Keaton Beach
Perry, FL
Keaton Beach is Taylor County's primary public beach, centered on Hodges Park with a fishing pier and play area along a stretch of the Big Bend coast where sandy swimming beaches are the exception rather than the rule. Summer scalloping draws its own crowd here, alongside the usual swimming and fishing.
Being one of the only real sandy swim beaches on this stretch of the Big Bend coast makes it a genuine local institution, though the modest amenities reflect its small-town character rather than a tourist destination.
How we score beachesCome prepared for a working coastal town rather than a resort area, amenities are more modest than the bigger Gulf beach towns further south. Scalloping season in summer is a genuine local event, worth planning a visit around if that interests you.
Parking is free and wheelchair accessible at Hodges Park.
Hodges Park has a short, flat walk from the lot to the beach and pier.
Local visitor reports indicate dogs are not permitted on the sand at Keaton Beach.
Winter is mild with the thinnest crowds on this remote stretch of coast. Summer brings the warmest water, scalloping season, and hurricane season, June through November.
More Gulf Coast beaches
Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key, FL · Gulf Coast
Fine quartz sand that stays cool underfoot even in summer, sloping gently into calm Gulf water, and consistently rated among the best family beaches in the country.
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater, FL · Gulf Coast
A lively Gulf-front strip with a fishing pier, a nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60, and calm, shallow water that makes it an easy family favorite.
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach, FL · Gulf Coast
Sugar-white sand within the Gulf Islands National Seashore, with dunes protected from development and water clear enough for snorkeling near the jetties.