Beaches · Fort Lauderdale · United States
The best beaches in and near Fort Lauderdale
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Sawgrass Mills, Fort Lauderdale · Photo: AITFFan1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Fort Lauderdale Beach (About 4 km from downtown). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C/70°F or more) in January–December.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 6
- Swimming season
- January–December
- Warmest sea
- 30°C (86°F)
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The beaches
About 4 km from downtown · First-timers and families
1.Fort Lauderdale Beach
The main city beach along A1A, with lifeguards, a promenade and hotels and bars across the road.
About 13 km north of downtown · Snorkelling and a quiet day
2.Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
A small-town beach beside Anglin's Fishing Pier with a reef close enough to snorkel from shore.
About 18 km south of downtown · Families and walkers
3.Hollywood Beach
A long beach backed by the Broadwalk promenade, cafés and cycle lanes.
About 12 km south of downtown · Nature and fewer crowds
4.Dania Beach and Mizell-Johnson State Park
Quieter sand with a fishing pier at Dania and cruise-ship watching at the state park's inlet.
About 18 km north of downtown · Fishing and relaxed beach days
5.Pompano Beach
A broad beach with a rebuilt fishing pier, a beachfront park and restaurants.
About 25 km north of downtown · Couples and families
6.Deerfield Beach
A small resort beach around the International Fishing Pier with a walkable boardwalk.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 24°C (75°F) | 24°C (75°F) |
| February | 24°C (75°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
| March | 25°C (77°F) | 26°C (79°F) |
| April | 26°C (79°F) | 28°C (82°F) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| June | 29°C (84°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| July | 30°C (86°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| August | 30°C (86°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| October | 28°C (82°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
| November | 26°C (79°F) | 27°C (81°F) |
| December | 25°C (77°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for beach, first-timers, families and nightlife
Fort Lauderdale Beach
The strip of A1A between Sunrise Boulevard and Las Olas is the city's main beach base, with high-rise resorts, smaller motels on the side streets and beach bars facing the sand. The promenade behind the white wave wall is busy with cyclists and walkers, and the Intracoastal Waterway and Water Taxi stops are a block or two inland.
- Good
- Walk straight onto the beach; Plenty of hotels at every level; Bars and restaurants on the strip
- Watch out
- Expensive in winter and spring; Busy traffic on A1A and around Las Olas
- Nearby
- Las Olas Beach, Bonnet House, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Water Taxi stops
Getting to the beaches
- Boat — The Water Taxi runs hop-on, hop-off routes along the New River and the Intracoastal between downtown, Las Olas, the beach hotels and other stops, doubling as a sightseeing tour.
- Train — Brightline's high-speed trains from downtown reach Miami in about 35 minutes and West Palm Beach in about 40, with onward service to Orlando.
- Bus — Broward County Transit runs buses across the county, including routes along A1A and between downtown and the beach.
- Car — A car is useful for the Everglades, outlet shopping and day trips, but beach parking is metered and fills at weekends.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in November–April. The busiest of those is January, so book early.
Beach safety
Visitor areas are generally safe, but do not leave bags unattended on the beach or valuables visible in cars. Natural hazards matter more: swim near lifeguards and heed rip-current flags, protect yourself from strong sun, leave the beach when lightning approaches, and follow official guidance if a hurricane threatens between June and November. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Fort Lauderdale have beaches?
Yes: Fort Lauderdale Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Hollywood Beach, Dania Beach and Mizell-Johnson State Park, Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Fort Lauderdale?
Usually January–December, when the sea averages 21°C (70°F) or more.
+What is the best beach near Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale Beach: The main city beach along A1A, with lifeguards, a promenade and hotels and bars across the road.