Hutchinson Island
Fort Pierce, FL
Hutchinson Island stretches across parts of St. Lucie and Martin counties, with roughly four dozen public access points, many of them small sandy pocket parks tucked behind the dunes off A1A. It's a quieter, more residential barrier island than the mainland beach towns, without one dominant landmark drawing crowds to a single spot.
The sheer number of small, free access points means there's almost always somewhere to park, though the lack of one central beach means it takes some local knowledge to find a favorite.
How we score beachesLook for small roadside pull-offs along A1A rather than expecting one central beach, that scattered access is the whole character of the island. Waveland Beach and other named accesses each have their own small lot, worth checking a map before picking one.
Parking is free at the island's public access points, though most lots are small.
Access points range from short boardwalk crossings to sandy paths through dune vegetation.
Dogs are not allowed on Fort Pierce area beaches on Hutchinson Island; the nearest dog friendly beach is Walton Rocks Beach in Jensen Beach, about 20 miles south.
Winter and spring bring South Florida's driest, mildest weather and the biggest snowbird crowds. Summer's heat and hurricane season, June through November, thin things out despite the warmest water of the year.
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