BeachesWith
Aerial view of South Swim Beach in Florida, shoreline and surroundings, USDA NAIP imagery from May 20234 photos
Aerial imagery: USDA NAIP 2023 via USGS National Map, public domain (source)

South Swim Beach

Florida

Ocean beach in Florida, 0.1 mi of shoreline facing west, with bathrooms within walking distance.

  • Sunset over water
  • Dogs allowed
  • Pier
  • Camping nearby
  • HoursOpen 24 hours
  • ParkingNone mapped within 1,310 ft
  • DirectionsGoogle Maps
4.4/ 10Fair
How we score beaches
Calm water
4.0 of 10
Water
89 Ftoday
Sunset
7:40 pmover the water
Parking
None mapped
Families
Limited
55of 100

Today, Thursday, Sep 10

Fair beach day

Very warm water. Watch: 39% rain chance, wind, waves.

86 Fovercast
High
87 F
Sea temperature
89 F
Waves
1.5 ftup to 2.2 ft
Wind
12 mphup to 21 mph
Rain chance
39%
UV index
7high
Sun
7:15 am to 7:40 pm
Tidesnext low at 3:42 am
  1. Low3:42 am0.7 ft
  2. High10:33 am2.2 ft
  3. Low4:37 pm0.6 ft
  4. High11:02 pm1.8 ft
  1. 8:00 am84 Fovercast, 18% rain, 13 mph
  2. 11:00 am80 Fheavy showers, 28% rain, 21 mph
  3. 2:00 pm84 Fovercast, 18% rain, 8 mph
  4. 5:00 pm · best85 Fovercast, 9% rain, 10 mph

Forecast for Thursday, Sep 10, local time (GMT-4). Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, refreshed hourly. Sea temperature and waves are model values for the nearest offshore point. Tides from NOAA CO-OPS station Garden Key, Dry Tortugas (8724697), 660 ft from the beach, heights above MLLW.The rating rule is on the methodology page. Planning a future date? See typical weather by month.

Great for

  • FamiliesLimitedCalm water 4.0, bathrooms nearby
  • SwimmingFairWaves around 3.3 ft, sea 81 F on average
  • SunsetsExcellentover the water 11 months a year
  • ConvenienceLimitedNo parking mapped, no food mapped
  • CampingYescampground (1 within 0.6 mi)
How the Beach Score is calculated: 4.4 of 10

The score is the sum of the components below. Clear water counts only where a clarity source exists. Rankings never take revenue as an input.

ComponentPointsFact
Facilities0.8 of 3Within walking distance: bathrooms.
Calm water0.8 of 2Mean daily maximum wave 3.3 ft.
Warm water0.8 of 1Mean sea temperature 81 F.
Sunset over water1.0 of 111 months a year, July to May.
Free entry0.0 of 1An entry fee is mapped.

Ranks #4 of 7 for beachfront camping in Florida, #10 of 12 for dogs allowed in Florida, #12 of 18 for boardwalk in Florida, #12 of 19 for camping nearby in Florida, #36 of 168 for warm water in Florida. All beaches in Florida.

Verdicts on the cards come from the same facts. Sources: OpenStreetMap (Sep 10, 2026), Open-Meteo (Sep 10, 2026), Operator official pages (hours, fees, rules) (Sep 6, 2026). The formula is on the methodology page.

South Swim Beach: lighthouse and fort ruins on grassy coastal point at dusk
South Swim Beach: historic brick fortification with water moat and clear sky
South Swim Beach: lighthouse tower with lantern room atop brick fortification wall

Photo: drytortugasnps, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (source) · Photo: OKJaguar, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source) · Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source)

Amenities

  • ParkingNo
  • Free parkingNo
  • Bathrooms1 nearby
  • ShowersNo
  • Restaurants and barsNo
  • Beachfront hotelsNo
  • Hotels nearbyNo
  • Dogs allowedYes
  • Beachfront camping1 nearby
  • Camping nearby1 nearby
  • Pier3 nearby
  • Boardwalk3 nearby
  • Free entryNo

Water, sand, and nature

  • Sunset over waterYes, July to May
  • Calm water4.0 of 10
  • Warm water8.1 of 10

Nearby means within walking distance of the beach centre (980 ft to 1,640 ft, by kind), from OpenStreetMap. Scores are 0 to 10. Sources: OpenStreetMap (Sep 10, 2026), Open-Meteo (Sep 10, 2026), Operator official pages (hours, fees, rules) (Sep 6, 2026); the method for each is on the methodology page.

Hours, fees, and rules

Hours
Open 24 hours
Entry
$15 per person (valid 7 days, free for ages 15 and under)
Operator
Run by National Park Service

From National Park Service, Dry Tortugas National Park, checked Sep 6, 2026 and National Park Service, Dry Tortugas National Park, checked Sep 6, 2026. Hours and fees change; the official page is the final word.

Sunset and sunrise

The shore faces west (259 degrees). The sun sets over the water in 11 months, July to May.

