Came down to Jacksonville Beach with my KY family and had one of those days that somehow turns into a full on memory whether you planned it or not. First off, the free parking deserves its own standing ovation. Pull in, park, no stress, no drama, no circling like you are hunting for buried treasure. That alone already put everyone in a good mood. But the real star of the day was the ocean. The Atlantic Ocean was doing its thing like it always does, loud, endless, and a little dramatic in the best way. The waves would roll in all calm and pretty, and then suddenly act like they had something to prove when they hit the shore. My family spent half the time just watching the water like it was a live show we all agreed to attend. The kids were running in and out of the surf like the ocean was a game level they were trying to beat. Meanwhile the adults were pretending to be chill but really just trying not to get knocked over by surprise waves or lose a sandal to the sea forever. There was something about standing there with salt air, wind blowing, and that huge stretch of ocean in front of us that made everything feel simple in the best way. No schedules, no rush, just waves, laughs, and somebody always saying "don't go too far!" We ate, we laughed, we got sandy in places we will not discuss in public, and we loved every minute of it. Five stars. Great KY family day, perfect Atlantic Ocean views, and free parking that should honestly be illegal for how convenient it was. read more

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There was a lifeguard competitions when I happened to visit for a few days and they took up a large portion of the beach shore. There are also many groups of surfer students. The water looks dark blue from afar when the sky is very cerulean blue but it's murky when you are inside the water. You literally cannot see your own hands when you're inside the water. The water looks black when it's overcast. The boardwalk is not full and or very long. Also, there are lots of homeless people living under the fishing pier. I was on the 5th floor of the beach front hotel when I witnessed a brawl between some of them. A group of homeless were kicking out a homeless man and woman because they had gone to their "terf" and complained about the bags of feces. And the group of homeless kicked them out and said that it was their "terf" and threw fist up and followed them all the way to the boardwalk and made sure that they left their "terf." They were ready to go to blows. This problem has been for many years; I remember coming when I was a little kid and the homeless making a ruckus about people going under the pier or using the pier for shade. Also, the homeless take a bath in the public fresh water showers and it's disturbing. I saw two of them bathing with the shower and they were using paper as a scrub and leaving the papers there; it's disgusting. What I didn't see at the boardwalk and beach was a police presence. Also, the homeless walk the beach the whole night with flashlights and in mass. In my opinion it's dangerous for tourist, especially for women to walk in the dark of the night in this public space. I would have loved to take a night stroll by the beach shore but I opted out of that after seeing these homeless men walking up and down the beach shore all night. read more

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Great morning for a beach walk. Good breeze and lots of people watching. Diligent life guards on this yellow flag day. Strolled through the Arts Walk vendors. Always a fun treat. Please respect our neighborhood beach so ee all can enjoy it. read more

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When staying in Jacksonville to help support opening a new site here for work, I found myself wanting to check out a local beach. There was a brunch haus for a Sunday brunch, then beach venture to see what Jax Beach has to offer. Since it was November, it was very relaxed and less than people since it was cooler. Loved the calmness of hearing the waves roll in, and enjoyed dipping my feet in for a bit. Parking was very reasonably priced, and easy to pay via mobile phone. Loved the ease to park, pay, and enjoy the beach vibes. read more

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I always enjoy walking on the beach with granddaughter and putting feet in the water on a beautiful sunny day. Love the white sand and waves which are relaxing. Plenty of parking available at reasonable prices. read more

Jacksonville Beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

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Soooo... Jacksonville Beach had a very weird start in life... at least for humans. I'm sure it was fine before humans came along.. It had 2 other names before... Ruby Beach, Pablo Beach and now Jacksonville Beach. Henry Flagler's train project put Jacksonville and the Atlantic on the map. It was a tiny version of Coney Island from 1910-1940s. It once had a monster roller coaster. There is a time capsule of what life was like back then in the Pablo Historial Park. I went to the beach however I found it to be .. not nice. Probably for a variety of reasons... but it felt kind of... trashed ? Maybe the hurricanes also have something to do with it? Hurricane Matthew had a field day on the pier and the beach. 350 feet of beach was lost. Rebuilding is still going on It's an ok beach but Florida is loaded with so many beaches... I would try others before this one read more

