

It's around 12 miles from Fort Lauderdale to Hallandale Beach and City Beach Park. Part of the greater Fort Lauderdale area, you can reach the beach in around 20 minutes by car. Alternatively, you can take the bus to get to Hallandale Beach in around one hour.

Activity recommendations

Live music: If you find yourself at City Beach Park on the fourth Sunday of any month from December to April, you're in luck. The Beach Entertainment Series brings local musicians to the beach to provide free concerts, creating a great atmosphere on this beautiful beach.

Beach sports: South City Beach Park is a great place to stay active. As well as beach volleyball courts, you'll find a kid's play area, beach soccer, and plenty of other ways to stay active on this stretch of sand.

North City Beach Park: Smaller than South City, North City Beach Park is a wonderful destination for foodies, with some exceptional restaurants on the strip behind the beach. As one of the best greater Fort Lauderdale beaches, this place isn't exactly unknown, but it does tend to be a little less busy than South City, so can provide a good option if the other beach is too busy.

Hillsboro Beach

This small town in the greater Fort Lauderdale area is known for its exceptional beach with tons of popular beach resorts and its iconic lighthouse. Hillsboro Beach is a great place to come for sweeping ocean views and a more laid-back beach environment.

Travel distance from Fort Lauderdale

Hillsboro Beach sits around 15 miles north of Fort Lauderdale and can be reached by car in about 25 minutes.

Activity recommendations

Hiking: The historic lighthouse at Hillsboro Beach is one of the most famous in the area. Take a walk along the beach and then climb the 175 steps to the top of the lighthouse to enjoy incredible views of the Florida coastline. It's a great way to stay active on your beach trip and appreciate the natural beauty of the area.

Wildlife viewing: Hillsboro Beach is known for having one of the highest concentrations of sea turtle nests anywhere in Florida. From March to October, leatherback, loggerhead, and green sea turtles come here to nest. It is forbidden by federal law to disturb the turtles in any way, so make sure you maintain a safe distance while observing these beautiful animals.

North Ocean Park

Located in the town of Pompano Beach, North Ocean Park is known for its crystal-clear waters that make it one of the most popular beaches in Fort Lauderdale. It's well worth the journey to Pompano Beach to enjoy this beautiful location.

Travel distance from Fort Lauderdale

Twelve miles north of Fort Lauderdale, North Ocean Park is right next to Hillsboro Beach, so you could combine a visit to the two of them into a single day. Expect the drive to take around 25 minutes.

Activity recommendations

Swimming: Because of its clear water and high population of sea turtles, this is one the best beaches in Fort Lauderdale for swimming and snorkeling. Bring your own snorkeling gear or rent some from one of the many businesses nearby and explore the underwater world in this fantastic location.

Kite flying: With reliable ocean breezes, this is one of the best beaches in Fort Lauderdale for kite flying. On any given day, you'll see lots of colorful kites riding the air currents here, so bring your own or rent or buy one from a local business in Pompano Beach to join in the fun.

Palm Beach

Well known as a seaside resort popular with the rich and famous, this luxurious town is a great place for upscale dining and shopping in the many Palm Beach resorts and hotels. However, it's also home to an exceptional white sand beach with clear warm water lapping against the sand.

Travel distance from Fort Lauderdale

Palm Beach lies almost 75 miles from Fort Lauderdale and will take around an hour to reach by car. Still, there's more than enough to do here to spend the whole day or even more in this town, so don't let the journey time put you off.

Activity recommendations

Food: The selection of restaurants on offer here is truly incredible. The status of Palm Beach as a luxury resort means it has tons of exceptional restaurants led by celebrity chefs, along with more casual eateries where you can enjoy fresh seafood and cuisine from around the world. Bring your appetite with you as you explore, and you'll find lots to enjoy.

Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens: Based in the waterside former home of sculptor Ann Norton, these tranquil gardens are a great place to explore the work of one of Fort Lauderdale's best-known artists and appreciate her beautiful sculptures in a natural setting. A can't-miss activity for art lovers, this is a great place for anyone who wants to take a break from the sometimes hectic atmosphere of the beach and get some culture close to one of the best beaches near Fort Lauderdale.

Henry Morrison Flagler Museum: The former home of an oil tycoon, this beautiful mansion is now a museum open to the public. Step back in time to the Gilded Age and see what life was like for the mega-wealthy who called this beautiful area home at the turn of the last century.

Dania Beach

Hidden gems can be hard to come by this close to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, but Dania Beach is one of the lesser-known waterfront locations in the area, so it's a great place to come if you're looking for some peace and quiet. There is also a good seafood restaurant right on the beach, or you can try your hand at catching your own fresh fish.

Travel distance from Fort Lauderdale

The city of Dania Beach is practically a suburb of Fort Lauderdale itself. Only five miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach can be reached with a drive of only around 10 minutes.

Activity recommendations

Fishing: Dania Beach is known for its pier, which makes it a fantastic place for fishing. The 900-foot-long pier has fish cleaning stations and shelter from the sun and is also home to the Quarterdeck restaurant, so even if you don't catch any fish of your own, you can still feast on the bounty of the sea here.

West Lake Park: Located just inland of Dania Beach, this preserved mangrove swamp is one of the best destinations in the area for kayaking. Bring your own boat or rent one from a local business and explore the ecology of Florida in this tranquil location. The park is also home to the Anne Kolb Nature Center, where you can learn more about the plants and animals of this unique environment.

Hollywood Beach

Looking for a taste of Old Florida? Hollywood Beach is where you'll find it. Just outside of Fort Lauderdale itself, Hollywood Beach is famous for its iconic boardwalk packed with cafés, bars, restaurants, and hotels.

Travel distance from Fort Lauderdale

It's 10 miles from Fort Lauderdale to Hollywood Beach, so expect the drive to take about 20 minutes.

Activity recommendations

The boardwalk: Hollywood Beach Boardwalk is one of the main attractions in this area. Take a walk or rent a bike or four-wheel pedal buggy to explore the brick-paved street that stretches for over two miles along the beach. Take your time exploring, as you'll find plenty of shops, restaurants, and other things to do in this famous location.

Bandshell: The Hollywood Beach bandshell is a great place to enjoy live music. Free concerts are held here throughout the year, especially during the busy summer season, and they make the perfect end to a beautiful day on the beach.

Conclusion

Fort Lauderdale is blessed with some truly incredible beaches, and you can't visit the city without seeing at least a few of them. Not only do these beaches provide some of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale on a budget, but they also give you the perfect way to experience the more natural side of Florida.

Whether you're looking for Beach to spend an afternoon on or a beachside resort for a weekend trip from Fort Lauderdale, the beaches in the area are the perfect places to relax. Leave your bags behind at a convenient Fort Lauderdale luggage storage and enjoy the Florida coastline for yourself.