Computed from the OpenStreetMap coastline and the sunset azimuth for each month.

Planning a trip

Early October is usually warm, with very warm water, a higher chance of a rainy day and waves that are often rough.

Water
84 FVery warm
High
83 FWarm
Rainy day
51%Rain is common
Waves
3.8 ftOften rough
Sunset
Yesover the water in October

What to expect

  • Very warm swimming water, around 84 F
  • Waves often around 3.8 ft or more
  • Rainy days are common in October (15 a month)
  • Sunset over the water
  • October is within Atlantic hurricane season, at its peak
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peak from mid-August to late October. Storm history near this beach

3 October storms within 62.1 mi since 1980, about one every 15 years, 2 at hurricane strength. Most recent in any month: Tropical Storm Debby, August 2024, 40.7 mi away. Source: NOAA HURDAT2 best tracks, counted at tropical storm strength or stronger. Season dates from the NOAA National Hurricane Center.

South Swim Beach through the year

Warm water
Low rain
Calm water

Darker is better: warmer water, fewer rainy days, calmer water. Monthly means, 2023-2025, from Open-Meteo. Values for a date blend the nearest two months; the bands and the rule are on the methodology page.

When to go

  • Best overallMarch to Mayvery warm water · fewer rainy days · warm days
  • Warmest waterJuly to September88 F average
  • DriestMarch3 rainy days a month
  • Best for sunsetsJuly to MaySun sets over the water
All monthly averages, 2023-2025South Swim Beach: sea and air temperature by monthMonthly mean sea surface temperature and daily maximum air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.60708090100JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecSea temperature (F)Air, daily max
MonthSea tempAir maxRain daysWave height
Jan74 F (23 C)73 F (23 C)74.4 ft
Feb74 F (24 C)74 F (23 C)53.8 ft
Mar76 F (24 C)76 F (24 C)33.8 ft
Apr78 F (26 C)78 F (25 C)53.8 ft
May83 F (28 C)82 F (28 C)32.3 ft
Jun85 F (29 C)84 F (29 C)172.6 ft
Jul87 F (31 C)86 F (30 C)112.0 ft
Aug88 F (31 C)87 F (30 C)162.2 ft
Sep87 F (31 C)86 F (30 C)192.4 ft
Oct84 F (29 C)83 F (28 C)154.1 ft
Nov80 F (27 C)79 F (26 C)64.3 ft
Dec77 F (25 C)75 F (24 C)74.3 ft

Monthly means, 2023-2025. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com. Wave height is the mean of daily maximum significant wave height.

Explore South Swim Beach

Parking, food, stays, and facilities around the beach, mapped in OpenStreetMap within 0.7 mi.

All places near South Swim Beach as a list (5)

Beach access Beach access · Nearest restrooms at the beach

Distances are straight-line to the nearest point of the beach as mapped in OpenStreetMap; walking times assume 80 m a minute. Access points are where OpenStreetMap paths, steps, and boardwalks meet the beach. Coordinates 24.6269, -82.8736. Open this spot in OpenStreetMap or Google Maps. Missing or wrong? Fix it in OpenStreetMap and it appears here after the next weekly update.

Nearby beaches

Questions about South Swim Beach

Is there parking at South Swim Beach?

No mapped parking within 1,310 ft of the beach in OpenStreetMap.

Are dogs allowed at South Swim Beach?

Yes, tagged "leashed" in OpenStreetMap. Check local leash rules.

How warm is the water at South Swim Beach?

Sea surface temperature averages 87 F (31 C) in July and 74 F (23 C) in January. Source: Open-Meteo marine model, monthly means.

Is the water calm at South Swim Beach?

Calm water scores 4.0 of 10. Mean daily maximum wave height is 3.3 ft. Source: Open-Meteo marine model.

Can you see the sunset over the water at South Swim Beach?

Yes, in 11 months a year (July to May), based on the shore direction and the monthly sunset azimuth.

When is hurricane season at South Swim Beach?

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the peak from mid-August to late October, per the NOAA National Hurricane Center. Since 1980, 19 named storms passed within 62.1 mi of the beach, 11 at hurricane strength, most in August, September and October. Source: NOAA HURDAT2 best tracks.

Sources

  • © OpenStreetMap contributors (data as of Sep 10, 2026)
  • Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (data as of Sep 10, 2026)
  • [operator], checked [date] (data as of Sep 6, 2026)
  • Storm tracks from the NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 archive, public domain (data as of Sep 10, 2026)
  • Tide predictions from NOAA CO-OPS station Garden Key, Dry Tortugas (8724697), public domain
  • Rip current risk, surf, and alerts from the National Weather Service KEY office for Monroe Lower Keys (FLZ078), public domain

Licenses and refresh dates for every dataset are on the data page. Something wrong? Every beach page has a report button; corrections are logged with a date.

© OpenStreetMap contributors. Beach location, shoreline, and amenity positions are from OpenStreetMap under the ODbL. Data updated Sep 10, 2026.