Best Beach at Key West
Key West Best Beach at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in the Truman Annex
Best beach at Key West is found inside Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. It’s located on Truman Annex, the southwest corner of the island. It’s a Florida State Park, so it’s well taken care of and has plenty of great amenities. There is also a toll going inside the park which helps pay for everything that this Key West best beach offers.
So you’re asking… what makes this the best beach in Key West? There’s lots!
- Family-friendly
- Plenty of easy parking and bike racks
- Bathrooms and fresh water wash off stations
- Brilliant blue clean ocean water (great for snorkeling!)
- Eat lunch at Cayo Hueso Cafe
- Use the park grills to make your own lunch
- Rent chairs, umbrellas at the Chickee Hut
- Walk thru the Tropical Hammock Trail
- walk to visit pre-civil war Fort Zachary Taylor (free)
This part of Key West is family-friendly and there’s lots to do here. When driving onto Truman Annex, you’ll stop and pay a small entrance fee (currently $6.50 per vehicle for the day). Just past the entrance there are Navy ship docks to your right, and sometimes one will be open for public viewing so watch for signs!
The Florida Keys Eco Discovery Center is located here as well. On our most recent visit, admission was FREE. It’s open to the public most days, and has over 6000 square feet of ocean and nature-related exhibits. [More information on the Florida Keys Eco Discovery Center here].
Past the docks and Eco Center is Fort Zachary Taylor. It’s open to the public daily, and easily accessible by bike or car with plenty of parking for both. This park is self-guided and you may want to do a little internet searching prior to visiting, to understand the significance of the history here and to know where to look and all that you’re seeing!
Just a few steps from Fort Zachary Taylor is the beach. The parking between both is shared, located in the middle so both the Fort and the Beach are super easy to find. The beach is a short walk from the parking, but wear shoes… you’ll be walking through shady pine trees and prickly droppings on the ground.
Key West Best Beach is family-friendly and easily accessible
Key West Best Beach is beautiful and family-friendly, and has plenty to do for the entire day. To make the day most enjoyable, considering bringing these items with you:
- Beach chairs
- Umbrella or sun-shade
- Snorkeling gear
- Beach towels
- Water
- Snacks, lunch (or buy at the cafe)
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent
- Water shoes
Key West Best Beach (as we call it for lack of knowing the real name!) is beautiful. Tip: wear shoes! The beach is natural, so there are rocky parts both in and out of the water. THIS IS GOOD… PLEASE DO NOT COMPLAIN THAT THIS BEACH IS ROCKY!
There are also tons of shade trees which include Australian pines. This means lots of prickly pine tree droppings on the ground as you walk from the parking lot to the beach areas. You’ll appreciate the shade from these trees most days so please don’t complain that you need to wear shoes!
Key West Best Beach is a great place for snorkeling
The Chickee Hut is the spot on the beach to rent snorkel equipment, chairs, umbrellas and more.
Tip: snorkel around the rocks in the water to see some really cool tropical fish! There’s tons more happening under the water than you’ll ever realize staying above it!
Just be careful on windy days as the water current can be a little stronger than most snorkelers can handle (especially kids). LOOK FOR BEACH CONDITION SIGNS so you know how to be safe.
Cayo Hueso Cafe
The hidden treasure of Key West Best beach, especially if you’re there all day… is Cayo Hueso Cafe! They have hot cooked food, cold sandwiches and salads, lots of snacks and drinks (even the adult kind!).
And probably the most popular item is the frozen Key Lime Pie on a Stick! What better way to spend a day than on Key West Best Beach eating frozen key lime pie on a stick in one hand and a yummy daquiri in the other!
The beach has good restroom facilities and plenty of showers
This beach has good restroom facilities, plenty of showers, grills and picnic tables. But if you plan to stay all day with the family, make sure to get to the beach early. If it’s a popular day, the tables and grills will be taken quickly!
For more information about the Key West Best Beach at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park visit their website here: Fort Zachary Taylor Florida State Park Key West
