Must-see Miami Beach Florida! 5 free things to do at South Pointe Park 🌴 South Florida vacation travel tips

Hi there!

So if you’ll be driving through Miami and looking for just ONE thing to do in Miami, then you likely won’t be disappointed if you make South Pointe Park your Miami activity of choice!

If you go to South Pointe Park, you can see an epic view of Miami Beach!

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If you are driving, going to South Pointe Park during the week will be easier than the weekends.

Because… parking!

Below will be what you can see in Miami Beach with 2 hours at South Pointe Park!

Now, I say 2 hours, but even if you have just 1 hour, you can be just fine.

But 2 hours in Miami Beach at South Pointe Park will allow you to take it all in more slowly.

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This is what I saw in Miami Beach with less than 1 hour of paid parking time.

I was rushing towards the end as I wanted to get back to my car before my parking expired, which is why I think 2 hours is better!

It does seem like you can extend your parking time from your phone, although I did not do this.

Take a picture of the parking sign that has the website on it just in case you decide you want to stay out longer when you’re at South Pointe! 

And so…

How to get epic views of Miami Beach FL!

1. South Pointe Park paths for walking, running, biking

2. Miami Beach lifeguard tower at South Pointe

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3. South Pointe beach!

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4. Miami Beach jetty at South Pointe

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5. Miami Beach pier at South Pointe

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Watching the Miami cruise ships from South Point Park

Miami is the cruise capital of the world!

You can watch cruise ships sail out of Miami from South Pointe Park.

So if you want to watch the big cruise ships sail out of the Miami cruise port from South Pointe Park, then the ships usually set sail between 4pm and 5pm. So you can try to be there around that time!

You can also look at the cruise ship departure times that are scheduled from the Miami cruise port on the day you will be there.

If you will be taking a cruise out of the Miami cruise port, you can actually get a similar view from the cruise ship as you are sailing out of Miami!

You will sail right by South Pointe Park.

Just be sure to be out on the open deck once the cruise ship starts sailing!

And after your cruise if you want to get a closer look at what you saw, you can head to South Pointe Park before you start making your way back home!

Miami Beach parking for South Pointe Park

Parking in Miami Beach can be a hassle!

South Pointe Park is free, but Miami Beach parking is not!

I don’t know much about Miami Beach parking except for what I did on this trip to Miami Beach in May 2022.

But I will tell you how it was for me just to give you an idea.

The best Miami Beach parking lot for South Pointe Park is the Miami Beach parking lot at the far southern end of Miami Beach. (map)

Some of the google reviews indicate paying a flat $20 parking rate no matter how little time you park. I believe I read somewhere else that during the week you can pay hourly, and weekends it’s $20 for parking whether you stay 1 hour or 10 hours. So you will want to be mindful of that. And don’t be surprised if you go to pay and you are only given a $20 option… you are there on a $20 parking day!

I went on a Friday morning, so assuming the $20 rate was for the weekend, I tried looking for South Pointe Park parking at that Miami Beach parking lot. But the parking lot is not that big and there were no spots available. There were also a lot of spots reserved for valet parking. Also pay attention to those marked parking spots and don’t park there.

So then I left the parking lot and started looking for street parking near South Pointe Park.

And well, street parking in Miami Beach is about luck!

And, I did get lucky!

Right near the parking lot, there is street parking, which means it’s also street parking that’s right near South Pointe Park.

There was an open spot.

So I parked there.

Miami Beach street parking at South Pointe is $4 per hour.

The Miami Beach street parking near South Pointe Park is $4 per hour, and you can pay in increments of $1. (Miami Beach street parking fee in May 2022! See current fees.)

You can also pay online once you arrive. You can look near the parking kiosk to get instructions for that.

I paid $3 for parking using the parking kiosk. So I actually was in South Pointe Park for less than an hour.

South Pointe Park bathroom

And yes, there is a bathroom at South Pointe Park!

So as you’re driving through Miami, you can make South Pointe Park the perfect bathroom stop too! 😜

And that’s a bit about a quick visit to Miami Beach!

Where are you driving to next?!

• Things to do in Everglades National Park (alligators and crocodiles)
• Snorkeling in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Key Largo)
• Things to do in the Florida Keys
• One day in Key West

More for your Florida road trip:

• Best snorkeling in Key West
• Best Key West beach
• Best Marco Island beaches
• Best Captiva Island beaches
• Best Sanibel Island shelling beach
• Best Lido Key beach
• Ocala National Forest springs

HAPPY SEEING SOUTH POINTE BEACH!

👆 Spot the beach!

👆 Driving in Miami Beach to South Pointe: You can drive to South Pointe, but you may have difficulty finding a parking spot especially on weekends with a more crowded South Pointe. So along with your other Florida beach vacation essentials, bring your patience!
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👆 Miami Beach parking: There is Miami Beach street parking near South Pointe… if you get lucky!