The Miami Beach Beachwalk with a stroller

There’s nothing quite like pushing a stroller along the ocean at sunrise, with the breeze off the water and the lifeguard towers glowing pink. The Miami Beach Beachwalk makes that easy. It’s wide, it’s paved and it runs right along the sand for miles.

Miami’s tourism board puts the Beachwalk at about seven miles from South Pointe Park to 79th Street near North Beach Oceanside Park, and about nine miles in all if you keep going north. The path averages around 15 feet wide, and one of the best parts for parents is that it never crosses a street. You don’t need to walk all of it. Pick a stretch, enjoy the view and turn around when you’re ready.

At a glance

• LengthAbout 7 miles one way
• SurfaceSmooth pavers and concrete
• ShadeVery little: bring your own
• HillsFlat
• Best withAny stroller
• CostFree

Bikes and skates share the path, and walkers have the right of way. Motorized devices like e-bikes and e-scooters aren’t allowed on the Beachwalk. Some Mid-Beach stretches also have a separate wooden boardwalk where bikes aren’t allowed, which can be a calmer choice with a stroller.

Map

Open in Google Maps

The map is centered on Lummus Park in South Beach. The Beachwalk runs north from South Pointe Park, at the southern tip of Miami Beach, all the way to North Beach.

Stroller or carrier?

Good news: this is a true stroller walk. The Beachwalk is smooth, wide and flat, so any stroller works, from a lightweight travel stroller to a double jogger. A few things to know:

• 👶
  Best overallAny full-size stroller

  A big canopy matters more than big wheels here. Look for one that extends low, and add a ventilated sunshade.

• 🏃
  Covering milesJogging stroller

  Great for longer stretches. Just slow down near crowded spots like Lummus Park and hotel exits.

• 🧸
  Short and closeBaby carrier

  Fine for a short sunrise stroll, but wearing a baby in Miami heat gets hot fast for both of you. Skip it in summer.

Sand is the one thing strollers hate. If you want to step onto the beach, park the stroller on the path, lock the brakes and carry the baby down, or use one of the beach access mats described below.

Where to start

The Beachwalk is out and back unless you hop on a bus to return, so choose a starting point by the kind of walk you want.

• 🌅
  EasiestSouth Pointe Park

  Start at the southern tip with restrooms, a playground and the pier. Head north past the Art Deco hotels.

• 🌴
  Classic South BeachLummus Park

  Ocean Drive’s beachfront park, with restrooms at 6th, 10th and 14th Streets and a fenced playground.

• 🌊
  QuieterMid-Beach

  Start near Collins Park around 21st Street and head north for fewer crowds and a more relaxed feel.

• 🌄
  Locals’ pickNorth Beach

  North Beach Oceanside Park has a playground, restrooms at the pavilions and a calmer stretch of path.

A good first walk: start at South Pointe Park, walk north to Lummus Park and back. That’s a few easy miles with bathrooms and playgrounds at both ends.

Mile by mile

Here’s roughly what to expect heading north from South Pointe Park. Distances are approximate.

• South Pointe to 5th Street (about half a mile). The path curves around the southern tip of the island, past the pier and the dunes, and then runs north along the beach. Lots of benches and a wide, calm feel.
• 5th to 14th Street (under a mile). This is Lummus Park, the classic South Beach stretch. Ocean Drive’s Art Deco hotels are on your left, the ocean on your right. Restrooms at 6th, 10th and 14th Streets, the playground, outdoor gyms and lots of people watching.
• 14th to 23rd Street (under a mile). Still South Beach, with big hotels and fewer crowds. The path passes Collins Park near 21st Street, a good turnaround point with parking nearby.
• 23rd to 46th Street (about a mile and a half). Mid-Beach. Quieter and more residential, with condos and hotels along the dunes. Some sections have a separate raised wooden boardwalk.
• 46th Street to North Beach (about two miles). The calmest stretch, with local families and runners. North Beach Oceanside Park near 79th Street has a playground and restrooms at the pavilions.

For a stroller walk, we’d plan one to three miles round trip. You can always come back and do a different stretch next week.

Getting there and parking

By car

Parking in Miami Beach is mostly paid, and it gets tight on weekends and holidays. Some good options:

• South Pointe Park, 1 Washington Avenue, has paid parking right at the park.
• Collins Park Garage, near 21st Street and Collins Avenue, has more than 500 spaces close to the Beachwalk.
• North Beach, with a public lot at 8440 Collins Avenue and metered spaces around the parks.

