We had a couple hours of sun left and we were looking for a beach to set up camp at until the sunset. Smathers Beach popped up on our radar, so we made a beeline for it before the sun could get any lower in the sky. Free parking - always a plus. We haven't had too much trouble with parking in Key West, which is always a bother in touristy areas. There are a lot of tree roots around the palm trees that I kept tripping over and catching my foot under - it hurt a lot... Especially when the roots were slightly hidden under the sand. I wonder if there's a way to do maintenance on that. The beach has a beautiful view of the sunset. So be sure to come for the sunset, especially if you missed the sunrise like us. They rent out beach chairs for $10 a piece - we rented one so we could put our stuff on a chair instead of in the sand. It was so windy that day so sand was blowing everywhere. There are food trucks set up along the street where we parked. Most of them seemed overpriced, but I'm not surprised, with it being so close to the beach and a whole bunch of tourists. Overall, a beautiful beach - and you're not paying the cost for parking or park entry like other beach options in Key West. read more

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Good place. Could use more cleaning though. I am really disappointed with the way this beach is maintained. read more

Smathers Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

Smathers Beach is a wonderful beach on the Atlantic side of Key West. The island chain is not known for great beaches, but there are these little pockets of paradise for such a small island. Key West is only about 6 sq. miles. Others worth checking out are Higgs Beach, Dog Beach (next to Louie's Backyard) and Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. The Reach Resort and Casa Marina also have respectable beaches and wonderful pools and bar service. read more

For anyone not familiar with Key West the past 10 years they have a huge seaweed bloom issue that literally suffocates the beaches while rotting at the shore line, especially the southern ones, like Smathers. When we landed in KW we were shocked at the sanitation station-like smells along the southern roads. We had almost had our elopement on Smathers and would have been devastated to have to get married in sewer-like conditions. For anyone looking to get married on KW I highly advise either the Garden Club/West Martello or go west and north of Higgs beach. I know KW is trying to resolve this issue, and I hope they find a solution. I would love to come back and spend time at Smathers and Higgs beaches. A friendly reminder. If you are brave enough to swim here or Higgs make sure you shower with soap afterwards. read more

This should be ranked one of the top beaches in Key West. GO HERE. The only downside is there are not many bars/restaurants close by. You should definitely bring a cooler with food/drinks. read more

Smathers Beach - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

Beautiful but not even there 5 min and my daughter got stung by a jellyfish that was our cue to leave. read more

Smathers Beach - Jellyfish found on my daughters wake board after getting stung. - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

I stopped at a few beaches out on the Keys and this one was nice . Lots of parking and the views were pretty great .

This was a nice, clean public beach and wasn't very crowded. There are a few spots with palm trees if you'd prefer to be in the shade. Free parking is easy to find on the street. There are plenty of garbage cans and porta potties. read more

Don't waste your time on this pathetic man made beach. Not natural sand, parking is expensive $5/hour on the street. The vibe isn't high, water is murky. read more

I stayed at the hotel across the street from the beach and was all excited. When I got to the beach, it was dead as you can be. There was nasty seaweed all over and of course nobody was here. I am not sure if I was here at the wrong time of the year or if it was unlucky. The nice coconut trees on the beach was a nice touch tho. A lot of free parking a long the sidewalk with a short walk. If it just rained, be prepared to smell nasty standing water on the roads and sidewalks as it floods a lot here. read more

It didn't deserve a star, the water was full of standing rotten seaweed, it smelled so bad, I wouldn't doubt you will catch something if you dare swim, we did see a few people in the water though, like a handful, we couldn't believe it, the smell was horrendous, i think they need to update their pictures on the website, one of the comments was that it was a perfect place to watch the sunset...WRONG!!!! Only if you can stand the smell read more

Definitely was sad about the pretty white sand and no beach. You could smell the seaweed driving down Roosevelt from Higgs beach and the wash up of trash shore line. We traveled all the way down to key West Island and struggled to find a beach which still shocks me. We drove to Smathers twice to both be sadden by the smell and abundance on seaweed. The sadness of employees awaiting the Jetski or water sports because everyone who arrives to the beach turns back around. read more

