Regional Guide · 56 beaches
Gulf of Mexico Beaches
Gulf coverage spans the white-quartz panhandle beaches (Destin, Panama City, Pensacola, St. George Island) east through the Forgotten Coast, down Florida's west coast (Clearwater, St. Pete, Siesta Key, Naples), and west along Alabama (Gulf Shores, Orange Beach), Mississippi (Biloxi, Gulf Shores), and Texas (Galveston, Port Aransas, South Padre). The Gulf is a different sea than the Atlantic — warmer, calmer, shallower, with sugar-white sand on the eastern third and progressively browner sand moving west.
Current Conditions
Average water temperature: 87°F
Across 56 monitored stations on the Gulf of Mexico.
When to Go
March through November for warm water (high 70s to upper 80s). Peak season is June–August; spring break (March) is the loudest stretch. Hurricane season (June through November) brings the risk of beach closures and red-tide events.
Watch Out For
Karenia brevis red-tide blooms can cause respiratory irritation and fish kills along Florida's west coast July through November — check the daily FWC red-tide map. Rip currents are present even on calm-looking days; respect lifeguard flags. Box jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-war wash up after onshore winds.
Florida · 31
All Florida beaches →Marco Island Beach
Great day for photography.
Vanderbilt Beach Park
Decent day for sunbathing.
Naples Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Bonita Beach (incl. Bonita Beach Dog Beach)
Decent day for sunbathing.
Sanibel Island Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Fort Myers Beach (Lynn Hall Memorial Park)
Skip the beach today.
Lovers Key State Park
Skip the beach today.
Siesta Key Beach
Skip the beach today.
Captiva Island Beach (Alison Hagerup Beach Park)
Skip the beach today.
St. Pete Beach
Skip the beach today.
Perdido Key State Park
Skip the beach today.
Navarre Beach
Skip the beach today.
Manatee Public Beach (Anna Maria Island)
Skip the beach today.
Seaside Beach (30A)
Skip the beach today.
Longboat Key Beach (Bayfront Park Access)
Skip the beach today.
Rosemary Beach (30A)
Skip the beach today.
Pensacola Beach
Skip the beach today.
St. George Island
Skip the beach today.
Destin Beach
Skip the beach today.
Henderson Beach State Park
Skip the beach today.
Grayton Beach State Park
Skip the beach today.
Honeymoon Island State Park
Skip the beach today.
Clearwater Beach
Skip the beach today.
Miramar Beach
Skip the beach today.
Cape San Blas (Salinas Park)
Skip the beach today.
Lido Beach
Skip the beach today.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Skip the beach today.
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Skip the beach today.
Coquina Beach
Skip the beach today.
Panama City Beach
Skip the beach today.
Mexico Beach
Skip the beach today.
Texas · 14
All Texas beaches →East Beach (Galveston)
Great day for swimming.
Stewart Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
Port Aransas Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
Sea Rim State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Surfside Beach (TX)
Great day for a beach walk.
Crystal Beach (Bolivar Peninsula)
Great day for a beach walk.
Pirates Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
Boca Chica Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
Galveston Seawall
Great day for a beach walk.
Matagorda Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
South Padre Island Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
Jamaica Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
Mustang Island State Park
Great day for a beach walk.
Padre Island National Seashore
Great day for a beach walk.
Mississippi · 5
All Mississippi beaches →Bay St. Louis Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
West Ship Island
Great day for a beach walk.
Gulfport Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Biloxi Beach
Mixed conditions today.
Pass Christian Beach
Mixed conditions today.
Alabama · 4
All Alabama beaches →Dauphin Island Public Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Skip the beach today.
Gulf Shores Public Beach
Skip the beach today.
Orange Beach
Skip the beach today.