1000 Atlantic Blvd, Key West, FL 33040, USA 
455 miles from Panama City Beach, FL
Featuring a stunning tropical landscape, Higgs Beach offers a serene alternative to the nearby Smathers Beach. A wide and flat stretch of powdery sand, beautiful palm trees, and spectacular aquamarine ocean – mmm, it’s truly a place to relax and enjoy your beach day to the full. It’s off the beaten path and rarely gets crowded.
Equipped with all the necessary facilities including children’s playgrounds, it’s also good for family visitors. Another bonus of this Key West beach that makes it even more inviting is free and easy parking.
Location and Access
Higgs Beach is located at 1000 Atlantic Boulevard in Key West, Florida. Its open hours are from six in the morning until eleven at night. Parking is free and easy.
Available Facilities
There are public restrooms and showers to rinse the sand and seawater off. You can bring some food and have a picnic at one of the tables on the beach. There is a restaurant on site where you can have dinner in case you don’t bring your own food. If you have little kids, they will be glad to discover the beach playground.
Swimming Conditions
Unlike many other beaches in the area, Higgs Beach is more sand than rocks, but still, there are rocks and corals in the water, so be careful. It is recommended to wear water shoes and enter the ocean from the stairs at the end of the pier – in that case, you will also avoid most of the seaweed.
The sand is hard-packed and soft to the touch. The water is shallow and warm. If you want to swim, there is a deeper area as well, but please exercise caution – there are no lifeguards on site. Finally, the beach has sunbed and umbrella rentals to make your recreation more comfortable ($20 for 2 sunbeds and umbrella).
Other Activities
There is a vendor where you can rent paddleboards at a good price. You can also rent snorkeling equipment for just $5 and see a variety of fish and rays in the clear waters of Higgs. There is a long pier to walk over the water, which is also great for watching sunrises. Higgs Beach is good for birdwatching – you can spot pelicans, herons, cormorants, and storks.
Dog Policies
Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed on the beach (there is a $100 fine) but there is a dog park just across the street.
Driving Time
- 1 hour 10 minutes from Marathon, FL
- 2 hours from Key Largo, FL
- 3 hours 15 minutes from Miami, FL
Hotels and rentals
If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:
- Nearby rentals from VRBO.
- Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.
Beaches nearby
Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Higgs Beach which you can visit:
- Casa Marina Beach (0 miles)
- Rest Beach (C.B. Harvey Rest Beach Park) (0 miles)
- Dog Beach (Key West) (0 miles)
- The Reach Resort Beach (0 miles)
- South Beach (Key West) (1 mile)
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