To start off if you want to go swimming here in key west I wouldn't recommend, and or walk along the beach. The only reason this beach is nice is because of the nice staff, views and how it's free. Also there is washed up sea grass all over the beach which some people might not like. The water isn't as clear as Fort Zachary's too. Not a great place to snorkel. Pretty decent beach for it being free. read more

How does Smather's have the lowest rating of all the Key West beaches? You midwesterners obviously don't know a good beach when you see it. This beach is perfect...everything a solid beach should be: clean, relatively quiet, free and plentiful parking, white sand, perfectly clear water and absolutely gorgeous, unobstructed views. When I return to Key West I wouldn't even bother going to any other beach BUT Smather's. Skip Fort Zachary, skip Higgs and just come straight here. You will be glad you listened to me. I know my beaches ok? read more

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It's a really pretty beach but the water is pretty dirty and smell absolutely terrible. Lots of parking though and opportunity to rent beach chairs! Great for photo ops and after, I'd recommend grabbing a bite to eat at Lobster Shack which is like two minutes away. read more

Smathers Beach - Landscape - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

We were staying in the Sheraton Suites right across the street so Smathers beach was a convenient walk for us from our hotel. This beach for us at the time was very quiet and peaceful and not what I'm used to seeing in Miami because of it simply being more tranquil. The waves here weren't as strong either and overall it was a much more private experience. While it's not quite as nice as Bahia Honda it's definitely not a bad beach as some of the reviews here may say. I've been to much worse than this like the so called beach at the Waldorf which is muddy, rocky and just ugly. read more

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Key West is not known for their beaches. In fact, most hotels are not situated on the water. A few have their own private beach. On the way to Duval from outside KW you travel along Smathers Beach. It's nothing spectacular. They rent out chairs, windsurfers, paddle boards, umbrellas...etc. The sand isn't the greatest. A lot much nicer beaches in FLA. Key West is more for drinking and eating...and somewhat relaxing (at a private beach if you can). Street parking. read more

Great strip of beach and I was loving the fact that it was not wall to wall people. Yea, it was a Monday, but I love beaches that are not jam packed (cough, cough South Beach) with boom boxes and wall to wall people. The strip is smaller than I expected but that is just fine, they rent out chairs, umbrellas, windsurfers, paddle boards etc. The boardwalk is perfect for a bike ride or run and best of all it was right across the street from my hotel. Thumbs way up! read more

The sand was nice and fine and came off pretty easily. Loved the palm trees lining the back of the beach and the strategically placed picnic tables in the shade. We went on a Monday and it was us and maybe 8 other people - nice! Made a trek to the bathroom which is a cool building made of hunks of coral. It was hideous - no doors on the stalls, dirty toilets and no soap. Hover, ladies, hover... read more

As far as beaches go this is a great place to spend your day. The sand is fine and soft under your feet. The water is almost always warm and pretty transparent. There are beach chairs for rent but I like to crash on a towel under a palm tree. I lather up my 110spf sunscreen, put my sun shirt over my bathing suit, and take my casper white skin into the water for a dip. We were down after a cold spell and there were dead jellyfish all over the water. I avoided those like the plague. The water was a bit cooler than normal due to that cold spell but it was still warmer than most places I've swam. The bathroom is where you loose the two stars. There is no privacy what so ever! The stalls are merely curved walls with no doors so anyone can see your everything, just a heads up. There was no hand soap, no toilet paper, and no paper towels. Yuck! Come for the beach, play in the water, build a sand castle but leave to go elsewhere to use the bathroom. read more

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Free public beach! The sand was obviously dragged that morning so it was nice and smooth and the only dirtiness was the seaweed that was washing up currently from the current. You can rent two lounge chairs and a beach umbrella for $40 if you don't get there and find shade from a palm tree. The beach area is large enough to not feel crowded and the water gets only up to about chest depth almost all the way to the boundary buoys. There are activities offered for a price also, I didn't check the price because we weren't there to wind surf or sail but others did and it looks fun! read more

