Daytona Beach Beaches Guide

23 miles of coastline with hard-packed coquina sand — firm enough to drive on, wide enough to park hundreds of cars at once, and stretching from Ormond Beach in the north to Ponce Inlet in the south. Here’s a beach-by-beach breakdown.

Main Beach / Boardwalk Area

The central beach between Main Street and Seabreeze Boulevard. This is the Daytona Beach that everyone pictures — the boardwalk, the amusement rides, the Bandshell, and the most concentrated tourist area.

Destin with Kids — Family Guide

Destin is one of the most family-friendly beach destinations in Florida — calm, warm Gulf waters, white-sand beaches, and a range of activities designed specifically for families with children.

Best Family Beaches

Henderson Beach State Park — Pristine white sand, calm water, and less crowded than the public beach access points. Covered pavilions and restrooms. $6 vehicle entry.

Norriego Point — A sand spit at the east end of Destin Harbor with shallow, crystal-clear water on both sides. Great for little kids — the water stays shallow for a long way out. Accessible by boat or kayak (or a short wade from the harbor side).

Free Things to Do in Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach has been ranked #1 in the US multiple times — and walking on it is free. Beyond the sand, the nightly Pier 60 celebration and the Gulf Coast nature make for a full day without spending.

Beach & Pier 60 (Free)

Clearwater Beach — Sugar-white sand, calm turquoise Gulf water, and lifeguards in season. Free to access from any public walkover. The beach is wide and there’s room for everyone, even in peak season.

Free Things to Do in Destin

Destin’s main attraction — the emerald-green Gulf water and white-sand beach — is free. Beyond the beach, HarborWalk Village, nature trails, and sunset viewing round out a full day of no-cost entertainment.

Beach (Free)

Henderson Beach State Park — The most pristine beach in Destin. $6 vehicle entry (not technically free, but included here because the beach is that good). Nature trails behind the dunes, boardwalk access, and sugar-white sand.

Free Things to Do in Maui

Maui is expensive — resort prices, activity prices, restaurant prices. But the island’s greatest assets — the beaches, the drives, the sunrises, and the natural beauty — are either free or nearly so.

Free Beaches

All beaches in Hawaii are public by law. You’ll never pay to access the sand.

Ka’anapali Beach — The resort beach on the west side. Walk past the resorts and lay your towel anywhere. Free. The daily cliff-diving ceremony at Black Rock (Pu’u Keka’a) at sunset is a tradition worth watching.

Free Things to Do on Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head is known as an upscale resort island, but the beaches are free, the bike trails are extensive, and the natural beauty of the Lowcountry is available to everyone.

Beaches (Free)

All Hilton Head beaches are public. Access points are available at Coligny Beach Park, Driessen Beach Park, Folly Field Beach Park, and Islanders Beach Park.

Coligny Beach Park — The main public beach with parking, showers, restrooms, a playground, and seasonal lifeguards. Wide sand, calm water, and the most accessible beach on the island.

Maui with Kids — Family Guide

Maui is one of the best family destinations in the world. The beaches are calm enough for toddlers, the marine life is accessible to snorkelers of any age, and the island’s natural beauty makes every drive an adventure.

Best Family Beaches

Ka’anapali Beach — The resort beach on Maui’s west side. Calm water, lifeguards, and the Black Rock cliff jumping area for older kids (or brave parents). The Whaler’s Village shopping center is right on the beach for snack runs.