Hi there!
Smathers Beach is one of the best beaches in Key West Florida.
If you’re looking for the most picturesque beach in Key West, then you need to go to Smathers Beach!
You’ll find the picture perfect beach path that leads to a white sand beach…
That maybe sometimes has the not-so-picturesque seaweed. ðĪŠ It’s all a part of the natural beach and ocean environment of Key West!
In any case, you will want to make a stop at Smathers Beach to see if it’s a picture perfect day in Key West!
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ð Walking the beach path to Smathers Beach.
Side note!
Here are some popular activities you need to know about to get some very-Florida experiences! Read the reviews on the partner websites listed below!
ð You can swim with colorful fishies in the Florida Keys!
The most popular snorkeling tours are the snorkeling tours in Key Largo and the snorkeling tours in Key West!
Read the reviews for more of the best Key West tours on viator and the best Key West tours on getyourguide.
ð If you're going snorkeling (or to the beach!), here are things you must consider packing for Florida!
You can find these things on Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate.
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel
I also like to go snorkeling with a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
How to save money on your trip
I tend to use booking.com or hotels.com to look for the cheapest hotels. You can also try the expedia hotels site (good for car rentals too) or see if you like any of the vrbo vacation rentals.
Search for the cheapest car rentals at the Miami airport.
/end side note
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ð Map of where Smathers Beach is located in the Florida Keys. Explore the Florida Keys tourist map. Explore more things to do in the Florida Keys!
There are also water activities that you can do at Smathers Beach.
You will be driving Florida A1A to get to Smathers Beach!
You can also get to Smathers Beach by bus if you are in Key West without a car.
There is the regular Key West bus that goes to Smathers Beach. ($)
The free Duval Loop bus does not go to Smathers Beach.
The Key West Old Town Trolley does pass by Smathers Beach, but there is no trolley stop at Smathers Beach.
So the regular Key West bus is the cheapest way to get to Smathers Beach without a car.
Can you swim at Smathers Beach?
Yes, you can swim at Smathers Beach in Key West!
You will find shallow areas along Smathers Beach, and the water color is inviting!
Can you snorkel at Smathers Beach?
Smathers Beach is not known as a Key West snorkeling beach.
There are better Key West beaches for snorkeling, so snorkeling is not a reason to go to Smathers Beach.
But if Smathers Beach is your beach of choice otherwise, you might as well bring your snorkeling gear to see if you can try to spot some underwater life!
You may find some fish swimming around.
You might even be able to spot some cute little fishies from above water without stepping foot in the water!
Walk out onto the rocky area and have a look down to see if you can see anything.
So the pretty views of the ocean and the potential to see little fishies without snorkeling can make Smathers Beach a perfect quick stop to make as part of your perfect one day in Key West even if you won’t be swimming!
More Key West travel ideas:
Do you have to pay to go on Smathers Beach?
There is no Key West beach entry fee at Smathers Beach, so Smathers Beach is a free public beach.
So there is free public access to Smathers Beach!
But if you want to park as close to Smathers Beach as possible, then you will have to pay to park at Smathers Beach.
If you don’t mind a little bit of walking, there seems to be free parking down the road and you can have a free Key West beach trip to Smathers Beach!
Since I did not see any parking kiosks on this part of the Florida A1A, I took this to mean that this is free parking!
Maybe you will walk 10 minutes to get to Smathers Beach.
How far is Smathers Beach from Duval Street?
Smathers Beach is kind of on its own in Key West, so it’s not in the main Key West tourist area like Duval Street.
Duval Street extends throughout Key West. Depeding on which part of Duval Street you’re starting from, it is 2 to 3 miles from Duval Street to Smathers Beach.
Driving from Duval Street to Smathers Beach is around a 10 minute drive.
If you’re driving from the Historic Seaport harbor side of Key West, then Duval Street to Smathers Beach is around a 10 minute drive.
If you’re driving from the Southernmost area of Key West, then Duval Street to Smathers Beach is a little less than a 10 minute drive.
Seaweed in Key West
Seaweed is a thing in Key West and the Florida Keys.
Nearly any beach you go to in Key West will have seaweed.
There’s a good chance you won’t find a public beach in Key West without seaweed.
So you will more than likely see seaweed on the shoreline of Key West beaches, and that includes Smathers Beach.
Seaweed is said to be an important part of the coastal ecosystem, and there is generally no proactive measure by the City of Key West to remove it.
Smathers Beach hotels
There are no beachfront hotels at Smathers Beach with hotels directly at the beach.
