Smathers Beach is the largest public beach in Key West, Florida, running along South Roosevelt Boulevard on the island’s south side. This guide covers hours, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your trip.
This guide was last updated in August 2026. Metered parking along the beach costs $5 an hour, but a separate free lot is also located across South Roosevelt Boulevard, so guides describing the beach as either entirely free or entirely paid are both only telling half the story.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Beach: sunrise to sunset, daily. Restrooms: 7 am to 6:30 pm |
| Entry fee | Free |
| Parking | $5 per hour metered (Mon–Sat 8 am–midnight, Sun noon–midnight); a free lot is also available across the boulevard |
| Address | 2601 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, FL 33040 |
| Nearest transport | Key West International Airport is directly across the street |
| Typical visit length | 2 to 4 hours |
Smathers Beach opening hours
Smathers Beach is open daily from sunrise to sunset, with no seasonal variation. Public restrooms on-site are open from 7 am to 6:30 pm, so plan bathroom breaks accordingly if you’re visiting near dusk. Shower facilities keep the same hours as the restrooms.
There are no lifeguards on duty at any time, a rule that applies to every public beach in Key West, so all swimming is at the visitor’s own risk. Parents should keep a close eye on children near the water at all times.
5 great Key West experiences to book
- 🛶 Look for wildlife in the mangroves on a guided kayaking tour.
- 👻 Go on a ghosts and mysteries tour and discover Key West’s dark side at night.
- 🐬 Combine dolphin-watching and snorkelling on a half day adventure.
- 🍴 Take a cultural food tour and learn about Keys heritage as you eat and drink.
- 🍹 Explore lesser-known bars on a craft cocktail crawl.
Smathers Beach ticket prices
There is no fee to enter Smathers Beach. This was checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
Metered street parking costs $5 per hour, enforced Monday through Saturday from 8 am to midnight, and Sunday from noon to midnight. A separate free parking lot is available on the opposite side of South Roosevelt Boulevard, though spaces there are limited. Residential permits allow up to four hours of parking, once per day, and overnight parking is not permitted anywhere along the beach. Smathers Beach is not included in any bundled city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS.
How to get to Smathers Beach
Smathers Beach is located at 2601 South Roosevelt Boulevard, directly across from Key West International Airport, making it one of the most convenient beaches to reach right after landing. It’s roughly a 10-minute drive or a longer walk from the historic Duval Street district.
Many visitors bike or scooter to the beach along South Roosevelt Boulevard, which has a wide paved sidewalk running its length, or take a hop-on, hop-off trolley tour that stops nearby.
Parking at Smathers Beach
Metered spaces line South Roosevelt Boulevard directly beside the beach, charging $5 per hour during enforcement hours. A free public parking lot is located on the opposite side of the boulevard, offering an alternative for visitors wanting to avoid the meter, though it fills quickly on busy days and during spring break.
Handicapped parking spaces are available along the boulevard. Overnight parking is not allowed, and residential permits are capped at four hours per day.
How long to spend at Smathers Beach
Most visitors spend 2 to 4 hours at Smathers Beach, enough time for swimming, sunbathing, and a walk along its half-mile stretch of sand. Its shallow, calm water suits families with young children outside of the busiest spring break weeks.
Because Smathers Beach faces both directions along the open shoreline, some visitors extend a morning visit into an overnight stay nearby to catch both sunrise and sunset from the same spot.
Accessibility at Smathers Beach
Handicapped parking spaces are available along South Roosevelt Boulevard, and the paved sidewalk running the length of the beach offers a smooth, accessible route for wheelchairs and strollers alongside the sand.
There is no dedicated beach mat or beach wheelchair service directly onto the sand at Smathers Beach itself, so visitors with significant mobility needs may find the packed areas near the sidewalk easier to access than the open sand further from the road.
Inside Smathers Beach
Smathers Beach stretches roughly half a mile along the Atlantic side of Key West, beginning at Mile Marker Zero of State Road A1A. Palm trees line much of the shore, and the shallow, calm water is well suited to swimming and wading, with clear conditions that make it popular for snorkelling as well.
Beach volleyball nets and courts sit along the sand, and vendors rent jet skis, kayaks, chairs, and umbrellas throughout the day. Food trucks and drink vendors are typically parked along the boulevard, since there are no permanent concessions on the beach itself. Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad finished her record Cuba-to-Key-West swim here in 2013, and the beach remains one of the better spots on the island for watching both sunrise and sunset.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive early on summer weekends, since both the metered spaces and free lot fill quickly. |
| Crowds | Spring break weeks bring the largest crowds and liveliest atmosphere to the beach. |
| Layout | The beach runs along South Roosevelt Boulevard, with the free lot on the opposite side. |
| Entry process | There is no gate or ticket; pay the parking meter or use the free lot before you set up. |
| On-site logistics | Bring water shoes, since seaweed and occasional rocky patches appear along the shoreline. |
Frequently asked questions about Smathers Beach
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there an entrance fee for Smathers Beach? | No. The beach is free to enter; only parking carries a charge. |
| Are there lifeguards at Smathers Beach? | No. There are no lifeguards on duty at any Key West public beach. |
| Is Smathers Beach good for children? | Yes, outside of peak spring break weeks, thanks to its calm, shallow water. |
| Are dogs allowed on Smathers Beach? | Dogs are not permitted on the sand but are welcome on the boulevard sidewalk. |
| Is overnight parking allowed? | No. Overnight parking is not permitted anywhere along the beach. |
Things to do near Smathers Beach
- C.B. Harvey Rest Beach Park: a quieter beach with a yoga deck, a short walk east along the boulevard.
- White Street Pier: a long pier popular for walking, biking, and fishing, a few minutes’ drive away.
- Duval Street: Key West’s main entertainment and dining strip, about a 10-minute drive.
- Higgs Beach: a palm-lined beach with a wooden pier, roughly 10 minutes away.
- Southernmost Point Buoy: a well-known photo landmark, about a 10-minute drive.
What to visit tomorrow
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park: a beach within a Civil War-era fort site, about 10 minutes away.
- Bahia Honda State Park: a beach ranked among Florida’s best, roughly 35 to 40 minutes’ drive.
- Sombrero Beach: a sandy, family-friendly beach in Marathon, around 50 minutes away.
- Anne’s Beach: a shallow, mangrove-lined beach in Islamorada, roughly an hour and 15 minutes away.
- Harry Harris Park: a beach and picnic park in Tavernier, about an hour and 30 minutes’ drive.
More Key West travel
Other Key West travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Key West mangrove kayaking guide.
- Know the differences between the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum and the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum.
- How to spend three days in Key West – including the Hemingway Home and Museum, Harry Truman’s Little White House and a cruise to Dry Tortugas National Park.
- What to expect at Key West Aquarium.
- Can you go inside the Key West Lighthouse?
