Cedar Key Beach is one of the most unique beaches in Florida. It’s not very big, and the water is not clear, but it’s located on an island in the second oldest town in Florida. As such, it’s full of historical charm, and the surrounding community feels as if it’s been frozen in time. Cedar Key Public Beach has a slow-paced, laid-back vibe, and its remote location also makes it one of the few remaining beaches in Florida where wildlife abounds instead of people. The surrounding barrier islands together form the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, and many of these are easily accessible by kayak or boat tour from Cedar Key Beach. If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing place to escape all the crowds dominating the rest of the state, then this is the beach location for you.
Cedar Key Beach Facts
- Cedar Key is more of a fishing village than a beach town, but it does still have a nice beach. As long as you know what to expect, you definitely can enjoy this charming little seaside location.
- The beach is free at Cedar Key Beach.
- Parking is free at Cedar Key Beach.
- Free bathrooms and showers are available onsite.
- Cedar Key Public Beach is located at Cedar Key City Park at 188 2nd St, Cedar Key, FL 32625
- Despite its tiny size, there are actually a lot of things to do at Cedar Key Beach, including swimming, dolphin-sighting boat tours, kayak rentals, seafood festivals, pirate invasions, a playground, and more.
Things to Do at Cedar Key Beach
1. Kayak to Atsena Otie
Kayaks, as well as paddle boards, are available to rent from Cedar Key Public Beach. You can stay close to shore, or if you’re more experienced, crossing the ocean to Atsena Otie Key is an incredibly popular activity. The nearby island lies just a half mile away from Cedar Key Beach and is visible from the shoreline. It was once the original settlement of Cedar Key–before a hurricane destroyed it in 1896–but today all that remains are the ruins of old buildings and a historic cemetery which dates back to 1877. Kayakers to the island can choose to relax on the beaches of its abandoned shoreline or brave exploring the island’s interior.
Read Next: 14 Things to Do in Cedar Key in 2023 (for Free or Cheap)
2. Take a Boat Tour from Cedar Key Beach
The docks located at Cedar Key Beach serve as the launch point for numerous boat tours where you can explore the surrounding barrier islands or look for wildlife. Sunset tours and dolphin-watching expeditions are incredibly popular choices. You can also book an island taxi from this location if you’d like to explore the nearby Atsena Otie Key but aren’t bold enough to travel by kayak. Just head straight down the docks–conveniently located right on the beach–and there will be a variety of boat tours available for you to choose! Tidewater Tours are one of the most popular selections.
3. Swim at Cedar Key Beach
Cedar Key Beach is small, but it’s still a cute and relaxing area to swim or hang out. There are not any lifeguards, but the designated swimming area is roped off with floating buoys. If you’ve got kids, this can help give you a little bit of peace of mind about safety, knowing that if you were to get swept into a current or unexpected riptide, you’ve got something to grab hold of as a last resort. If you’re an unexperienced swimmer though, it’s probably still best to stay in shallow waters while swimming at Cedar Key Beach.
The public beach area has bathrooms and showers onsite, and there’s also a couple benches where you can just sit and watch the sea, the swimmers, the boats coming and going, and even local wildlife.
4. Observe Horseshoe Crab Nesting Grounds at Cedar Key Beach
Cedar Key Beach is a nesting ground for horseshoe crabs between March and July of every year. This is a good time to visit to see them up close and learn about their importance to local ecosystems. While it’s generally not a good idea to touch wildlife, there are some instances where you can help! Waves sometimes knock horseshoe crabs over on this beach, and they can easily get trapped upside down, where they are vulnerable to sun and predators. It’s okay (and actually encouraged) to help them by gently flipping them back over while grasping the sides of their shells (not their tails please) if you happen to notice any of these stranded crabs in need of assistance. They are gentle creatures who will not bite or sting, so there is no need to fear them. Populations of horseshoes crabs are sadly declining, so if you notice any mating pairs on the beach, please leave those ones alone so that they’re not disturbed.
5. Birdwatching in Cedar Key
Various species of birdlife call Cedar Key Beach and the surrounding barrier islands home. It’s not uncommon to see them congregating on the docks or local marina pilings. Yellow-crowned and black-crowned night herons are common sights, as are spotted sandpipers along the shore. Magnificent frigatebirds fly overhead while brown pelicans and laughing gulls can be spotted along the fishing pier located at the corner of Dock Street. You also might see black skimmers and royal terns. If you opt to kayak over to the nearby Atsena Otie Key, you’ll likely notice the loafing sandwich terns that like to hang out around the abandoned docks. Ruddy turnstones and red knots also frequent this key, and American oystercatchers can be spotted feeding and resting on the nearby oyster bars.
