Quiet Beaches In Miami

If you are like most people, Miami might conjure up images of surfers, bikinis, music, vibrancy, and large crowds. A lot of the time, this is a great vibe, but in some instances, it’s nicer to go to a quieter beach where you don’t have to deal with all the hustle and bustle of the popular Miami beaches. The great thing is that there are a few hidden gems that will allow you to have this kind of experience, so which are the quiet beaches in Miami?

There are several quiet beaches in Miami, including:

  • Matheson Hammock Park
  • Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
  • North Beach
  • Virginia Key Beach Park
  • Hobie Island Beach Park
  • North Shore Open Space Park
  • Bal Harbour Beach
  • Sunny Isles Beach
  • Crandon Park
  • Hollywood North Beach Park

If you are a Miami local or maybe a tourist seeking a relaxing day away from the crowds and loud noises, never fear. Miami has got you covered. The following information will enable you to delve deeper into what these stunning beaches offer to decide which beach would be best for you to visit.

10 Best Quiet Beaches In Miami

Many outstanding beaches in Miami will provide beautiful scenery, a relaxing environment, and an overall great experience. Although, the consensus is that the following beaches form part of the top ten choices regarding the best quiet beaches in Miami.

1. Matheson Hammock Park

You will find this pearl of a beach in South Miami. The fantastic thing about this beach is that it is predominantly visited by locals, which means it is typically quieter than other more touristy beaches in the Miami area.

Perfect for a day of relaxing, this family-friendly beach offers its visitors shelter against the aggressive surf, an artificial atoll perfect for the little ones, and a relaxed atmosphere. The calm waters make it an ideal choice if you wish to go paddle boarding or kayaking. There is even a rental shop if you don’t have your own.

There are excellent amenities in the vicinity, including a superb restaurant and picnic tables, and most days, you will also find a lifeguard on duty. So, if you are in the mood for a calm, quiet, relaxing environment on a beautiful beach, then Matheson Hammock Park is a great choice.

2. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

You can expect the beach at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park to be relatively quiet as you will need to pay a small entrance fee to get into the Park. The beach is beautiful and unspoiled, with a pretty lighthouse setting the scene in the background.

Families will enjoy visiting this beach as it is perfect for sunbathing, sand castle building, sea shell hunting, and swimming and provides hours of fun and dune exploration. The waters are clear blue, although you can expect some seaweed to drift into the area now and then.

Even though this lovely beach is quite popular, it is quiet in the sense that most people head off and find themselves the perfect corner to occupy and enjoy the beach vibes.

3. North Beach

If you seek a relatively quiet beach away from the tourist hustle and bustle but still close to downtown Miami, then North Beach is the perfect beach for you.

With its spectacular soft sand and shallow waters, North Beach is a paradise for the local communities, especially children and dogs. Located next to the Port of Miami, North Beach provides the ideal beach amenities, including picnic tables with umbrellas, freshwater fountains, public showers, clean public toilets, changing rooms, plenty of parking, and an on-duty lifeguard during open hours from 7 am to 7 pm.

You can expect to find the water quality at this beach to be excellent, mainly due to its proximity to Biscayne Bay. Although, the waters and sand along the shore can get a bit seaweedy. Another aspect to remember is that you should avoid swimming at this beach during high tide as the waters can get relatively choppy due to the strong currents in the area.

The beach is an unofficial dog beach as long as owners keep their furry companions on their leashes.

4. Virginia Key Beach Park

Located only a short distance from the financial district and Miami-Dade downtown, Virginia Key Beach Park is the perfect spot for quiet beach time. Although the beach does see quite a bit of foot traffic, if you visit during the week, the probabilities are you will be able to find yourself alone or among only a handful of beachgoers.

With its lovely warm water and lack of waves, this stretch of coastline is perfect for swimming or kayaking. It is also pleasantly shallow, providing an ideal location for kids and the elderly to enjoy the waters with little risk.

Besides its quiet and relaxed beach vibe, the great thing about Virginia Key Beach Park is its cultural history and surrounding nature walks. When visiting, don’t forget to take a ride on the vintage carousel train or stroll along the designated pathway. There is even a historic walking tour that you could join.

The amenities include several food vendors, picnic areas, designated parking areas, and restrooms. There is a small entrance fee to get into the Park, which is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

5. Hobie Island Beach Park

If you are out to escape the crowds and enjoy a nice quiet day at the beach with your four-legged companion, then this beach is the one for you. With magnificent views of the Miami skyline, the beach is only a few miles from the downtown area but still secluded enough to provide you with a quiet beach day.

The shore features shallow waters perfect for small children and dogs to happily splash about without too much worry on their parent’s part. The lack of crowds adds to the appeal of this secluded Miami beach.

If watersports are your thing, then Hobie Island Beach Park is your place. With the onshore winds, this beach is the ideal location for windsurfing enthusiasts or those wishing to try the activity. A watersport rental company is located close to the beach to supply you with all you need for a fun-filled day in the water, whether it be windsurfing gear, kayaks, paddleboards, etc.

