Paddle boarding is one of the world’s fastest growing water sports and has become particularly popular throughout the state of Florida, namely because of all the awesome locations it has. While serving as an extremely fun and relaxing way for people to spend time in the water, stand up paddle boarding also offers strength conditioning, yoga classes, cardio, and balance training. We’ve dug around and come up with the best places to paddleboard in Florida for the next time you find yourself in sunshine state.
If you’re looking for awesome SUP spots check out our Best Places to SUP in Utah article to find other great spots
In addition to the sunny weather, Florida offers paddle boarding lessons, guided tours and almost 2,000 miles of coastal waters. As enthusiasts statewide continue to come up with more ways to have fun paddle boarding, a rising number of Florida vacations are being planned and from these awesome spots it’s not hard to see why.
The Best Places To Paddleboard In Florida
Destin
Destin is located in Northwest Florida and makes for an excellent paddle boarding location. Even though the town is somewhat small, Destin accounts for more than 80 percent of the Emerald Coasts’ 4.5 million yearly visitors while offering a plethora of paddle boarding outlets.
After originally being formed as an island, Destin was hit with multiple hurricanes and sea level changes. Fortunately for the town, this resulted in merging with the mainland and a connectivity of extremely calm, constantly flowing water. These calm waters surround three total sides of the town, making it one of the Southeast’s largest tourist destinations and one of the best places to paddleboard in Florida.
A recently opened Destin surf shop called The Xperience offers lessons and clinics for novice paddlers while lending out practice boards free of charge. After teaming up with a Destin based yoga studio, the surf shop also offers stand up paddle boarding yoga classes on the water to help paddlers stay fit.
Destin is also home to Crab Island (a favorite among locals). This underwater sandbar is waist deep for adults and offers paddle board rentals by the hour. In addition to being featured on Good Morning America and in Boating Magazine, Crab Island attracts paddle board enthusiasts from all over the globe on a regular basis.
The island also has live bands on floating stages, floating food and drink vendors, giant inflatable water slides, trampolines and obstacle courses for any paddlers looking to take a break from their boards. Crab Island in Destin is also a great place for novice paddle boarders to meet some friendly locals and learn a few tips on how to paddle better. Everyone in the area is friendly and usually very willing to help.
Key West
Key West is said to be one of the best places to paddleboard in Florida and a favorite among tourists.
Key West has some of the clearest water in all of Florida and some SUP rentals even offers LED lit clear-bottom paddle boards for underwater viewing. This illuminates the entire ocean floor and provides a beautiful view of sea life below.
While enjoying incredible views, wonderful weather and beautiful mangrove islands, paddlers can also take yoga lessons on their board to work on strength conditioning, balance and breathing. The mangroves prevent strong tides from entering these sessions and make for an incredibly relaxing experience.
Miami Beach
According to many, Miami Beach is not only one of the best places to paddleboard in Florida, but it is also a great way to get some sightseeing in.
While enjoying sunny weather year round, paddle boarders in Miami Beach have an amazing view of the skyline. According to TropixTraveler, many of the paddle boarding tours offered in Miami Beach venture into Biscayne Bay, putting James Deering’s historic mansion and Vizcaya Museum in plain sight.
For any paddle boarders looking to work on their stress, SUP The Workout offers assistance via stand up paddling. In addition to lowering stress significantly, these stand up paddling sessions also help with stability, coordination, balance and strength.
Miami Beach also offers LED and neon lit tours. Paddle boarders are able to see straight down into the clear crystalline waters of the lagoon, while enjoying a beautiful sunset. Find out more about the Neon Tour here.
St. Petersburg
Due to highly sought out nature tours, calm gulf waters and extraordinary marine life, St. Petersburg is another one of the best places to paddleboard in Florida. Consisting of beautiful bays, waterways and beaches, St. Petersburg attracts paddle board enthusiasts from all over the world.
The popular stand up paddle board company Water Monkey offers two hour long guided tours through the mangrove islands, giving paddlers a view of the area’s amazing scenery from their board. According to the official Water Monkey website, these tours are held seven days a week at the company’s Fort De Soto location. The company also sends out Google Map directions for anyone who is not familiar with the area. Even though these tours are sought out by many and tend to fill up quickly, boarders can find other outfitters who offer similar services by just padding along the shore.
For paddle boarders looking to have a more fitness oriented experience, stand up paddle boarding full-body workouts and yoga classes are available through many of the St. Petersburg based outfitters. Much like in Destin, St. Petersburg locals are also very friendly and usually offer assistance to novice paddle boarders.
When taking a break from paddling, St. Petersburg paddle boarders are also able to engage in skim boarding, kiteboarding, kite flying, wake boarding, surfing, boating and windsurfing along the Gulf Of Mexico.
Santa Rosa Beach
It comes as no surprise that the beautiful Santa Rosa Beach is considered one of the best places to paddleboard in Florida. Santa Rosa Beach is full of beautiful homes, calm waters and peaceful rides down the bayou. Not far from the popular Okaloosa Island, Santa Rosa Beach boarders are able to paddle their way to nearly deserted beaches full of SUP Yoga lessons.
South Walton
While paddling through South Walton, boarders are able to see dolphins, beautiful springs and flowing rivers. South Walton caters to paddle boarders are all experience levels and even offers private lessons for beginners. Many of the lessons offered though South Walton outfitters such as YOLO and Hungry Boards, include basic balance instruction and group paddles so no one feels out of place.
While these South Walton based outfitters are a great starting point for beginners, they offer advanced clinics for the more experienced paddlers and deliver them free of charge. Additionally, South Walton paddlers are able to explore the bayous along exploration guided tours through the Western Lake. These hour and a half long journeys are lead by certified individuals with many years of experience.
If looking for a more fitness oriented or competitive experience, run stand up paddle boarding consists of an entire mile run through the heart of South Walton and is followed by a paddle boarding race. According to the official SoWal website, these events are held frequently and anyone interested should sign up at the Watercolor Inn & Resort’s Boathouse. The Watercolor Inn & Resort’s Boathouse offers practice sessions for novice paddle boarders in protected waters.
These Areas Are A Paddle Board Enthusiasts Dream Come True
It comes as no surprise that these areas are considered the best places for paddle boarding in Florida. In addition to the almost perfect weather year round, clear water, guided tours and yoga lessons, Destin, Key West, Miami Beach, St. Petersburg, Santa Rosa Beach and South Walton have just about everything a paddle board enthusiast could ever ask for.
See you out there!
Wow, these are the some of really best places in florida, i will bookmark it.