Beaches near the Deerfield Beach pier, and who runs each one

Different stretches of sand near the Deerfield Beach pier have different operators, and the operator sets the rules: lifeguards, dogs, parking and hours. The beach matcher below asks what you want to do (swim near a lifeguard, surf, play volleyball, fish or find a quieter spot) and returns the places that fit, each with its operator and source.

Decision tool · beach matcher

Which beach near the pier fits you?

Tell us what you need from a beach day. We match you to the public beaches from Boca Raton south to Pompano Beach that offer it, using what each operator publishes, and flag anything they do not say.

Every public beach near the pier, side by side

Beach	Lifeguards	Restrooms	Showers	Free parking	Fishing	Surfing	Dogs	Wheelchair	Picnic	Playground	Snorkel	Food
Deerfield Beach (pier and Main Beach)City of Deerfield Beach (Ocean Rescue Division) · 0.1 mi	Yes	?Not published	?Not published	–No	Yes	Yes	–No	?Not published	?Not published	?Not published	Yes	Yes
South Inlet ParkPalm Beach County Parks & Recreation · 1.3 mi	Yes	Yes	Yes	–No	Yes	?Not published	–No	Yes	Yes	Yes	?Not published	?Not published
South Beach Park (Boca Raton)City of Boca Raton Recreation Services · 2.6 mi	Yes	Yes	Yes	–No	?Not published	?Not published	–No	Yes	?Not published	?Not published	?Not published	?Not published
Red Reef ParkCity of Boca Raton Recreation Services · 3.2 mi	Yes	Yes	?Not published	–No	?Not published	?Not published	–No	?Not published	Yes	Yes	Yes	?Not published
Spanish River ParkCity of Boca Raton Recreation Services · 4.5 mi	Yes	Yes	Yes	–No	?Not published	?Not published	–No	Yes	Yes	Yes	?Not published	?Not published
Pompano Beach (Fisher Family Pier beach)City of Pompano Beach Parks & Recreation · 5.7 mi	Yes	Yes	Yes	?Not published	Yes	?Not published	?Not published	Yes	Yes	Yes	?Not published	?Not published

Check = the operator says yes. Dash = the operator says no. Question mark = the operator does not say; ask before you go. Miles are straight-line from the pier entrance.

Features, fees and hours come from each operator's own page (the City of Deerfield Beach, the City of Boca Raton, the City of Pompano Beach or Broward County), checked 2026-10-20. Deerfield Beach does not allow dogs on its beach. Distances are straight lines from the pier, not driving routes.

Want this beach closer than a drive? See what living in Deerfield Beach is like.

Living in Deerfield Beach

The City’s beach at the pier

The City of Deerfield Beach runs the beach on both sides of the pier. Its Ocean Rescue division guards a one-mile stretch with nine lifeguard towers, from Tower #1 at the north end to Tower #9 in front of the Embassy Suites hotel. The City publishes two lifeguard schedules, so plan a swim for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the hours both include. The main beach page has the full rules.

• Ocean Rescue protects "a one-mile stretch of beach with nine lifeguard towers", numbered from Tower #1 at the north end to Tower #9 "directly in front of the Embassy Suites hotel." The division is certified by the United States Lifesaving Association. City of Deerfield Beach: Ocean Rescue
• CONFLICT: the city's Beach page says "Lifeguards are present from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm 365 days a year", which differs from the Ocean Rescue page. City of Deerfield Beach: Beach

North of the pier

The City’s nine free sand volleyball courts are in the recreation area north of the pier. Surfing is allowed on the north side of the pier too. The City’s two pages put the other edge of the surf zone at different towers (south of tower #7 on the Beach page, south of Tower #5 on the Safety and Rules page), so ask the lifeguard on the day.

