12 Best Beaches on Florida’s Treasure Coast—From Secluded Shores to Family Favorites

While all of Florida’s east coast beaches offer great Atlantic views, not all of them are known as places to find treasure washing up on shore—but that’s exactly what you can find on Florida’s Treasure Coast. This is an expansive area that makes up Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties, that is located south of Melbourne and north of Palm Beach.

I know it sounds like a far-fetched episode of “The Outer Banks,” but people have found real treasure, and this is how this region got its nickname. There are several shipwrecks off of the coast in this area, with the most notable ones being from the 1715 Fleet that was carrying gold, silver, and other treasures back to Spain before their ships sank during a hurricane. A lot has been recovered from the vessels over the years, but it’s not uncommon to hear of coins washing ashore to this day.

To learn more about this region’s claim to fame, you can visit the McLarty Treasure Museum in Vero Beach and the Mel Fisher Treasure Museum in Sebastian. I’ve enjoyed visiting both places and even became inspired to do some metal detecting on my own. One thing I’ve noticed about the beaches on Florida’s Treasure Coast is that they’re really clean, which, as a beach enthusiast, I totally love. You aren’t going to find many bottle caps and old beer cans when you’re metal detecting there, so if your metal detector does start beeping, it may be your lucky day. 

I’ve also noticed that the actual beaches there are some of the most treasured ones I’ve found in Florida. They are unspoiled, natural, not overly crowded, and offer the perfect setting for a peaceful East Coast sunrise. I can’t guarantee that you’ll find treasure when you visit, but I can guarantee that you’ll find some charming beach towns that have many spectacular places to enjoy the beach. It’s easy to access the beach for free in this part of the state, and most access points don’t charge for parking. 

There are so many great beaches in this section of the Atlantic coastline, and it was actually hard for me to narrow down my list of favorites. While this isn’t a complete list of beach access points, this is a list of what I feel are the best beaches on Florida’s Treasure Coast. These aren’t listed in any order of rank, but I’ve listed them starting with the northernmost beaches in Vero Beach and ending with the southernmost ones in Stuart. I also threw in one at the end that you can only get to by boat!

My northernmost pick for best beaches on Florida’s Treasure Coast is Wabasso Beach, located in the city of Vero Beach. You’ll find lifeguards there, and this is a great beach for families. You’ll probably see some surfers out there too when you visit. There’s a place there to grab a bite to eat, but there’s also some grills and picnic tables if you want to bring along your own food. It’s a pretty beach, and you can check out the live beach cam at Wabasso Beach to get a feel for it before you go. 

When I’m in Vero Beach and want to have the entire beach to myself, this is where I go. It’s only about a mile and a half south of Wabasso, but it is a more secluded area and only has about 20 parking spots. I love this little hidden gem, and this is my top pick for the best Treasure Coast beach to get away from it all. What it lacks in people though, it makes up for in wildlife.  The last time I visited this beach, I saw so many sea turtle nests.  

Another family-favorite in Vero Beach is Jaycee Park. This one has lifeguards, plenty of parking, a boardwalk, a playground to let the kiddos run around, and a picnic area. If you don’t feel like bringing your own food though, no worries. You can grab a bite to eat at Seaside Grill, which is located right there in the park. 

This is right on Ocean Drive, which is the main strip on Vero Beach’s beachside. It’s a walkable area and you can find many cute boutiques and restaurants nearby. You can also opt to walk down the beach and find some beachfront spots to grab a bite. Cobalt is one of my favorites and has some of the best oceanfront dining on Florida’s Treasure Coast. Humiston Park is also a great location if you’re bringing the kiddos since there’s lifeguards and a fun playground area. 

Located in Fort Pierce on Hutchinson Island, Jetty Park is known as one of the best places to fish on Florida’s Treasure Coast. It’s easy to walk down the paved walkway that’s surrounded by rocks and find your perfect spot. You can check out their live jetty cam before you go to see what it’s like. Multiple benches make it comfortable for hopeful anglers, or for those who just want to catch a sunrise (this also happens to be a scenic location for that as well). There’s also a nice sandy beach where you can catch some sun or take a dip. The last time I was there, I also saw several manatees playing in the water close to the beach, which was an incredible surprise. 

If you’ve never trotted down a beautiful beach on horseback, you’re totally missing out. I think it is one of the most surreal ways to experience the beach, and Frederick Douglass Memorial Park is a place where you can do this when visiting Florida’s Treasure Coast. Tours on Horseback offers guided tours on this scenic Hutchinson Island beach and this is a great excursion, even if you don’t have any riding experience. They do limit this activity to those 10 and older, though. 

If you don’t want tan lines, this is the place to go. Blind Creek Beach is one of Florida’s best nude beaches. It also happens to be a natural beach with an undeveloped shoreline—giving beach-goers a chance to go au natural in one of Florida’s most natural settings. St. Lucie County has officially designated this as a clothing-optional beach, but if you go, of course make sure to practice proper etiquette for visiting a nude beach. 

This is the best beach on Florida’s Treasure Coast for dogs. I can’t tell you how much joy I’ve gotten from watching playful pups run through the sand and pounce on the waves as they crash against the shoreline. This area is located on Hutchinson Island in Jensen Beach and is one of the best dog beaches in Florida. If you’re bringing your furry friend along on your beach vacation, this is a must-do. 

While Walton Rocks is my favorite spot to take the four-legged members of your family, just a few miles south on A1A (also known as Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway) is another popular location. Waveland Beach is my pick for being the best beach in Jensen Beach to take the rest of your family. You’ll find lifeguards there, which makes this a great beach for even the youngest beach-goers. 

Located in the city that bears its namesake, this beach is one of the most popular ones on the southern portion of the Treasure Coast. The beach is staffed with lifeguards, and you’ll find a lot of amenities here, including beach volleyball, basketball courts, picnic areas, and ample parking. You can grab a bite to eat at the Seaside Cafe, and rent beach chairs and umbrellas if needed. 

Bathtub Beach is the southernmost beach on my list of best beaches on the Treasure Coast. Located in the city of Stuart on the southern end of Hutchinson Island, this is my pick for snorkelers and scuba divers. There’s a reef not too far from the shore, and when it’s low tide, the reef breaks the waves and creates a calm, bathtub-like effect that makes it a great place to play in the water. There are lifeguards there, and even if you don’t step foot in the water, this is still a beautiful beach to sit and build sandcastles. Check it out for yourself on their live beach cam. 

This one is a little different since you can’t reach it by car, but St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park definitely deserves a spot on the list of best beaches on the Treasure Coast since Stuart is your jumping-off point. To get there, you can rent a boat or take one of the guided tours offered by Treasure Coast River Cruises. The island has a great paddling trail, so you may also choose to kayak to this hidden island. If you go that route, the closest point to launch is at the end of Cove Road. When you arrive on the island, you’ll find a nice boardwalk and almost three miles of sandy beach. This is also a prime spot for fishing, snorkeling, and diving.