27 Best Florida Beaches In January!

Are you on the hunt for the best Florida beaches in January?  Or even warm Florida beaches in January?!

If so, you’ve landed on the right article. Florida beaches are my passion.

I’ve spent lots of time researching and traveling through the Sunshine State in order to find you the warmest swim spots to visit during the winter months.

January is the perfect time of year to visit Florida’s warm, white sand beaches because the average temperature of the water is between 69º and 77ºF.

The sunny days and warm weather will be a welcome break from ice, snow, and gloom.

In this post, I’ll cover the top 27 most beautiful beaches for snowbirds and Floridians alike. Let’s go!

Best Beaches In Florida In January!

1. South Beach Park, Vero Beach

If you enjoy waves and the challenge of stronger currents, South Beach Park in Vero Beach, in Central Florida, is a great spot to visit.

Enjoy time on a barrier island. Relax on the white sands, play on the volleyball courts, and have fun riding the waves in the Atlantic Ocean

South Beach Park offers excellent amenities, including manned lifeguard stations, picnic areas, walking paths, restrooms, and grassy areas.

You can even try your hand at fishing.

📌 Address: 1702 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963, United States 

2. Higgs Beach, Key West

If you’re looking for tranquil sandy beaches in Key West, look no further than Higgs Beach.

This lovely spot is a perfect place to relax, read a book, and take a dip in the emerald water.

If you have the gear, you can even go snorkeling along the barrier for a chance to see colorful fish, small sharks, and conches.

Palm trees rise gracefully along the edge of the beach, making it even more picturesque.

You can also play beach volleyball and fish from the small pier.

📌 Address: 1000 Atlantic Blvd, Key West, FL 33040, USA

3. Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers

Nature lovers and those who enjoy water activities will have a blast at Lovers Key State Park near Fort Myers.

This secluded collection of barrier islands is a paradise consisting of mangroves, crystal-clear waters, and beautiful scenery.

Lovers Key faces the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the best places to kayak through mangroves.

Keep an eye out for dolphins, manatees, and shorebirds.

This state park is a popular destination at any time of year, whether you visit in December or the summer months.

📌 Address: Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931, United States

4. Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island

Turquoise waters, sand dunes, nature trails, and great amenities make Bowman’s Beach on Sanibel Island one of the best Florida beaches to visit in January.

One of my personal favorite beaches in southern Florida, Bowman’s Beach isn’t surrounded by hotels and condos. Instead, it features sweeping views of the coastline.

Stake out on the sand, go shelling, and set up a hearty lunch spread at one of the picnic tables.

Note: There is no food or water available for sale here, so be sure to bring your own.

If you enjoy water sports, Bowman’s Beach is the right place to be.

Use the canoe or kayak launch to get into the water.

Want to explore more beaches in the area? Head over to nearby Captiva Island for extra beach time.

📌 Address: 1700 Bowman’s Beach Road, Sanibel, Florida

5. Clearwater Beach, Clearwater Beach

Escape the cold weather farther north and treat yourself to the warm waters of the Gulf Coast.

Clearwater Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the United States.

As you can guess from the name, this is a great place to enjoy crystal clear waters, sugary white sand, and serenity.

Once you’ve enjoyed the beach, check out Pier 60 and go on a dolphin tour.

📌 Address: 704 Eldorado Ave, Clearwater, FL 33767, United States

6. Fort Lauderdale Beach, Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach in Southwest Florida is a mecca for outdoor activities, from swimming and snorkeling to paddle boarding and surfing.

Besides warm temperatures, one of the best things about this Atlantic Coast destination is the abundance of amazing restaurants, luxurious hotels, and fun beachfront promenades.

Relax on the sand, people-watch, go rollerblading, and treat yourself to mouth-watering seafood.

📌 Address: 1100 Seabreeze Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316, USA

7. South Beach, Marco Island

If you’re looking for a beautiful place for a beach day, South Beach on Marco Island could be perfect.

This is a favorite spot on the Island, so be sure to get there early to secure parking.

One of the best times to go is before 10 a.m. Enjoy the calm waters and swim out to a sandbar when the tide is low.

This beach is a wonderful place to go shelling.

In January, the average high temperature is around 74ºF.

📌 Address: 870 County Rd 951, Marco Island, FL 34145, United States

8. South Beach, Miami Beach

If you’re looking for a perfect place to enjoy gorgeous beaches, water parks, golf courses, and Art Deco architecture, look no further than South Beach in Miami Beach.

This South Florida gem is a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing vibe, eat delicious Miami cuisine, and enjoy an evening walk.

Swim, take your kids to the playground near 3rd Street, and soak in the sunshine.

Note that this beach does get quite busy, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.

📌 Address: Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States

9. Smathers Beach, Key West

If you’re in search of warm Florida beaches in January, Smathers Beach could make for a great time.

This is one of the most popular beaches in the Florida Keys–an area known for rocky shores. 

Fortunately, Smathers Beach is kept well stocked with white sand.

