Chose this beach to check out due to it being very kid friendly and the bathtub like beach. However after driving almost an hour there, there was nothing like that. It was a regular beach. So next time I'll have to go when it's the right time. Parking filled up fast. Got there Friday around 11 and by 1 it was packed. Brought a wagon and loaded the kids and stuff in it. There is a little hill so be prepared to use your muscles. They have a shower and bathrooms. Nice shells, too. Wish I had brought a bag to collect them in. There's also the reef and people snorkel so you can do that as well. I didn't but might another time. Make sure to bring an umbrella. Water was very nice and clear, wish I had brought a board for my kiddos to float on. Definitely check it out read more

Bathtub Reef Beach - Beaches Near Me - Stuart, Florida

Beautiful beach, crystal clear water! Lifeguards are present, the parking lot is medium sized, but on a really good beach day it may fill up. The restroom was clean. I don't believe there are concessions here. read more

This beach is adequately named "bathtub" as its frequent low tides and warm sun make the water so nice and warm and calm and ample for some snorkeling too. But watching what has happened over the decades makes me sad, particularly to the coral reef. When I first made a visit here before moving, I was quite little with no knowledge of coral life. Everyone walked on the coral, including me. It was quite the discovery and felt interesting and spongy your feet. Some people wrote their name in the coral I remember. I moved down there at age 7 going on 8 and learned immediately this was bad and killed the coral and you aren't supposed to do it. It's not just the coral, it's all of the life that thrives in it. I still don't understand why this was allowed to go on for so long? Surely in the 90s it must have been known you don't treat coral like this? The coral was so big it stood out above the water like a boardwalk that, like I said, people walked on. The coral barely exists now from what it once was. You have to go under the water to see it and there are breaks in it that didn't exist once upon a time. It is sad and I feel my own guilt from my one walk on it around age 6. Think of coral as your home, and your body the equivalent of a wrecking ball. It is something to be observed and not touched or tampered with or you will be contributing to the destruction of a delicate ecosystem that is not only important, but quite beautiful and fascinating. Another thing that devastated me was the litter ESPECIALLY BOTTLE CAPS! A staff member over at oceanographic institute assured me it was not like that in the summer and a lot of it was from the high tides and waves carrying it in. We spent some time cleaning it up but it felt like we didn't even make a dent. But I was reminded even one bottle cap disposed of properly can save a hermit crabs life. Nearly anything can save a turtle. Their injuries are almost always from us humans. Litter can travel thousands of miles through our waterways and oceans. Please please please bring a bag to keep your trash in ... find something heavy to hold your bag down from the wind (even just a rock in there), tie your garbage up in it and put it in the garbage on the way out (or in your car to bring home if the garbage is full like I saw it that day). There are showers outdoors to clean all of your sand off, which is located outside of the bathroom facilities. There is a board there too to give you information like high tides and low tide. read more

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Bathtub Reef Beach is on the south end of MacArthur Boulevard on the northern tip of Hutchinson Island. The beach gets it's name from the reef system located just offshore that is home to more than 500 marine creatures including endangered sea turtles. This fragile reef system was created from the tiny tubes of cemented sand grains created by Sabellariid sea worms. The reef breaks the incoming waves offering a protected lagoon to form a kind of bathtub. The water is warm like in a bathtub too. Visitors to the beach can enjoy the clear water, soft sand, and the ability to snorkel the reef. Unfortunately this beach is frequently closed due to erosion or other repair issues. Right now the parking lot is closed because they are putting in a four million dollar sea wall to repair erosion from Hurricane Nicole in 2022. The wall will be buried under a dune and the beach will be renourished. There was some limited parking during my visit but it has very difficult to get a spot. I recommend visiting after repairs have been completed. There are many more beach parks on Hutchinson Island where you will have no problem parking. read more

