Fort Lauderdale Beach
4.8(4.0K)google
4.4(292)yelp
NatureOutdoor
Overview
Fort Lauderdale () is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, 30 miles (48 km) north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the seat of government of and most populous city in Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the 2020 census, making it the tenth-most populous city in Florida. After Miami and Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale is the third-most populous city in the Miami metro area, which had a population of 6,166,488 in 2019.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeDecember to April provides optimal beach weather to escape the winter cold. The finest hour to visit is at sunrise around 6:00 AM, as the sun emerges over the Atlantic Ocean horizon, perfectly illuminating the palm-lined wave wall, creating an ideal setting for an early jog.
Getting ThereDrive via I-95 and exit onto FL-842 E (Las Olas Blvd), continuing east until it terminates at the beach highway (A1A), where metered parking is available. Alternatively, hop on the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi's Red Line, step off at the beach stop, and walk 3 minutes.
Travel Tips
- Street parking spaces along Highway A1A are rare, and code enforcement officers issue tickets the minute a meter expires. Route your vehicle directly to the structured Las Olas Parking Garage; never back into diagonal street slots or park against the flow of traffic, as it triggers immediate impoundment.
- Utilize strategic marine transit: Fort Lauderdale’s extensive canal system causes severe coastal vehicular delays due to frequent drawbridge openings. Purchase a full-day Water Taxi pass to clear inland waterways dynamically, bypassing central arterial traffic gridlocks and bridge clearance closures.
- Adhere to federal wildlife nesting laws: March through October marks peak sea turtle nesting season along the beachfront. Operating white flashlights, mobile camera flashes, or high-intensity illumination devices is a direct violation of the federal Endangered Species Act, exposing violators to criminal arrest.
Reviews
Positive
- Cleaner and calmer than Miami's South Beach; the iconic wave-shaped white brick wall and tall palms form a gorgeous beachfront boulevard.
- Just across the street are rows of upscale resorts, open-air cafes, and shops; public restrooms and showers are densely spaced and clean.
- The security management is great, with regularly patrolling security and dutiful lifeguards on the beach, making swimming with kids very reassuring.
- Besides sunbathing, you can easily rent bikes or catch a Venetian-style water taxi at the nearby docks for an inner waterway tour.
Heads up
- The public parking spots along the coast are almost all paid-by-the-hour, and the spots are very narrow; you usually circle several times in peak season.
- Restaurants along the street have slightly high food prices, and many auto-include 18%+ gratuity on the bill, which leads to double-tipping if missed.
- During Spring Break, huge crowds of wild college students flood in, drinking and blasting loud music everywhere, which is highly unsuitable for families.
- Sometimes the waves bring in massive amounts of sargassum (seaweed), which gives off a fishy odor when left piling up on the shore.