Key West City Guide
Smathers Beach: Key West's Longest Sandy Shoreline
Smathers Beach is the largest and most popular public sandy beach on Key West, stretching for roughly two miles along South Roosevelt Boulevard on the island's Atlantic shoreline. Named after former Florida Senator George Smathers, the beach is famous for its wide strip of soft white sand (regularly imported from the Bahamas to supplement the island's natural coral rock), its gentle sloping shoreline, and a continuous row of towering coconut palms. Unlike the rocky snorkel groins at Fort Zachary Taylor, Smathers Beach is designed for barefoot swimming, sunbathing, beach volleyball, and watersports rentals. The wider island directory and travel planner starts on the Key West City Guide homepage.
Quick answer Swimming conditions, parking costs, and watersport rentals
Read on 10 September 2026: Smathers Beach is open daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM with free public access. Curbside parking along South Roosevelt Boulevard is metered at $5.00 per hour (or $25.00 for a full day) via ParkMobile or credit card kiosks. The water is extraordinarily calm and shallow (often waist-deep 100 feet out), making it ideal for paddleboarding and wading.
Key takeaways
- The beach is 100% free to enter; bring a towel, umbrella, and sunscreen as natural palm shade fills up quickly.
- Curbside parking along South Roosevelt is metered ($5/hr); payment is strictly enforced 8:00 AM to midnight.
- Sunset Watersports operates concession stands along the sand renting paddleboards, kayaks, Hobie Cat sailboats, and parasailing flights.
- Clean public restrooms, outdoor rinse showers, and cold water fountains are situated near the center of the beach promenade.
Key facts
Opening hours
| Daily | Open daily 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM |
|---|
Planning it
- Time needed
- 2 to 4 hours (half day)
- Book ahead
- Optional — walk-up usually fine
- Address
- South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, FL 33040
Beach access is free, while on-site vendors and boat charters offer all-inclusive watersport packages:
Relax on the sand for free, or book an all-day watersport pass with jet skis and parasailing:
| Option | Type | Includes | Best For | Rate | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Beach AccessIndependent sunbathers and swimmers wanting a free Atlantic beach day | Public beach | Soft sand, shallow wading, volleyball courts, public restrooms, rinse showers | Sunbathers | Free ($0.00) | Official site |
| Ultimate Watersports AdventureActive travelers wanting unlimited watersports (parasailing, jet skis, banana boat) | Full-day excursion | Catamaran sail, jet skiing, parasailing, banana boat, lunch & draft beer | Adventure seekers | $169.95 | Check Availability |
| Key West Jet Ski Island TourRiders wanting a 28-mile circumnavigation of the island on personal watercraft | Guided jet ski | 28-mile circumnavigation past Smathers Beach and backcountry sandbars | Thrill seekers | $160.00 | Check Availability |
| Old Town Trolley TourSightseers traveling between Old Town and Smathers Beach without rental cars | Hop-on hop-off | Stop #9 connects directly to the eastern end of Smathers Beach | All-day transit | $48.50 | Check Availability |
Experience parasailing, jet ski island tours, and full-day catamaran watersport excursions.
from $74.00
Key West: Parasailing Flight Over the Island & Waters
Fly 300 feet over the boundary where the Gulf meets the Atlantic. Look down on stingrays gliding over the flats and spot the distinctive tin roofs and lighthouse of Old Town from the sky.
Check Availability
from $183.00
Key West: 90-Minute Island Jet Ski Tour with Sandbar Stop
High-octane 28-mile lap around the entire perimeter of Key West. Guides throttle up in open ocean zones and slow down for dolphin sightings and historical views near Fleming Key and Sunset Key.
Check Availability
from $73.00
Key West: Double Dip 2-Stop Coral Reef Snorkeling Trip
Two distinct reef locations in one 3-hour outing. Visits the outer Florida Keys barrier reef where underwater visibility and coral formations far surpass any near-shore beach snorkeling.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own, checked in Q3 2026; dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.
Swimming conditions and water depth
Because Key West is surrounded by an offshore barrier coral reef seven miles out, strong surf and crashing ocean waves rarely reach Smathers Beach. The water is remarkably calm, clear, and flat, resembling a massive saltwater swimming pool.
