Haulover Beach is the 1.4-mile county beach on Collins Avenue between Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles Beach, and the north end is the only officially designated clothing-optional beach in South Florida. The beach itself is free; you pay for parking, and the rest of Haulover Park adds a marina, golf, kites, a dog park and one of the best boat-watching spots in Miami-Dade.
Plan your visit
- Check the Miami-Dade Parks Haulover page for parking rates and any closures.
- Arrive before 10 a.m. on weekends, earlier on holidays.
- Pick your lot: north for the clothing-optional stretch, south for families and the inlet.
- Pay at the parking pay station or by phone app before you walk over.
- Cross under or over Collins via the marked tunnels and crosswalks.
- Set up near a lifeguard tower and check the flag.
- Leave by sunset, when the gates close.
How this ranking works
The ranking below weighs four things: how easy the spot is to reach from the lots, how good the sand and water are, how crowded it gets on a normal weekend, and whether it offers something you cannot get at other Miami-Dade parks. Lifeguard coverage and shade counted too. Price did not, because every spot is free once you park.
The result is a list that starts with the thing that made Haulover famous and works down to extras you might fold into a day.
The 8 Haulover spots at a glance
| Rank | Spot | Location in park | Best for | Lifeguards | Crowd level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clothing-optional beach | North end, oceanside | Nude sunbathing, swimming | Yes | Heavy on weekends |
| 2 | Main textile beach | Central and south, oceanside | Families, groups, swimming | Yes | Moderate |
| 3 | Haulover Inlet jetty | Far south end | Boat watching, fishing | No | Light to moderate |
| 4 | Bill Bird Marina | Bayside, south | Drift fishing, charters | No | Light |
| 5 | Kite field | Bayside lawn | Kites, picnics | No | Light |
| 6 | Haulover Golf Course | Bayside, north of marina | 9 holes, par 3 | No | Light |
| 7 | Dog park | Bayside | Off-leash dogs | No | Moderate mornings |
| 8 | Bayside picnic shelters | Along the Intracoastal | Birthdays, cookouts | No | Busy weekends |
1. The clothing-optional beach (top pick)
This is why most people search for Haulover in the first place. The local naturist group South Florida Free Beaches established the north end of the beach as clothing-optional in July 1991; Miami-Dade County tolerated it at first and then allowed permanent signs to go up in December 1993, and it has stayed that way since, with lifeguards, showers and restrooms the same as the rest of the park. That legal footing is what separates it from informal nude spots elsewhere in Florida.
The section is marked with signs at both ends warning that you may encounter nude sunbathers past that point. Clothing is genuinely optional. Plenty of visitors keep a swimsuit on for the first hour, and nobody pushes you either way.
The sand here is wide, the water is the same clear Atlantic you get in Sunny Isles, and the dune line gives some wind cover. On winter weekends the strip fills up by late morning, so the north lot is the one to aim for early.
Etiquette is simple and enforced by regulars as much as by park staff. No photography of other people, no staring, and keep a towel between you and anything you sit on at the concession. Beach chair and umbrella rentals operate in this section the same as the textile side.
Good to know
Phones and cameras pointed at other people get you asked to leave fast. Keep yours in the bag or pointed at the ocean, and never photograph anyone without asking.
2. The main textile beach
South of the clothing-optional signs the beach is a regular swimsuit beach, and honestly it is one of the better ones in the county. Compared with South Beach there is no hotel wall, no scooter traffic and a much shorter walk from the car.
Lifeguard towers run the full length, each flying the standard flag system. Green is calm, yellow means moderate surf or currents, red means dangerous conditions and purple means marine pests such as jellyfish. Check the tower nearest you rather than the first one you pass, because conditions change along the beach.
Restrooms and outdoor showers sit near the tunnel crossings. There is a food concession, though many families bring coolers. Glass is not allowed on the sand.
If you are comparing this stretch with the rest of the county’s shoreline, our locals’ ranking of “miami beaches” puts Haulover near the top for families who want space.
3. Haulover Inlet and the jetty
The south end of the beach meets Haulover Inlet, the cut that connects Biscayne Bay to the ocean. On an outgoing tide against an east wind the inlet stacks up short, steep waves, and watching boats punch through has become a spectator sport. Several video channels built entire followings on this one spot.
Walk south along the sand to the rock jetty for the best view. Anglers fish the jetty for snook and jacks, especially early and late in the day.
Good to know
Do not swim near the inlet. The current through the cut is strong on every tide, and the lifeguarded swimming area ends well north of the rocks.
4. Bill Bird Marina
Cross to the bayside and you reach the park marina, home to drift fishing boats, private charters and a fuel dock. The drift boats are the budget way to fish the Gulf Stream: you pay per person, rods are included, and trips run in half-day blocks morning, afternoon and night.
Book directly with the boat operators listed at the marina rather than through resellers. Prices and sailing times change seasonally, so call the boat the day before.
Kayak and paddleboard rentals also launch from this side, with the calm Intracoastal and the Haulover sandbar a short paddle away. The sandbar is a weekend gathering point for boaters and gets loud by noon.