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Love Bathtub Reef Beach. Admittedly, many of the other beaches nearby have aggressive waves making them difficult to enjoy for swimming. However, since this beach has a beautiful reef growing on the sands it has created a pool with low tide. It is natures gem and I hope people continue to respect and keep preserving this area. All they ask is for people not to walk on the coral reef since it is alive and growing. Just a small ask for a beautiful scenic experience. I didn't get a photo because I grabbed my book and read then fell asleep hearing the waves crashing nearby and finished with a much needed swim once it started to lightly rain. My boys said they saw all sorts of tropical fish and you can snorkel there. If you need a spot to reset this is it. read more

Run, don't walk Bathtub Reef Beach if you are looking for clearer water and almost no waves. I'm bringing my snorkel and fins next time!!! I see my self going almost weekly during the summer months. Awesome drive from PSL, STUART OR FORT PIERCE along Indian River drive over the Jensen Beach Causeway to ocean drive, past the house of refuge, thru winding roads to one of the treasure coasts best beaches. Such happiness! Thank you Mother Nature :) You can trust me, I am a Pisces )-( read more

It's incredible to me how every beach is different. I had heard about this beach for so long, hearing that it was very kid friendly due to a reef creating a kind of 'bathtub.' In my head, I wasn't really sure what this looked like! And since I didn't take a single picture, I will try to describe! For one, driving up from Palm Beach County, the journey to get to this beach seemed epic. It seemed like we drove over a million waterways and through an entire Marriott resort before wandering down a narrow, winding road that took us through a ton of charming beach houses on both sides of the road and a ton of tiny parks with beach access. Definitely interesting! So glad we brought our own food and water because this beach didn't seem nearby any possible amenity at all. The parking lot was not crowded on a weekday afternoon but did seem pretty small for the size of the beach, and super sandy to boot. Next time, we will pay more attention to the tides, because we definitely did not experience a bathtub effect here, but then maybe we were too far north on the beach? It was cool to actually see the reef sticking out from the water. Despite this barrier, the water was still too choppy (even in the summer!) to be very kid friendly. And then we saw small sharks chasing fish in the water just a couple of feet from the shore, so we kept out of the water after that. Epic! Still a beautiful beach with a cool feature that I would like to explore again in the future. read more

Beautiful day at the beach for my nephews visit. The water was calm and the sand was smooth

I'm disabled can walk just ok. Got to beach and was presented with actual cliff to get down beach. I get the beach has problems but there is no accessability for me without breaking something!! Very disappointed ! read more

It's nice here. It was pretty busy when we arrived. Ppl do leave their trash there. Very inconsiderate to nature. There's no life guard on duty. read more

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Came here with the kids and really enjoyed this beach. Pretty water, smaller waves, flat beach...just beautiful. We had a great time. Parking can get crazy on a busy day, but we lucked out in getting a spot in the parking lot. If the parking lot is full, I don't see how you can even visit this beach. I'd definitely come back again. read more

My parents left the Midwest years ago, first to ATL and then to Stuart Florida, here's to hoping they don't keep moving south or I'll get a complex! ;-) having been in Stuart for five years I think they have a great handle on all the different activities you can enjoy while there. On my most recent visit after hanging by the pool all day, they took me to explore some beaches. Bathtub Reef was the first one we checked out, to get there you travel on some beautiful twisting roads along the river and the parking is on the side of the road. Travel up the boardwalk built into the beach you will find a board that gives you the breakdown of how the reef formed and the history of the beech. Keep walking and you can either go down into the beach or go up into the overlook. Coming from a land locked area, I have to go walking on the beach so that's what we did, walked a bit and looked at the ocean. This beach was very clean and well maintained, can't wait to go back :-) read more

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Drove there but unfortunately the beach was closed so we weren't able to visit. We went to nearby beaches instead.

An awesome beach for photography, family outings, and water sports alike. It's probably the most scenic beach on the treasure coast. ! read more

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This beach is my fav in the area and have been here many times. The waves are gentle in low tide and the reef is nice to snorkel. I have watched dolphins from the beach playing in the water. Get here before 10 so you can get parking. One bad thing is swimming is banned often as sharks get stuck between the reef and the beach in low tide. When this happens the water is closed the whole day. We always swim right away when we get here because the water is closed so often. We also always talk to the lifeguard when the water is closed so if it is a shark between the reef and beach we can go somewhere else and swim. read more

Bathtub Reef Beach - Beaches Near Me - Stuart, Florida

Awesomely Beautiful Beach! Two lifeguard stands 4 on duty. They protect the whole beach, but after 5 your on your own. Plenty of friendly people, and residents that can lend a hand if needed!! ‍‍ read more

Bathtub Reef Beach - Low tide. Like a bathtub - Beaches Near Me - Stuart, Florida

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Calm, clear blue water and TONS of pretty seashells!! We had no trouble parking (but we did go on the weekday in December, so not sure how busy it might get in the summer!). Definitely a perfect place to relax and soak up the sun since it was peaceful and not crowded. They only have portable bathrooms but they are clean! There are also outdoor showers to rinse off. The sand was great to play with! My brother and I had so much fun building sand sculptures. We are kids at heart (: read more

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I loved this beach. Wasn't too crowded. We did go on a Sunday at about 10 and parking was extremely scarce. So I would suggest to go earlier for good parking spots. Lifeguards were present. Felt safe to bring my kids. Lots of shells up and down the beach. The water was perfect but there were riptide warnings. I will definitely be coming back! read more

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This is a beach that should be explored. It's nice to see all the families spending time together. Parents must feel particularly safe here because you see many babies and toddlers. For the grown ups there is snorkeling. On the opposite end of the beach, you can bring your furry four legged children. Definitely keep on eye on the lifeguard stand as occasionally there may be a shark sighting. I say come see it before it's gone because with each hurricane there's more and more beach erosion. It's quite sad as it's a beautiful beach. read more

Great place to swim and do other beaching stuff at. Shallow tides are awesome as well. But watch out the other day they closed it due to sharks but other then that it's one of my my favorite places to go because of the reef that's there. read more

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Isn't this a very cool name very a beach. I sure think so. This beach is very nice, easy parking and a very nice changing area. In addition, this beach is nice bc the beaches in this area are dog friendly. I enjoyed my day basking in the sunshine at the beach, and I would definitely recommend it to others. read more

Best Beach Park on Hutchinson Island. Great spot to walk the dog. Beer friendly. Open 24/7. Nice pavilion for sunrise ops. Parking is limited, so go early morning or late afternoon. Great for kids to swim safely inside the reef. read more

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Lovely beach, quite. Not much else though, bring your own food and beverage, clean up after yourself.

Great little secluded beach area w/ an artificial reef/cove to calm the shoreline current. You can walk out pretty far, almost feels like you're at the intracoastal at times (aside from the smell/pollution/algae, etc.) It's located close to A1A in Stuart, all the way down MacArthur Blvd. This is a nice change of pace to the nearby tourist-laden beaches in the area. There's NO PAVED PARKING SPOTS (but ample space & free of charge). So keep that in mind should the recent weather or your vehicle not agree with that setup. Nice pavilion & walkway entrance. Bathrooms are in a mobile enclosure, but are clean. No lifeguards, but the waters are so calm that it really isn't necessary. read more

Bathtub Reef Beach - Beaches Near Me - Stuart, Florida

Had such a good time at this beach! Came with a few friends and not knowing what to expect. Entering the beach, there's plenty of parking. Free parking! The entrance to the beach was blocked off on the right-hand side due to beach reconstruction pushing the sand territory back about 30 yards. This was my only issue because it was disrupting the natural beauty of the coastline. We were able to bring food, a tent, our dogs, games...it was really just such a cool site and one of my favorite beaches on this coast. read more