Although it’s not directly beachfront, the Margaritaville Beach House Key West is just a short walk across the road to Smathers Beach. (map)
More below about a Key West beach trip to Smathers Beach!
ð
Smathers Beach is a pretty long beach for Key West.
Smathers Beach is along a main road that runs along the coast.
Smathers Beach rentals
Are there chair rentals at Smathers Beach?
Yes, you can rent beach chairs at Smathers Beach, along with beach umbrellas!
You can rent floats, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards at Smathers Beach.
Smathers Beach rentals are through Sunset Watersports who are set up at the beach. See current fees.
You can go parasailing in Key West from Smathers Beach.
You can make reservations for parasailing in Key West through Sunset Water Sports.
There is a bathroom at Smathers Beach.
There are food trucks at Smathers Beach.
You will find some food trucks along the side of the road at Smathers Beach.
Otherwise, stop by a Publix grocery store before you go to Smathers Beach so you’re all set on food and water for the day!
There is paid parking near Smathers Beach.
The Smathers Beach parking is pretty much directly alongside the beach.
The most convenient and easiest parking for Smathers Beach is paid parking.
You will find parking directly along the main road of the Florida A1A.
The Smathers Beach parking is all on the beach side of the road. You will know when you see it. You can’t miss it.
You won’t have to walk far for the Smathers Beach access path which will get you to the beach in just a few steps.
Maybe you want to try to find parking near the bathrooms, the beach rentals, and/or food trucks.
As you drive along A1A past Smathers Beach, it will be pretty obvious where these conveniences are.
It will likely be easier to find parking the further away you get from these beach conveniences.
Once you park, you’ll want to locate a parking payment station to make your parking payment.
You can follow the prompts.
The cost of the Smathers Beach parking fee is $5 per hour. This is as of May 2022.
You can pay the Smathers Beach parking fee for as little as 30 minutes.
30 minutes of parking at Smathers Beach is $2.50.
You will also see instructions on the side of the parking payment station for how to pay online if you want to do that.
Then you can find the Smathers Beach access near you!
With a little bit of walking, there is free parking near Smathers Beach.
If you don’t mind being further away from the beach conveniences of Smathers Beach, then you can park even further away and get free parking.
Once again, since I did not see any parking kiosks on this part of the A1A, I took this to mean that this is free parking!
Depending on where you set up camp on Smathers Beach and where you’re able to find free parking, it might be a 5 to 10 minute walk.
You will want to be sure to look out for the parking sign.
And then you can walk towards Smathers Beach to find the nearest beach access!
Smathers Beach is near mile marker 1.
You will see mile marker 1 in the free parking area near Smathers Beach.
There’s a bike rack at Smathers Beach.
Smathers Beach is 1 mile away from the Key West airport.
You can make Smathers Beach a pre-flight destination if you’re waiting around for a flight from the Key West airport that’s later on in the day!
I saw a suitcase and luggage on the beach!
I also saw some suitcases on the sidewalk just down the road from Smathers Beach!
There is a bus stop at Smathers Beach.
You can get to Smathers Beach by bus.
You can get from Smathers Beach to the Key West airport by bus.
The Smathers Beach bus stop is near the Smathers Beach bathrooms, which is in front of the Margarita Beach House Key West. (google map)
For taking the Key West bus, the easiest way to figure out where the bus stop is located is to use google maps and click on the public transit option. The default is usually in real time, so if you are looking at it when it’s overnight in Key West when there is no bus, it may tell you that walking is the way to get there. If that’s the case, change your departure time to some time during the day to get a better idea for planning purposes.
See more about how to ride the Key West bus.
The cost of the Key West bus is $2 per person. Cash only and exact change is required. See current bus fares.
Does the Duval Loop bus go to Smathers Beach?
No, the free Duval Loop bus does not go to Smathers Beach.
Aside from the regular Key West bus, there is another bus that goes around Key West called the Duval Loop bus.
This is basically the free tourist bus that goes around the walkable area of Key West.
Because Smathers Beach is not located in the historic district of Key West, you cannot get to Smathers Beach by taking the Duval Loop bus.
And that’s a bit about Smathers Beach in Key West!
More for your Florida Keys road trip and beyond:
- One day in Key West
- South Beach Key West
- Bahia Honda State Park (1 hour from Key West)
- Looe Key in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (best snorkeling in the Florida Keys)
- Key Largo to Key West
- Miami to Key West
- Naples to Key West
- Marco Island to Key West
- 2 hours in Miami Beach
- Things to do in Everglades National Park
HAPPY BEACH TRIP TO SMATHERS BEACH IN KEY WEST!
