With 663 miles of beaches, Florida is rich in coastal escapes with white sand, clear blue water, and some of the best sunsets in the country. But, according to Dr. Beach (whose real name is Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman), one beach stands out above the rest. In this annual America’s Best Beaches list, the scientist, author, professor, and director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University deemed Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park the top beach in Florida.
Located on a barrier island near Naples, the park has a mile-long stretch of white quartz sand and covers 166 total acres—and it satisfied several of Dr. Beach’s criteria. (He rates each beach from 1 to 5 across 50 different categories.)
“This barrier island beach boasts … beautiful white-sand beaches and crystal-clear Gulf waters,” he stated. “Activities include swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, shelling, and fishing. Wildlife in the park includes bald eagles, ospreys, and manatees. Pine trees provide welcome shade.”
Unfortunately, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park did experience damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, but it reopened to the public in early 2025 following reconstruction efforts.
If you’re planning a day trip to the park from Naples, there are several things to keep in mind. For starters, you’ll need to time your visit correctly (and have cash on you). Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sundown all year round, and entry costs $6.00 per vehicle or $4.00 per single-occupant vehicle.
Like Dr. Beach mentioned, there are all sorts of things to do within the park. Those visiting specifically for the beach can swim, gather seashells, and rent beach chairs and tents from the Nature Recreation Management Concessionaire. Before you get in the water, make sure to check the colors of the beach warning flags (green means the water is safe for swimming).
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is also a favored nesting spot for loggerhead sea turtles, and park rangers will place a cage on top of any nests to protect the eggs. If you choose to explore via boat, you can launch a kayak, canoe, or standup paddleboard into Water Turkey Bay at the park’s boat launch; as you paddle through the mangrove swamp or into the Gulf, you might spot manatees, stingrays, and dolphins as well.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park wasn’t the only Florida beach on Dr. Beach’s Top 10 list, though. St. Andrews State Park came in at No. 7; it’s also one of the “most calming” state parks, according to Google Maps data.
Explore the rest of Dr. Beach’s selections for America’s Best Beaches at drbeach.org.
