Higgs Beach
The verdict on Higgs Beach
- Who it suitsTravellers and families who want an easygoing local beach with shade, a pier, courts and a place to eat, all close to Old Town, rather than the clearest snorkel water.
- Best spotThe shaded grass behind the sand for a base, the Reynolds Street pier for a walk over the water, and the beachfront restaurant for lunch.
- One thing to knowThe water is shallow and ordinary by Keys standards, so come for the calm, the shade and the facilities, and snorkel at Fort Zachary Taylor instead.
Published 6 June 2026. Last reviewed 6 June 2026
Higgs is the beach for people who want a real day rather than just a photo. Officially the Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, it is the county beach on the Atlantic shore of Key West, a short ride from Old Town, and it earns its place by being comfortable and useful rather than spectacular. Where Smathers is a long open strip by the road, Higgs is a groomed sand beach backed by a green shaded park, which makes it the easier choice for a long, low key day with somewhere to sit out of the sun.
The draw here is everything around the sand. A pier reaches out over the water for a walk and a look down at the shallows, a beachfront restaurant sits right beside the beach for an unhurried lunch, and across Atlantic Boulevard a park holds a dog park, playgrounds and courts for tennis, pickleball and volleyball. There is history too, in the African Refugee Cemetery memorial within the park, a quiet and moving stop that marks a real and sombre chapter of the island's past. Few town beaches give you this much to do in one place.
Be honest about the water, though. It is shallow and usually calm, which is lovely for a relaxed swim and for children, but it is ordinary by Keys standards and not the clear snorkel water some visitors hope for. You can paddle around the pier and may see small fish, but the real shore snorkel in Key West is at Fort Zachary Taylor, where the rocky bottom pulls in far more life. Seaweed drifts in through the warm months as it does all along the Atlantic side, so the dry season is cleanest.
Come to Higgs for the shade, the pier, the dog park and the easy lunch by the sand. For the best shore snorkel and natural beach in town go to Fort Zachary Taylor, for the longest open strip and watersports go to Smathers Beach, and for the one great natural beach in the chain see Bahia Honda State Park. For verified day options use our Florida Keys beach clubs directory.
Facilities and dining at Higgs
Higgs has no private beach clubs, but it does have a beachfront restaurant beside the sand and the facilities of the county park around it, and we never invent venues, prices or status. Hours, menus and court details change through the season, so anything we cannot verify we list as to be confirmed. For verified day options, use the Florida Keys beach clubs directory.
Beachfront restaurant by the sand
A beachfront restaurant sits right beside Higgs, which makes a long lunch and a drink a few steps from the towel easy, a rare touch for a Key West beach. Hours, menus and whether tables can be booked vary through the season, so we list them as to be confirmed and point you to verified details rather than inventing any.
Pier, dog park and courts
Across Atlantic Boulevard the county park adds a pier, a dog park with separate runs, playgrounds and courts for tennis, pickleball and volleyball, plus the African Refugee Cemetery memorial. Opening times and any court fees shift, so we keep them as to be confirmed.
Higgs Beach, Key West, Florida Keys
Higgs sits on the Atlantic shore of Key West at the end of Reynolds Street off Atlantic Boulevard, a short ride from Old Town and easy to reach by bike, scooter or car. There is paid parking around the beach and the park, with rates and hours best confirmed locally on the day, and it can fill on bright winter days and at weekends, so arrive earlier for a space near the sand. Cycling to Higgs is the simplest way to skip the parking hunt.
Pack for an easy day, with strong reef safe sunscreen, an umbrella for the open sand even though the park behind offers natural shade, and water shoes for any rocky patches. Bring a little cash for parking and the restaurant, and if you are bringing a dog, check the current signs and county rules for the sand and use the dog park across the boulevard. Keep a watch on swimmers as there is no reliable lifeguard, and treat the calm and clarity as typical rather than guaranteed.
Plan a beach day near Higgs
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Higgs Beach FAQ
Is Higgs Beach worth visiting in Key West?
Yes, especially if you want an easygoing local beach with shade, a pier, a beachfront restaurant and plenty to do nearby. Higgs is the county beach on the Atlantic shore, calmer and more low key than Smathers and more central than Fort Zachary Taylor. It is not the clearest water in town, so for the best shore snorkel go to Fort Zachary Taylor, but for a relaxed full day with facilities Higgs is a strong choice.
Can you snorkel at Higgs Beach?
You can snorkel in a casual way over the shallows and around the pier, and you may spot small fish, but the water is shallow and not the clearest in Key West, so it reads more as a swim and wade beach than a snorkel one. For the best shore snorkel in town go to Fort Zachary Taylor, where the rocky bottom draws far more marine life. At Higgs, treat the snorkel as a bonus rather than the main event.
Is there shade at Higgs Beach?
Yes, which is part of its appeal, with trees and a grassy park behind the sand plus covered picnic and play areas across the road, so you can find natural shade more easily than on the open strip at Smathers. The shade and the facilities make it a comfortable beach for a long family day. Bring an umbrella anyway for the open sand, and treat the conditions as typical rather than guaranteed.
What is there to do around Higgs Beach?
A great deal for a town beach. There is the Reynolds Street pier for a walk over the water, a beachfront restaurant beside the sand, and across Atlantic Boulevard a park with a dog park, playgrounds and courts for tennis, pickleball and volleyball. The historic African Refugee Cemetery memorial sits within the park too. Confirm restaurant and court details on the day, as hours and offerings change.
Does Higgs Beach have a dog park?
Yes, there is a dog park within the wider Higgs Beach park across Atlantic Boulevard, with separate areas for small and large dogs, which makes Higgs one of the more dog friendly spots in Key West. The beach sand itself has its own rules on dogs, so check the current signs and county rules before bringing a dog onto the sand, as these can change.
Where do you park for Higgs Beach?
There is paid parking around the beach and the park off Atlantic Boulevard and Reynolds Street, with rates and hours best confirmed locally on the day. It can fill on bright winter days and at weekends, so arrive earlier for a space close to the sand. As with most of Key West, cycling or scooting to Higgs is an easy way to skip the parking hunt entirely.