Health & Fitness
Which Florida Beaches Are Open, Closed By Coronavirus Outbreak
Many FL beaches remain closed, but some have reopened with restrictions. Patch has compiled a list to let you know where the surf's up.
TALLAHASSEE, FL — While most of the 663 miles of Florida beaches remain closed, about half of the state's 35 coastal counties have given the OK for limited beach access, which generally means no sitting in chairs, sunbathing or being among large groups of friends. Patch found only one Florida county that has not imposed any specific restrictions on beachgoers.
Jacksonville's Duval County opened its beaches April 17 for limited access, but beachgoers appeared to disregard social distancing requirements. The mayor of Miami Beach said he can't see his opening his city's beaches before the beginning of June.
Key West opened its beaches Monday in the southernmost point of the United States, but only Monroe County residents can get past the police checkpoints from the mainland.
Find out what's happening in Miamifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Sarasota County-operated beaches also opened Monday for essential activities such as walking, running, fishing and swimming. Nearby Manatee County will re-open public beaches on May 4 along Anna Maria Island with social distancing guidelines in effect.
Find out what's happening in Miamifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Patch has put together a county-by-county list of where the surf's up and where it's not in Florida based on information compiled by Visit Florida as well as from information provided directly by counties.
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Here is the most recent beach data as of April 28:
| County | Beaches Open Without Restrictions | Beaches Open With Restrictions | Beaches Closed |
| 1. Bay County | Yes. Beaches open from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. | ||
| 2. Brevard County | Yes. Beaches are open with CDC social distancing restrictions of at least 6 feet between people and no groups larger than 10 people. | ||
| 3. Broward County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 4. Charlotte County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 5. Citrus County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 6. Collier County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 7. Dixie County | While there are no public beaches in this coastal county, the county's parks on the Gulf of Mexico are closed. Some boat ramps are open. | ||
| 8. Duval County | Yes. The beaches are open with restrictions from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. No sunbathing, towels, blankets, chairs, coolers, grills. Permitted activities include walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, taking care of pets and surfing in accordance with social distancing guidelines. | ||
| 9. Escambia County | Public beach areas, public beach access ways and public beachfront parks are closed. Boat ramps, the fishing pier and the Bob Sikes fishing bridge is open to the public. | ||
| 10. Flagler County | Yes. Flagler Beaches are open to exercise activity under social distancing guidelines. The boardwalk, pier and parking along A1A adjacent to the boardwalk remain closed. | ||
| 11. Franklin County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 12. Gulf County | Yes. Gulf County beaches are open for recreational use from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Boat ramps are closed to nonresidents. | ||
| 13. Hernando | Beaches Closed | ||
| 14. Hillsborough County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 15. Indian River County | Yes. Beach access points at Indian River County public guarded beaches will reopen on April 28. The beaches will be open to the public during normal hours, from sunrise to sunset, for limited recreational activities. | ||
| 16. Jefferson County | While there are no beaches in this coastal county, there is a freshwater river park that is closed. | ||
| 17. Lee County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 18. Levy County | Bird Creek Park on the Gulf Mexico is open without any restrictions. | Yes. The city of Cedar Key has opened its beach, but only city residents and essential workers can pass through a police checkpoint into the island. | |
| 19. Manatee County | Yes. The county will re-open public beaches on May 4 along Anna Maria Island. Beachgoers are expected to observe CDC social distancing guidelines and they will be limited to two-hour parking at the County's public parking lots. | ||
| 20. Martin County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 21. Miami-Dade | Beaches Closed | ||
| 22. Monroe County | Yes. The Florida Keys are closed to visitors with enforcement at physical checkpoints. But Key West opened its beaches on April 27 in the southernmost point of the United States. Monroe County residents can get past the police checkpoints from the mainland. Key West requires beach visitors to remain at least 6 feet apart except immediate family members who live in the same home. Groups larger than 10 people are not permitted. | ||
| 23. Nassau County | The beaches of Amelia Island, including both the City of Fernandina Beach and Nassau County are closed. | ||
| 24. Okaloosa County | Yes. Effective May 1, beaches in Okaloosa County will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 4:40 p.m. to 7 p.m. Social distancing guidelines will be enforced, and beaches will be cleared at time of closure. | Henderson Beach State Park and the Gulf Islands National Seashore remain closed at this time. | |
| 25. Palm Beach County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 26. Pasco County | Yes. Sunwest Park is open to existing annual passholders from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The restricted opening allows for essential recreation activities. Social distancing/gathering guidelines remain. No lifeguards are on duty. | Most beaches are closed. | |
| 27. Pinellas County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 28. Santa Rosa County | Yes. The beaches of Navarre Beach will open starting May 1 from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily for residents and visitors, both sound side and gulf side. Parking for visitors will be available in the lots for the pier, boat ramp and Navarre Beach Marine Park. Parking lots for beach access points west of the pier will be closed. Visitors may also walk and bike the multi-use path of the island of Navarre Beach. | ||
| 29. Sarasota County | Yes. Sarasota County-operated beaches are open for limited use or essential activities such as walking, running, fishing, and swimming. Social distancing is required. No lounging, coolers or alcohol, umbrellas, towels, chairs. No access to parking lots, concession stands or playground. | Lido Beach remains closed in the city of Sarasota until further notice. The city of Venice has closed the South Jetty (Humphris Park), Venice Fishing Pier, Brohard Paw Park, playgrounds and tennis courts, and the Children's Fountain in Centennial Park. | |
| 30. St. Johns County | Yes. Beaches are open from 6 a.m. to noon seven days a week for uses that include physical activity and motion. Permitted activities on include walking, running, exercise, surfing, biking, fishing, swimming, surfing and other uses that require physical activity. Lifeguards may not be on duty. All swimming is at your own risk. | ||
| 31. St. Lucie County | Yes. Public beaches are open starting 7 a.m. April 28. St. Lucie County and Fort Pierce are reopening beaches for walking, jogging, fishing, surfing, swimming, snorkeling, collecting seashells, kayaking, paddleboarding and other activities. Social distancing requirements are in effect. Visitors are encouraged to swim only at following beaches where lifeguards are present. | ||
| 32. Taylor County | Beaches Closed | ||
| 33. Volusia County | Yes. Volusia County beaches are open for some exercise-related activities on the beach such as walking, jogging, biking, fishing, surfing and swimming. Prohibited activities include sunbathing, sitting in chairs, organized sports or lying on blankets and grouping of people on the beach. A minimum of 6 feet social distancing is required. Beachgoers must leave the beach once they finish their permitted activity. Three beach ramps are open to improve beach access for disabled people at Williams Avenue in Daytona Beach, Dunlawton Boulevard in Daytona Beach Shores and 3rd Avenue in New Smyrna Beach. Only vehicles with current handicapped license plates or placards will be permitted onto the beach. Vehicles are required to stay within 100 yards of the ramp and must space themselves appropriately. All other beach access ramps are closed to vehicles. Off-beach parking lots and coastal parks remain closed. Visitors swim at their own risk and lifeguards may not be on duty. | ||
| 34. Wakulla County | Yes. Shell Point and Mashes Sands Beaches are open, according to a Facebook post from the county. Parking is permitted only in designated parking areas. | ||
| 35. Walton County | Beaches Closed |
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