A Guide to Miami Beaches, Miami, Florida

When people talk about Miami Beach, they could be referring to any stretch of the over 35 miles of sandy beach in the city. Different areas have different characteristics and attract different crowds, making it important to distinguish when you’re choosing where to plant your umbrella in one of Miami’s beaches. To help you get your bearings, here is a handy guide to Miami beaches so you can choose wisely.

When most tourists talk about Miami Beach, they’re likely referring to South Beach. South Beach is roughly south of 23rd Street, but the majority of the action is contained south of Lincoln Road. This part of the beach is full of overpriced restaurants lining Ocean Drive and some of the worst traffic in all of Miami. The key to enjoying South Beach is to not have to drive there. Parking will be harder to find and more expensive unless you’re staying at one of the hotels in the area.

If you are driving to South Beach, always head north when you get to the other side of the MacArthur Causeway. If you go south of 5th, you’re making a huge mistake and you won’t be seeing the beach any time soon, only the rear bumpers of other cars. My favorite place to find parking and a good place to enjoy the beach is around 16th Street, where the big hotels fill the beach with their colorful umbrellas. It’s usually not impossible to find parking, and it still feels like walkable South Beach so you can easily grab a drink or a slice of pizza when you’re sick of the sun. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).