Read every sign. Towing in Miami Beach is expensive, and rules can change during big events and spring break.

By bus

Miami-Dade Transit buses run up and down Collins Avenue, so you can walk one way and ride back. Check the Miami-Dade Transit trip planner for routes from your neighborhood.

Restrooms and water

The Beachwalk is one of the easier long walks in Miami for bathrooms. Travel guides note restrooms, water and playgrounds at several points along the way.

• Lummus Park has public restrooms at 6th, 10th and 14th Streets, with water fountains there and at the beach wash stations.
• South Pointe Park has restrooms near the café and splash pad.
• North Beach Oceanside Park has restrooms at its pavilions.
• Water fountains are spaced along the route, but bring your own water too, especially in summer.

Bring a portable changing pad, since changing tables aren’t guaranteed.

Playgrounds

You can turn a Beachwalk stroll into a playground crawl:

• South Pointe Park has play areas for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, with shade sails and a splash zone. Our South Pointe Park guide has all the details.
• Lummus Park has a fenced playground with soft rubber surfacing and tot, youth and accessible swings.
• North Beach Oceanside Park has a beachfront playground near the path.

Feeding and nap stops

The steady breeze and the sound of the waves put a lot of babies right to sleep. When it’s time to feed or let a stroller nap stretch out, these spots work well:

• Lummus Park benches and palms. Look for a bench under the palms on the ocean side of the path. Shade moves fast, so pick one with tree cover on the east side in the afternoon and the west side in the morning.
• South Pointe Park. Shaded seating near the playground and a breezy spot by the water. Our South Pointe guide has more.
• Mid-Beach. Quieter benches with fewer people walking by, which helps if your baby is easily distracted while feeding.
• North Beach Oceanside Park. Picnic tables and pavilions with shade, a nice place to settle in for a longer feed.

Feeding in public is your right, and you’ll see plenty of families doing it on the Beachwalk. Bring a light muslin if you’d like one, and keep air moving around the baby.

Accessibility

The Beachwalk is one of the most accessible long walks in Miami. It’s paved, wide and flat, and it never crosses a street. A few extras for anyone using a wheelchair or walker, or anyone who wants an easier way onto the sand:

• Free beach wheelchairs. The City of Miami Beach lends manual and powered beach wheelchairs for free, first come, first served, at Ocean Rescue Headquarters at 1001 Ocean Drive and at South Pointe Park. Recently listed hours were 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from November to January and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. the rest of the year.
• Beach access mats. Mats at some access points create a firmer path over the sand. Check the city’s accessibility page for current locations.
• Accessible restrooms. The park restrooms along the route are listed as accessible.

For questions, Ocean Rescue can be reached at 305.673.7714, and the city’s ADA page lists current locations and hours.

What you’re seeing

A little background makes the walk more fun, especially once your little one starts asking questions.

• 🏚️
  ArchitectureThe Art Deco District

  The district between 5th and 23rd Streets has the nation’s largest concentration of Art Deco buildings and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.

• 🏖️
  Since 1915Lummus Park

  Named for the Lummus brothers. J.N. Lummus became Miami Beach’s first mayor, and the oceanfront land became a public park that still keeps the beach open to everyone.

• 🚦
  IconsThe lifeguard towers

  The colorful towers dotting the sand were designed by architect William Lane, inspired by Art Deco, Caribbean culture and the tropics.

• 🎨
  DesignThe path itself

  The Beachwalk’s patterned paving has been compared to Roberto Burle Marx’s famous promenade along Copacabana in Rio.

If you’re curious, the Miami Design Preservation League’s Art Deco Welcome Center at 10th Street and Ocean Drive offers walking tours of the district. You’ll also find a bust of Barbara Capitman, the preservationist who led the fight to save these buildings, in Lummus Park.

Coffee and food

You’re never far from coffee on the Beachwalk. South Beach and Mid-Beach have cafés and juice spots a block in from the ocean, and South Pointe Park has a small café near the splash pad. Ocean Drive can be pricey and busy, so many locals grab coffee a few blocks west on Washington Avenue or Collins Avenue instead.

Safety and heat

Miami’s weather is the biggest thing to plan around on the Beachwalk, because there’s almost no shade.

