Hutchinson Island, Florida: A Local Guide to Beaches, Dining, and Hidden Gems

Living in central Florida, I have the luxury of having the Gulf Coast to my west and the Atlantic Coast to my east. It’s not too hard to visit an array of great beaches depending on whatever vibe I’m seeking at the time. When I’m seeking a relaxing time at one of Florida’s East Coast beaches and want to escape the crowds, Hutchinson Island is a great choice that has many awesome beaches. You’ll have no problem finding the perfect spot to take a dip in the sparkling water. This area has so many free places to access the beach, and the only challenge you’ll have is deciding which Hutchinson Island beach to visit first. 

Hutchinson Island isn’t just one city or beach. It’s actually a barrier island off of the mainland that starts in north Fort Pierce and extends down to Stuart Beach. This stretch of pristine coastline encompasses more than 20 miles and spans two counties. It’s part of Florida’s Treasure Coast, situated between Vero Beach to the north and Palm Beach to the south. 

I live just north of Orlando and I can make it to Hutchinson Island in a little over two hours. It’s a pretty easy drive, and I can take Interstate 95 or Florida’s Turnpike, and then hop over to State Road A1A. Of course, like any roadways in Florida, if you can time your trip appropriately to avoid rush hour, it will always be an easier trek. 

You won’t be able to book a flight directly to Hutchinson Island, but one great thing about its location is that it’s easily accessible from many other nearby cities that do have commercial flights. You have several options, and I recommend considering all of them in order to find the best flight for your trip. No matter where you’ll be flying into, you’ll want to rent a car to make the drive to Hutchinson Island. 

Insider Tip: Have a Jimmy Buffett playlist made before you leave for the beach. As you’re beach-hopping on Hutchinson Island, you’ll be cruising down State Road A1A, which was officially designated as the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway in 2024. 

Since Hutchinson Island makes up a large piece of land that consists of multiple communities, I’ll break it down a little bit to help you plan your epic road trip through this stretch of coast. All of these areas share a spectacular piece of Florida’s Atlantic coastline, so you’ll have an amazing experience at all of them. You’ll also find that you’re never too far from beach access. There are several parks spread throughout Hutchinson Island, and it’s nice that you can hop around and easily visit multiple beaches on one trip. 

Fort Pierce is located on the northern end of Hutchinson Island and has a lot to offer beach-goers. Not only is this area of Hutchinson Island the closest for me to get to from my home, but it also has a variety of beaches. Looking to go au naturel? Blind Creek Beach is a nude beach where you can bare all and not have to worry about tan lines. If you want to take a horseback riding tour on the beach, you can do that at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park. Jetty Park is known as one of the best places to fish and see the sunrise. 

Jensen Beach is sandwiched between Fort Pierce and Stuart and is home to one of the island’s most popular beach areas. Waveland Beach is a great spot for families and has lifeguards. If you’re looking for a place to take your four-legged family member for a day at the beach, Walton Rocks Beach is a fabulous dog beach. I love seeing the playful pups out there as they splash around in the surf. For the ultimate laid-back vibes, check out Herman’s Bay Beach. The last time I visited, my boyfriend and I had the entire beach to ourselves. 

Stuart is found at the southernmost point of the island and has a couple of unique beaches. Stuart Beach is a popular area, but just down the road is another interesting spot called Bathtub Beach. This beach is special because just offshore is a reef system that can sometimes break the waves and create a calm spot in the water that kind of feels like a bathtub. 

The Florida Oceanographic Society is a non-profit organization that does a lot of restoration projects in the area and helps promote environmental stewardship. As a part of that, they invite visitors to their Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center to learn about the local fish, rays, and sea turtles. You can even have an interaction with a stingray—which is a totally cool experience! Just save time to take a walk on the nature trail, too. It’s about a mile long and gives you a chance to walk through the mangrove swamp. I also appreciate that this organization is leading a beach cleanup program in an effort to help keep Hutchinson Island’s shoreline immaculate. 

While most people come to this part of the state in awe of the beautiful beaches, Hutchinson Island also holds an important part of lesser-known history that adds to its coolness. Fort Pierce has deep roots in the Navy SEAL program that goes back to World War II. This area served as a training ground and the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum pays homage to the U.S. Navy SEAL program with multiple exhibits, including the original training obstacles that date back to 1942 and actual vehicles used by the SEALs in Operation Desert Storm.  

The Elliott Museum is an interesting place that has a variety of unique exhibits. Not only is this a great place to learn about the area’s history, but car enthusiasts will love the Wheels of Change Exhibit that consists of almost 100 classic cars and trucks. Baseball fans will enjoy the Baseball Gallery that has impressive memorabilia and artifacts that pay homage to the sport’s history. You never know what else you’ll find there, as they’ve had rotating exhibits that spanned topics ranging from UFOs to King Tut. 

Avalon State Park and Fort Pierce Inlet State Park are two Florida state parks that have beach access and serve as excellent locations to swim, fish, or spend some time on the beach soaking up the sun. These are family-friendly spots, and are great places to pack a picnic and come out for the day. Fort Pierce Inlet State Park also has a reef that isn’t too far from the beach and this is a good place to dive or snorkel.   

I know it probably seems totally strange to start this list with a bait shop, but trust me on this one. Honestly, it seemed weird to me too the first time I heard about it from someone who lives there, but Little Jim Bait and Tackle is one of the best local secrets. They have a full menu and bar that’s open seven days a week, but the locals will tell you this is one of the most popular places to be on a Sunday afternoon. You can come by water or land to spend a day hanging out at this waterside gem. Oh, and they do have bait and tackle, too. I’ve stopped in to pick up bait on my way to the beach and have found them to be a great source of local fishing knowledge. 

One of the things I love about On the Edge Bar and Grill is that it offers the ultimate waterfront dining experience. You can sit and enjoy a tasty meal while looking out over the Atlantic, and the tables on the lower level are right on the edge of the water. I enjoy sitting there and seeing all of the beautiful boats docked, but the food is really yummy, too. The last time I was there I ordered tacos with grilled Snapper. They use a nice mango salsa that really gives the tacos a unique flavor profile that I loved. 

If you’re looking for a fine dining experience when visiting Hutchinson Island, Kyle G’s Prime Seafood and Steak is your place. Seafood lovers will have plenty of delicious options like the Florida Grouper and Floribbean Mahi-Mahi and Sauteed Shrimp. If seafood isn’t your thing, you have plenty of other options like the Gorgonzola Crusted Filet Mignon or the Dry-Aged Porterhouse. They also have a great Sunday Brunch. The view here is pretty spectacular too, and it is one of the best spots for upscale, oceanfront dining.