The sandy seabed slopes very gradually: you can often wade out 100 to 150 feet from the shoreline and still find yourself in waist-deep water. This makes Smathers Beach the safest beach on the island for families with young children and hesitant swimmers. Sea-grass beds begin roughly 200 feet out, which occasionally wash up as natural sargassum weed on the shoreline during summer easterly winds (the city rakes the beach regularly with tractors).
Watersports, chair rentals, and food trucks
Along the beachfront, licensed concessionaires (predominantly Sunset Watersports) operate equipment rental cabanas. You can rent:
- Stand-up paddleboards & ocean kayaks: $25 to $35 per hour.
- Beach lounge chairs & umbrellas: $15 per chair and $20 per umbrella for the full day.
- Parasailing flights: 10-minute tandem flights lifting 300 feet above the Atlantic coastline ($65 to $85 per person).
- Windsurfing and Hobie Cat sailboats: Hourly rentals available when steady ocean breezes blow from the southeast. For lunch, food trucks frequently park along South Roosevelt Boulevard opposite the sand, serving fresh coconut smoothies, fish tacos, Cuban sandwiches, and cold bottled beverages.
Logistics: parking, bike path, and transit
Parallel parking spaces line the entire two-mile length of South Roosevelt Boulevard. Parking is strictly metered between 8:00 AM and midnight at $5.00 per hour, payable via ParkMobile app or solar credit-card kiosks placed along the sidewalk. Key West parking enforcement patrols this strip aggressively, and expired meters receive $40 citations.
An alternative is cycling: a wide, flat, two-way paved promenade runs between the roadway and the beach, connecting Smathers Beach directly to Higgs Beach and Old Town. The ride from Duval Street takes just 12 to 15 minutes on a beach cruiser.
Nearby Atlantic coastline landmarks
Explore neighboring beaches and historical sites along South Roosevelt Boulevard:
Higgs Beach
Smaller historic beach with free parking, the wooden Reynolds Street pier, and West Martello Tower.
15 minutes walk (1.2 km west along sidewalk)Southernmost Point Buoy
Famous landmark buoy monument marking the southern tip of the island.
25 minutes walk or 8 min bike (2.5 km west)Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
Civil War fortress and the island's premier natural coral rock snorkeling beach.
15 minutes by bike (4 km west)Frequently asked questions about Smathers Beach
Is Smathers Beach free to enter?
Yes, Smathers Beach is a free public city beach with zero admission fees. Only parking along the boulevard and watersport equipment rentals require payment.
How much is parking at Smathers Beach?
Curbside parking along South Roosevelt Boulevard is metered at $5.00 per hour or $25.00 for a full day, enforced daily from 8:00 AM to midnight.
Can you snorkel at Smathers Beach?
Smathers Beach has a sandy seabed with sea-grass beds rather than coral rock, so fish variety is limited. For the best snorkeling directly off the beach, visit Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.
Are there restrooms and showers at Smathers Beach?
Yes, clean public restrooms, changing facilities, and outdoor freshwater rinse showers are located near the central pavilion along South Roosevelt Boulevard.
Is Smathers Beach good for watching sunrise or sunset?
Smathers Beach faces south-southeast, making it spectacular for watching the Atlantic sunrise. Sunset is partially visible over the western tree line, but Mallory Square and Fort Zachary Taylor offer superior sunset views.
Key West on video: Smathers Beach
Verified video walkthroughs and footage of Smathers Beach, providing visual perspective before your visit.
Smathers Beach – Key West, Florida – Helpful Info for Visitors | Key West, FL Travel Guides - Ep# 4
Walkthrough of Smathers Beach by Hipfig Travel-Channel.
Video: hipfig travel-channelKey West Smathers Beach
Walkthrough of Smathers Beach by Florida 4K.
Video: florida 4kThe 5 BEST Beaches in Key West, Florida (Ranked by a Local)
Walkthrough of Smathers Beach by Living In Key West & The Florida Keys.
Video: living in key west & the florida keysReviewed Q3 2026 (July–September 2026); next review Q4 2026. Prices, hours and terms are set by the venue or operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure