It's a really big dog park across from the ocean which is a hard to beat view. It's always busy but its kept nice and clean. Watch your dog ,the park is next to a busy street that runs along the ocean with lots of cars going past.Keep your dog on a leash read more

I really wanted to get In the water while in Key West but it seems like all the beaches here are not very 'nice' compared to say South Beach in Miami. The water looked scary and very murky so I passed. The actual beach sand looked clean and not rocky like the other beach not far from here. There were a good amount of people and few shaded areas. There is a pier you walk out on and stairs that lead you in the water. read more

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There are no GREAT beach options in Key West. While this may come as some surprise to northerners, everyone in South Florida knows this. Fort Zachary Taylor is probably the best in town, but that one requires a small entrance fee. I'll go out on a limb and say that Higgs is the best *free* beach in Key West. Most tourists seem to prefer Smathers Beach, and I'm not sure why. I guess that from the boulevard, Smathers appears to be more of a big, lively "strip" than Higgs, which is essentially a smallish splotch of a beach hemmed in by the White Street Pier on one end and the Higgs Beach Pier on the other. Similar to pretty much every other beach in the Keys, due to sheer oceanic topography, Higgs is fairly shallow, without any wave action, a little rocky, and at times kinda weedy. Oh, and of course, during summer, the water feels like it's about 110 degrees. What sets this beach apart from others, to me, is that if one wades a bit further out, it does develop some depth, definitely enough to swim around. Also, near the Higgs pier, it's possible to find some coral outcroppings, making this a good place for snorkeling...so if you have a mask/snorkel, bring it. You'll see coral, small fish, and the occasional larger fish. From a logistics standpoint, this beach offers a fair bit of parking, which is not always that simple to come by in Key West. It also offers many picnic tables and trees that give a bit of shade. I may not go to the beach in Key West very often at all, but when I bike over to a beach to hang out for a little, Higgs is always where I go...in addition to what I mentioned above, it just feels more understated and peaceful than the other island beaches. read more

Good beach to spend the day tanning. Parking is free along the street and no entrance fee like the state beaches. I think this place had the most square footage of sand of all the beaches I visited in the keys, but not ideal for swimming or really anything besides getting bronzed and not being bothered. It isn't gorgeous, but it is definitely the most "functional" beach we came across. Worth a stop and part of an afternoon for sure. read more

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Lots of water sport activities to choose from, and lots of people to watch. There is also a restaurant on the beach, so if you're parched, you can grab some food or drinks. The beach is pretty big, so you don't have to worry about sitting on top of eachother. I grabbed some sand before we left and believe it or not, I had a couple different variations to choose from. A little piece of home away from home! read more

Higgs Beach - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Very nice beach as compared to NJ. We got to see the naval jets flying maneuvers while sunbathing. We rented chairs and umbrella, the attendants were very nice. Outdoor showers, beach bar, watersport rentals. They have a pier that goes out in the water with steps down into the water, easy in and out of the water. read more

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I'll leave same review I did for Smathers, not impressed shade is limited and for some weird reason it stinks especially if you wade into the mud deeper in the water, yes mud not sand, the smell does not leave you easily read more

Such a beautiful beach along the south shore of Key West, and yes, it's free of charge! Though there may be enough vehicle parking, it's probably best to come by foot or by bicycle instead. First time in the area, I was pretty impressed with what they have. Beach was clean for the most part and so was the small pier that extended out a little ways. Also present is a kids' playground, beach volleyball court, and other elevated areas to have a group picnic, and the African Memorial and Aids Memorial a little ways down the far side of the beach park. I'd recommend coming here first thing in the morning for a few reasons: You can catch the sunrise, it's cooler in the morning than when it reaches mid-day and early afternoon (because of the intense heat and humidity), and there aren't as many people around. read more

This beach is good for everything - walk, run, chill, take pictures, drink TONS of booze, you name it! It's wasn't very crowded. We took like crazy amount of pictures. You will also see many cool spots while driving there. We strolled along the beach and ended up at White Street Pier. The pier was fabulous and very long and has some great views of the ocean and the shore. Water was not that cold for Nov. I loved this beach. Also there is a Italian restaurant on the beach where you can enjoy some good food. This beach does have a boardwalk that you can jog,bike,etc. along the coastline and has a wider sandy shore to picnic, lay, play, swim, surf, people watch and chill. read more

Higgs Beach - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

We tend to come here quite a bit when going to the beach. They have free parking, bathrooms and food nearby, so everything is very convenient. The beaches in Key West are not the best, being Man made and often full of seaweed. But we love the beach and visit here regularly. This also about the best place to go to watch Fireworks on July 4. There is plenty of room and the restaurant operates counter drink service. read more

Best beach in KW- although it's no Caribbean getaway. Chairs and umbrella are cheap but you're dragging your own chair over...three days there, last one more seaweed than sand. For a KW beach it's good but just know it's hit or miss read more

This beach was fun! It was free! They have a pier that you can walk out to get into the water, but I did see some traveling through the sand bar. The pier has steps but because of the algae on them there are plenty of fish right there. If fish freak you out or you have a kid that is a drama queen (LOL) you might want to try another point of entry! Water was shallow enough to not worry about current and stand but deep enough to get your body wet. Great spot to cool off. They do have showers and bathrooms on the beach! read more

Should I write about White Street Pier in a review of Higgs Beach? Hmm, why not? I *am* a fan of when people go rogue, after all... (I think it's funny... when it doesn't impact me). So... White Street Pier. Very relaxing. It's truly a long pier. That's white. It juts off the beach, has ample seating, wide walk/bike ways, an AIDS monument, a cool compass mosaic... and views of forever. I came here in the very early morning hours on a Monday and it was heavenly. My goal had been to come to Higgs Beach, see what the 'free beach' business was about (shouldn't all beaches be free?) and see for myself if Key West sand is as full of shells and sorrow as people in Miami had warned me. The beach itself was fine. I walked out to the rocks, took some photos (I can't upload now; my phone is experiencing a touch of black magic) and went about my way. As I explored the shoreline, I discovered the Pier and was drawn to the water. Some fellows were on opposite sides of the Pier fishing, but I was compelled to go to the very edge, look down and look out. In the quiet solitude of early morning, I spent hours in peace. My phone was turned off. There was no one to talk to. There was just me, the water, the sun, the sky, the rocks, the fish, and God... and a couple of fishermen. I leaned into some seating, tuned in and tuned out. Is this what meditation's about? Yoga without the unfortunate poses? I don't know but I know I could use a lot more mornings like that. Next time, though, I'd love to have a mug of hot tea to come with. Do me a solid and try not to be there when I'm in town and in need of some solitude. Enjoy The Silence, for real (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diT3FvDHMyo). read more

This is a fantastic beach when compared to other beaches on Key West. First...it is free. 2. It has a pier. 3. Super shallow 4. Lots of fish and stingray to see when snorkeling 5. Salute Cafe is right there 6. Chair and umbrella rentals if desired. I will definitely be back! read more

This is the best beach in Key West. Here are my reasons: 1) It's FREE as all beaches should be. 2) two beach lounges and an umbrella are only $20 all day. 3) the employees who rent the umbrella and chairs are friendly. 4) there is a nice sand bar 50 feet out into the water that runs the length of the beach. 5) there are two volleyball courts. 6) they rent kayaks and towels. 7) they sell snorkeling gear and sunscreen. 8) there is a pier that is cool to the feet that you can use to get into the water past the rocks and grassy bottom, and there are two stairs from the pier that drop you right onto the sandbar. 9) Salute' restaurant is right on the beach. It's owned by the same person who owns Blue Heaven. The good is very good and priced reasonably considering its location. Also, they have the same key lime pie as Blue Heaven. 10) they have a kid zone with slides and swings. 11) the homeless population is to a bare minimum. Not sure what incentive or disincentive the city used to make this happen. 12) there are palm trees to provide natural shade in case you don't want an umbrella or it's too windy for one. 13) there are free showers and public restrooms. 14) there are vending machines that sell soda and water. 15) parking is free. 16) there are two large covered pavilions that can be used for cover in case of a violent storm. 17) there are wooden pilings about 100 yards off of the beach that are great for snorkelers as they act as a reef, attracting fish and sea life. Also, they act as a sea wall keeping the waves to a minimum. read more

Very relaxing and not very crowded. We relaxed and did a little walking. Since most people that visit Key West do other activities than relax on a beach we enjoyed our time. The bathrooms were adequate and parking was free. read more

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As amazingly beautiful as Key West is, they are not known for the beaches. First of all, there isn't much beach to speak of. There are 3 or 4 small public beaches that aren't attached to a large resort complex, and Higgs Beach is one of them. It's next to a large swimming pier which is very odd and yet dangerous because you can fall off a tall pier into very shallow water which is littered with sharp coral as hard as rocks. This is why you won't find a ton of people in the water as well. The water is gorgeous and crystal clear and blue, but it's difficult to even get wet, because you wade out 100 yards and you're still at thigh deep. Even wading out that far requires you to carefully dodge the coral for a while, or take the pier and then take the stairs down into the water where it's a bit deeper. I can't help but wonder why there isn't a railing on that thing! The sand here is pretty soft with not too much seaweed, the beach gets pretty crowded because of the lack of space. There are chairs and umbrellas here but they will cost you to rent them so bring a towel or blanket. There's also a little cafe right on the beach to grab some drinks or noms in case the mood strikes you. I love this little strip of beach because a vacation in the Caribbean without some relaxing on the beach is no vacation. read more

Really lovely beach we stopped at on our way to buy plants from the Key West Garden Club. Admittedly, this isn't a beach for tourists. It's sleepy and the wind can kick up off all the unobstructed ocean. When we were visiting it was chilly, but almost empty and serene. Are there cabanas to rent? No. Is there a place to snag a mimosa? Absolutely not. Don't come here for that stuff. Come here to walk, relax quietly with friends and revel in ocean and the sky and their Key West magic. Bonus: There is an historic African memoral next to the Martello Tower I found very interesting. Though it is a little sad and morbid, I find it hearteningly that the community of Key West would honor this unfortunate event rather than just forget about it. It adds, instead of subtracting. read more

Key West, shocking to me at least, is not known for its beaches. Beaches here are small and usually littered with sharp coral. Higgs Beach is probably the closest thing the island has to a proper beach in terms of size. Still, it is not very wide and a lot of activities are smashed together here where space is at a premium. Two volleyball courts, reclining chair rentals, two gazebos, a bathroom/water fountain, and a playground about exhaust the amenities. Given the tiny space, if you are playing volleyball, any wild serves or missed returns will invariably wind up in the parking lot 10 feet away. With the scorching summer sun above us, both gazebos were puzzlingly closed to the public. read more

There are beach chair and umbrella rentals available. There is also a bar and restaurant on the beach, volleyball courts, grills for cookouts, famous sunning pier and free tennis courts. This beach is free. Lots of palm trees. read more

Beaches are a bit hard to come by even though this is an island of sorts. This one is great to bicycle or even walk up to and you don't have to pay for anything other than if you want to get something to eat or drink. It's a bit rocky but not as bad as some others and it wasn't full of seaweed either. Bring your own towel or something to sit on and enjoy the world as it goes by. I saw people diving off the pier and I had a great time looking for shells. The piers are great to walk out on! As always be aware of your stuff if you leave it but I didn't see any unsavory characters. The water is a bit shallow but that was fine by me. Wasn't interested in doing laps, wanted to just enjoy sun, sand, and water in December :) read more

There's a dog park here, right across from the beach, so come give your cooped up pooch some place to run, since space is at a premium in key west, you will have somewhere to take your dog if you bring it along. The pier makes for a nice walk, but there's not much to see from here, although the AIDS memorial is attached. It's really the best free beach in old key west, so go kill a day there, you're in key west. read more

Nicely maintained - clean, an odd amount of art strewn about for fun. A nice place to stop! Visit the Aids memorial, the botanical garden, and the slave memorial while you are here. read more

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This would be a great beach if the seaweed that has washed in and started rotting was removed. I've heard from several people that the south winds have been abnormally frequent this year and have blown in the seaweed that the fisherman usually fish around out in the ocean so much so that they have stopped removing the washed up seaweed. It smells like rotting sewage. There's a pier with steps going into the water out where the seaweed isn't, so that's nice. This was the biggest bummer of our whole Key West vacation. read more

This local Key West beach is a great place to enjoy the sun and water when visiting the city. There is a branch of the Key West Art and Historical Society Museum right on the beach, a playground for children, a great restaurant (Salute) , and a botanical/nature preserve nearby. The world famous Aids Memorial is also located there. read more

Higgs Beach - Painting of Higgs Beach by James Jones, 1977 - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

