Ask people what they want in a beach town and walking to things comes up fast. It's also one of the hardest things to find here. Of the 167 towns we cover, only eight score a 5 on walkability, meaning most daily needs sit within a short walk of the center of town.
On the Gulf
Dunedin
You can do most days on foot or by bike. Main Street, the marina, the Downtown Market and the brewery sit within a few blocks, the Pinellas Trail cuts through the middle, and Freebee gives free rides. See Dunedin.
Venice
The whole 1920s town plan is walkable. Venice Avenue runs under palms from the downtown shops to the Gulf in about a mile, with Centennial Park and the Saturday market on the way. See Venice.
On the Atlantic
St. Augustine
The old town is built for feet. St. George Street is closed to cars, and the Castillo de San Marcos, the bayfront, the plaza and the Lightner Museum are all a few blocks apart. See St. Augustine.
Fernandina Beach
Centre Street runs from the marina on the Amelia River straight through the Victorian downtown, with the Saturday market, galleries and the community theatre a few blocks off it. The ocean is about two miles east, an easy bike ride. See Fernandina Beach.
Delray Beach
Atlantic Avenue runs from downtown straight to the sand, with the murals and galleries of Pineapple Grove one street over. The free Freebee shuttle covers everything from I-95 to the beach. See Delray Beach.
Lauderdale by the Sea
The whole village works on foot. From Anglin's Square you walk to the beach, the restaurants, the shops and the Sunday market in minutes. See Lauderdale by the Sea.
South Beach
You can live here without a car. Lincoln Road is a pedestrian mall, the paved Beachwalk runs along the ocean, and groceries, cafes and the sand are all a few flat blocks apart. See South Beach.
In the Keys
Key West
The whole island is about 4 miles long and a mile wide. Most trips in Old Town happen by bike or on foot, and a car can sit for days. See Key West.
What to check before you count on walking
- Walk it in August. A ten minute walk at 2pm in summer is a different thing. Look for shade, and ask how people get around when it's hot.
- Find the nearest full grocery store. Plenty of charming downtowns have twelve restaurants and no supermarket.
- Ask about a bike, a golf cart or a free shuttle. In most of these towns that is how a walkable life really works.
- Check the walkable part, not the whole town. In nearly every town here the walkable area is a few dozen blocks. A mile out, you're driving again.
- Expect to pay for it. Walkable and near the water is the most wanted combination in Florida, and prices in the center of these towns show it.
Want more options? Search "walkable" on the Beach Towns page to see every town that scores a 4 or 5, or tell Find Your Mile that you want to leave the car keys at home.
