South Beach (South Pointe)

The south end of South Beach, from South Pointe Park up past 1st Street, is where many Miami Beach swimmers get in, with open Atlantic water and guarded sand running north toward Lummus Park. Local open-water groups meet here, and calm mornings are the time to go. Lifeguards work 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; on strong onshore-wind days, watch for rip currents and stay near a staffed tower.

Directions

Photo: Mike McBey · CC BY 2.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 88/100 (Get in) for a typical swimmer: air 27°C, wind 5 km/h, waves 0.5 m, UV 3. Updated 23 Sept, 20:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Calm mornings with light winds; the city notes rip currents are most likely when strong onshore winds blow.
Getting in: Public beach reached from South Pointe Park (open daily, sunrise to sunset) and 1st Street Beach; Lummus Park continues north along Ocean Drive from 5th Street to 14th Place.
Parking & transport: Municipal lots at 1 Ocean Drive and 710 1st Street, plus metered street parking paid through ParkMobile; the Miami Beach Trolley's South Beach Loop serves the area.
Lifeguards: Miami Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguard duty hours are 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; warning flags are flown only when lifeguards are on duty.
Water quality: Florida Department of Health Healthy Beaches Program samples the 'South Point Drive Beach (aka South Beach Park)' site for enterococci bacteria every 1–2 weeks depending on county (Good 0–35, Moderate 36–70, Poor 71+ per 100 mL); an advisory is issued when a sample and its resample both exceed 70. The city reports that an estimated 98% of Healthy Beaches monitoring events on Miami Beach in 2026 did not result in a swimming advisory.
Season: Year-round; check the city's daily beach-conditions page or the Ocean Rescue hotline (305-673-7714) before swimming.
Who swims here: The Dolphins & Rainbows Swim Group swims in South Beach; on June 7, 2026 it joined a free community open-water swim from 1st Street Beach presented by Blue Scholars Initiative. Swim Miami Beach open-water races were held annually from 2015 through 2018.
Watch for: Rip currents, most likely on days with strong onshore winds
Seasonal sargassum seaweed; tiny organisms living in it can cause skin rashes
Facilities: Public restrooms near the South Pointe Park concession · Outdoor showers at South Pointe Park · Restaurant and concession in South Pointe Park · Lummus Park restrooms at 6th, 10th and 14th Streets