Last Updated on March 1, 2024
Florida has some of the best surfing beaches in the United States. The state has great waves, warm water, and thousands of miles of coastline to explore.
Florida’s east coast contains a majority of the best Florida surfing spots. You can find big waves and more consistent surf than on the Gulf Coast.
A lot of surfing towns in the Sunshine State offer plenty of fun things to do to round out your trip.
You can enjoy shopping at surf shops, taking surf lessons, and visiting parks, jetties, and campgrounds.
Best Places to Surf in Florida
Experienced surfers and beginners should definitely check out this list of the best beaches for surfing in Florida.
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New Smyrna Beach – New Smyrna Beach, FL
New Smyrna Beach is a world-famous beach. It is also one of the best surfing beaches in Florida – and the world.
In fact, both National Geographic and Surfer Magazine have ranked New Smyrna Beach as one of the world’s best surf towns.
This prime spot also boasts the most consistent surf break in the Sunshine State. Of course, you will want to grab your surfboard and take a trip over to the New Smyrna Beach Inlet !
If you are just starting out with surfing, there are local shops that offer surfboard rentals and lessons with an experienced surfer.
The waves at New Smyrna Beach are relatively small, but their consistency makes this beach a reliable place to practice your form and enjoy the ride!
If you’d like to learn the history of surfing, don’t miss a visit to the Museum of East Coast Surfing. The surf museum is part of the New Smyrna Museum of History just off Canal Street.
In addition to surfing, there is plenty to do in this fun, laid-back town that travelers love to visit repeatedly.
While in the area, check out: 7 Top Things to Do in New Smyrna Beach.
Cocoa Beach – Cocoa Beach, FL
Cocoa Beach is another well-known Florida beach on the Atlantic Coast. Only about an hour’s drive from Orlando, this beach is a popular destination for travelers.
There are cool places to check out, like the Cocoa Beach Pier and the Kelly Slater bronze sculpture.
You can also find shops and restaurants on the pier stretching hundreds of feet over the water.
The beaches have warm waters and great waves. There are plenty of oceanfront parks in the area that has both free and paid parking options.
Surfers will want to visit Ron Jon Surf Shop – the world’s largest surf shop. It is a great spot to shop for surfing gear and souvenirs.
If you visit Cocoa Beach around the holidays, check out Surfing Santas, an annual event held on Christmas Eve. The event is filled with fun activities and raises thousands of dollars for charity annually.
Where else will you have the opportunity to see 800 surfing Santas? The schedule for the event includes live performances by dancers, costume contests, photo-ops, raffles, and of course, surfing!
For more information, visit the official Surfing Santas website.
While in Cocoa Beach, check out 12 Reasons to Launch Your Trip to Florida’s Space Coast.
Sebastian Inlet State Park – Melbourne Beach, FL
Sebastian Inlet State Park is known as “a Florida surfer’s paradise.” We had to include it in our list of best surfing beaches! The park is located on Melbourne Beach and is the perfect place for surfers, nature lovers, and beachgoers alike.
Sebastian Inlet has over three miles of beaches to enjoy. Surfers will want to go to the first peak next to the north jetty for the most consistent surf breaks.
They can also go to Monster Hole on the south side of the inlet, which has waves that form long lines for long rides.
When you are done catching waves and Sebastian inlet surfing, head to the Indian River Lagoon for calming waters that make for peaceful kayaking adventures.
You can also take a hike on Hammock Trail and walk beside mangroves.
The park has a campground for tent campers and RV parking – perfect for those who want to do sunrise surfing.
Sebastian Inlet State Park is open daily. Admission fees are $8 per car.
For more information, visit the official Florida State Parks website.
Address: 9700 South Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
Learn more at A Day at Sebastian Inlet State Park.
Daytona Beach – Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach has always been a popular spot – and not just for surfing and other water sports! The spring break destination is also known for the Daytona Beach Boardwalk & Pier.
It is a fun shopping and dining destination, and Daytona International Speedway is a world-famous motorsports facility.
The beach itself boasts wide, hard-packed sand beaches with sections that people can drive and park on for a fee. It’s a great place for beginner surfers to visit.
Tons of local shops will set you up with the gear you need to hit the water.
There are surf instructors you can book classes or private lessons to learn how to surf like the pros.
For more information, visit the official Daytona Beach website.
While you are in the area, check out: A Visit to Daytona Beach.
Ponce Inlet – Ponce Inlet, FL
Ponce Inlet is a town just south of Daytona. Located on the southern tip of a barrier island, this surfing spot is a bit quieter with all the same perks of consistent waves.
This is a year-round surfing beach with ideal swells. The best time to catch the surf here is around high tide.
In addition to being a great place to surf, Ponce Inlet has Florida’s tallest lighthouse at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum. It is a national historic landmark and a picturesque spot to visit while you are in the area.
For more information, visit the official Volusia County website.
While in the area, check out: The Authentic Town of Ponce Inlet.
St. Augustine Beach – St. Augustine Beach, FL
Who knew that there is a great surfing destination right down the road from the oldest city in America? St. Augustine Beach is on the Atlantic Coast, just a few miles east of the historic Old City.
The beach is famous for all different types of watersports, like wakeboarding and paddle boarding.
The beach has a wide variety of waves to experience. Beginner surfers might want to check out the St. Augustine Surf School, which offers rental surfboards and private surfing lessons.