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My first time here and it's winter. It's too cold to go in the water unless you have a wetsuit on. But it's great for a walk to admire the powdery sand, the white capped waves, the surfers, the sunrise, the sunset, the ocean lovers, the dogs, the pier, the air, the birds, and the ever changing clouds. I loved it! Hope to return in the summer. Parking is difficult to find. You just have to get creative. We were staying at an oceanfront hotel so we just walked down to the beach. read more

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Went to get pictures of the sunrise, unfortunately it was overcast. Did enjoy getting my mileage goal completed though. Still haven't been lucky enough to find any shark teeth washed up yet. read more

Gorgeous beach...Beautiful view...Full of fun restaurants and stores...High vibes and high waves! Nice place to relax! Enjoy nice sky and sea! Even though it was very windy but we loved it here! read more

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Good, family friendly beach ..even though the water was cold but once you got in. Perfect. If you are in the area and looking for a nice place to relax then this is the place for you. Enjoy read more

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Soft spot for Jax Beach. Low key and casual- no hype. If you want a place to relax that isn't too crowded Jax Beach is for you. It's a nice place to bring kids to play in the sand. The bar crawl scene is what it is- not for me but there are some nice spots around to eat and relax. read more

Jacksonville Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Write review The atmosphere was beachfront casual. Brunch was limited but tasty. My only issue was when I asked for the temperature of my not inexpensive filet and was told I couldn't have it that way because it would take too long to cook! So I ate around a bloody steak! read more

One of my favorite beaches when visiting. I love the parking close to one of the beach entrances. The sand is always clean and spacious enough that you can find peace and tranquility here. read more

walked around talking with my boyfriend, id say it was nice. beach alright but its jacksonville, nothing pretty to see. also went to the pier, didnt know they charged me tax money to build it then charge me to walk on it. read more

Just went out on a needed a stroll this afternoon mainly to practice some photography with my Canon R10. Been trying to get away from constant reliance on my superb iPhone 13 Pro. Today's venue was JAX Beach. I was here a few years ago and visited some of the restaurant near the beach, even ate at one. But on today's visit, it wasn't all that crowded in the area and it would pretty much be quick seating in any restaurant we chose. As for the beach itself, I'd say it's pretty solid. Has some good boardwalks and a terrific pier that people like to walk on and fish from. I didn't walk on the pier but will next time I go. There are a good number of hotels and apartments on the ocean front. That will certainly cost some dollars to stay in either. This really is a good white sand beach. Like any, people walk it, swim in the water, surf, lay out on the sand, just sit, walk, or whatever they want to do. The beach has some length too. I'm not sure if it's at a mile, but it sure seems close. Since it's not tourist season, it was nice to have a refreshing day to take pictures of the people and scenery around me. I feel my hopes were met! I look forward to returning. But not when the weather is hot! Recommend: HIGH read more

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Love Jax Beach - more parking than Micklers and it's free from Oct-March. Can get super crowded in the summer though. Pier is nice but it's stupid they charge extra to just walk it - I can understand a charge to fish, but not just to walk. Overall we really enjoy this beach though. read more

I love going to the beach! Jax Beach has tons of parking lots (get there early to find a spot), cheap parking (I think it's only $5-$6 for about 4 or 5 hours?), and beach accesses! I always try to park by Margaritaville or Springhill Suites because once at the beach it is nearby to restrooms and chair rentals. I usually rent a lounge chair for 2 hours for only $11! Pro tip - pay $1 to go on the pier if you're local and use that bathroom - the women's one is way cleaner than the public restrooms. Plus take in the great views of the beach and ocean! It's true that there are some interesting characters at the beach, but it's never been a problem. They clean the beach each morning and there are plenty of trash cans. The beach is sooooo wide so they can really fit a ton of people without ever feeling too crowded. I love going to the beach! Be sure to check out what fun and free events are happening at Seawalk Pavilion like free concerts, decorated lifeguard chairs for Christmas, pop up markets, surf competitions, and much more. Plenty of nearby restaurants and bars - Sandbar in Springhill Suites is my go to lunch spot on a beach day so you can keep enjoying the weather and views still in your bathing suit. We are so lucky to live so close to the beach! read more

Jacksonville Beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Summer welcomed me with great weather, warm water, wonderful waves, powdery sand and pleasant views. Good times! I love a great beach! read more