I'm not one to lay on a beach and roast, so Smathers Beach is ideal for an active person. You can kayak, windsurf, sail or better yet just snorkel right off the beach and spend the afternoon swimming around checking out some small marine life and getting some activity. The beach is open and there are good clean facilities for the public. It is more like a playground for me than just a beach and therefore, I am a fan ! read more

I'm not a beach rat; I just came here to see the sunrise one morning during my vacation. Apparently there are not many beaches in Key West, but this is one of the two largest. The beach was nearly deserted at that hour. It was difficult to find, but perhaps that's a bonus. There was plenty of seaweed, jellyfish, and other detritus on the beach, but I didn't come for swimming or hanging out, so it didn't bother me. I can't vouch for the activity or amenities during peak times, but for that quiet early hour it was a lovely place to watch a sunrise. read more

Nast smelly, full of seaweed, rotting sea grass. No sand in the water just rock ledge. At least the city could clean up all the seaweed that washes up daily. read more

Peaceful, clear water in which you can see your toes while neck deep, and beautiful bodies galore makes this beach a winner in my book. The best way to describe this beach is an alcoholic seeking out serenity, or whatever those quitters do. I was seeking out a peaceful couple of days away from my temporary home in white trash Jax Beach, and this place was indeed what the Dr. ordered. White sand, and mostly crystal clear waters. Minimal vendors, and you can drink, openly on the beach:). Not too crowded, but not completely abandoned. Plenty of palm trees to cool off in the shade, as Key West does get quite balmy. This beach would be perfect in my mind if there weren't patches of seaweed as other Yelpers eluded to. read more

Smathers Beach - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

The beach here is man made, and they're getting ready to add another 5,000 tons in the next few months. So - it's not hard and coral like others in the area. It's a great place to walk in the morning and see sunrises. The BIG negative is the water. Every time we swim here someone gets - ehhem - digestional problems. One local told me the trash water from town dumps off shore, here. I will NOT go in the water here, again - try Zachary Taylor Park beach for clean water. See a couple of photos I've posted of sunrise. read more

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Smathers beach is just a large and long sandy beach fronted by a road with hotels behind it. It's nothing special really and is more of a residential beach. At least it looks that way. There are food and beverage vendors, volleyball courts, showers and you can rent beach chairs, windsurfers, jet skis, kayaks and umbrellas at several locations along the beach. The beach itself is free. I think I prefer Higgs because there's more palm trees. read more

Great day at the beach. The sand is very clean, there was some sea weed at the waters edge and some out in the water but pretty good. Several people para-surfing and that's always very cool to watch. read more

Smathers Beach - Great day - Beaches Near Me - Key West, Florida

Maybe it depends on what time of the year your there. The beach drops off quickly into water. It has a layer of crap (weeds/etc) floating and covering the beach. It just wasn't that swim-able. It was a great beach to walk on, but not sand castles (due to the mess with the water). So that was in December, maybe other times of year are better? read more

There are bathrooms, showers, and vendors renting kayaks, beach chairs, and parasailing trips that keep you close to shore. The sand isn't pristine and a lot of seaweed washes up but it's an awesome location looking out into the ocean waters. You should bring a beach chair (or rent one) and book to kick back and relax. If you want to exercise, you can run, walk, rollerblade, or ride a bike along the sidewalk path. For beach activities, there's usually a volleyball game late afternoon you can join in on. Key West itself has become famous for its bar scene and party atmosphere and it is only natural that it has also become famous for spring break. For that reason Smather's is not my thing. Plus this beach does not have natural sand due to the coral reef. It is a man made beach. read more

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A great beach! It wasn't easy to find a decent beach in Key West, but once we found this one, our stay was complete. We rode our bikes to it. Easy easy. Wear some water shoes so the shells don't hurt ur feet! It was bad but the shoes helped. Really a great place! read more

The worst beach I've ever been to. As soon as we parked we could smell the stench. The water was full of seaweed, no showers and no place to get a bite to eat. read more

Very nice beach because there's no rocks! The day before, or maybe two days before, we went to Higgs Beach, which was nice except the first 15 feet of water hid some treacherous toe breaking rocks you had to suffer through to get to the nice sandy part. Now, I'm all for suffering and sandy parts but I will go to Smathers Beach again and again. Higgs Beach had an excellent restaurant though with a great yellow tail sandwich and grapefruit Radlers beer. read more

