Broward beaches
Fort Lauderdale area beaches
Six Broward beach hubs from Deerfield to Hollywood — where to snorkel, where to park, and how to read the flags.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Beach (A1A)
The classic wave wall, Las Olas Oceanside Park and the A1A promenade.
Best for: First-time visitors, Pre- and post-cruise days, People-watching
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Snorkel a living reef straight from the sand.
Best for: Snorkeling, Families, A quieter beach town
Hollywood
Hollywood Beach & Broadwalk
About 2.5 miles of oceanfront promenade for walking, biking and patio dining.
Best for: Biking and walking, Casual beach eats, Families
Dania Beach
Dania Beach
A fishing pier, a state park and a quieter stretch of sand.
Best for: Fishing, Watching cruise ships, Nature lovers
Pompano Beach
Pompano Beach
A modern fishing pier and a refreshed beachfront district.
Best for: Fishing, Sunrise walks, Dinner by the pier
Deerfield Beach
Deerfield Beach
Broward's northernmost beach, with a pier and a broad promenade.
Best for: Families, Fishing, Combining with a Boca Raton day
Safety
Beach warning flags
Green
Low hazard — calm conditions. Still swim with caution.
Yellow
Medium hazard — moderate surf and/or currents.
Red
High hazard — high surf and/or strong currents.
Double red
Water closed to the public.
Purple
Dangerous marine life, such as jellyfish or stingrays.
Parking
Beach parking basics
Fort Lauderdale's public beach parking is about $4 per hour and is paid with PayByPhone using the posted zone number. The Las Olas Garage (200 E Las Olas Circle) beside Las Olas Oceanside Park is open 24/7. Neighboring beach cities run their own meters and garages.
Watch live
Beach cams & official sources
Common questions
What do the beach warning flags mean in Fort Lauderdale?
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Green means low hazard, yellow means medium hazard (moderate surf or currents), red means high hazard, double red means the water is closed to the public, and purple means dangerous marine life such as jellyfish or stingrays.
How much is parking at Fort Lauderdale Beach?
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Public beach parking is about $4 per hour, paid with PayByPhone using the zone number posted on signs. The Las Olas Garage at 200 E Las Olas Circle is open 24/7 at about the same hourly rate. Rates can change, so check the signs or fortlauderdale.gov.
Is Fort Lauderdale Beach free?
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Yes. The beach itself is free and open to the public; you only pay for parking.
Can you snorkel a coral reef from the beach near Fort Lauderdale?
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Yes. At Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, three reef lines lie within about 100 yards of the beach in roughly 10 feet of water, and the Shipwreck Snorkel Trail off Datura Avenue is reachable by swimming from shore.
Is there a shipwreck at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?
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The Shipwreck Snorkel Trail is an artificial trail with an anchor, five concrete cannon replicas and a ballast pile. It is not a real sunken ship.
How long is the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk?
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About 2.5 miles, from Sherman Street in the north to Jefferson Street in the south.
Where can you watch cruise ships leave Port Everglades?
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John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach sits on the south side of the port entrance, so ships pass close by when they sail out, usually in the late afternoon.
Facts checked October 10, 2026. Prices and schedules change — confirm with the operator before you go. Spot something out of date? Tell us.