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The 2 Best Beaches In Florida According To Dr. Beach

Author Tampa Bay's Morning Krewe

The 2 best beaches in Florida have been named and this is according to Dr. Beach. Dr. Beach is a man named Steve Leatherman. He is a coastal scientist that has been creating the list of best beaches in the United States since 1991. The way he comes up with his list is he looks at 50 different criteria. Those criteria include water and sand quality, the size of waves, the shape of the beach, wildlife, public safety, and cleanliness.

The 2 Best Beaches In Florida

The 2 best beaches in Florida according to Dr. Beach are Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin/Clearwater and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples.

The reason why Caladesi Island State Park is on the list because it is one of the few untouched islands on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Secondly, it is only accessible by boat. On the Caladesi Island website it says, “Whether it is a stroll along the island’s pristine beaches or a kayak trip through the bayside mangrove forest, a trip to Caladesi Island is an unforgettable experience. Take a nature trail walk to the historic Scharrer Homestead through the island’s interior and listen to the ocean breeze whisper through old-growth slash pines and feel the embrace of expansive live oaks.”

The 10 Best Beaches In The U.S.

Along with the 2 best beaches in Florida, below is the top 10 best beaches in the United States according to Dr. Beach. The #1 beach is a beach is Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Oahu, Hawaii, which was #2 in 2023. He listed it as #1 because it’s the widest beach on that stretch of beach and an offshore coral reef protects it. Dr. Beach also says because of that it makes it great for families with children. There is also a lagoon at that beach that is great for swimming.

  1. Duke Kahanamoku Beach: Oahu, Hawaii
  2. Coopers Beach: Southampton, New York
  3. Wailea Beach: Maui, Hawaii
  4. Caladesi Island State Park: Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
  5. Beachwalker Park: Kiawah Island, South Carolina
  6. Main Beach: East Hampton, New York
  7. Poipu Beach: Kauai, Hawaii
  8. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park: Naples, Florida
  9. Coast Guard Beach: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
  10. Coronado Beach: San Diego, California

Kevin is a member of Tampa Bay‘s Hometown Morning Krewe on 995 QYK. He has been with the station for 25 years, is a Tampa native, and went to Jesuit High School and USF. Go Bulls!. He is passionate about all things Tampa Bay. Kevin writes articles on the ongoing road projects around the Tampa Bay area, awards that Tampa Bay cities and businesses have won and country music happenings around the Bay area. He is always doing many things with his wife and kids. He loves to read books and play video games in his spare time.

Free Or Cheap Beach Parking In Tampa Bay

Taking your family to a beautiful Florida beach can be so much fun and very relaxing. But what kills the fun almost immediately is when you can’t find parking anywhere. Driving around in circles only to see that every lot is full can really get you down. But then there’s a glimmer of hope when several parking lots where you can pay to park. Paying $5 or even $10 doesn’t seem too bad when you have a car full of kids screaming “Are we there yet?” However, the cost of parking at Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach has skyrocketed over the years. If you want to know where the best free or cheap beach parking is look no further.

Where To Find Free Or Cheap Beach Parking:

Our biggest tip for finding free parking at one of the most famous beaches in Tampa Bay is to go early. That might not be ideal if you’re traveling from far away but trust us, it’s worth it. You’re not going to deal with the hassle of fighting for parking with every other family. And if you are fighting for parking the worst part is you’ll just be following the same cars from street to street hoping for a spot to open up. Which is unlikely because once you get to the beach you’re not leaving for a while. The perfect time to get a free parking spot at the beach arriving between 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. which might seem too early, but you’ll thank us later. For all available free beach access in St. Pete click HERE. And if you need to find free beach access in Clearwater click HERE.

Parking prices have gotten outrageously expensive. We’ve seen reports that some parking prices on holiday weekends like Mother’s Day charge as much as $70! One mom was extremely upset about the hike in prices saying, “Don’t go to Madeira beach, they just raised their prices again for parking. I paid $70 to park there on Mother’s Day and it was ridiculous.” Again, you can find free parking but that’s first come first serve so if you don’t want to pay that expensive fee make sure you get there extra early. See our options below for affordable parking in Tampa Bay by scrolling down.

  • Fort Desoto Beach

    Fort Desoto Beach is absolutely beautiful peaceful beach that’s a great option. Last time we went it was anywhere between $5-$8 per car for parking. Either way that’s a steal compared to other areas that are charging an arm and a leg.

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  • Sand Key Park

    Entrance to the park is free and parking only costs $5 per day. However, they are closed on certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They open daily at 7 a.m. and close at sunset. Great option for families.

    A car parked on the beach enjoying the view. Florida's Cutest Beach Town

  • Honeymoon Island

    Another option you might like is Honeymoon Island. Last time we went it was only $8 for per car and very relaxing. That is way more affordable than $70 at other beaches. Definitely worth the drive to check it out.

    Beach summer couple on island vacation holiday relax in the sun on their deck chairs under a yellow umbrella. Idyllic travel background. 3 Things To Know About Three Rooker Island

  • St Pete Beach

    Life hack for you! Park behind the shops, where residents live, there’s always parking, and no one tows. Yes, it’s slightly further of a walk, but it’s really not that far, maybe extra 5 minutes of walking, but it’s free parking.

    luxury swimming pool on the beach, tranquil scene of exotic tropical landscape with copy space, summer background for vacation holidays

  • Clearwater Beach

    There’s several areas there that are hourly and it only costs $2 an hour. You can find the location on the Parkmobile app. Check before you go are on your way there. Again, get there early.

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