Key West beaches in December come in two kinds: Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, run by Florida State Parks, and a set of City of Key West beaches along the Atlantic and Gulf shores. NOAA lists the December average water temperature at 75.3 F. Fort Taylor says no lifeguards are on duty, and the City pages we read say nothing about lifeguards, so swim on that basis. Christmas in Key West is an independent planner published by LPE Realty LLC. We are not the City of Key West, Schooner Wharf, the Historic Seaport or any other organiser, and when their published details differ from this page, theirs are the ones to follow.
Match a beach to your day
The matcher below compares each beach on what visitors ask about: restrooms, showers, parking, snorkeling, wheelchair access and dogs. Each answer is yes or no where the operator says so, and left blank where the operator is silent. Every row links to its source.
Decision tool · beach matcher
Which Key West beach fits you?
December days in Key West are warm enough for the beach. Tell us what you need and we match you to the island's public beaches using what each operator publishes, and we flag anything they do not say.
Key West's public beaches, side by side
| Beach | Restrooms | Showers | Free parking | Dogs | Wheelchair | Picnic | Playground | Snorkel | Food | Fishing | Lifeguards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simonton Street BeachCity of Key West · 0.3 mi | Yes | Not published | No | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| South BeachCity of Key West · 1 mi | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Dog BeachCity of Key West · 1 mi | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park BeachFlorida State Parks · 1.2 mi | Yes | Yes | No | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach (Higgs Beach)City of Key West · 1.2 mi | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published |
| Rest Beach / C.B. Harvey ParkCity of Key West · 1.3 mi | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Smathers BeachCity of Key West · 1.9 mi | Yes | Yes | No | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Check = the operator says yes. Dash = the operator says no. Question mark = the operator does not say; ask before you go. Miles are straight-line from the Historic Seaport.
Features, fees and hours come from each operator's own page (Florida State Parks for Fort Zachary Taylor, the City of Key West for the City beaches), checked 2026-10-21. The City calls Dog Beach its dog-friendly beach. Fort Zachary Taylor says it has no lifeguards; the City pages do not say either way. Distances are straight lines, not driving routes.
Want the beach in your own December, every year? See what living in Key West involves.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
- Florida State Parks: Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, "Hours 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year", "$6 per vehicle". "the park is the southernmost state park in the continental United States" and "boasts Key West's favorite beach, located at the southern end of the park, providing opportunities for picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, paddling and fishing." Florida State Parks: Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Florida State Parks lists Fort Zachary Taylor as open 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year, which includes Christmas Day. Entry is $6 per vehicle for up to eight people, plus a Monroe County surcharge of 50 cents per person, according to the park’s hours and fees page. A single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle is $4.50 and a pedestrian or cyclist $2.50. The fort itself closes at 5 p.m. The park is at 601 Howard England Way, reached at the end of Southard Street through Truman Annex.
The park’s amenities page says the beach is “Known by the locals as Fort Zach or rocky beach”, a beach of sand and pebbles with breakwaters for snorkeling. It says “No lifeguards are on duty; swim at your own risk” and “Water shoes are recommended because of the rocky sea bottom.” Beach wheelchairs are free at the Cayo Hueso Cafe, and the park asks visitors to pack in and pack out.
The City of Key West beaches
The City lists the beaches below on its facility pages. Several give hours of sunrise to sunset. None of the City pages we read mentions lifeguards.
Smathers Beach
The City’s Smathers Beach page places it on the south side of the island along the Atlantic and State Road A1A, approximately a half mile long, with volleyball nets, restrooms, showers and parking. Beach hours are sunrise to sunset, restrooms 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM. The City says “Parking is $5 per hour”, Monday to Saturday 8 AM to midnight and Sunday noon to midnight, with “No overnight parking.”
Higgs Beach
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach is at 1040 Atlantic Boulevard. The City’s page says “This Beach is operated by the City of Key West” and describes more than 16 acres with “a wide, sandy beach, calm, shallow waters, and a newly renovated wooden pier.” It lists playgrounds, picnic tables, barbecues, showers, restrooms and a dog park. It does not say dogs are allowed on the sand.
South Beach
The City places South Beach at the southern end of Duval Street on the ocean side, within walking distance of many attractions, with warm shallow water and views from the Emma Carrero Cates Pier. It says beaches are open from sunrise to sunset.
Rest Beach and C.B. Harvey Park
At White Street and Atlantic Boulevard, the City describes soft sand for wading and shell searching, with picnic tables and shade. Its listing gives 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The White Street Pier is beside it.
Dog Beach
At 1500 Vernon Avenue, the City calls this a “small dog-friendly beach where your best friend can swim!” It lists no amenities. It is the beach the City names as dog-friendly.
Simonton Street Beach
At the Gulf end of Simonton Street, the City describes a small beach with restrooms and a boat ramp. Its two pages disagree on hours: the facility page says sunrise to sunset with restrooms 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM, while the parking lots directory gives 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM with restrooms to 4:30 PM. The lot is “$6 per hour, 10-hour maximum”. In our data it is the beach nearest the Historic Seaport, about 0.3 mile away in a straight line.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach
state park beach
601 Howard England Way, Key West, FL 33040 (southern end of the park)
Florida State Parks: "Known by the locals as Fort Zach or rocky beach"; "A sprawling beach of sand and pebbles along with nearby breakwaters teeming with tropical fish." Snorkel gear rented or sold at the concession; Cayo Hueso Cafe food and a chickee hut renting chairs, umbrellas and snorkel gear ("The concession is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily"). "Picnic tables and charcoal grills are provided" in a shaded picnic area (shelters not stated, so picnic_pavilions is null). "Beach wheelchairs are available free of charge." Dogs: not stated on the pages read (null).