• Watch the heat index. The National Weather Service issues a heat advisory for Miami-Dade when the heat index is expected to reach 105 degrees or higher for at least two hours. On those days, skip the walk or keep it very short and very early.
• Know the signs of overheating. For you and your baby: flushed or very sweaty skin, unusual fussiness or sleepiness, fewer wet diapers, dizziness or nausea. Get into shade or air conditioning, offer fluids as your pediatrician advises and call 911 if anyone seems confused, faint or unresponsive.
• Never cover the stroller with a blanket. It traps heat. Use a ventilated sunshade made for strollers and a clip-on fan instead.
• When thunder roars, go indoors. Summer storms build fast in the afternoon, and lightning is a real risk on open waterfront paths. Have a plan for where you’ll duck in.
• Walk with a friend and share your plans. Keep your phone charged and let someone know your route, especially early in the morning.

If you go near the water, swim only near a staffed lifeguard tower and follow the beach flags. Babies and toddlers should never be near the surf without an adult within arm’s reach.

Seasons

• WinterThe best time of year. Dry, sunny and comfortable, with perfect morning walks. It’s also the busiest season, so start early.
• SpringWarm and breezy. Spring break brings crowds and special rules to South Beach, so Mid-Beach and North Beach are calmer.
• SummerHot, humid and stormy. Walk at sunrise, keep it short and head in when you hear thunder.
• FallStill warm, and hurricane season runs through November. Check the forecast and any beach alerts before you go.

Rainy day backups

When a storm rolls in or the heat is too much, these indoor spots are close by:

• The Bass, Miami Beach’s contemporary art museum in Collins Park, just off the Beachwalk near 21st Street. Check hours and admission before you go.
• Miami Beach Regional Library, also in Collins Park, with a children’s area. A free, air-conditioned stop.
• Lincoln Road, a pedestrian mall a few blocks inland with shops and cafés. Note that bikes are only allowed early in the morning, so it’s calm for strollers.

A sample morning

Here’s an easy plan for a first Beachwalk outing with a baby. Adjust it to your nap schedule.

• 6:45 a.m.Park at South Pointe Park. Restroom stop, sunscreen for you, shade cover for the baby.
• 7:00 a.m.Walk out on the pier to watch the sunrise and the boats.
• 7:20 a.m.Head north on the Beachwalk toward Lummus Park.
• 7:50 a.m.Feed or rest on a shady bench near the 10th Street restroom, then turn around.
• 8:30 a.m.Back at South Pointe. Playground time for older kids, then coffee near the splash pad.

That’s about two miles round trip with plenty of breaks, and you’re home before the real heat sets in.

What to pack

Our short list for a Beachwalk walk with a baby:

• Water for you, plus whatever your baby needs for feeds.
• A ventilated stroller sunshade and a clip-on fan. Never drape a blanket over the stroller.
• A hat and sun protection. Ask your pediatrician what’s right for your baby’s age.
• A portable changing pad and wipes, since changing tables aren’t guaranteed.
• A light rain cover, because summer storms pop up fast.
• A charged phone, with your route shared with a friend.
• A small towel and a change of clothes, in case a toddler makes a run for the sand or the beach showers.
• Coins or a parking app, since most Miami Beach parking is paid.

Keep it light. A stroller basket stuffed with gear is harder to push and harder to fold at the end.

Pro tips

• 🌅
  TimingGo at sunrise

  It’s cooler, quieter and the light over the ocean is gorgeous.

• ☂️
  ShadeBring your own

  There’s very little shade. Use a stroller sunshade and a stroller fan, and keep babies out of direct sun.

• 🚲
  BikesStay right

  Bikes share the path. Keep to one side and watch for riders around hotel exits.

• 🥤
  WaterPack more than you think

  Fountains help, but heat and sun add up fast.

• 🐶
  DogsKnow the rules

  Dogs aren’t allowed on the sand in Miami Beach, except at the city’s designated dog beach.

• 📍
  Meeting upMeet at a lifeguard tower

  Pick a tower near a cross street, like 10th Street, so everyone can find you.

Miami heat is no joke for babies. Walk early or near sunset, keep little ones in the shade, and ask your pediatrician about sun protection and keeping your baby cool.

If you’re postpartum, check with your provider before adding longer walks, and build up gradually. Our guide to postpartum exercise once you’re cleared is a good place to start.

Walk the Beachwalk with us

The Beachwalk is one of the places we expect our first Miami walk clubs to start, with early-morning walks before the heat. We’re taking signups now, and founding members help choose the first routes and times.

See everything we’re building in Miami.

More stroller walks in Miami

• South Pointe ParkSouth Beach · our full stroller guide
• The UnderlineBrickell and south · our full stroller guide
• Bayfront Park and the BaywalkDowntown Miami · our full stroller guide