• Nine sand volleyball courts, free and first-come-first-serve, "located north of the pier in the recreation area." The city has hosted Olympic Sand Volleyball Trials and summer amateur and semi-pro tournaments. City of Deerfield Beach: Sand Volleyball
• Beach page: "Surfing is permitted on the north side of the pier and south of tower #7." City of Deerfield Beach: Beach
• CONFLICT: Safety & Rules page: "Hard boards such as surf, skim, stand-up, etc., are only permitted on the north side of the International Pier and south of Tower #5." All surfboards and bodyboards must be leashed; no swimming in the surfing area. City of Deerfield Beach: Safety & Rules

Around the pier

City Code bars swimming, snorkeling, diving, paddling, kayaking, surfing and kiteboarding within 150 feet of the pier. Anglers pay $4 to fish from the pier. See the fishing page.

• "Swimming, snorkeling, and diving are prohibited 150 feet around the pier. Section 50-112(f) of the City Code prohibits swimming, paddling, kayaking, surfing, or kiteboard/surfing within 50 yards or 150 feet of the City fishing pier." City of Deerfield Beach: Livestream Cameras (legal disclaimer)

South of the pier

South of the pier, the City’s addresses run along Ocean Way (SE 21st Ave.). The Main Beach lot is at 149 SE 21st Ave. The City rents the 9th Street Boardwalk, north of Embassy Suites, and the 10th Street Boardwalk, south of it, as wedding sites. The South Beach permit lot is at 2025 SE 9th Street. In 2023 the City and the Town of Hillsboro Beach ran a joint project to place about 233,000 cubic yards of sand on the southern beach.

• Beach wedding sites: 9th Street Boardwalk (SE 9th St and SE 21st Ave, north of Embassy Suites) and 10th Street Boardwalk (SE 10th St and SE 21st Ave, south of Embassy Suites). Rental fee $319.50 resident / $479.25 non-resident, plus $250 refundable deposit. Info: 954-250-4167. City of Deerfield Beach: Beach Weddings
• The Residential Digital (beach) Parking Permit is valid only at South Beach (2025 SE 9th Street), Main Beach (149 SE 21 Avenue, between SE 1 St and SE 2 St), Fire Station (2040 SE 1 Street) and Hillsboro (2048 E. Hillsboro Blvd) lots. The Pier lot is not on the list. City of Deerfield Beach: Parking
• The 2023 joint beach nourishment by the City of Deerfield Beach and the Town of Hillsboro Beach was to place approximately 233,000 cubic yards of sand on the southern beach, dredged from the Boca Raton Inlet ebb shoal. Nourishment must be substantially complete by May 1 because of turtle nesting. City of Deerfield Beach: Beach Nourishment

Rules that follow you on the City beach

• No dogs or other animals, no alcohol and no glass.
• No smoking, with fines up to $100.
• No jet skis, windsurfing, kiteboarding or boat and kayak launches without City Commission approval.
• Snorkeling and scuba diving are allowed with a dive flag, away from the pier.
• Stay within 50 yards of the shoreline, and swim in a lifeguard-supervised area.

• Beach page: "Dogs and alcoholic beverages are prohibited." Safety & Rules page: "No animals are allowed." City of Deerfield Beach: Beach
• "Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited" and "Glass containers are strictly prohibited" on the beach. City of Deerfield Beach: Safety & Rules
• Smoking within the boundaries of any municipal/public beach or public park in the city is prohibited "to the fullest extent permitted under state law"; violators may be fined up to $100.00. City of Deerfield Beach: Safety & Rules
• "Jet skis, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and launching of boats and kayaks are prohibited from all areas of the public beach unless specifically authorized by the City Commission." City of Deerfield Beach: Safety & Rules
• Beach rules include: stay within 50 yards of the shoreline; swim in a lifeguard-supervised area; no vehicles; ball games, frisbees and paddle balls only in designated recreational areas; do not feed wildlife; no standing on the rocks; snorkeling and scuba diving permitted with a dive flag. City of Deerfield Beach: Safety & Rules

Other operators set their own rules, so read each card’s source before you assume the City’s rules apply there.

