Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

Why you should avoid Florida beaches this summer (spoiler: you might die!)

If you plan on dipping your toes in the water, avoid these dangerous beaches - and yes, they are in Florida

By

Whenever we hear about something crazy happening in the U.S., the first thought is, “bet that happened in Florida.” For summer shenanigans, you better believe Florida has you covered. If you plan to spend summertime on the sand, we’re here to tell you to skip Florida beaches. The most dangerous ones in the country are in that southern state, so pay attention to which ones to stay far away from and why.

A picture of a beach with no people on it.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The most dangerous beaches in the U.S.

Travel Lens looked at a number of factors — like hurricanes, fatalities, and shark attacks — to determine the most dangerous beaches in the U.S. Wondering which beaches topped the list?

  1. New Smyrna Beach, Florida
  2. Cocoa Beach, Florida
  3. Ormond Beach, Florida
  4. Panama City Beach, Florida
  5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
  6. Melbourne Beach, Florida
  7. Jacksonville Beach, Florida
  8. Oak Island, North Carolina
  9. Gulf Shores, Alabama
  10. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Recommended Videos

Let’s dive into some of the factors that earned these beaches their spots on the list.

Related

Hurricanes are never fun

First of all, Florida has the most hurricanes. Florida beats out rivals Texas and Louisiana for the top spot in that category. And not just a little — by almost double the number of the following highest states. Texas and Louisiana see 64 and 62 hurricanes, but Florida blows them out of the water with a total of 120 hurricanes, with 37 of those considered significantly dangerous.

So, in general, not a good look for Florida or anyone looking to go near the water. Florida clocked more hurricanes than the next three states combined (after Texas and Louisiana), and it takes the next four to beat the sunshine state.

Florida is the real-life equivalent of Sharknado

Sharks are everywhere, yet in Florida, they seem to be extra aggressive. Since 2010, the Top 10 spots for the most shark attacks are dominated by Florida.

On the low end, Jensen Beach and Jacksonville Beach have had three each, and Ormond Beach saw four, putting it in the top five most dangerous beaches for shark attacks. Melbourne Beach holds strong at number four with six attacks overall. The top three are majority Florida-bound, with third place going to good old Cocoa Beach with seven shark attacks.

But it’s number one that does it for us to avoid the state completely. New Smyrna Beach, which is located just south of Daytona Beach, has seen an impressive — or scary — 32 shark attacks since 2010. No, thank you.

The water itself will try to kill you

If you want to do a little surfing, Florida’s waters have other plans. The Top 10 most dangerous beaches for surfing have a Florida location in six spots. The top three are — again — mostly Florida beaches. 

In fourth place, though, is that lovely New Smyrna Beach with ten surf zone fatalities. That beach shouldn’t have people allowed to go near it between the sharks and surfing deaths. Second place goes to Daytona Beach, with 16 surf-related deaths, so maybe stay on the sand there. Top honors go to Panama City Beach with a staggering 24 deaths since 2010.

The most dangerous beaches, taking everything into account, have Florida on the map seven times. No surprise New Smyrna Beach takes that top spot. 

So, if you want to survive your vacation, pick any state other than Florida. Or stick to the usual Disney days if you do visit there. Just to be on the safe side, maybe check out the coast along Massachusetts instead.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Dannielle Beardsley
Dannielle Beardsley
Contributor
Dannielle has written for various websites, online magazines, and blogs. She loves everything celebrity and her favorite…
This is when you should avoid visiting Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park this month
Conservation efforts under weigh at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Lava at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is well-known for its volcanic activity. The park is home to Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano. Visitors are drawn to the rare opportunity to witness the power of volcanic processes, and this November will be no different.  If you're planning on visiting the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park this month, be aware that the National Park Service has planned a few flight operations in November to aid in monitoring conservation efforts. Here's everything you need to know about how these operations and might impact your trip (and what you should do).
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's November flight operations

These flight operations are crucial to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park because they are primarily used for volcanic monitoring, but they could also transport materials for conservation efforts like the fencing project that is currently underway at Mauna Loa.

Read more
You’re now able to visit most of the Blue Ridge Parkway after hurricane damage
The National Park Service clears 55 miles of Hurricane Helene debris
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia

Restoration efforts have been under way at the Blue Ridge Parkway as the National Park Service clears the debris from Hurricane Helene. Fortunately, nearly 55 miles have been cleared as of October 30th. Visitors can now access all of the beautiful trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Milepost 411.8 to 421 from Black Balsam, and milepost 423.2 to 469, from N.C. 215 to U.S. 411.
These roads are now open along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Due to a landslide, the section between milepost 421 and 423.2 will remain closed. This area includes the Devil's Courthouse, which experienced severe damage during the hurricane.

Read more
What are you after? The ideal time to visit Colorado for every adventure
When should you visit The Centennial State?
Ouray, Colorado

When it comes to planning a trip to Colorado, timing is everything. After all, we’re talking about a state with mountainous areas six times the size of Switzerland, over 9,600 miles of fishing streams, 2,850 lakes, and more than 1,000 towering peaks – so there’s certainly a lot to explore! Colorado is a year-round destination for outdoor adventures.

Whether you’re dreaming of hitting the slopes, hiking through wildflower-filled meadows, or just enjoying the buzz of festivals, the best time to visit Colorado really depends on the experience you’re after. Here’s what you should know about booking your perfect Colorado getaway.
The best time to visit Colorado for fewer crowds

Read more