Is it safe to swim in
Florida today?
Search any monitored beach, compare current sample timing, and jump to the cleanest or clearest Florida beach guides when you need a better backup plan.
Check the latest sample first
This site shows the latest Florida DOH sample we found for each beach plus a 12-month track record.
No advisory is not an all-clear
A beach can have no posted advisory and still be a bad bet right after heavy rain or runoff.
After heavy rain, wait 72 hours
That rule matters statewide, especially near inlets, canals, storm drains, and urban runoff areas.
Start With The Question You Actually Have
Google is already testing this site on safe-today, advisory, cleanest, and clearest-water searches. These are the fastest routes into the right answer.
Best starting page
Are Florida beaches safe today?
Start with the live beach list if you need the current sample date, current badge, and nearby backup options.
Best starting page
Florida beach advisory today
Use this when you want to understand what an advisory means, why results lag, and how to read bacteria warnings.
Best starting page
Cleanest beaches in Florida
Use the 12-month water-quality ranking when you care most about the strongest long-term testing record.
Best starting page
Clearest water beaches in Florida
Use this if your real question is turquoise water, visibility, and where clear-looking water overlaps with safer swimming bets.
Best Current Bets To Start With
These beaches currently show good badges plus stronger long-term testing records in the latest site data.
Nokomis Beach
Sarasota County · Gulf Coast
Picnic Island Beach
Hillsborough County · Gulf Coast
Singer Island Beach
Palm Beach County · Atlantic Coast
Virginia Key Beach
Miami-Dade County · Atlantic Coast
Anna Maria Island Beach
Manatee County · Gulf Coast
Barefoot Beach Preserve
Collier County · Gulf Coast
Needs More Caution Today
These beaches are currently poor, advisory-level, or moderate, so they deserve more skepticism before you swim.
Amelia Island Beach
Nassau County · Latest sample Mar 15, 2026
105 CFU/100mL
Jacksonville Beach
Duval County · Latest sample Mar 15, 2026
77 CFU/100mL
Crandon Park Beach
Miami-Dade County · Latest sample Apr 1, 2026
40 CFU/100mL
Sunny Isles Beach
Miami-Dade County · Latest sample Mar 30, 2026
58 CFU/100mL
Vero Beach
Indian River County · Latest sample Mar 23, 2026
42 CFU/100mL
Official DOH Data
Water quality readings sourced directly from Florida's Healthy Beaches monitoring program.
Quick Answers
See if your beach is safe to swim at in seconds — clear status badges with no confusing data to interpret.
Historical Trends
View 12-month testing history and risk ratings so you can pick the safest beach for your trip.
Latest Test Results
View all →Ben T. Davis Beach
Hillsborough County · Apr 1
Crandon Park Beach
Miami-Dade County · Apr 1
Davis Islands Beach
Hillsborough County · Apr 1
Nokomis Beach
Sarasota County · Apr 1
Picnic Island Beach
Hillsborough County · Apr 1
Plan From Your City
Browse all beaches →City Guide
Orlando
14 monitored beaches nearby
Orlando may be 60 miles from the coast, but several beautiful beaches are within an easy drive. The closest ocean beaches are on the Space Coast (Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach) about an hour east via the Beachline Expressway, while popular Gulf Coast beaches like Clearwater are about two hours west.
City Guide
Tampa
12 monitored beaches nearby
Tampa is surrounded by excellent Gulf Coast beaches. Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach are just 30 minutes west across the bay, while downtown Tampa has its own bay beaches at Ben T. Davis and Davis Islands.
City Guide
Miami
6 monitored beaches nearby
Miami is a beach city — South Beach, Crandon Park, and Key Biscayne are right in the metro area. Drive further south to reach the Florida Keys, or head north to Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, and the Gold Coast.
City Guide
Naples
5 monitored beaches nearby
Naples offers upscale Gulf Coast beach living with stunning sunsets. The Naples Pier beach, Vanderbilt Beach, and nearby state parks like Delnor-Wiggins and Barefoot Beach Preserve are all within easy reach.
City Guide
Jacksonville
11 monitored beaches nearby
Jacksonville has its own beautiful Atlantic Coast beaches. Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Neptune Beach are just 20-30 minutes from downtown, while Amelia Island is 45 minutes north.
City Guide
Fort Lauderdale
6 monitored beaches nearby
Fort Lauderdale is a beach city with miles of oceanfront along A1A. From Dania Beach in the south to Deerfield Beach in the north, Broward County offers diverse beach experiences all within 20 minutes.
