Haulover Beach, Miami
The verdict
- Best for: Travellers who want a wide, natural, less built up beach with real space, plus kite surfers, anglers, a dog beach and an optional naturist area at the north end.
- Best spot: The central family stretch near the main lots for easy facilities, or the marked northern section if you specifically want the clothing optional area.
- Know this: The northern end is a long established clothing optional beach; the rest is a normal family beach, so choose your spot to match what you want.
Published 19 February 2026. Last reviewed 18 April 2026
Haulover is the big, breezy county park beach just north of Bal Harbour, across the inlet, and it is one of the most genuinely natural stretches in the Miami area. Run by Miami Dade County, it is wide, long and backed by dunes and sea grape rather than hotels, with a marina, fishing, picnic shelters and a popular dog beach. The steady wind makes it a favourite for kite surfers, and the open feel is a real change from the built up beaches down the island.
The honest framing has two parts. First, Haulover sits in a county park, so while the beach itself is free, you pay to park, and the lots fill on warm weekends. Second, the northern section is the best known clothing optional beach in Florida, clearly marked and long established, while the central and southern stretches are ordinary family beaches. Neither overlaps the other, so the only real planning is choosing where to lay your towel.
It suits travellers who want space, nature and activity over a polished scene, families who like a full park with shade and facilities, and kite surfers and anglers. If you want luxury and shopping, Bal Harbour is just across the inlet. If you want the high rise resort strip, Sunny Isles is a short way north, and for the classic Art Deco scene South Beach is further down the island.
Clubs on this beach
Haulover is a county park beach with no private club on the sand; comfort here is park facilities and what you bring. Here is the full Miami directory for serviced options elsewhere.
No club on the sand
Haulover is a public county park beach, so there is no standalone beach club or hotel service on the sand. Comfort comes from the park facilities, the concessions and what you bring. For a serviced beach day with loungers you would look to other Miami stretches; see the directory.
Park concessions and rentals
Within Haulover Park you will find concessions and, at times, beach gear or watersports rentals, along with the marina and kite surfing activity. Offerings change by season and operator, so they are to be confirmed; check on arrival or ahead, and bring your own shade to be safe.
Haulover Beach sits in Haulover Park on Collins Avenue just north of the Bal Harbour inlet, about thirty to forty minutes from Miami International Airport without traffic. The park has its own paid lots along the beach, which fill on warm weekends, so arrive earlier in the day or use rideshare, and note that parking is the main cost of a visit.
Reach the sand directly from the park lots and access paths, and swim within the flagged zones near a staffed tower, as the open Atlantic brings surf, occasional rip currents and the wind that draws kite surfers. Choose the central family stretch or the marked northern clothing optional section to match what you want, bring sun cover and water, treat conditions as typical rather than guaranteed, and visit in the cooler dry season.
Reserve a beach club day in Miami
Haulover is a county park with no club on the sand, but we can help you book a serviced beach day elsewhere in Miami. Tell us your date, party and plan and we will point you to the right club or hotel setup. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Is Haulover Beach free?
The beach itself is free to use, but it sits within a Miami Dade county park that charges for parking per vehicle, and the lots fill on warm weekends. So the practical cost of a visit is mainly parking, plus anything you buy from the park concessions.
Is Haulover a nudist beach?
The northern section of Haulover is the best known clothing optional beach in Florida, clearly marked and long established. The central and southern stretches are ordinary family beaches. The areas do not overlap, so you simply choose where to lay your towel based on what you want.
Is Haulover good for kite surfing?
Yes. The steady wind along this open, less built up stretch makes Haulover a popular spot for kite surfers, and the park also has a marina and fishing. If you are swimming rather than riding, stay within the flagged lifeguard zones and away from the kite surfing areas.
Is Haulover Beach safe to swim?
Miami Dade staffs lifeguard towers along the main stretches during daytime hours, so it is supervised. It faces the open Atlantic with surf and occasional rip currents, and there is kite surfing activity, so swim within the flagged zones near a staffed tower and treat conditions as typical rather than guaranteed.
How do I get to Haulover and park?
Haulover Beach is in Haulover Park on Collins Avenue just north of the Bal Harbour inlet, about thirty to forty minutes from Miami International Airport without traffic. The park has paid lots along the beach that fill on warm weekends, so arrive earlier or use rideshare.
