4 Gorgeous Florida Beach Towns With Fewer Crowds This Summer

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Don’t fall into the trap of following the crowd.

Florida may seem like a click-and-go destination, where autopilot takes over and before you know it, you’re in Destin for the umpteenth time.

There are numerous Florida hotspots where this can easily happen.

The Travel Off Path team put our heads together and took a deep dive into Florida’s hidden gems, which seem to be shrinking by the season.

Instead of vacationing in Miami, renowned Gulf Coast paradises, or even taking the whole fam to Orlando, we’ve compiled 4 gorgeous Florida beach towns with fewer crowds this summer. (Plus a quiz at the end to find which one is your perfect match!)

4) Port St. Joe: Florida’s Most Laid-Back Hideaway

Think Old Florida died?

Well, Port St. Joe is still hangin’ on.

Along a swath of seemingly untouched Gulfside coastline lies what many deem a sleepy town to mingle with locals, and quite frankly, do absolutely nothing.

Digital detoxers and those just looking for some peace and quiet will fall in love with this storied town that you’ll wish the walls could talk.

Gleaming with white-sand shores and fewer footprints than the rest of the state and more notable Gulf towns, this blissful retreat is no one-trick pony either.

In fact, last time we covered PSJ, we revealed it was Florida’s best gateway to the state’s most gorgeous beaches, such as nearby Mexico Beach, which rarely gets mentioned with the rest of the state’s household names we tend to scope out first.

Port St. Joe is all-around a no-brainer — it’s cheap, feels authentic and local, and borderline undiscovered when spending your sun-drenched beach days with so much space around you, so you can catch up on a good read and put your phone away (yes, it’s possible!).

3) Virginia Key: The Hidden Gem Of A Hidden Gem

Virginia Key is like the final layer of a Russian nesting doll. Key Biscayne is already one of Miami’s last remaining hush-hush hideouts, and tucked just off the causeway lies Virginia Key — an even quieter escape within it.

You’ll find yourself in a juxtaposition here — in a good way — as you enjoy quaint, yet beautiful shorelines with Miami’s vibrant skyline in the distance, you can almost hear the “untz-untzing” of South Beach

Quieter, less crowded, and a place even fellow Miamians caught up in the fast-paced lifestyle of their own city don’t know exists, if you’re all in on Miami this year, make time to recharge in arguably the last spot in the city no tourists seem to know about.

Plus, there are historical landmarks such as Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, well worth diving into while you’re here, and it’s only a short drive from the city.

2) Dania Beach: All Aboard To Paradise!

Not often can you hop on a train straight from not one, not two, but three airports and reach your own slice of paradise in minutes without a hitch.

No awkward Uber conversations, no surge pricing or car rental lines — just an easy Tri-Rail train ride to activate Vacation Mode from the get-go.

You could say Dania Beach is another Miami secret, except it’s an official city sandwiched between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

This idyllic beach town boasts endless waterfront eateries, a charming downtown to wander, and fewer crowds than both of its bigger neighbors.

Golden-sand shores are spacious and family-friendly, making for a perfect summertime vacation, whether choosing Dania Beach as your base or escaping the grind of Miami for a day or two.

1) Nokomis: The Perfect Alternative To Siesta Key

There are few destinations on U.S. mainland coastline that truly emulate Caribbean vibes.

Of course, when it comes to Florida, there’s a reason Clearwater and Siesta Key find themselves neck-and-neck each year as the top Sunshine State destinations.

Having been to both, I can tell you lugging a cooler from the back row of a parking lot for front-row real estate through soft, powdery sand is no easy feat.

The more convenient option without sacrificing quality?

Nokomis — a gorgeous beach town nearby that’s full of friendly locals, better prices, and yes, never-fail parking.

Even being a West Coaster, this Florida beauty draws me back every year for its festive tiki bars like Pop’s, never-crowded white-sand beaches, and warm, blue waters I can snorkel all day that California just doesn’t have any time of year.

See ya in September!

Sam Sears

Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 44 countries and written over 1500 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.