5. The kite field
Haulover is the kite-flying park in Miami-Dade. The open lawn on the bayside catches a steady ocean breeze, and a kite shop has operated inside the park for years selling everything from single-line kites to large foils. You will see stunt kites most weekends.
It doubles as the best free picnic lawn in the park. Bring a blanket and skip the shelters unless you need a table.
6. Haulover Golf Course
A nine-hole, par-3 course sits on the bayside, run by the county. It suits beginners, kids and anyone who wants a quick round before the beach. Walk-up play is common on weekdays. Confirm the current greens fee and hours on the Miami-Dade Parks golf pages before you go, because they adjust by season.
7. The dog park
Dogs are not allowed on the sand at Haulover, which surprises visitors who assume a county beach is dog-friendly. The fenced off-leash park on the bayside is the compromise, with separate areas for large and small dogs and water stations. Early mornings are busiest and the shade runs out fast after 10 a.m.
8. Bayside picnic shelters
The covered shelters along the Intracoastal are the birthday-party zone on weekends. Some can be reserved through the county parks reservation system; the rest are first come, first served. Grills are available at several. Alcohol is restricted in Miami-Dade parks, so read the posted rules before you pack the cooler.
What you need
- Card or phone app for parking payment
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat
- Water, more than you think
- Cash for chair and umbrella rentals
- A towel to sit on in the nude section
- Water shoes for the jetty rocks
Getting there and parking
Haulover sits on Collins Avenue (State Road A1A) just north of the Bal Harbour bridge. Beach lots are on the ocean side; the marina, golf course and dog park have their own lots on the bay side.
| How you arrive | Where you end up | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, north lot | Clothing-optional beach | Paid per vehicle | Fills first on weekends |
| Car, south lot | Main beach and inlet | Paid per vehicle | Closer to concession |
| Car, bayside lots | Marina, golf, dog park | Varies by facility | Separate from beach lots |
| Metrobus on Collins Ave | Stops at park entrances | Standard fare | Use the Miami-Dade Transit trip planner |
| Bike or walk | Beach path from Sunny Isles or Bal Harbour | Free | Racks near tunnels |
| Boat | Haulover sandbar or marina | Marina fees apply | Inlet is rough on outgoing tide |
Parking is paid daily, with a higher weekend and holiday rate, and you pay at pay stations or through the county’s mobile parking app. Rates change, so confirm the current amount on the Miami-Dade Parks Haulover page or the sign at the entrance. Rangers do ticket unpaid cars.
Local tip
If both beach lots are full, park at the bayside lots and walk through the tunnel under Collins. It adds five minutes and usually saves a long loop on A1A. On big holiday weekends the county closes the gates when lots fill, so arriving after noon is a gamble.
Best time to go
| Season | Water | Crowds | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| December to March | Cooler, clearest | Heaviest, especially weekends | Full lots by 10 a.m. |
| April to May | Warming up | Moderate | Sargassum drifts begin |
| June to September | Bath-warm | Lighter on weekdays | Afternoon storms, lightning closures |
| October to November | Still warm | Light to moderate | King tides, occasional rough surf |
Weekday mornings in any month are the sweet spot. Sea turtle nesting season runs May through October, so stay off roped nest areas and skip bright lights on the sand at night.
Rules that catch people out
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Hours sunrise to sunset | Gates lock; cars left inside get stuck |
| No dogs on the beach | Use the bayside dog park instead |
| No glass on the sand | Decant drinks into plastic |
| Alcohol restricted | Check posted signs at shelters |
| No drones over the beach | County parks prohibit them without a permit |
| Nudity only past the signs | Cover up before you walk south |
| No photography of others | Applies everywhere, enforced hardest in the nude section |
Nearby
Oleta River State Park is across the Intracoastal with mangrove kayaking and mountain bike trails. Bal Harbour Shops is five minutes south. If a storm wipes out the afternoon, the “aventura mall” is about ten minutes north on Collins and Biscayne. Sunny Isles Beach, just north, has a public fishing pier when it is open.
When to get help
For permits, shelter reservations or an accessibility question, call Miami-Dade Parks through the county’s main line or use the Haulover page on miamidade.gov. For a medical issue on the sand, go to the nearest lifeguard tower; lifeguards radio Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. For lost property, check with the park office near the concession before you leave.
FAQ
What is Haulover Beach famous for?
Its clothing-optional north end, which South Florida Free Beaches established in July 1991 and Miami-Dade County later sanctioned by allowing permanent signs in December 1993. It is also known for Haulover Inlet, where rough water makes boat watching a weekend pastime, and for kite flying on the bayside lawn.
Is Haulover Beach for gays?
It is for everyone. The clothing-optional section draws a mixed crowd of couples, singles, families and regulars of every background. The northernmost stretch has long been popular with gay beachgoers, and the area closer to the lifeguard towers skews toward couples and families. Nobody is excluded from any part of it.
Can I wear clothes on Haulover Beach?
Yes. Clothing is optional, not banned, inside the signed section, and required everywhere else in the park. Many first-timers keep a swimsuit on and nobody minds.
Can you swim at Haulover Beach?
Yes, and it is lifeguarded daily along both the textile and clothing-optional sections. Swim near a tower, check the flag, and stay well north of the inlet, where currents are too strong for swimming.