For more information, visit the official St. Augustine Surf School website.
While you are in the area, check out: Step Back in Time in Charming St. Augustine.
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park – Jacksonville, FL
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is a public beach and park in Jacksonville. The park has many fun things to do there, including surfing along one and a half miles of sandy beach.
Hanna Park is home to a Northeast Florida premier surfing spot, The Poles, known for fairly consistent surfing conditions and ideal swell direction. You’ll want to check out this spot around low tide for the best conditions to hit the water.
In addition, the park has a 60-acre lake, perfect for other water activities. You can enjoy kayaking or canoeing, over twenty miles of hiking and biking trails to explore, picnic areas, and campgrounds.
If you need some gear while you are there, there is a campground store onsite that sells snacks and camping supplies. They also rent out kayaks and mountain bikes.
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm from March through October. It is open from 8 am to 6 pm from November through February. Admission fees are $5 per car.
For more information, visit the official City of Jacksonville website.
Address: 500 Wonderwood Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32233
While you are in the area, check out: Top 5 Things to Do in Downtown Jacksonville.
Reef Road – Palm Beach, FL
Reef Road is one of the best surfing spots in South Florida. The popular spot in Palm Beach is known for its big waves and heart-racing surf.
The beach by the south jetty is the place for the most intense waves.
Reef Road conditions can be moody with small swells and waves that section off. When the conditions align for the perfect surf, you will be pressed to find a more powerful set of waves to surf in the region.
While in the area, check out 6 Fun Things to Do Around the Palm Beaches.
South Beach – Miami, FL
South Beach is an iconic Miami Beach neighborhood full of things to do and places to surf. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, Art Deco buildings, and thriving food scene.
If you are ready to hit the waves, head down to 1st Street by the jetty for the best surf conditions. Swells bring powerful waves; the best breaks occur from July to November.
Enjoy the surf at South Beach but don’t be afraid to explore neighboring beaches for various surfing options and fun challenges – there are plenty to choose from in the Miami Beach area.
For more information, visit the official travel and tourism website for Greater Miami and Miami Beach.
While you are in the area, check out: A Walking Tour Through Miami’s Authentic South Beach.
Flagler Beach – Flagler Beach, FL
Flagler Beach is a great surfing beach, roughly halfway between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach.
This beach isn’t as crowded as some of the others on this list can be and offers some quality conditions for surfers.
The Flagler Beach Pier is the best local spot to visit for a good wave break. Swell consistency thrives here from September through May.
It is best to avoid this beach during the summer months when it is more crowded and surf conditions are generally subpar.
For more information, visit the official Flagler Beach website.
While you are in the area, check out: Things to Do on the Palm Coast and Flagler Beaches.
Jupiter Beach – Jupiter Beach, FL
Jupiter Beach is another awesome surfing beach to check out in Florida. Two sandbars between Jupiter Inlet and the Juno Beach Pier create nice, long waves when there is a good swell.
The beaches in Jupiter are also worth traveling to for their clear, warm waters and beautiful natural features like dunes and mangroves.
Enjoy big waves and good right-wave breaks at this South Florida destination.
For more information, visit the official Jupiter Beach website.
Boynton Beach – Boynton Beach, FL
Boynton Beach is another South Florida town with one of the best surfing beaches in Florida. Thanks to a nice, exposed beach and reef break, Boynton Beach offers great surf conditions year-round.
Oceanfront Park is the place to go, with dedicated surfing areas at the north and south ends of the beach. The public beach park offers amenities that include parking, picnic areas, and restrooms.
If you work up an appetite, Turtle Café is in the park and open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The café is a great quick stop that offers burgers, hotdogs, and other filling options.
For more information, visit the official Boynton Beach website.
Pensacola Beach – Pensacola Beach, FL
Taking a trip over to the Florida Panhandle, we arrive at Pensacola Beach. Pensacola Beach is a town known for its white sand beaches and warm Gulf Coast waters.
There is plenty to do in Pensacola Beach, including surfing! For clean, consistent waves, the best time to visit this beach is during the winter months.
In winter, you are more likely to find ideal swell and wind conditions for clean surfing waves, making it one of the best surf spots on the Gulf Coast.
For more information, visit the official Pensacola Beach website.
While you are in the area, check out: Experience Authentic Pensacola (& Pensacola Beach).
Venice Beach – Venice, FL
Venice Beach is another Gulf Coast beach to visit for an optimal surfing experience.
Located approximately 20 miles south of Sarasota, Venice Beach attracts large crowds of surfers due to its great conditions – especially by the South Jetty.
The combination of hard-packed sandbars and rock jetties can provide thrilling conditions with big swells and excellent surf. The waves here are typically faster and steeper during winter, making it a great time to visit this town.
In addition to surfing, Venice is known as the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World,” so make sure you bring a basket with you to collect some shark teeth as a souvenir to remember your trip!
Featured in: A Road Trip to Southwest Florida’s Best Shell Destinations.
Additional Surf Spots in Florida
Melbourne Beach – Melbourne Beach, FL
Atlantic Beach – Atlantic Beach, FL
Perdido Key – Escambia County, FL
Jetty Park – Port Canaveral, FL
Satellite Beach – Satellite Beach, FL
Juno Beach Pier – Juno Beach, FL
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