This is my favorite spot in Florida. I love the people, food, and especially bathtub reef. The reef is still alive, but there are many visitors who do not respect it and walk all over it. That's not healthy for the reef, and so if you go there, please be kind. If necessary, tell people to stop walking all over it! read more

Bathtub Reef Beach - I've love water - Beaches Near Me - Stuart, Florida

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My husband and I love this beach! We have come here numerous times. We always find amazing sea creatures in the reef. When the tide is out the swimming area is warm just as the name implies and you can snorkle at your heart's content. Recently, with all the poor weather the waves made it more difficult to see. Always check the weather before you head out and you can see the beach here before you go: https://video-monitoring.com/beachcams/bathtub/ read more

Great place to see all the wildlife you would get snorkeling but at your own pace, it's a guarded beach which is good for the kiddos and those reluctant to run into sharks. Beautiful beach, highly recommend read more

I love the beaches in Florida and can say I have visited a majority of FLA beaches. This one has free parking and porta johns. I consider it a "locals" kinda beach...not too many tourists. read more

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Bathtub Reef is my zen spot; so peaceful, relaxing and beautiful. The rock formations are stunning but you don't want to try and sit on them since they're sharp and jagged. A great spot in PSL to relax and take in the beauty of nature. I had no problem with parking. The beach was very quiet with only a few people around and absolutely clean. Great spot for some incredible photo ops. read more

Bathtub Reef Beach - Beaches Near Me - Stuart, Florida

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This beach is great for kids. The water is the same level until you get to the reef the lifeguards are always looking for sharks and will make you get out if there's one nearby and will let you know when you can go back in. During the weekday there isn't much people as when go in the weekend. The water is also very clear. read more

Bathtub Reef Beach - Beaches Near Me - Stuart, Florida

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First trip here. Came here to snorkel for the first time. Did not disappoint at all. Only draw back was big storm cut visit short. My collected tons of shells and enjoyed the clear, calm water. Definitely planning another, hopefully longer, trip. read more

I have read lots of reviews on this beach and simply don't get what people see or like. I visited with my kids on April 24. First, there was the strong stench of sewer, which I presume resonated from the seaweed. There is no white sand to be found. It's gritty golden sand. While it looks nice to swim, it's really not safe. A quick stroll along Google will show that this is part of shark capital of the world. We weren't there more than 10 minutes before everyone was pulled out of the water for a shark siting. Then there were the smokers on the beach. I absolutely love the Gulf Coast beaches, as well as Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. I don't see the allure of the Trade Coast beaches. My kids didn't even want to stay. read more

This is the only beach my 5 year old will go to.... It's great for her as many areas are so deep as when the tide goes out, little pockets of warm water remain. The beach is protected by a reef You can literally walk on water between the reef and the shore. Yes, parking is limit and people park anywhere, which does not seem to be a problem. read more

Cool beach and little caves. Good for kids. Horrible parking. Angry people fighting for spots and chaos getting there. read more

Beach is lovely. They need real bathrooms! They have a porta-potty that we found later. You could tell everyone was peeing in the water which made us not want to swim. read more

One of the best beaches in the US. Very unique and a great place for families. Parking might be tough. This is a must see when you're in the area. read more

Our family was staying at a nearby resort and we decided to venture out for the day. What a gem! The beach was peaceful and clean. We loved snorkeling near the reef and seeing crabs and fish swim with us. Clean showers were wonderful to clean the crew up. read more

Finally got to visit Bathtub Beach after moving to PSL two months ago. The green algae had it closed for a while and then we chose to wait it out a little longer to be safe, but it was worth the wait. It's a great beach for our one year old daughter to relax in the shallow waters while my husband and I take turns snorkeling in the reef. I definitely recommend this beach for families! read more

Great Beach for families, lots of shells for seekers. Even got to see pretty large sharks in the waves as they fed upon a school of fish. We were surprised by them as we walked out in the sandbar to have fun in the crashing waves but they were amazing to see! This was after lifeguard shifts were over for the day ! Overall a great day that we will never forget! read more