Jacksonville Beach - First day of summer 2022 - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

If you haven't been to the Jacksonville pier to take in the beautiful view, I would suggest it. The cost is $2 and very much worth it. You'll see people fishing , sitting and eating at the picnic tables but mostly people just strolling and taking pictures. The beach is clean and easy to run on if that's you're thing ‍. You'll see lots of surfers, families with their children , people of all ages soaking up the sun read more

Jacksonville Beach - JAX Pier - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

A quick stop here to get a little bit of fresh air and some calm from the quietly crashing surf as I walked along the beach just after sunrise. A perfectly smooth sandy beach with just a few shells. Decent parking and walkways over the dunes to protect them. A few dozen other people walking, some with leashed dogs. It was quiet and peaceful and just about perfect. If you're headed to the Florida beaches and thinking about where you should vacation, I'll say very good things about this area. Delightful. [Review 15761 overall - 1344 in Florida - 1265 of 2021.] read more

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This beach was surprisingly better than I assumed it would be. It was clean, had plenty of room to sit and walk around. The water is a decent temperature and wasn't crowded. read more

Jacksonville Beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Great Beach To Let Kids Play In The Sand! A nice boardwalk connects one area to the other and allows for leisurely strolls along the beach instead of along the busy main road. The sand is 90% clean here and nice in the feet. We didn't notice anything bad at the beach here. Happy Place! read more

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I've been a Florida girl my whole life and there are only a few things that I love more than the beach! I've been living in Jacksonville for 6 years now and I often frequent our wonderful beach, whether with family or friends. The sunrises are very beautiful and are how I love to start my day! Jacksonville is very large and it's understandable that it's beach is split up into different sections, with some being more clean than the rest. My only wish was that Jacksonville Beach was cleaner. Whether this involves more beach clean ups or just people treating our planet respectfully. Overall, this beach is pretty safe! I love how some areas of the beach have volleyball nets set up encouraging us all to be fit! Definitely a nice place to enjoy a walk outside or relaxing day at the beach! read more

Jacksonville Beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

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An excellent long deep beach with powdery sand, but not powdery enough to stick everywhere on you. The water was a good temperature in late May. It's pretty shallow for a good distance when you're walking in. Lifeguards on high laddered platforms are placed throughout the beach. The pier is nice nearby, but presently under construction. The change / restrooms are right beside the parking lot. read more

Jacksonville Beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

I absolutely love any chance I get to come out to Jacksonville Beach. A lot of people like to give Jax Beach a hard time because the water isn't crystal clear like Jamaica or something, but to me Jax Beach is just right. Lately, the beach has been packed on the weekend on a regular basis. I normally come to the beach during the week as a result. From time to time, there are events held at the Beach and parking can be an issue. A lot of times, even the paid parking will be sold out. I remember coming to Jax Beach as a kid and the water was a filthy brown color. Now, the water is MUCH more blue and clean looking. Not sure how that happened, but I'm not complaining lol. I believe the Jax Pier should be complete this year and I can't wait to go fishing when it officially opens. If you're hungry, there are several restaurants to choose from on the main street 2 small blocks away from the beach. There are some waterfront spots that you eat as well. All in all, I love Jax Beach and will continue to enjoy this beach as long as I'm a Jacksonville resident! read more

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SEASHELLS EVERYWHERE! We love looking for seashells, so being able to look for them here was a nice experience. Soft soft soft sand. Even on chilly days, this beach can get packed. Every time we go, the tides are always soft which we love because our 3-year-old can actually enjoy it. Beautiful views. Beautiful weather. The water isn't clear like a lot of Florida beaches, but nonetheless, it's still a really nice and clean beach. read more

Love Jacksonville beach, peaceful, great restaurants, and just about anything available to check out.

