Living in Florida, we’re lucky enough to get to see some beautiful sunsets night after night. I thought I’d list some of the best sunsets in Florida that we’ve come across over the years for anyone looking to find a beautiful Florida sunset on their next vacation (or staycation).
A couple of things about this list: I’ve only included places we’ve been to and have physically seen a Florida sunset from, and in my opinion, the West Coast has the better sunsets simply because of the geography. I have included a few places on the East Coast though, just because we’ve seen some very pretty sunsets from there over the years, but generally I think they’re nicer from the Gulf side.
If you have a Florida vacation planned, or if you’re a local looking for somewhere to see a beautiful Florida sunset, read ahead for some of my favorite locations.
Key West
The most famous best sunset in Florida is from Mallory Square in Key West. Due to its location, this point has to top my list for the most beautiful Florida sunset I’ve ever seen.
The fact that this location is famous for its lovely sunsets, however, means it can get very crowded. If this is somewhere you want to watch the sunset from, then you need to get their early and camp out a bit to hold a good location.
There are actually many beautiful Florida sunset locations in Key West, so while Mallory Square tops my list, if you want somewhere a little less crowded then many of the other beaches will provide the same stunning view.
Siesta Key
If you’re looking for somewhere a little less crowded, then Siesta Key is somewhere else we’ve viewed a spectacular Florida sunset.
Siesta Key has been voted the most beautiful beach in the world numerous times over the past few years, so it’s a pretty fantastic place to visit during the day as it is, but be sure to stay into the evening to catch one of the best sunsets in Florida from that picture perfect beach.
I always think the best sunsets are those viewed over the ocean and the calm waves on the Gulf always provide such a lovely backdrop. I find a slightly cloudy day to provide the prettiest sunsets, and we always hang around a little while after the sun has actually set when the sky goes from orange to pink.
I think Siesta Key is probably one of my top choices for the best beaches near Walt Disney World.
St Pete Beach
St Pete Beach isn’t my favorite beach in Florida; it’s a bit touristy for me and can get quite crowded during the summer months, but thanks to its location the sunsets there are spectacular.
We visited St Pete Beach a couple of years ago in the middle of July and while the beach was very hot and humid during the day, the evenings were beautifully cool and breezy, so you could often find us there playing with the kids after dinner. This also meant we got to watch this amazing Florida sunset from a great vantage point.
Not far from St Pete Beach is Clearwater Beach, which is equally busy but also has an equally pretty sunset. Clearwater is home to Winter the Dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, so it makes for a great place to visit during the day as well.
Miami
Miami is a fun place to visit on a trip to Florida; the city has a lot to do for kids, it’s a great base for Florida’s three National Parks, and the gateway to the Florida Keys. It’s also a great place to see a beautiful Florida sunset.
South Beach can get very busy and isn’t always the best family friendly beach, but on our last trip to Miami we found somewhere much quieter to visit in the evening where the kids could play in the sand and we could see one of the best sunsets in Florida.
South Pointe Park is all the way down the end of South Beach where you can not only watch the sun set over the water, but watch the cruise ships depart the port of Miami as well. It’s a much quieter area and even has a great kids splash pad in case they get bored watching the sun come down.
If you’re in Miami, a trip to Everglades National Park should be top of your list of things to do in the area; we visited earlier this year and it was one of our favorite National Parks in Florida to visit with kids.
Cocoa Beach
Being on the East Coast means that Cocoa Beach doesn’t have quite the same vibrant colors at sunset that locations on the Gulf do, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see some beautiful sunsets there as well.
We visited Cocoa Beach with kids last year and found that there was lots to do with the kids. We also found that the Cocoa Beach Pier, owned by Westgate Resorts (we stayed at the Westgate Resort Cocoa Beach and absolutely loved it!) was a great place to go in the evenings, not just to grab a drink or a bite to eat, but to play on the beach and watch the sun set.
Amelia Island
On the East Coast and in the North of Florida, Amelia Island might not have made this list except that we visit every single year, and every year the sunsets are spectacular, despite being on the wrong coast. Our favorite place to watch the sunset is from Main Beach Park.
Amelia Island is a quaint old town that is perfect for a family vacation. The beaches are beautiful and it has some of the best shelling beaches in Florida. We visit Amelia Island with kids every year and always look forward to our vacations.
St Augustine Beach
St Augustine is one of those places I wish was closer to Central Florida, but it is always worth the drive.
St Augustine itself is Florida’s oldest city and one of our favorite places for a day trip from Orlando. There is so much to do for families with an old prison, an alligator farm, quaint old stores, and even a National Monument. If you visit around Christmas, the whole city is decorated in lights and looks absolutely beautiful.
It’s always worth staying for the evening, especially in the summer, to head down to St Augustine Beach for one of the best sunsets in Florida. We’ve watched from Ocean Hammock Park before and it’s usually a quiet place without too many people around.
Orlando
This might seen like a really strange place to include on the list of the best sunsets in Florida; it’s not on the coast so you don’t get to see a beautiful sunset over the water, however there are some locations where you can actually see a beautiful Florida sunset away from the coast.
Walt Disney World is actually one of my favorite places to see a beautiful Florida sunset. Disney Springs often has really stunning sunsets, and any location that faces west is going to provide a pretty view.
One of my favorite places to see a Florida sunset in Walt Disney World is from California Grill, a signature dining location at the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This is one of my favorite restaurants and while many people try to time their dining reservations around the Magic Kingdom fireworks, I prefer to dine when the sun is setting since the view over Seven Seas Lagoon is so pretty.