6. Lil Shark Park Kids Playground
Cedar Key Beach has its own playground located right on the sand in between the designated swimming area and Cedar Cove. It’s called Lil Shark Park, and there are a lot of different slides and climbable towers for small kids to play on. There’s also bathrooms and showers conveniently located next to the playground, as well as easy parking.
7. Take a Stroll
There’s a sidewalk that runs right along Cedar Key Beach in between the shoreline the the city park. It’s a great place to go for a walk along the waterfront. You can also head down Dock Street to peruse all the oceanfront shops and restaurants or to visit the pier located at the end of the street.
8. Eat on the Water
There are a handful of oceanfront restaurants in Cedar Key that sit on stilts located directly over top of the water! A little road called Dock Street runs right in between Cedar Key Beach and the fishing pier, so once you’ve tired of swimming in the water or lounging on the sand, you can head straight down this road to take your pick of a variety of waterfront eateries. Everything is within walking distance from the beach, so you can just head there on foot without needing to move your car from its parking spot. The whole street can be traversed in less than ten minutes. There’s even a place that serves a menu for dogs and allows you to bring your furry friend onto the ocean patio to dine with you!
Read Next: Best Cedar Key Restaurants in 2023 (Waterfront, Seafood, Pet-Friendly)
9. Cedar Key Seafood Festival
The Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival is hosted right on the beach in Cedar Key City Park (which is basically the small strip of grassy area directly behind the sand). Although it’s a tiny town, Cedar Key is Florida’s second oldest town and is also one of the top sources of farm-raised clams in the entire United States. This free event features live music, craft exhibits, a parade, and plenty of local seafood.
The 2023 Cedar Key Seafood Festival will be the 53rd year of the attraction and will take place from 10 AM on October 21 to 5 PM on October 22, 2023. Be sure to try some of Tony’s award-winning clam chowder while you’re there!
10. Cedar Key Pirate Invasion
This is another one of our favorite annual beach events in Cedar Key. Watch as pirates come ashore and take over the town, pillaging and plundering for charity! After the mayor turns over the key to the town, they’ll set up a camp outpost in City Park, right on Cedar Key Beach. Reenactors will demonstrate how pirates lived on land when ashore, and wares will be available for purchase from Vendors Row. Learn to sing sea shanties, watch a weapons demonstration, or participate in the parade. There will also be plenty of food for feasting, as well as a costume contest for the kids. The 2023 Cedar Key Pirate Invasion festival will take place on November 3 – 5, 2023. Visit their official website for more information.
Alternative Beaches in Cedar Key
Cedar Key Public Beach
This is the main beach in Cedar Key that we already featured throughout this article up above. It’s actually the only official beach in the town and the only place where it’s safe to swim in Cedar Key. It’s a part of City Park and is located at 188 2nd Street, Cedar Key, FL 32625.
You might notice that Google itself marks a couple of other beach locations on its own maps of Cedar Key, however. These other locations are NOT official beaches, but since you might be wondering about them, we decided that it would probably be best to include them in this article as well. So we’ve listed these three other places below:
G Street Beach
You’ll find this spot marked on all the maps for Cedar Key, but the name is misleading because it’s not really a beach at all. It’s just a strip of rocky shoreline, but it is still a pretty spot to visit to spot oyster beds or watch a spectacular sunset over the ocean. You won’t want to swim here, but if you’ve grown tired of the main beach in Cedar Key, then you might want to check this place out.
Cedar Key Airport Beach
This place is also listed on all the maps, but it seems to be private property. We didn’t visit here ourselves, but most of the Google reviews say that there’s no parking, no swimming, and multiple signs asking that you do not disturb the water. Someone else also stated that the location is private property, but I haven’t seen that verified anywhere else yet. Based on that possibility alone, however, I’d probably skip this place or, at the very least, proceed with caution and care.
Cemetery Point Park
This is more than just a beach. It’s a three and a half acre park, but it features 400 feet of sandy shore. It’s a popular place to fish, kayak, and watch for wildlife. There are also hiking paths, picnic areas, restrooms, a playground, a cemetery, and a 1,200 foot boardwalk over a tidal marsh.
Although there’s an area where it’s possible to swim at this park, it’s not the most convenient place, nor is it the easiest to reach. There’s a lot of walking on foot required to get to the sandy shoreline. I do still highly recommend that you visit this place, but if what you’re looking for is a nice, beachy location to relax or swim with your family, then your best bet is to stick to the official public beach at City Park for that.
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