Since I lived in Miami growing up, on every vacation, I ensure to make it to the beach at least twice. Smathers Beach was more than I had hoped for. The water was warm, not too deep, and filled with life. By the rocks, my family saw crabs, fish in the water, lobsters peaking out of their holes, occupied conch shell, and the main attraction....a 2.5 foot nurse shark resting int eh water grass. The sand was warm, not too hot and the sand in the water was a bit slimy, but we did not mind. The chairs and umbrella cost $10 each, which was fine and we had a great time. The best beach on Key West! read more

Lots of free on street parking right next to the beach. Beautiful sand and really clean lots of room to lay out.you can also rent chairs,kayaks ect. Has restrooms too. Paddle boarding is great time read more

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This is a great shell collecting beach, however shade is limited and for some weird reason it stinks !!! especially if you wade into the mud deeper in the water, yes mud not sand, the smell does not leave you easily read more

This is definitely more of the beach that I'm used to, growing up going to the Jersey Shore. This is a white sand beach with soft sand, no rocks, and enough room for many people to stretch out on. It's definitely underrated or maybe just not as well known. We rented chairs and umbrellas from the kiosk which were a little pricey (30 bucks total) but worth it for comfort and some shade. We spent many hours laying out and relaxing. We also rented stand up paddle boards and had a blast! The employees working at the rental place were super nice and one of the women gave me a mini lesson. There were a few food trucks located just outside the beach on the street. We had an amazing fish burrito and also a delicious shaved ice that reminded us of being back in Hawaii! Overall this was a great beach to go to for the day and probably the best beach in the Key West area. read more

Great for kids and toddlers beautiful water Worth going . Nice people clean spot . No waves Food available changing rooms a bit dirty read more

Landlocked out-of-towners, you have to understand, Florida has over a thousand miles of coastline - so while the pictures make this look like a perfectly decent beach, in reality any other beach found on peninsular Florida beats it. Driving along S Roosevelt Boulevard, it looks like it would be a cool beach, even somewhat picturesque with plentiful palm trees lining the narrow strip of sand, and a few vendors out on the sidewalk hawking the typical beachfront provisions. Indeed, if you're from Minneapolis and just looking for a place to bake out in the tropical sun, Smathers will suit you just fine. And, you'd better apply your sunscreen quite liberally, because this ain't Duluth/Lake Superior in July. Don't spend your Keys vacation with a painful first-degree burn. What truly sucks about this beach is the actual bathing experience. You see, this isn't naturally meant to be beach. Take a look at a map of the waters surrounding Key West on the Atlantic side where this beach is located - most of the water right near the beach doesn't get any deeper than 2-3 feet, and takes a fair distance to even drop to 6 feet, then takes another long distance to drop to 10 feet. It's a gradually sloping shallow flat, all the way out until you hit the Gulf Stream. Beyond that, the bottom is not soft luxurious sand or finely ground coquina like every other Florida beach. It's rocky with patches of foul, squishy seaweed. Owing to the above topography, there's no surf, and barely any perceptible current, so the water has a stagnant, dirty feel to it. Since it's so shallow and the sun so strong, the water also tends to be very warm....so bathing here is kind of like sitting in a shallow bowl of hot....well, you go ahead and use your imagination. Siesta Key Beach or St. Augustine Beach, this is not. read more

We stopped by this beach for sunset while on a day trip to Key West (on 10/20/16), it was spectacular! I didn't expect it to be so picture perfect since I kept hearing Key West isn't known for its beaches. Well this one was THE perfect beach you always dream about. White sand, lush palm trees, calm ocean waters and colorful fluffy clouds. I'm so sad we didn't get to spend much time here, I would definitely just fly straight to Key West next time I go to Florida just to be able to spend a good solid week on the island. I noticed a lot of couples were doing lots of professional photo shoots at this beach, we saw like 5 couples doing so in the one hour we were there. I'm not sure I'd actually get in the water but I'd probably like to paddle board next time I come around. I recommend spending a full day here, you will not get tired of the scenery. read more

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