Do not go unless you want your feet shredded the sand felt like glass. We left after not even 15min this NOT a swimming beach at all maybe it's good for a sunset but nothing more. read more

As far as beaches are concerned, this one has its plusses and minuses - I'll lay them out here, starting with the bad: Bad: not very large, sand is bordline rough (sand on the parkinglot side of the pathway is rocky), overrun with seaweed along the entire shore (and thus a heavy smell of seaweed) Good: White sand, available chair and umbrella rentals, available water sports from stand right on the beach (paddleboard, kayak), nice pier with stairs down to water Great: FREE SNORKELING (assuming you bring your own equipment) with views of some pretty neat fish along the existing pier and ruins of old pier It is key west, so it is an okay size all things considered - it wasn't too crowded when we visited (early June), plenty of sunbathing space as well as a good numbe of palms if you want shade (or a place to tie up a hammock). Parking was ample when we came (we didn't have trouble finding a spot). Good location relative to downtown if you want to bike from here to dinner or the southernmost point. Clear water. Free - free to enjoy, free to park, free to snorkel, did I say free? We will be back. read more

Love coming here. The beach is clean and the water is clear. It's not deep at all, so don't expect deep dives or a lot of swimming. You can, however, snorkel over by the pier and you can stretch out under a palm tree for a relaxing time in the sun. Always visit when we're in town. read more

Higgs Beach - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

Rocky beach with a ton of seaweed. We went in a windy day and the huge rocks posed a threat to your knees! Hard to walk, let alone to enjoy the water. Sharp rocks hide under the surface as well. We ended up going to South Beach just a couple streets down, it was perfect and sandy! Skip this one, go south. read more

I went straight out to the pier after I went to South most early in the morning drinking a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise. Made for an uplifting experience. Something I would recommend doing for a couple on vacation read more

Higgs Beach - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

Okay, considering there's really not traditional beaches here this beach rates high in my book. Pluses for the soft sand on the beach and that it's pretty shallow for quite a distance. My son went in without reef walkers but I needed them as the bottom can have rocky spots. You can frolic in the water and not worry whether you're carried out to deep waters. Fun for adults and kids with subtle waves and warm water--I'd def go back here. read more

Higgs Beach - View of the beach - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

Not a big fan of this beach personally but it's a great place for family's with kids with a play place nearby. Beach sand is a little more rocky sand but still comfortable to sit or lay down on. It also has a volleyball court and a place to rent paddle boats and kayaks. It's a pretty simple beach with a small pier to walk out and get great views. It is a great place to catch the sunset though. The pier does give it an advantage on other places. read more

Nice beach not too busy with a nice pier you can walk out on! Check out the African cemetery and aids memorial!!! read more

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Not a bad place to kick it for a bit. We all know how the beaches down here are not great. But if you know where to look and hang out, there's a lot of cool spots. This is one of them. We usually just bring a few drinks and hand out and shoot the breeze. read more

If it didn't close, I'd stay here day and night. This is my favorite beach in all of Florida, and I miss it when I'm not there. The massive "Road to Cuba" pier, free WiFi, plenty of parking, the gardens at the center, and open to everyone: swimmers, locals, artists, joggers, homeless, tourists, wealthy, sun bathers, all! If the sign didn't say it closed at 11pm, I'd stay there around the clock. Love Higgs! read more

Nice little beach full of friendly people. Crystal Clear water. A bit rocky but that's mother nature for you. read more

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First time coming to this beach and it looked trash. The sand was dirty and there was seaweed covering the entire beach. There wasn't much sand to walk on and once we saw the water, we turned around to leave. The water was muggy and dark brown. read more

Free sandy beach access. You can rent 2 chairs and umbrella $20, 1 chair $10. Not too crowded, peaceful and relaxing. read more

Higgs Beach - Free sandy beach access - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

I've visited Higgs on many occasions throughout the years, but last month was my first as a mom. Looking to take a relaxing stroll away from Duval? This is your spot. Have kids and looking for a great little playground? It's here. There's always been a vibe of old Key West nuttiness combined with the tourist transient feeling. It's an interesting place. Enjoy with your pets, your kids or just yourself. read more

Chair/umbrella rentals only $20 for whole day, decent swimming area (not all mud and weeds like some other KW beaches) food and drink available, off street parking available. Had a good time here.. read more