The blue-green water, dancing palm trees, and beautiful vistas of the Atlantic make this a prime place to spend a day.

You’ll want to wear water shoes due to the rocks near the shore.

📌 Address: 2601 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040, United States

10. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key

Siesta Beach on Siesta Key is another one of the best beaches in Florida in January.

You and your family will love the playground, tennis courts, and careful vigilance of the lifeguards.

The real stars, though, are the uber-fine quartz sand and the luscious greeny-blue water.

Stock up on food and drinks at the concession stand, make use of the public restrooms, and stop by the gift shop for a bit of shopping.

📌 Address: Sarasota, FL 34242, United States

11. Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach

Surf’s up! If you love surfing or want to give it a shot, Cocoa Beach is ready and waiting.

This lovely beach offers perfect waves for surfing.

It’s also got a great sandy bottom, plenty of places to rent boards, and surfing instructors available for hire.

There are lifeguards during the high season, umbrellas and beach chairs for rent, and electric beach bikes.

Take extra water to rinse off with after your time in the ocean.

📌 Address: N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931, United States

12. Sandspur Beach, Bahia Honda State Park

Bahia Honda State Park has two great beaches. The first is Calusa Beach, which is right next to the Bahia Honda Bridge.

It’s an ideal place to snorkel, though you have to watch out for jet skiers.

The other, Sandspur Beach, features one mile of sand and is narrow and tranquil.

Sandspur Beach is not usually crowded and features warm water and sand that’s cool underfoot.

There is plenty of parking, a snack shop, and clean bathrooms.

You might even find some sea urchin shells, seashells, and bits of coral.

Note: watch out for blue bottle jellyfish in the seagrass.

📌 Address: 36850 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key, FL 33043, United States

13. Panama City Beach, Panama City Beach

Enjoy a beautiful 27-mile-long beach in Panama City Beach.

The beach, which shares its name with the city, is a great option for fun activities such as snorkeling, swimming, parasailing, jet skiing, and spotting dolphins.

This beach is clean with gorgeous turquoise water and cotton-white sand.

Keep in mind that you may have to travel a ways to find restrooms.

📌 Address: 9900 S Thomas Drive, UNIT 1106, Panama City Beach, FL 32407, United States

16. Crescent Beach, St. Augustine

Crescent Beach is just south of St. Augustine and features a lovely half-moon-shaped shoreline.

The sand is hard-packed, making it perfect for riding bikes, playing frisbee, working out, or even driving on the beach.

You can also go swimming, tanning, or try metal detecting.

This is also a prime spot for boogie boarding, boating, and surfing.

You can even ride horses here if you apply for a special permit.

If you go in January and fancy a drive on the beach, you can do so free of charge.

Just make sure you follow the driving rules to keep all the beachgoers safe.

📌 Address: Ocean Trace Rd, St Augustine Beach, FL 32080, United States

👉 Tip: If you’d rather head north from St. Augustine, check out Amelia Island.

17. Ocean Reef Park, West Palm Beach

Explore the underwater world at Ocean Reef Park in West Palm Beach.

This park is an incredible place to snorkel and free dive.

The coral reefs are quite close to the beach and feature 700 feet of marine life and coral beds.

If you prefer not to get wet, this is also a lovely place to walk or jog in the morning or evening and to check out the sand dunes from the boardwalks.

Amenities at Ocean Reef Park include shaded picnic areas, grills, restrooms, parking, and boardwalks. 

📌 Address: 3860 N Ocean Dr, Riviera Beach, FL 33404, United States

18. Delray Public Beach, Delray Beach

Delray Beach is one of the most festive beach towns around. It’s extra walkable and has a fun vibe.

Build sandcastles, swim, bury each other in the powdery sand, swim in the ocean, and enjoy people-watching.

This beach is a favorite among locals who come for kitesurfing, parasailing, or drinking in the vistas.

Be sure to stop by the historic downtown to check out the restaurants, entertainment, and art shops.

📌 Address: 400 S Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach, FL 33483, United States

19. Cannon Beach, Key Largo

If you’ve set your sights on Key Largo, Cannon Beach is one of the best beaches in the area.

It is located inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Although it is a bit rocky (water shoes are recommended), people do enjoy swimming here.

There’s even an old Spanish shipwreck some visitors swim out to.

This beach isn’t quite up to the white-sand crystalline-water standards of Miami’s beaches, but for the Keys–which tend to be rocky rather than sandy–it’s a nice spot. 

While you’re in the park, you can camp, go birding, and hike the nature trails.

📌 Address: 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037, USA

20. Tigertail Beach, Marco Island

Some of the best beaches in the world are located on Marco Island. And chief among these is Tigertail Beach.

It gets its name from its thin curving shape which resembles a tiger tail.

This beach is ideal if you like long walks, shelling, and watching the sunset.

Everything is very clean, and there is a place for picnics as well as restrooms.

Sand Dollar Spit, at the northern tip of the beach, is a great place to search for shells and sand dollars.

