Sea turtle nesting beaches in Florida
6 beaches where sea turtle nesting is documented in Florida, each with the source, the date it was checked, and the season where the source gives one. That is 6 of the 185 ranked beaches in Florida.
- Documented6 beaches
- SeasonJune to August
- Most listedMelbourne (2)
6 beaches in Florida with sea turtle nesting.
Nesting season
Clearwater, FloridaSea turtle nestingLoggerhead and green sea turtles nest on the beach at Caladesi Island State Park.Parking · Free parking · Sunset over waterView beach
Melbourne, FloridaSea turtle nestingLoggerhead sea turtles nest on Indian Harbour Beach at about one nest per 10 feet of shoreline a year, and green sea turtles nest there too.Parking · Free parking · Sunrise over waterView beach
FloridaSea turtle nestingJune to AugustSea turtles nest in Sebastian Inlet State Park, and summer visitors can reserve a night walk to watch loggerheads nesting.Parking · Sunrise over water · Restaurants and barsView beach
Melbourne, FloridaSea turtle nestingLoggerhead sea turtles nest on Indian Harbour Beach at about one nest per 10 feet of shoreline a year, and green sea turtles nest there too.Parking · Free parking · Sunrise over waterView beach
Naples, FloridaSea turtle nestingKeewaydin Island is monitored nightly for loggerhead turtle nesting by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.Sunrise over waterView beach
Juno Beach
2.3Jupiter, FloridaSea turtle nestingThe Loggerhead Marinelife Center recorded 25,025 sea turtle nests in 2023 on the 9.5-mile stretch of beach it monitors at Juno Beach.Sunrise over water · Hotels nearbyView beach
Compare sea turtle nesting beaches
| Beach | Best season | Where you'll see it | Parking | Beach Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater BeachClearwater | Documented | Caladesi Island State Park | Yes | 7.1 |
| Eau Gallie BeachMelbourne | Documented | Indian Harbour Beach | Yes | 5.6 |
| Tidal Cove Beach | Jun to Aug | Sebastian Inlet State Park | Yes | 5.2 |
| Paradise BeachMelbourne | Documented | Indian Harbour Beach | Yes | 4.9 |
| Rebecca's Cove LandingNaples | Documented | Keewaydin Island | 3.5 | |
| Juno BeachJupiter | Documented | 2.3 |
How sea turtle nesting works
Sea turtles come ashore at night to lay eggs in the dry sand above the tide line, and the hatchlings emerge about 60 days later and crawl to the sea. Nests are marked and off limits, lights facing the beach are dimmed or shielded in season, and guided night walks run where a permit holder offers them. Seeing a turtle is never guaranteed; the season is when the chance exists.
How we verify sea turtle nesting
A beach is marked when a wildlife agency list or a cited page documents that sea turtles nest there. The months shown are the nesting season that source gives. This list is about nesting: it says nothing about seeing turtles from the sand or swimming with them, which would need sources of their own. Sources and methodology
Where in Florida
Most are in Melbourne (2), then Clearwater (1) and Naples (1).
Best today: St. Pete Beach, 86 of 100
Wind up to 9 mph, waves up to 0.9 ft, 24% rain chance, high 88 F in St. Pete Beach.
When to go
Warmest sea: August at 88 F (31 C). Calmest water: July, mean daily maximum wave 1.3 ft. Fewest rain days: February, November, December.