Local's pickBoca Raton$
Red Reef Park
A 67-acre oceanfront park with a shallow man-made reef 20 yards offshore — the best beginner snorkeling in Boca Raton. Lifeguards, showers, grills and direct access to Gumbo Limbo across the road.
Beaches in Boca Raton
Six beaches, each good at something different. Pick by what you actually want out of the day — reef snorkeling, deep shade, quiet sand or lunch at the end of the street.
The short answer
Red Reef Park is the best beach in Boca Raton for snorkeling, Spanish River Park for shade and picnics, and South Beach Park for a quick swim near downtown. Delray Municipal Beach is the closest beach with restaurants and rentals on the sand.
Local's pick
Local's pickBoca Raton$
Spanish River Park
Boca's biggest beach park: 95 acres of Australian pine shade, picnic pavilions, a 40-foot observation tower and tunnels running under A1A to nearly a mile of quiet sand. The best pick for a full day with a group.
Boca Raton$
South Beach Park
A compact, lifeguarded stretch of sand just north of the Boca Inlet with a raised pavilion overlooking the ocean. Easy in-and-out for a short swim or a sunrise walk.
Delray Beach$
Delray Municipal Beach
Two miles of wide public sand directly at the end of Atlantic Avenue, with metered parking, chair and umbrella rentals and dozens of restaurants within a five-minute walk.
Boynton Beach$
Oceanfront Park Beach
A well-kept, lifeguarded Boynton beach with a boardwalk, dune walkovers and one of the calmer swim areas in the county on a north wind.
Day trip
Fort Lauderdale beaches
About 30 minutes south on A1A: a busier beach scene with lifeguard towers, Las Olas and the Water Taxi, plus live water conditions.
Fort Lauderdale beach guide →Driving electric?
Charge while you're at the beach
Free and low-cost EV chargers around Boca Raton, with published prices per kWh.
Boca Raton EV charging →Frequently asked questions
- Are Boca Raton beaches free?
- Entry is free at every public beach in Boca Raton. Parking is charged by the hour in city lots, with higher rates for non-residents.
- Which Boca Raton beach is best for snorkeling?
- Red Reef Park. A man-made reef sits about 20 yards offshore in four to eight feet of water, making it the most accessible snorkeling in the area.
- Which Boca Raton beach has the most shade?
- Spanish River Park, where a large stand of Australian pines shades the picnic areas, pavilions and pathways.