These Florida Beach Towns Are Perfect for Spring Break

While the snow and ice may still be melting in other places, here in Florida, we’re eating snow cones on the beach and putting a little more ice in our umbrella drinks. With year-round sunshine, Florida is the perfect place to enjoy a Spring Break getaway, and as a long-time resident, I cordially invite you to come and enjoy our piece of paradise. 

This list starts with beach towns in Florida’s Panhandle and ends at the southernmost point in the continental United States. Some of these are more family-oriented, while others have a little bit of a party atmosphere. There are also a couple that have implemented special rules during Spring Break, and it’s very important that you’re aware of those regulations before you go. I’m sharing a few of my tips so that you can pick the best Spring Break getaway for your crew. 

This is popular for families looking for a great Florida beach for Spring Break, but college-age Spring Break visitors enjoy it, too. You’ll even find Spring Break foam parties at places like Harpoon Harry’s and Hammerhead Fred’s. However, Panama City Beach takes safety very seriously and has put special ordinances in place for Spring Break.

For example, for the month of March, it’s illegal to have alcohol on the beach. It’s important to be aware of Panama City Beach’s Spring Break rules ahead of time to make sure you stay out of trouble. The accommodations at your beachside hotel are much nicer than spending a night in jail. 

Local Tip: To experience a natural area in Panama City Beach, make a visit to St. Andrews State Park. From there, you can take a ferry ride to Shell Island, a 7-mile, undeveloped island that’s a fun spot for snorkeling. 

This was the only destination in Florida that made Expedia’s 2026 Hotlist. Maybe it’s the pretty white sand, or perhaps it’s the sparkling emerald water, but Spring Break visitors love this beach. If you’re looking for a beachside spot that has all of the amenities you could need, head to The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island.

You may also hear this area referred to as Newman C. Brackin Wayside Park, or just Wayside Park. It’s a fun spot to access the beach and has multiple restaurants and shops. There’s also a playground and a splash pad there for the kiddos, as well as sand volleyball courts. Even better, it has free parking. 

Local Tip: It’s quite possible that you could see dolphins while sitting on the beach, but for a guaranteed chance to see some, you can visit Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. 

Jacksonville Beach sits on the state’s east coast and hugs the Atlantic Ocean. This is a great Spring Break beach for families and is an easy road trip down Interstate 95. Many people enjoy hanging out on the beach near the Jax Beach Pier, but there are many beach access points in Jacksonville.

If you want to see a completely different beach landscape, check out Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park. It’s not ideal for swimming but it’s cool to see the undeveloped beach with giant driftwood trees on the shoreline. 

Local Tip: I know Spring Break is supposed to be a time to have a rest from school, but that doesn’t mean that you have to stop learning. Jacksonville has some interesting history and the Beaches Museum is a great way to make learning fun. 

Clearwater Beach has racked up a plethora of awards and is well-known for its sparkling white sand and fun activities. The water is typically calm there, and little swimmers can get out and have a good time. This makes it a wonderful Spring Break destination for families, and one of my favorite kid-friendly things to do there is to visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

There are also several boat tours that will take you out for dolphin spotting. You’ll see there’s no shortage of things to do if you’re trying to plan a perfect getaway to Clearwater Beach. 

Local Tip: Once you’ve arrived, park your car and use the Jolley Trolley to get around Clearwater Beach so you don’t have to worry about the challenge of finding parking. 

I remember way back in the day when I was a kid in Louisiana, I used to watch MTV Spring Break on TV and dream about being there one day. As soon as I moved here, I went to experience it for myself, and it’s totally not the wild and crazy party scene that I remembered seeing on television. Sure, there are still places to grab a cold adult beverage.

My favorite beach bar in Daytona Beach is Ocean Deck because they often have great live reggae music. However, Daytona has really transitioned into a family-friendly atmosphere, and it’s definitely appropriate to bring the little ones to Daytona Beach for Spring Break. 

Local Tip: The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure is a fun add-on. You can see aquatic and land animals, and you can even feed the stingrays. 

If you can’t decide between spending your Spring Break at the theme parks or at the beach, Cocoa Beach allows you to do both. It’s only about an hour away from Orlando, and is the closest beach to Walt Disney World. Port Canaveral is located adjacent to Cocoa Beach, and some people also decide to add on a short cruise to their Spring Break adventures.

Cocoa Beach is worthy of a visit on its own, though. Lori Wilson Park is my favorite spot to access the beach there and is great for families because it has a playground and restrooms. It’s also free to park there. 

Local Tip: Cocoa Beach is laid back and doesn’t have a wild party scene. They do have some great beach bars, though. One of my favorites is Coconuts on the Beach, which often has live music. 

With so many awards under its belt, it’s no surprise that this beach is a popular Spring Break spot. Currently, it’s ranked as Tripadvisor’s #1 Beach in the United States, and it definitely deserves this notoriety. The sand is like powder and made almost entirely of pure quartz. It’s pretty dreamy—and even better, the sand never gets hot.

Families also consider this a great Spring Break spot because the Gulf Coast waters are typically pretty calm. It’s not a crazy, party beach, but if you’re looking for a good cocktail or two, you can definitely find it there. This scenic beach has a lot to offer, and it’s easy to put together a fun Siesta Key itinerary. 

Local Tip: For the ease of getting around during Spring Break in Siesta Key, use the free 77 Siesta Islander trolley and avoid having to drive once you’re there. 

Miami Beach offers an upscale experience, and in the past, it’s been known as a great place to party. However, the city has really cracked down on this and has enforced a lot of rules during Spring Break. The city even went so far as to create a parody of a reality show that showed why it’s not your ideal Spring Break party beach. Over the last couple of years, they’ve closed some parking areas during Spring Break and created a $100 fee to park in some garages.

They’ve also limited the number of places where you can access the beach and have set up security checkpoints to make sure people don’t bring certain items to the beach, such as coolers. I still think this is a great beach for those who want a trendy atmosphere, but it’s best for a mild Spring Break versus a wild, booze-filled getaway. 

Local Tip: If you do decide to go, I can’t stress enough that you need to know the rules. Check out the city’s website before you go to get the most up-to-date information on restrictions. If you find those rules are too strict, you may want to check out some of the other awesome beach towns near Miami.

This South Florida beach town may be more well-suited for some that want a little nightlife, and are concerned about all of the Spring Break rules in Miami. The city isn’t as overt about creating special restrictions during Spring Break, though you’ll still want to make sure you’re obeying the rules. They will enforce things like underage drinking.

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park and Las Olas Beach tend to be popular areas to hang out during Spring Break, and Las Olas is a trendy street to stroll down for nice restaurants and shopping. 

Local Tip: Tin Roof in Fort Lauderdale offers Spring Break packages that have unlimited drinks and let you skip the line to get in. 

Key West is a fun place to be anytime, and Spring Break is no different. If you want to stroll along Duval Street and hit up some of the funky bars, you can do that. There are plenty of local spots in Key West like Sloppy Joe’s, Hog’s Breath Saloon, and Schooner’s Wharf, as well as a few loved chains such as Margaritaville and Hard Rock Cafe.

Plan to check out the sunset celebration at Mallory Square, too. And as fun as it is to bar hop, you can’t go and not enjoy the beach in Key West. Definitely plan some time by, or on, the water.   

Local Tip: Sunset Watersports offers boat trips that will take you out to a sandbar (even better, it includes unlimited drinks). 

Some of the beach towns are more family-friendly, and some offer a little more nightlife. Whatever vibe you’re seeking, though, there’s a beach town in Florida that’s perfect for your Spring Break getaway.