MIRAMAR
Where
Miramar, nestled at the westernmost end of South Walton, promises a wealth of sugar sand beaches. Miramar Beach Regional Beach Access- 49, located at 2375 Scenic Gulf Drive, Miramar Beach, FL 32550, is a favorite with locals and visitors alike.
Vibe
Energetic, popular stretch of white sand and turquoise water with all the amenities.
Snorkeling! Parasailing! Banana Boat rides! A beachfront restaurant! Beloved by families and excitement lovers alike, Miramar has a vibrant, fun personality, brimming with things to do and perks like restrooms and beach wheelchairs.
See, feel
A pure quartz sand beach; calm, shallow water that’s so clear you can see your toes when you’re waist deep or more; and a gently sloping bottom make Miramar perfect for timid swimmers and little ones. Here, you’ll see toddlers exploring tide pools; rainbow-hued parasails high above the blue-green waves; and the occasional luxe boat cruising offshore, adding to the tropical ambience.
While the waves are usually gentle, waves, tides and offshore systems can sometimes make conditions rough.
On or near the beach
Miramar is all about relaxing—or all about action, as you please. Strolling the shore with your toes in the surf; wading in the tide pools or swimming; and catching rays under a peppermint striped umbrella are favorites with beachgoers. The snorkeling is superb, with shallow, artificial Dolphin Reef just offshore, delivering an underwater landscape of tropical fish and sea creatures.
Sited right behind Pompano Joe's, Banana Boat Rides has got you covered for adventures. The Banana Boat rides promise a screaming good time for up to six passengers at a time, as well as a chance to spot dolphins, sea turtles and rays—but that’s just the tip of the sandbar. Banana Boats also offers snorkeling tours; as well as parasailing rides for sky high adrenaline and views.
Fuel the fun with a picnic, or splash into Pompano Joe’s Seafood Restaurant on Miramar Beach’s east end, serving up fresh Gulf seafood, tropical concoctions and live music.
Accessibility
Miramar Beach offers ADA accessible restrooms; a boardwalk; and parking. Beach wheelchairs are available. Here’s an interactive map of beach wheelchair locations.
Facilities
Amenities at Miramar include a water fountain, restrooms and outdoor showers, bike racks, and an artificial snorkel reef. Vendor-operated beach chair and umbrella services are offered. Pompano Joe’s Seafood Restaurant is sited right on the beach.
Lifeguards
Lifeguards protect Miramar Beach seasonally, from March 1 through Oct. 31, as well as limited roving coverage year-round. Here’s an interactive map of lifeguard towers.
Parking
Free parking is available both on the Gulf and to the north of Scenic Highway 98.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MIRAMAR BEACH
Q. Where is Miramar Beach located?
A. Miramar Beach is a Gulf Coast community in unincorporated Walton County, Fla., about seven miles east of downtown Destin along U.S. Highway 98.
The primary public beach access sits on Scenic Gulf Drive, adjacent to Pompano Joe's restaurant, just south of U.S. 98.
Q. Is there free parking at Miramar Beach, and what are the hours?
A. Parking is free at both the Miramar Beach Regional Access and Miramar Park, which together offer more than 200 spaces on the Gulf side and north of Scenic Highway 98.
The beach access areas are open dawn to dusk.
The lots fill quickly from May through August, so arriving before 9 a.m. is the safest bet on summer weekends.
For current conditions, call the Walton County Tourist Development Council at 850-892-8700, or check the Miramar Park facility page on the Walton County website.
Q. What is Dolphin Reef at Miramar Beach?
A. Dolphin Reef is a manmade underwater reef just offshore from Miramar Beach, sitting in 12 to 20 feet of water and accessible by paddleboard, kayak or small boat.
The reef attracts fish, sea turtles and a variety of Gulf marine life, making it one of the more reliable close-to-shore snorkeling spots along the Emerald Coast.
