Photo via Google Places
About This Spot
This is a small public ‘pocket beach’ at the south end of Duval Street with a short concrete pier — mainly a swimming and sunset spot rather than a dedicated fishing pier. Here’s what to expect.
South Beach (Key West):
South Beach is the southernmost public beach in the continental United States — a 200-foot pocket of sand tucked at the very end of Duval Street in Key West, facing the Atlantic. A short concrete pier juts off the west end, and while it is more a place for sunsets, swimming and people-watching than serious fishing, locals and visitors do wet a line off it now and then.
The Southernmost Beach Café anchors the sand with a relaxed ‘no shirt, no shoes, no problem’ vibe, and the whole spot sits a block from the famous Southernmost Point buoy and steps from historic Old Town Key West. Author Tennessee Williams famously took his daily swim here.
There are no public restrooms and parking is tight, so most people walk or bike over. The water is warm and shallow with a rocky, sometimes seaweedy edge — water shoes help. If you do fish, bring your own gear and Florida license; this is casual line-wetting, not a tackle-shop pier.
Beach Facts
Type
Pocket beach + short pier
Length
~200 ft of sand
Water
Atlantic Ocean
Cost
Free
Best For
Swimming & sunsets
Manager
City of Key West
Tide Forecast
Tides shown for the nearest NOAA station — a planning guide. Always confirm conditions before you head out.
Before You Fish
- This is primarily a swimming and sunset beach with a short pier — casual fishing at best, not a dedicated fishing pier.
- Free to enter; open roughly 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. No public restrooms (the café/bar nearby).
- Parking is limited and paid — it is easier to walk or bike from Old Town.
- The water’s edge is rocky with seaweed in spots; water shoes are a good idea.
- If you fish, bring your own gear and Florida license and follow FWC rules.
Plan Your Visit
1405 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040
The southernmost beach in the continental U.S. — a small pocket beach with a short pier at the end of Duval Street. Free; best for swimming and sunsets, with casual fishing off the pier.