"The park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. The fort closes at 5 p.m."
Source: Florida State Parks: Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park (Experiences & Amenities; Hours & Fees), checked 2026-10-21
Smathers Beach
city beach (largest public beach in Key West)
South Roosevelt Boulevard (A1A), Key West, FL 33040
City: "the largest public beach in Key West", "approximately a half mile long", on the island's south side along the Atlantic and State Road A1A; about 150,000 patrons a year. Amenities: beach volleyball nets, restrooms, shower facilities, parking.
City: "Beach hours are from Sunrise to Sunset with restrooms open from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM"
Source: City of Key West: Smathers Beach, checked 2026-10-21
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach (Higgs Beach)
city beach park
1040 Atlantic Boulevard, Key West, FL 33040 (end of Reynolds Street)
City: "more than 16 acres" beside the Casa Marina, with "a wide, sandy beach, calm, shallow waters, and a newly renovated wooden pier." Amenities listed: two children's playgrounds, chair rentals, covered picnic tables, dog park, restroom facilities, tennis and volleyball courts, 14 picnic tables, 17 barbecues, beach chair/umbrella concession, restaurant, sailboat concession, showers, six picnic tiki huts, two pavilions/bandstands. The Key West African Cemetery and the AIDS Memorial are nearby (City). The City page states: "This Beach is operated by the City of Key West."
City listing: 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Monday to Sunday
Source: City of Key West: Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, checked 2026-10-21
South Beach
small city beach
Southern end of Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040
City: "located at the southern end of Duval Street on the ocean side and is within walking distance of many attractions"; "warm shallow waters"; sunrise or sunset from the Emma Carrero Cates Pier. Not the same as Simonton Street Beach (Gulf side).
City: "Beaches are open from Sunrise to Sunset"
Source: City of Key West: South Beach, checked 2026-10-21
Dog Beach
small dog-friendly city beach
1500 Vernon Avenue, Key West, FL 33040
City lists no amenities for Dog Beach.
City: "Beaches are open from Sunrise to Sunset"
Source: City of Key West: Dog Beach, checked 2026-10-21
Rest Beach / C.B. Harvey Park
beachfront city park
White Street and Atlantic Boulevard, Key West, FL 33040
City: "soft sand which is perfect for wading and shell searching. There are picnic tables and plenty of shade." The Key West AIDS Memorial is "a few yards away at the entrance of the Edward B. Knight Pier" (White Street Pier), which the City calls dog-friendly.
City listing: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Monday to Sunday
Source: City of Key West: Rest Beach / C.B. Harvey Park, checked 2026-10-21
Simonton Street Beach
small downtown city beach with boat ramp
0 Simonton Street, Key West, FL 33040 (Gulf side, end of Simonton Street)
City: "a small beach front with restrooms and boat ramp for recreational boats." Closest beach to the Historic Seaport (about 0.3 mile). HOURS CONFLICT between two City pages: the facility page says sunrise to sunset with restrooms 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM; the parking-lots directory says "Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Restrooms are open 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM."
City facility page: "Beaches are open from Sunrise to Sunset with the restrooms open from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM" (see note for the conflicting City listing)
Source: City of Key West: Simonton Street Beach; City Parking Lots & Rates, checked 2026-10-21
Sea turtle nesting season
- The City of Key West: "Sea turtle nesting season is from March 1 to October 31 (Atlantic) or May 1 to October 31 (Gulf)." City of Key West: Visitors
The City gives sea turtle nesting season as March 1 to October 31 on the Atlantic side and May 1 to October 31 on the Gulf side. December falls outside both windows as the City states them. Other December dates are on the December calendar.
Water temperature
- NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide, monthly average table, "Key West, FL": November 78.3 F, December 75.3 F, January 72.5 F. NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide (all coastal regions table)
NOAA’s Coastal Water Temperature Guide lists Key West at 78.3 F in November, 75.3 F in December and 72.5 F in January, as monthly averages. Air temperature normals and sunset times are on the weather page.
A beach day before an evening event
- U.S. Naval Observatory sunset times for Key West (EST): Dec. 1, 2026 5:38 pm; Dec. 12 5:40 pm; Dec. 21 5:44 pm; Dec. 25 5:46 pm; Dec. 31 5:50 pm. Civil twilight ends about 25 minutes later (Dec. 12: 6:05 pm). U.S. Naval Observatory: Sun and Moon Data for One Day (computed for 24.5551 N, 81.7800 W, Eastern Standard Time)
Fort Taylor closes at sundown, and the Naval Observatory puts sunset at 5:40 pm on Dec. 12, 2026. That leaves time to move from the beach to the Harbor Walk before the boat parade music at 6 PM and the parade at 8 PM. For Smathers Beach, on-street parking is paid until midnight; for Old Town lots and the garage, see parking. To fit a beach into a full day, use the trip planner, and for the parade see the boat parade.
How warm is the ocean in Key West in December?
NOAA's Coastal Water Temperature Guide lists a December average of 75.3 F for Key West.
Source: NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide (all coastal regions table)
Where can I go to the beach near Old Town?
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park has what Florida State Parks calls Key West's favorite beach. It is open 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year, and charges $6 per vehicle.
Source: Florida State Parks: Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Key West: Visitors