Which Florida beaches are the cheapest?

Chris E. Griffith, Associated Press

Barefoot Beach Preserve Park in Bonita Springs is 342 acres of natural land, one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on Florida's southwest coast. 8,200 feet of beach and sand dunes support the growth of sea oats, providing nesting sites for sea turtles during the summer months. The park also maintains a tropical coastal hammock of sabal palm, gumbo-limbo and sea grape trees among many others. The site is also home to the protected gopher tortoise. The park includes nature trails, estuary waters for canoe tours and a long stretch of natural beach. -- collergov.net It has been named as one of the best beaches in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's survey of United States beaches.

Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel

Cape Florida State Park, located at the south tip of Key Biscayne, provides clear, emerald-colored waters and gentle surf. This fine, white coral sand beach is great for swimming, as waves are knocked down by a large sand shoal offshore. In addition, the Cape Florida Lighthouse allows for a breath-taking view of this beautiful beach. It was the No. 7 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2014 survey of United States beaches.

Andrew Wardlow / Associated Press

St. Andrews State Recreation Area, near Panama City Beach, is one of the coast's best snorkeling and diving destinations. Well known for its sugar white sands and emerald green waters, this former military reservation has over one-and-a-half miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon. Offshore you'll find hundreds of varieties of shells, sea urchins and starfish. In Tampa Bay, try Egmont Key State Park. Not only does it have a beautiful beach more than a mile long, but you'll find submerged armament bunkers offshore that have created a refuge for tropical fish. It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 1995 survey of United States beaches.

Andrew Wardlow / Associated Press

St. Andrews State Recreation Area

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, near Panama City Beach, is one of the coast's best snorkeling and diving destinations. Well known for its sugar white sands and emerald green waters, this former military reservation has over one-and-a-half miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon. Offshore you'll find hundreds of varieties of shells, sea urchins and starfish. In Tampa Bay, try Egmont Key State Park. Not only does it have a beautiful beach more than a mile long, but you'll find submerged armament bunkers offshore that have created a refuge for tropical fish. It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 1995 survey of United States beaches.

TOM SPITZ / ORLANDO SENTINEL

The strip of coast between Tallahassee and Panama City may look like the middle of nowhere on a map. But that remoteness is what has kept the brilliant white beaches and dunes of St. George Island and St. Joseph Peninsula so unspoiled. Both beaches abound with rental cottages. St. George Island and St. Joseph Peninsula, 30 miles west, offer abundant outdoor activities, as does the surrounding Panhandle area. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park offers 20 miles of pristine shoreline, with picnicking, swimming, camping, fishing and hiking allowed. It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2002 survey of United States beaches.

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Siesta Beach on Siesta Key southwest of Sarasota, Fla., has been recognized for years as one of the best beaches in the country. It has the finest and whitest sand in the world, and I cannot argue with this claim. The powdery sand is nearly pure quartz crystal. The beatiful blue-colored water is clean and clear, making it so inviting to bathers and swimmers. - Dr. Beach It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2011 survey of United States beaches.

Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel

David Bailey Photography/Visit South Walton via AP

This undated photo provided by Visit South Walton shows Grayton Beach on Florida's Panhandle on the Gulf Coast. Grayton Beach State Park is No. 3 on the list of top beaches for the summer of 2018 as compiled by Stephen Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach, a professor at Florida International University. The beach was named No. 1 in the U.S. in Dr. Beach's 1994 best beach list.

Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel

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Lou Kellenberger, Associated Press

St. George is a long, skinny barrier island, drifting between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Apalachicola. Skip the developed middle of the island and stick to the northeast end, where St. George Island State Park protects nine miles of broad beach. The dunes are high and sculptural, and the surf is calm enough for swimming. After beachcombing, explore the nature trails through pine forest. St. George is a long, skinny barrier island, drifting between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Apalachicola. Skip the developed middle of the island and stick to the northeast end, where St. George Island State Park protects nine miles of broad beach. The dunes are high and sculptural, and the surf is calm enough for swimming. After beachcombing, explore the nature trails through pine forest. It was the No. 3 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2014 survey of United States beaches.

Craig Litten / Associated Press

Caladesi's fine, white quartz sand beach owes its creation to a 1921 hurricane, which separated it from nearby Honeymoon Island. Caladesi became a state park in 1968. The waves are generally low on Caladesi, which Dr. Beach said adds to its family-friendly atmosphere. Most beachgoers reach the island by a 15-minute, $9 ferry ride. Visitors -- unless they bring their own boat -- are limited to four-hour stays at the beach. -- Associated Press Caladesi Island near Dunedin was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2008 survey of United States beaches.

TOM SPITZ / ORLANDO SENTINEL

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Julie Fletcher / Orlando Sentinel

Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County near St. Pete Beach is an 870-acre patch of paradise. It's a mecca for migratory birds and migrating travelers who love to camp, swim, fish, picnic and otherwise duck civilization. Its wide expanse of beaches is ideal for privacy, and its waters have a blue-green Caribbean color. -- Boston Globe It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2005 survey of United States beaches.

Chris E. Griffith, Associated Press

Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel

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By Richard Tribou | [email protected] | Orlando Sentinel

PUBLISHED: March 1, 2019 at 1:45 PM CST | UPDATED: May 12, 2019 at 3:23 PM CDT

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If there’s an award for best beach, then Florida is going to be in the running. The latest accolade that ranks the cheapest day a the beach in the nation has the Sunshine State smiling again.

Jacksonville Beach was tops of an updated list for most inexpensive day at the beach, according to research done by website hometogo.com, a vacation rental search engine.

The report that rolls out ahead of Spring Break looks to break down the cost of a day at the beach taking into the following factors: parking, sunscreen, water, a fish taco, a beer, a cocktail and the average cost per person per night for accommodations that can sleep six people.

Florida landed four of the top 10 on the list with Jacksonville Beach at the top with a daily cost of $62.92.

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Just to the south is St. Augustine Beach, coming in at No. 5 with a daily cost of $71.24. At No. 6 is Indian Rocks Beach in Pinellas County at $73.33 and at No. 9 in the Panhandle is Crystal Sands Beach in Destin at $75.01.

Of the top 50 beaches in the U.S., Florida had 20. The priciest of Florida’s beaches coming in at No. 46 on the list was Bowman’s Beach on Sanibel Island with a daily cost of $106.15.

Others in the top 50 were No. 11 Fort Myers Beach ($77.37), No. 13 Panama City Beach ($77.70), No. 14 Pensacola Beach ($78.93), No. 15 Siesta Beach ($80.25), No. 17 Miramar Beach ($80.85), No. 22 New Smyrna Beach ($86.60), No. 24 Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach ($86.82), No. 25 Fort Lauderdale Beach ($88.86), No. 26 Daytona Beach ($88.96), No. 27 Smathers Beach in Key West ($89.78), No. 30 Fernandina Beach ($90.16), No. 34 Clearwater Beach ($95.74), No. 37 Naples Beach ($96.85), No. 42 Palm Beach Municipal Beach ($103.32), No. 43 South Beach ($103.65).

Both Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach costs were bumped by the nonresident beach parking (and driving) fee of $20. Only Palm Beach and Sanibel’s beaches had higher daily parking costs at $25.

Clearwater Beach was just named the best beach in the U.S. in the annual TripAdvisor Readers Choice Awards, an award given to it two years in a row.

Siesta Beach achieved that honor three years back and was also named the Dr. Beach best beach in the U.S. on his annual list in 2017.

See the whole list at https://www.hometogo.com/united-states/spring-break/#beach-price-index

Which Florida beaches are the cheapest?

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