Florida’s Most Dangerous Beaches

A list of the most dangerous beaches in the United States has come out. It is no surprise that Florida is well-represented on this list. So the list comes from the experts at Simmrin Law. The way they came up with the list as they looked at, shark attacks, and surf zone fatalities, which include rip currents as well.

The list includes the 25 most dangerous beaches in the United States. Of the 25, 24 of them are in the state of Florida. The only beach that isn’t in Florida is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

"While shark attacks often grab headlines, Florida's beaches rank so high due to the ever-present hurricane risk," said Michael Simmrin, of Simmrin Law. "Hurricanes create dangerous rip currents and storm surge, raising the overall risk for beachgoers. With summer approaching and vacations on the minds of many Americans, this study shows the importance of putting safety first when considering a trip to the beach."

Florida has all Top 10 beaches in the nation, but none of them are in the Tampa Bay area.

Will this list prevent people from going to the beach here in Florida, NO! This list is just showing that the waters along the Florida coast are dangerous. Their list is based on the hurricane risk and the storm surge. Also, the deadly rip currents that hurricanes bring.

There are seven different species of sharks living in the waters of Tampa Bay. They are: Blacktip Shark, Bonnethead Shark, Bull Shark, Nurse Shark, Hammerheard Shark, Lemon Shark and Tiger Shark.

Taking your family to a beautiful Florida beach can be so much fun and very relaxing. But what kills the fun almost immediately is when you can't find parking anywhere. Driving around in circles only to see that every lot is full can really get you down. But then there's a glimmer of hope when several parking lots where you can pay to park. Paying $5 or even $10 doesn't seem too bad when you have a car full of kids screaming "Are we there yet?" However, the cost of parking at Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach has skyrocketed over the years. If you want to know where the best free or cheap beach parking is look no further.

Our biggest tip for finding free parking at one of the most famous beaches in Tampa Bay is to go early. That might not be ideal if you're traveling from far away but trust us, it's worth it. You're not going to deal with the hassle of fighting for parking with every other family. And if you are fighting for parking the worst part is you'll just be following the same cars from street to street hoping for a spot to open up. Which is unlikely because once you get to the beach you're not leaving for a while. The perfect time to get a free parking spot at the beach arriving between 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. which might seem too early, but you'll thank us later. For all available free beach access in St. Pete click HERE. And if you need to find free beach access in Clearwater click HERE.

Parking prices have gotten outrageously expensive. We've seen reports that some parking prices on holiday weekends like Mother's Day charge as much as $70! One mom was extremely upset about the hike in prices saying, "Don’t go to Madeira beach, they just raised their prices again for parking. I paid $70 to park there on Mother’s Day and it was ridiculous." Again, you can find free parking but that's first come first serve so if you don't want to pay that expensive fee make sure you get there extra early. See our options below for affordable parking in Tampa Bay by scrolling down.

Fort Desoto Beach is absolutely beautiful peaceful beach that's a great option. Last time we went it was anywhere between $5-$8 per car for parking. Either way that's a steal compared to other areas that are charging an arm and a leg.

Entrance to the park is free and parking only costs $5 per day. However, they are closed on certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They open daily at 7 a.m. and close at sunset. Great option for families.

Another option you might like is Honeymoon Island. Last time we went it was only $8 for per car and very relaxing. That is way more affordable than $70 at other beaches. Definitely worth the drive to check it out.

Life hack for you! Park behind the shops, where residents live, there’s always parking, and no one tows. Yes, it’s slightly further of a walk, but it’s really not that far, maybe extra 5 minutes of walking, but it’s free parking.

There's several areas there that are hourly and it only costs $2 an hour. You can find the location on the Parkmobile app. Check before you go are on your way there. Again, get there early.