6. North Shore Open Space Park

There is nothing better than mixing a tranquil beach day with the beautiful scenery of nature. You can find North Shore Beach adjacent to the North Shore Open Space Park, and the two create an oasis of white beach and a sprawling lush nature park.

The beach is a hit among the locals but luckily still falls under the radar of the tourists that regularly flock to Miami. Luckily, this means that the beach enjoys a quiet and laid-back feel, perfect for a day of relaxing or a fun-filled day with the family.

The long stretch of shore enables visitors to space themselves out, which is appealing to those who wish to enjoy a quiet day at the beach. If you happen to leave your sun umbrella at home, never fear. There are umbrella rentals available at the beach, and the lifeguards on duty in the lifeguard stations ensure that you can safely leave your belongings on the shore while enjoying a refreshing dip in the water.

The Park is free and open year-round. After your dip in the ocean, you can explore the 9-block green space of the Park or enjoy a walk along the 8-mile long boardwalk. There are numerous restaurants in the area if you feel peckish after your beach visit, a relatively inexpensive parking area, and some decent public restrooms across the way.

7. Bal Harbour Beach

This beach’s exclusivity is why it makes it onto the list of being one of the quieter Miami beaches. You will locate this beauty in Bal Harbour, close to some of the finest resorts whose patrons can easily access the clean walkways surrounding the shore.

Due to the closeness of the resorts, you won’t find any noisy parties at or near this beach, allowing visitors a more tranquil experience. The temperature of the water along Bal Harbour Beach is warm enough for you to enjoy a swim, and the waves don’t ever get too rough or high making it an ideal beach for younger swimmers.

Numerous chairs along the shore provide visitors with the perfect setting for soaking up some rays. Unfortunately, the parking situation isn’t ideal, with only a handful of public parking spaces. So if you intend to visit, it might be best to consider catching a taxi there rather than driving your vehicle and struggling to find a decent or close enough parking space.

8. Sunny Isles Beach

If you are okay with a bit of a drive, then Sunny Isle Beach is a first-rate choice for those wishing for a more quiet beach experience. Situated around 40 minutes drive from Miami Beach, this little slice of heaven provides visitors with a stretch of sugar-white sanded beachfront fringed with palm trees.

As the neighborhood is a little away from the hustle and bustle of Miami Central,  visitors shouldn’t be too bothered with the buzz you might find in Miami proper. Instead, you can enjoy the space and the quiet. The setting is perfect for taking the kids out for a paddle or a dip in the ocean while you take in the stunning views.

The amenities at this beach include shaded picnic areas and public restrooms. There are several unique boutiques, restaurants, and museums close to the beach if you feel like having another adventure once you are done sunning and swimming.

If you can manage to get up before the sun, you can opt to join in on one of the sunrise yoga sessions held at Sunny Isle Beach. There are also bike and kayak rentals close by for those who wish to add a little adventure to their beach day.

9. Crandon Park

If you can visit this beach during the week, you will be able to enjoy it without the crowds typically found there over the weekends. The Park encompasses 800 acres of the Key Biscayne’s Cut Preserve featuring a two-mile long shoreline of beautiful beachfront.

The surf along this stretch of coastline is typically calm, and the waters are generally warm year-round. The beach features sugary-white sand, clean waters, palm trees, and a cool breeze that often blows inshore off the water. A paved pathway leads you onto the beach from the parking lot and main entrance.

The Park hosts decent restrooms, concession stands, jogging trails, designated sports areas where you can play a game of volleyball or tennis, and biking trails, among others. Visitors are often lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some dolphins and manatees frolicking in the waters just off the shore.

One thing to remember when visiting this beach is that there are no lifeguards on duty, so you must be mindful when heading out into the water. A section of the beach is also dog friendly, and you are welcome to allow your dog to roam free without its leash on, accompanying you along the shore or into the waters.

10. Hollywood North Beach Park

With its long, spectacular, and clean beachfront, Hollywood North Beach Park offers one of Miami’s best secluded and quiet beaches. Not many people venture out to this beach, so a visit here should typically include a day of quiet relaxation.

This lovely beach is pet-friendly, allowing you to include the whole family on your trip. A boardwalk in the Park is not often crowded and provides ample space to stroll, skate, jog, or cycle, heating you up to take a dip in the lovely clean, warm waters.

The amenities at this beach include restrooms, outdoor showers, changing rooms, and lifeguard stations that are manned during the summer. There is a small admission fee for children 12 years and younger, but anyone older can access the Park for free. Parking space is no issue, but you will get charged an hourly rate for parking.

Conclusion

You might think that there is no escaping the hustle and bustle of the crowds that visit the beaches of Miami, but luckily for you, there are some hidden gems that can provide you with a quieter experience.

You might be required to pay a small fee to enter and swim at one of these beaches, or if you are looking for that quiet day out sunning and swimming, you might have to arrange your schedule to enable you to visit during the week when there is no one else around.

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