• Deerfield Beach (pier and Main Beach)

  guarded city beach (pier beach)

  Ocean Way / N.E. & S.E. 21st Avenue, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

  One mile of guarded beach with nine lifeguard towers (Tower #1 north to Tower #9 in front of the Embassy Suites). Fishing from the International Fishing Pier ($4.00). Snorkeling and scuba diving permitted with a dive flag. Concessions = the pier Bait Shop (drinks, chips, cookies, crackers). Sand volleyball and recreational areas on the north side of the pier. Free FPL EV charging (six vehicles) in the Main Beach lot; parking must still be paid. The City publishes no list of restrooms or showers.

  Source: City of Deerfield Beach: Beach; Ocean Rescue; Safety & Rules; International Fishing Pier; Parking, checked 2026-10-20

• South Inlet Park

  guarded county beach park

  1100 S. Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL 33432

  12.67 acres just north of the Boca Raton Inlet. 850 feet of guarded beach frontage; saltwater fishing and surfing are not permitted in the guarded swimming area. Beach surf wheelchair (contact a lifeguard) and ADA Beach Mat/Mobi Mat. Reserved group pavilion (Eshleman), five single-table picnic shelters, grills, playground (ages 5-12), restrooms, outdoor showers, one bus parking space.

  Sunrise – Sunset

  Source: Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation: South Inlet Park; Beaches, checked 2026-10-20

• South Beach Park (Boca Raton)

  guarded city beach park

  400 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432

  228 parking spaces (6 designated accessible). Beach access, walking paths, benches, drinking fountains, restrooms, night lighting. The South Beach Pavilion is not available for rent. A beach mat runs from the boardwalk at South Beach Pavilion; beach wheelchairs are available from a gate attendant. Showers = 'South Beach Park Showers' and 'South Beach Pavilion Showers' in the City's photo gallery. Live beach webcam at the pavilion. Palm Beach County residents' $108 annual permit covers South Beach Park only.

  8am-Sunset

  Source: City of Boca Raton: South Beach Park & Pavilion; Beaches; Beach Permits & Daily Rates, checked 2026-10-20

• Red Reef Park

  guarded city beach park

  1400 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432

  Boardwalk, beach, snorkeling pods and walking trail; toddler-plus playground; 54 grills, a wedding pavilion and 7 pavilions not available for rent; picnic tables, drinking fountains, restrooms. 230 parking spaces (12 designated accessible); free EV charging for permit holders and paying visitors. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is at the north end of the park.

  8am-10pm

  Source: City of Boca Raton: Red Reef Park Beach; Beaches; Beach Permits & Daily Rates, checked 2026-10-20

• Spanish River Park

  guarded city beach park (Blue Flag beach)

  3001 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33431

  Blue Flag Award beach. Beach and Intracoastal frontage, open green spaces, walking trails, canoe/kayak launch, playground, outdoor fitness equipment, sand volleyball, bike repair station, 124 grills, 10 rentable pavilions (residents $100, non-residents $200), restrooms. Pavilion #2 lists 'Water and shower'. Beach mat at the middle tunnel; beach wheelchairs from a gate attendant. 816 parking spaces (17 designated accessible).

  8am-Sunset

  Source: City of Boca Raton: Spanish River Park Beach; Bark Beach; Beaches; Beach Permits & Daily Rates, checked 2026-10-20

• Pompano Beach (Fisher Family Pier beach)

  guarded city beach (pier beach)

  Pompano Beach Blvd at the Fisher Family Pier, Pompano Beach, FL 33062

  Restroom facilities, showers, picnic shelter and tables, barbecue grills and a children's playground are on the beach; rentable beach pavilions; beach wheelchairs available. Fishing from the Fisher Family Pier (open daily 7am-10pm). Visitor Center at the Pier Parking Garage, 3465 Pier Street. Pompano Beach Water Taxi and Circuit shuttle serve the area.

  The public beach is open 365 days a year.