It's the feature that gives Miramar Beach its "water adventures" reputation and sets it apart from surrounding Gulf beaches that offer only open sand.
The Destin Florida artificial reef guide has details on Dolphin Reef and additional offshore dive sites in the area.
Q. What amenities are available at Miramar Beach?
A. The public access areas have restrooms, outdoor showers, bike racks and water fountains.
Vendors operate on the beach offering chair and umbrella rentals.
Miramar Park, the larger facility managed by the Walton County Tourist Development Council, spans more than 1,100 feet of Gulf frontage with three beach access points. The beach is ADA Accessible.
Q. Are there lifeguards at Miramar Beach?
A. Yes, lifeguards are on duty at the Miramar Beach Regional Access from March 1 through Oct. 31.
Limited roving coverage is also provided year-round outside peak season.
The beach uses colored flag warnings to communicate daily water conditions, so check the flags when you arrive, even when lifeguards are posted.
Q. What are the water conditions at Miramar Beach?
A. The Gulf water at Miramar Beach is remarkably clear, often transparent enough to see through when you're waist-deep, with a gently sloping sandy bottom that makes it easy to wade out gradually.
The calm conditions typical of this stretch of the Gulf make it one of the more approachable swimming beaches in the Destin area.
Conditions can pick up with offshore systems, winds and tides, making it unsafe to swim, so check the beach flags before swimming, especially outside of summer.
Q. What water activities are available at Miramar Beach?
A. Parasailing and banana boat rides are available through vendors near the beach access, and guided dolphin and sea turtle spotting tours operate regularly from the area.
Snorkeling Dolphin Reef is the signature activity: bring your own gear or rent from a local outfitter and paddle or boat out to the site.
The beach's clear, calm water also makes it a good location for stand-up paddleboarding for beginners.
Q. Where can you eat near Miramar Beach?
A. Pompano Joe's Seafood House sits directly next to the primary beach access at 2237 Scenic Gulf Highway and is the go-to on-site dining option, with Gulf views and a tiki bar alongside its seafood menu.
The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. and tends to draw a crowd on summer afternoons, so expect a wait during peak season.
A wider range of options is within a short drive east toward Sandestin or west along U.S. 98 toward Destin.
Q. What attractions are near Miramar Beach?
A. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is about four miles east and offers golf, tennis, shopping at the Village of Baytowne Wharf and additional Gulf beach access (for guests).
Silver Sands Premium Outlets, one of the largest outlet centers in the Southeast, is roughly 2.5 miles from the beach.
Destin is about seven miles west, with harbor cruises, additional dining and deep-sea fishing charters along the harbor.
Q. Is Miramar Beach good for families?
A. It's a strong family option: the clear, shallow Gulf water with a gradual slope is forgiving for young swimmers, lifeguards are on duty from spring through fall, and the on-site amenities are solid. Be aware conditions can be rough and unsafe for swimming due to tides, offshore systems and winds.
The snorkel reef gives older kids something specific to look forward to, and the free parking takes one logistical headache off the table.
During summer, the beach draws large crowds and lots fill early, so a weekday visit is much calmer than a weekend one.
Q. When is the best time to visit Miramar Beach?
A. May and September offer the best balance: warm Gulf water, long days and noticeably thinner crowds than the peak July and August weeks. Be aware the that six-month long hurricane season runs from June 1 until Nov. 30, with the peak months being August, September and October.
Spring break in March and April brings significant crowds as well, though lifeguards are already on duty by March 1.
If summer is your window, weekdays are consistently easier than weekends, and arriving by 9 a.m. puts you ahead of the parking rush.
Q. Is Miramar Beach accessible?
A. The Miramar Beach Regional Access has ADA-accessible parking, restrooms, a boardwalk and beach wheelchairs available during peak season.
Miramar Park includes one ADA-accessible beach access point among its three entrances to the Gulf.
Check out information about beach wheelchairs here; to confirm availability before your visit call The South Walton Fire District.
