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: 86°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 →Cape San Blas (Salinas Park)
Great day for sunbathing.
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Great day for sunbathing.
Honeymoon Island State Park
Great day for sunbathing.
Coquina Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
St. George Island
Great day for sunbathing.
Siesta Key Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
St. Pete Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Panama City Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Mexico Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Longboat Key Beach (Bayfront Park Access)
Great day for sunbathing.
Lido Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Captiva Island Beach (Alison Hagerup Beach Park)
Great day for sunbathing.
Sanibel Island Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Clearwater Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Manatee Public Beach (Anna Maria Island)
Decent day for sunbathing.
Marco Island Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Navarre Beach
Mixed conditions today.
Destin Beach
Mixed conditions today.
Miramar Beach
Mixed conditions today.
Seaside Beach (30A)
Mixed conditions today.
Rosemary Beach (30A)
Mixed conditions today.
Grayton Beach State Park
Mixed conditions today.
Fort Myers Beach (Lynn Hall Memorial Park)
Decent day for sunbathing.
Bonita Beach (incl. Bonita Beach Dog Beach)
Mixed conditions today.
Perdido Key State Park
Skip the beach today.
Pensacola Beach
Skip the beach today.
Henderson Beach State Park
Skip the beach today.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Skip the beach today.
Lovers Key State Park
Skip the beach today.
Vanderbilt Beach Park
Skip the beach today.
Naples Beach
Skip the beach today.
Texas · 14
All Texas beaches →East Beach (Galveston)
Ideal for a beach walk.
Stewart Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Galveston Seawall
Ideal for a beach walk.
Crystal Beach (Bolivar Peninsula)
Ideal for a beach walk.
Port Aransas Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Surfside Beach (TX)
Ideal for a beach walk.
Jamaica Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Pirates Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Sea Rim State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Matagorda Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
South Padre Island 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.
Boca Chica Beach
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.
Biloxi Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Gulfport Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Pass Christian Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Alabama · 4
All Alabama beaches →Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Great day for sunbathing.
Dauphin Island Public Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Gulf Shores Public Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Orange Beach
Great day for sunbathing.