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What to bring to the beach

The sun is strong year-round, storms build fast in summer, and every beach has its own rules. A short list that covers all three.

The list

  • Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Even in January the midday UV Index in Miami is around 4; in summer it reaches 10–11 (EPA). Reapply after swimming.
  • Shade. Many beaches have little natural shade. Several rent umbrellas and chairs (Bill Baggs Cape Florida lists chairs at $15 and umbrellas at $25); others have none, so a light umbrella helps. Some parks don't allow tents on the sand: Matheson Hammock bars tents and grills in its beach area.
  • Water, more than you think. Heat exhaustion comes on quickly on hot sand.
  • Cash and a card, and a parking app. County parks take parking fees by app or in person; Miami Beach meters and garages use the city's payment system (rates on each beach page). State parks charge per vehicle at the gate.
  • Water shoes for the rocky and reef beaches (Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, the bay shores) and hot sand in summer.
  • A dry bag for phones, and a phone charged enough to check the radar: summer thunderstorms build within an hour.
  • Snorkel gear if you're heading to a reef beach; check the surf forecast first, because waves cloud the water.

What to leave at home

  • Glass. Banned at county beaches such as Crandon Park and at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park; broken glass on sand is a hazard everywhere.
  • Floats and inflatables at Miami-Dade County beaches: county park rules (Code chapter 26, rule 16) bar flotation devices in the water at Crandon, Matheson Hammock and Homestead Bayfront. Strong winds blow inflatables offshore.
  • Your dog, unless you are going to an official dog beach. Florida State Parks don't allow pets on beaches, Miami-Dade County parks keep them out except service animals, and Miami Beach allows dogs only at its three Bark Beaches at set hours. See the dog-beach filter.
  • Alcohol and balloons where banned: Historic Virginia Key Beach Park bans alcohol, helium balloons, confetti and Styrofoam, for example. Rules differ by city, so check the beach page.

Respect the wildlife

Sea turtles nest on these beaches from May to October (Miami-Dade County). Stay away from staked nests, fill in holes you dig, take your things home at night, and keep lights off the sand.