City Guide
Daytona Beach
8 monitored beaches nearby
Daytona Beach is the beach — the city is named for it. The famous drive-on beach stretches for miles, with the boardwalk and pier at the center. New Smyrna Beach and Flagler Beach are nearby alternatives.
City Guide
Sarasota
8 monitored beaches nearby
Sarasota offers some of Florida's finest beaches just minutes from downtown. Siesta Key Beach — famous for its cool quartz sand — Lido Key, and Longboat Key are all barrier island beaches connected by bridges.
Browse by Coast
Gulf Coast
51 beaches monitored
Atlantic Coast
57 beaches monitored
Use The Data, Not Just The Badge
Historically More Reliable Beaches
These beaches currently have good status badges and the strongest 12-month testing track records in our dataset.
Nokomis Beach
Sarasota County • 0% poor results
Picnic Island Beach
Hillsborough County • 0% poor results
Singer Island Beach
Palm Beach County • 0% poor results
Virginia Key Beach
Miami-Dade County • 0% poor results
Anna Maria Island Beach
Manatee County • 0% poor results
Barefoot Beach Preserve
Collier County • 0% poor results
Be Extra Careful After Rain
These beaches have the highest historical spike rates in the current dataset, so runoff matters even more here.
Jacksonville Beach
Duval County • 33% poor results
Davis Islands Beach
Hillsborough County • 25% poor results
Jupiter Beach
Palm Beach County • 25% poor results
Palm Beach Municipal Beach
Palm Beach County • 25% poor results
Ponce Inlet Beach
Volusia County • 25% poor results
Fort Lauderdale Beach
Broward County • 17% poor results
Beach Safety Guides
All guides →Is It Safe to Swim After Rain?
How long to wait, what causes bacteria spikes, and which areas are most at risk.
Florida Beach Advisory Today
What a Florida beach advisory means, where to check bacteria warnings today, and how to decide whether to swim.
Cleanest Beaches in Florida
Which Florida beaches have the best water quality track record based on 12 months of testing.
Clearest Water Beaches in Florida
Where Florida has the bluest, clearest water, and which clear-water beaches are still stronger swimming bets today.
Beach Bacteria Testing Explained
How Florida tests ocean water, what CFU means, and how often your beach gets tested.
Can You Swim During Red Tide?
What red tide is, health effects, and how to check conditions before heading to the beach.
Best Beaches for Families
Family-friendly beaches ranked by water quality, calm water, and kid-safe conditions.
Florida Beach Safety Tips
Rip currents, jellyfish, sun protection, beach flags, and water quality — what every swimmer should know.
Gulf Coast vs Atlantic Coast
Which coast has better water quality? Compare bacteria levels, surf, and beach characteristics.
Florida Beach Safety Quick Answers
Are Florida beaches safe to swim today?
Some are much better bets than others. Start with the latest sample date, current badge, and after-rain context instead of assuming the whole coast is safe or unsafe.
Does no advisory mean the beach is safe right now?
No. Florida testing is periodic, not continuous, so a beach can show no advisory and still be a weak same-day choice if heavy rain or runoff happened after the last sample.
What is the best page if I need a Florida beach today?
Use the all-beaches list or a city page first, then compare the latest sample timing, current badge, and nearby backups before you drive out.
Are the cleanest beaches the same as the clearest beaches?
Not always. Cleanest here means stronger bacteria-testing results over time. Clearest usually means better water color and visibility. Some beaches win on both, but they are different questions.
Find Beaches Near You
Select a city to see nearby beaches sorted by distance with current water quality ratings.
Florida Beach Water Quality: What You Need to Know
Florida's beaches attract millions of visitors every year, but water quality isn't always guaranteed. The Florida Department of Health monitors enterococcus bacteria levels at beaches across the state through the Healthy Beaches Program, testing water at least twice a month at participating locations.
Bacteria levels can spike after heavy rainfall, near storm drains and canal outflows, or during sewage system overflows. When levels exceed 70.5 CFU/100mL — the EPA's Beach Action Value — the county health department issues a health advisory recommending against swimming.
Safe to Swim Florida tracks these results for 108 beaches across 27 counties on both the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast. Each beach page shows the latest test result, a clear Good/Moderate/Poor status badge, and a 12-month historical chart so you can see trends over time.
Browse by County
Browse by Region
Water quality data sourced from the Florida Department of Health Healthy Beaches Program. This is an independent project — not affiliated with Florida DOH or any government agency. Always check with Florida DOH for official conditions.