Best Beaches Near Fort Lauderdale: A Local Guide for Families and Groups

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Broward County's Atlantic coastline has a beach for every kind of day, and the one that suits your group depends on what you want from the day: easy snorkeling from shore, a long walk on a boardwalk, a fishing pier at sunrise or a quiet stretch of sand with the kids.

We host families and groups from our canal home in northeast Fort Lauderdale, so these are the beaches our guests ask about most, with the practical details that make the day easier: parking, piers, snorkeling spots and what to bring.

Key takeaways

  • Closest to our home: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, about 10 minutes away, with snorkel trails in about 10 feet of water.
  • Best all-rounder: Fort Lauderdale Beach, with Hugh Taylor Birch State Park across A1A for shade, trails and rentals.
  • Best for fishing: Pompano Beach (Fisher Family Pier) and Deerfield Beach (nearly 1,000-foot International Fishing Pier).
  • Best for a long walk: Hollywood Beach, with a brick Broadwalk of about 2.5 miles.
  • Always: swim near a lifeguard tower and check the beach warning flags.

Aerial view of a Fort Lauderdale canal home with a pool and private dock

Our canal home: the beach is about 10 minutes away, and the canal is right out back.

Quick comparison

Beach Best for Good to know
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Snorkeling from shore, a small-town feel Snorkel trails in about 10 ft of water; Datura Avenue beach portal
Fort Lauderdale Beach Classic beach day, promenade, restaurants Hugh Taylor Birch State Park across A1A
Pompano Beach Pier walks, fishing, sunrise Fisher Family Pier; restaurants by the pier
Deerfield Beach Fishing, surfing, families Pier open 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; Blue Wave beach
Hollywood Beach Walking, biking, people-watching About 2.5-mile Broadwalk; lifeguards year-round
Dania Beach A quieter day south of the airport Smaller crowds than Fort Lauderdale Beach

1. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea: snorkeling right from the sand

This is the beach closest to our home and the one we recommend most for families. The Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea says it has coral reefs within about 100 yards of the beach, and two marked snorkel trails, the Anglin's Pier Reef Snorkel Trail and a Shipwreck Snorkel Trail off Datura Avenue, both in about 10 feet of water.

  • Where to go in: the Datura Avenue beach portal (Datura Avenue and El Mar Drive) is the popular entry point.
  • Bring: a mask, fins and a dive flag. Go on a calm morning, when the water is clearest.
  • Good to know: the town calls itself a shore-diving destination, and the downtown around Commercial Boulevard and El Mar Drive is walkable, with cafés and ice cream a few steps from the sand.

Anglin's Fishing Pier was badly damaged by Hurricane Nicole in 2022, so check its current status before you plan to walk or fish on it.

2. Fort Lauderdale Beach and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

The famous stretch along A1A has the wave wall, the promenade and plenty of places to eat. For a calmer, shadier day, cross A1A to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. Florida State Parks lists it as open 8 a.m. to sunset, every day, with entry at $6 per vehicle (up to 8 people), $4 for a single-occupant vehicle and $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. Inside you'll find shaded picnic areas, a paved park drive for biking and walking, and a route under A1A to the beach.

Pair it with an afternoon on Las Olas Boulevard, a short drive away.

3. Pompano Beach and the Fisher Family Pier

Pompano is an easy drive north and a favorite for early risers. The Fisher Family Pier runs out nearly 900 feet over the Atlantic, walking it is free, and the restaurants and shops of Pompano Beach's pier area are right next to the sand. Our full Pompano Beach Fishing Pier guide has hours, fees, parking and sunrise times.

4. Deerfield Beach

VISIT FLORIDA describes Deerfield's International Fishing Pier as nearly 1,000 feet long and open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The beach holds a Blue Wave designation from the Clean Beach Council, lifeguards cover a one-mile stretch, and snorkelers head to Turtle Beach just north of the pier (a dive flag is required). Parking is pay-by-plate, with lots near the beach and a parking structure two blocks from the pier.

Private dock on a Fort Lauderdale canal with kayaks and paddleboards

Beach in the morning, kayaks on the canal in the afternoon.

5. Hollywood Beach and the Broadwalk

South of the airport, Hollywood's brick-paved Broadwalk runs about 2.5 miles along the ocean, and Travel + Leisure named it one of America's best beach boardwalks. It's flat and wheelchair accessible, with lifeguards year-round and Charnow Park (playground and splash fountain) for younger kids. Rent bikes, grab lunch along the Broadwalk and stay for the sunset walk.

6. Dania Beach

Just south of Port Everglades and the airport, Dania Beach usually feels less busy than Fort Lauderdale Beach, which makes it a good choice when you want space to spread out.

Which beach is right for you?

  • Families with young kids: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea or Deerfield Beach, both with lifeguards and easy facilities.
  • Snorkeling: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, from the Datura Avenue portal on a calm day.
  • Fishing: Pompano Beach or Deerfield Beach piers.
  • Walking and biking: Hollywood's Broadwalk or Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
  • Grandparents in the group: Hollywood Beach, with Mobi-Mat access points and free beach wheelchairs (first come, first served).

Beach safety and what to bring

  • Swim near a lifeguard tower and read the warning flags every time.
  • Reef-friendly sunscreen, hats, water, a shade tent and a beach cart make a long day easier.
  • Bring quarters or the parking app ready: most beach parking is metered or pay-by-plate.
  • For snorkeling, a dive flag is the safe and expected choice.

Heated pool by the canal at a Fort Lauderdale vacation home

After the beach: rinse off and jump in the heated pool.

From our family: Cardoso Realty

Dreaming of living near these beaches?

Many visitors fall in love with this stretch of coast. Our family also operates Cardoso Realty, a Fort Lauderdale real estate brokerage led by broker Martius Cardoso. If you're curious about homes or condos near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Pompano Beach or the Intracoastal, Cardoso Realty can walk you through neighborhoods, waterfront homes, flood zones and insurance before you make any decision.

Explore South Florida homes with Cardoso Realty →

FAQ

What is the best beach near Fort Lauderdale for families?

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Deerfield Beach are both easy with kids: lifeguards, calm-feeling stretches on most days and food close to the sand. Hollywood Beach is great if your group likes to walk or bike.

Can you snorkel from the beach near Fort Lauderdale?

Yes. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea has marked snorkel trails in about 10 feet of water, and the town says coral reefs sit within about 100 yards of the beach. Enter at the Datura Avenue beach portal and use a dive flag.

How much does Hugh Taylor Birch State Park cost?

Florida State Parks lists $6 per vehicle (up to 8 people), $4 for a single-occupant vehicle and $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. It's open 8 a.m. to sunset every day.

Which beach is best for fishing?

The Pompano Beach (Fisher Family) Pier and the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier. Deerfield's pier is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

How far are the beaches from Cardoso Luxury Stays?

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is about 10 minutes away and Fort Lauderdale Beach about 15. Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach are a short drive north.

Stay between the beach and the canal

Spend the morning on the sand and the afternoon by the water at home: our 4-bedroom canal home in northeast Fort Lauderdale sleeps up to 12, with a heated pool, a private dock with kayaks and paddleboards, and a game room with a pool table, air hockey and arcade basketball. Floranada Park is right across the street, and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea's beach is about 10 minutes away.

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Keep planning

Sources

Last checked November 2026. Hours and prices change, so confirm with the official site before you go.