  Source: City of Pompano Beach Parks & Recreation: Beach, checked 2026-10-20

Deerfield Island Park

Broward County runs Deerfield Island Park, 1720 Deerfield Island Park, on the Intracoastal Waterway at Hillsboro Boulevard. It is a nature park, not a swimming beach. The county says it is accessible only by boat and that a free shuttle runs from the mainland every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Its park record lists hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday to Sunday and closed Monday to Thursday. The county does not say where the shuttle boards, and its listing showed the park as “Closed” when first checked on a Tuesday, so call the county at 954-357-5100 or check Broward County Parks before you go.

• Broward County: Deerfield Island Park is "Our only island park", on the Intracoastal Waterway at Hillsboro Boulevard and "accessible only by boat. A free shuttle runs from the mainland every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday." Address listed: 1720 Deerfield Island Park, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. Broward County Parks: Park Locations

Beaches north of the inlet: Boca Raton

North of the Boca Raton Inlet, the beaches are in Palm Beach County, with different operators and different parking rules. None of them allows dogs, per their operators. Rates below are as each operator posted them, checked Oct. 20, 2026.

South Inlet Park (Palm Beach County)

South Inlet Park, 1100 S. Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, is a Palm Beach County park of 12.67 acres just north of the inlet, about 1.3 miles from the pier in a straight line. It has 850 feet of guarded beach, restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic shelters and a playground. Saltwater fishing and surfing are not allowed in the guarded swimming area. The county lists a beach surf wheelchair (ask a lifeguard) and a beach mat. It is open sunrise to sunset, and parking costs $4 an hour on weekdays and $5 on weekends and holidays, by credit card only.

South Beach, Red Reef and Spanish River parks (City of Boca Raton)

The City of Boca Raton runs three guarded beach parks on N. Ocean Blvd: South Beach Park at 400 (8 a.m. to sunset), Red Reef Park at 1400 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and Spanish River Park at 3001 (8 a.m. to sunset). As of October 1, 2026 the daily entry fee for a standard car is $40 on weekdays and $55 on weekends and holidays, gatehouses no longer take cash, and a daily pass is valid only at the park where you buy it. Red Reef has snorkeling pods and Gumbo Limbo Nature Center at its north end. The City calls Spanish River a Blue Flag Award beach and has sand volleyball. Boca Raton lists beach mats and beach wheelchairs (from a gate attendant) at South Beach and Spanish River.

South: Pompano Beach

The City of Pompano Beach runs a guarded public beach at the Fisher Family Pier, 222 North Pompano Beach Blvd. The City says the beach is open 365 days a year, with restrooms, showers, picnic shelters, grills, a playground and beach wheelchairs. The pier, which the City calls “nearly 900 feet into the Atlantic Ocean”, is open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Parking is in the Pier Parking Garage; the beach page lists no rates, and we found no pier fees, so check before you go. Our places research found no public beach park run by the Town of Hillsboro Beach.

Before you pick a beach

• Conditions: the City’s beach conditions line is (954) 480-4413, and it publishes a Beach Conditions and Flags dashboard. Read the flags and swim near a lifeguard.
• Seaweed: the City says heavier sargassum arrives from late spring into the fall.
• Turtle nests: from early March to the end of October, nests are marked with orange tape and small wood posts. Keep clear of them. See sea turtles.
• Parking: City lots are pay-by-plate, with higher rates from Friday 4 p.m. See parking.

• Ocean Rescue is headquartered at 71 Ocean Way (SE 21st Ave.), 2nd floor of the Fire Station. Beach conditions: (954) 480-4413. The city also publishes a Beach Conditions & Flags dashboard. City of Deerfield Beach: Ocean Rescue
• "The amount of seaweed that accumulates on our beaches varies seasonally, with higher than average accumulations observed from late spring into the fall months." City of Deerfield Beach: Sargassum Seaweed
• "Sea turtle nesting seasons vary slightly depending on the species, but range from early March through the end of October. Nests are typically marked with orange tape and small wood posts in a triangular shape." City of Deerfield Beach: Sea Turtles

Questions

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Deerfield Beach: International Fishing Pier (operator)