Miami Beach

Miami Beach stretches 7 miles along a barrier island in Biscayne Bay, offering some of the most consistently warm and clear Atlantic Ocean swimming on the entire US East Coast. While South Beach captures most of the media attention, the full extent of Miami Beach reaches from the Art Deco grandeur of South Beach through mid-Beach and North Beach, each section carrying a different personality while sharing the same brilliant turquoise water, powdery white sand, and year-round subtropical climate that makes Miami Beach genuinely exceptional among American beach cities.

The Atlantic Ocean water off Miami Beach is among the warmest on the East Coast, averaging 75-82°F (24-28°C) year-round and reaching 85°F+ in summer. The Gulf Stream flows close to the coast, maintaining temperature and clarity year-round. Unlike many Atlantic East Coast beaches that face strong onshore winds and heavy surf in winter, Miami Beach's Atlantic exposure combined with the proximity of the Bahamas platform means conditions are generally calm enough for swimming most days of the year.

The beach corridor north of South Beach — Mid-Beach around 40th Street and North Beach around 71st-87th Streets — provides a significantly quieter experience at the same quality of water and sand. North Beach in particular, with its own recently designated Mid-Beach and North Beach historic architectural districts, has attracted visitors seeking the Miami Beach experience without the intensity and density of South Beach. The Collins Avenue hotel strip, running the full length of the beach island, provides accommodation from world-class luxury to affordable boutique options at every price point.