Gorgeous beach! Fun to walk on the sand and the boardwalk. Beautiful place to visit in Florida! Will be back. read more

Jacksonville Beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Jacksonville Beach is a fun and clean area. There are bars and restaurants nearby. I'm glad to see they've built the area up some more. The pier is there to walk on for $1 or to fish for $3. They could use some more shower rinsing areas. We walked along the beach the Sunday before Memorial Day and it was pretty crowded as expected. It was hot but the breeze from the water was good and brought the temperature down. We were married on this beach almost 16 years ago. It'll always have a dear place in my heart. read more

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Nice beach, coldish warm water. Lovely shells white sand love the sound of the waves clashing read more

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Great beach. The sand is soft and there aren't too many shells. Not much else to say but I wish there was more parking. read more

Jacksonville Beach - beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Jax Beach is probably one of the most touristy locations when travelers visit Jacksonville. Occasionally, I've visited this location but, it isn't my favorite as I am more so of the secluded beach goer. LOL! I love visiting beaches that I can feel as if it is my own island for a few hours. Neptune Beach is a "few minutes" drive away from Jax Beach which is the perfect location for sunrise and coffee yet still connected to Jax Beach. I love the scenic views of the shops and restaurants that's nearby. My favorite restaurant in this area is Gilbert's Southern Kitchen & Bar which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean with a perfect panoramic view. read more

White sand beach with clear blue water. One of the best beaches in Florida! Be sure to visit! read more

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I know I'm a little partial as I live close, but I love Jacksonville Beach! It's not touristy like most beaches only a few hotels. Plus it's only 4.5 miles from my home. During the offseason there is plenty of free parking, but during the summer finding free parking can be a challenge. My favorite place to relax is behind the Hampton Inn in the north part of Jacksonville Beach. The Hampton Inn offers a restroom as well as an outdoor bar/restaurant. You can order your food to go and take it back to the beach and relax and enjoy the view while you eat. Or you can hang out at the bar and eat there. Plus you can typically find free parking in this area. You can also rent an umbrella if you do not have one of your own and the company will set it up for you wherever you want it. I also like this area of Jacksonville Beach because it is not as crowded as it is near the pier. If you choose to set up near the pier there is a parking lot but it will cost you during the summer months. Bottom line, any place you decide to set up your beach chair you will enjoy the beautiful Atlantic Ocean view! read more

Jacksonville Beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

JAX Beach never gets old, and the views seem to be getting more beautiful each day whether it's summer or winter. read more

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My cousins took me to Jacksonville Beach one morning for Memorial Day weekend to get some sun and have fun at the same time. That was the plan for coming to Jacksonville, FL in the first place. I will say Jacksonville Beach is a wonderful beach and beautiful as well. It is very clean and well kept and the waves are perfect. The collection of sea shells are very nice along the beach and each one is very unique and special in its own way. The tide was very deep and we all ended up getting caught in the tide while walking on the beach, but it was Ok, and we all survived, so it was all in fun! The water was at the perfect temperature for the beach, which is very unusual from my experience, but it was wonderful and I enjoyed it very much. It is best to get to the beach early, because it does get crowded and packed very quickly throughout the day. It has been a long time since I have been to the beach, so this was a wonderful treat for the holiday weekend, and the sun was wonderful and perfect for the day. I hope to be back here again the next time I visit my cousin in Jacksonville because the relaxation and ambiance at the beach was breathtaking. It is how the beach should be on vacation! read more

We were here only once before and that was many years ago. But we're looking for beaches with closer parking and easier access for Dennis. We parked on a side street near Best Western Hotel and could make use of multiple restrooms right there and a wooden bridge over the dunes to the beach. Wonderful!! We had such a nice time and though our stays are on the the short side, we made good use of the time--a bit of shelling, wading, and basking. The beach is super clean and there were numerous patrol vehicles passing. There is a lifeguard stand at this site; it wasn't staffed when we arrived at around 10:30 but it was when we left about 12:30, probably for the more numerous afternoon crowd. There were umbrella covered tables and chairs for rent in one area. All in all, a very nice locale--a bit closer to us and more accessible for Dennis, than the St. Augustine beach we like. Our daughter bought Dennis a special beach chair for Father's Day and we put it to good use!! read more

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Classic, wide, North Florida Beach. Plenty of free parking, many restaurants, and lots of community festivals and activities in non-COVID times. If you are visiting definitely check it out. If you live in the area and haven't visited for a while give it another shot! read more

Jacksonville Beach - Beaches Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Great place to watch the air show, look at lights, and catch some waves. Something for every season and time of the year.

Beautiful beach. We were here during a cool time so we didn't get to sit out there but it's lovely.