Best Dog Beaches in Florida

What’s better than soaking up the sun and splashing in the waves?

Soaking up the sun and splashing in the waves with your puppy, of course! Here are more than a handful of the best beaches in Florida to bring your favorite furry friend for some unforgettable summer adventures.

Walton Rocks Beach (Jensen Beach)

Set on 24 acres, Walton Rocks Beach is an off-leash park. Canines are free to run and enjoy the waves with their owners. With its location on Jensen Beach, on the east coast near Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, the views aren’t too shabby, either.

Brohard Paw Park (Venice)

This fenced-in park is a puppy’s paradise, complete with leash posts, water fountains, and dog showers. Brohard is situated on Florida’s west coast, near Sarasota. It’s not an off-leash park, but it’s a clean, well-maintained, and downright pretty place for Fido to blow off some steam.

Dog Beach (Fort Myers)

This Fort Myers beach is designed with four-legged friends in mind. With shallow water and a dog run, its exactly as its straightforward name suggests. Free parking is a plus, and there are thoughtful features like canine showers as well.

Hobie Island Beach Park (Miami)

The only dog-friendly beach in the county, Hobie Island Beach is off of the Rickenbacker Causeway and lets man’s best friend get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and waves. The beach boasts gorgeous city views, and you can rent watersports equipment here as well.

Picnic Island Park (Tampa)

In addition to a designated park, dogs are welcome to frolic off-leash on the beach, too. Picnic Island has a ton of other fun stuff going on, from canoeing and boating to a playground and a pier, making it easy to make a day of it here.

Smyrna Dunes Park (New Smyrna Beach)

You’ll find five different ecosystems here (including—you guessed it—sand dunes), plus an observation tower, nature trails, and more across 72 acres of land. While dogs must be kept on leashes during their visit, they’ll still find plenty to see, do, and sniff.