The Hidden Beaches Road Trip That Will Show You Florida Like Never Before

We know you come for the beaches. Besides the amazing weather, people come for the beaches. This map is from the site "Only in Your State". 

There are plenty of places in Florida that are hot spots for tourists and snowbirds to congregate and cash in on that warm southern weather. But for the locals, it can be a bit overwhelming, especially when there are fewer and fewer places to stretch out a blanket and enjoy the simplicity of the surroundings. For those sunshine seekers who are looking for a little bit of reprieve from the popular, well-known beaches, we have the perfect solution: The Hidden Beaches Road Trip that takes you to some of the best beaches in Florida.

Clocking in at just under 12 hours, this spectacular road trip will take guests to 7 different hidden, or lesser-known, beaches within the state. Spend an entire weekend cruising each coast, and ending up on the northern or southern part of the state, depending on where you begin and end your journey. To access the entire road trip itinerary, click here.

On your marks…get set…GO!

1. Little Talbot Island State Park

Talbot Island State Parks in Northeast Florida is where many can begin this road trip. Made up of seven barrier islands, this state park is one of the most beautiful areas within the state. Little Talbot Island, however, is one of the underdeveloped areas that is a true paradise, showcasing over five miles of sandy beach access. With untouched natural wilderness at your fingertips, this is the perfect way to kick off the adventure. The address for Little Talbot Island State Park is... Address: 12157 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32226.

2. Vilano Beach

The next stop on this hidden beach road trip is one of St. Augustine’s best kept secrets. Located just north of the downtown historic district and Matanzas Inlet is the stunning Vilano Beach. For adventure enthusiasts, this beach is a real gem due to the heavier surf, making surfing, skim boarding and kiteboarding a popular pastime. The address for Vilano Beach is... Address: 3070 Coastal Highway, St. Augustine, FL 32084.

3. Pass-a-Grille Beach

While this stop along the hidden beaches road trip might be the most popular, you can still enjoy peace and quiet, with minimal overcrowding. Pass-a-Grille is a lesser developed, well-maintained beach with limited hotels dotting the shoreline. Catch a sunset during your stopover, because we guarantee it’ll be a memory that will last a lifetime. You can access Pass-a-Grille Beach by popping this into your GPS: Address: St. Pete Beach, FL 33706.

4. Shell Key Preserve

Let’s throw a little bit of a wrench into your road trip, shall we? Because this sensational hidden beach is only accessible by boat. As an underdeveloped barrier island near Tampa Bay, this gem has been deemed one of the most crucial areas for shorebird nesting. But have no fear, road trippers, you can take the Shell Key Shuttle from St. Pete in order to make your way to this preserve. The address for Shell Key Preserve... Address: 801 Pass-A-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706.

5. Keewaydin Island

Before you take this road trip back to the east coast, there is one more place near Naples that deserves some exploration. One of the primary barriers reefs off the coast of Naples is named Keewaydin Island and remains a hidden gem for many Florida visitors. Since you probably aren’t towing a boat with you along this road trip, you can always rent one or hop on one of the charters heading that way to spend some time enjoying the sun and surf. Besides, with a beer boat and taco boat docked there all day, what more could you ask for? The address for Keewaydin Island is... Address: 10181 Keewaydin Island, Naples Florida, Marco Island, FL 34113.

6. Sombrero Beach

As you adventure on down through The Florida Keys, you’ll come across the gem of a beach known as Sombrero Beach. Right near Mile Marker 50 on the island of Marathon, you’ll be able to enjoy some serenity and peace right on the Atlantic side. But what’s more, is that this hidden beach is wildly popular for Loggerhead turtle nesting, so make sure to be careful where you explore! The address for Sombrero Beach is... Address: Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050.

7. Calusa Beach

Just adjacent to the Bahia Honda Bridge you’ll find a fabulous, award-winning beach known as Calusa Beach. While Bahia Honda Beach remained closed for the better part of 2018 due to hurricane damage, the very tip of the beach known as Calusa Beach remained open. Enjoy a little slice of paradise, tucked away in the Florida Keys to make for the perfect ending to this entire road trip. You can find Calusa Beach at... Address: Big Pine Key, FL 33043.

So, if you do this trip, let us know! We'd love to know how it was and see all your pictures!