📌 Address: 430 Hernando Dr, Marco Island, FL 34145, United States

21. Red Reef Park, Boca Raton

Red Reef Park in Boca Raton is another fabulous place to visit in January.

You can surf, fish, snorkel, swim, and check out the nature center.

In total, the park contains 67 acres laced with boardwalks, gazebos, barbecue grills, green spaces for playing and picnics, and playgrounds.

The shallow waters of the beach make it perfect for kids.

There’s even golf, a Marine Biology lab, and nature trails.

📌 Address: 1400 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432, United States

22. Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach

Visitors from all across the US congregate in Grayton Beach State Park–and for good reason.

This 2,000-acre park is an amazing place to enjoy the glories of Santa Rosa Beach.

Beautiful sand, rolling dunes, and plenty of hiking and biking trails make this a destination in its own right.

The park is a vibrant habitat for Choctawhatchee beach mice, who make their home among the dunes.

Birds and sea turtles lay nests in the sand. Swim, relax in the sunshine, or go exploring.

📌 Address: 357 Main Park Rd, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, United States

23. Delnor Wiggins State Park Beach, Naples

The beach at Delnor Wiggins State Park is a bustling spot for snorkeling, swimming, and enjoying the beauties of nature.

Although there used to be more amenities, the park is still recuperating from a hurricane, so things are a bit more basic than they used to be.

The water is great for kids, and parking is conveniently located close to the beach. No long treks here! 

Note: You might have to wait for parking if you go on a busy day, as the rangers can only let in so many cars at a time.

Swimming, snorkeling, and watching the sunset are three of the top things to do here.

📌 Address: 11135 Gulf Shore Dr, Naples, FL 34108, United States

24. New Smyrna Beach, New Smyrna Beach

If you’ve been to Disney World in Orlando and fancy a beach day, New Smyrna Beach is an hour and 12-minute drive northwest.

The sand and water are beautiful, little fish dart around your ankles, and you might even see a turtle.

This is a perfect beach to relax, drink chilled root beer, chat with friends, or read a book.

Tip: Head over before 10 a.m. on the weekend to increase your chances of finding parking.

📌 Address: N Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169, United States

25. Blue Mountain Beach, Santa Rosa Beach

Warm water, gorgeous sunrises, and creamy white sand make Blue Mountain Beach another fabulous strip of sand to hit up in January.

Although there are limited parking spots, everything else about this beach–from the bathrooms to the beach stairs to the stunning views–is prime.

Notes: Enjoy the water, but keep an eye on the flags.

Be sure to stay off the sand dunes as they are protected, and fill in any holes you dig in the sand so as not to hinder any sea turtles that come to lay eggs. 

📌 Address: 475 Blue Mountain Rd, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, United States

26. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin

Taking a ferry ride out to Caladesi Island is a top-notch way to kick off a day of fun. 

This gorgeous island park is a paradise of white sands, fishing opportunities, crystal-clear water, boat tours, and picnic areas.

There are also restrooms, showers, a snack shop, and nature trails.

Tip: Take your own chairs and umbrellas to avoid costly rentals.

📌 Address: Causeway Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698, United States

27. Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West

Possibly the best beach in Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor is a state park with an amazing beach and a pre-Civil War fortress.

Learn a little history, then rent a sunbed and relax on the gorgeous shoreline.

The water is deliciously warm, and the park has all of the amenities you could ask for.

There are restrooms, showers, picnic areas, a restaurant, a small shop, and grills.

Just be sure to outfit the whole family with water shoes because this beach is man-made and has a rocky bed.

📌 Address: 601 Howard England Way, Key West, FL 33040, United States

Best Beaches In Florida In January FAQs

What Is The Warmest Beach In Florida In January?

Smathers Beach in Key West is one of the warmest beaches in Florida in January.

It has an average temperature of 77ºF which is perfect for lap swimming.

Other warm Florida beaches in January include: 

Higgs Beach 

Fort Zachary Taylor 

Tigertail Beach 

Bahia Honda State Park 

What Part Of Florida Is Best To Visit In January?

Both Clearwater and Marco Island are fabulous places to visit in Florida in January.

Clearwater has fantastic beaches, beautiful water, and fun activities like sunset cruises, dolphin tours, and kayak adventures.

Marco Island features comfortable temperatures in the low 70s in January, calm beaches, and lovely sandy shores.

Is January A Good Time To Go To The Beach In Florida?

Yes–January is a good time to go to the beach in Florida.

During the off-season, there are fewer crowds, comfortable daily temperatures, and cool beaches.

Where In Florida Can You Swim In January?

Because it’s in warm southern Florida, one of the best beaches to swim in Florida in January is on Marco Island.

The beaches here are fabulous, especially Tigertail Beach and South Beach.

Best Beaches In Florida In January: Final Thoughts

Heading to Florida’s beaches in January means avoiding crowds, soaking in the sunshine, and swimming in relatively warm water.

Whether you enjoy shelling, visiting historic forts, or working out on the beach, there is an amazing spot to do it.

Which of these best beaches in Florida in January do you plan to visit?

 

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