Ask five people which Florida Keys beaches allow dogs and you get five answers. We only trust one source for it: the operator’s own page. As we read them on October 24, 2026, a handful of operators publish a clear dog rule, one bans dogs outright, and most say nothing. Here is each answer, kept separate, with no guessing in between.
Where operators say yes
Anne’s Beach, Islamorada
The Village of Islamorada says dogs are permitted at Anne’s Beach and must be leashed. The Village also describes the water there as having little to no wave action, with a shallow swimming area it calls great for young children and dogs. Anne’s Beach is at Mile Marker 73.5, Oceanside, on Lower Matecumbe Key, and is open sunrise to sunset as posted October 24, 2026. The same rules list adds no open flame or grill and no fishing. More on the Islamorada beaches page.
- Anne's Beach is open sunrise to sunset with little to no wave action and a shallow swimming area the Village calls great for young children and dogs. Paved parking, boardwalk, covered picnic tables and public restrooms. Swim at your own risk. Dogs permitted, must be leashed. No motor boats or PWC, no open flame or grill, no fishing. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Parks & Beaches
- Anne's Beach is at Mile Marker 73.5, Oceanside, in Islamorada (Lower Matecumbe Key). Islamorada, Village of Islands: Parks & Beaches
Marathon city parks
The City of Marathon says all of its parks are dog friendly except the Community Park soccer and baseball fields. Dogs must be leashed, and owners must pick up after them. That covers Marathon’s city parks generally; the City’s Sombrero Beach and Coco Plum Beach pages did not post a separate beach-specific dog rule when we checked. If you plan to put paws on the sand itself, confirm with Marathon Parks and Recreation at 305-743-6598.
- All City of Marathon parks are dog friendly except the Community Park soccer and baseball fields; dogs must be leashed and owners must pick up after them. City of Marathon: City Parks and Beaches
- City of Marathon Parks and Recreation: 200 36th St Ocean, Marathon, FL 33050; 305-743-6598. City of Marathon: Sombrero Beach (contact block)
Higgs Beach, Key West
The City of Key West lists a dog park among the amenities at Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, 1040 Atlantic Boulevard, open 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily as posted October 24, 2026. The City’s page did not post a separate rule for dogs on the beach itself, so use the dog park and check with the City before taking a dog onto the sand.
- Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, 1040 Atlantic Boulevard, Key West, is open 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily and operated by the City of Key West. City of Key West: Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach
- Higgs Beach offers more than 16 acres of oceanfront beside the historic Casa Marina at the end of Reynolds Street: a wide sandy beach, calm shallow waters, a newly renovated wooden pier, two children's playgrounds, a dog park, restrooms, tennis and volleyball courts, 14 picnic tables, 17 barbecues, six tiki huts, showers, beach chair/umbrella and sailboat concessions and a restaurant. City of Key West: Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach
Where the answer is “yes, but not on the beach”
Monroe County allows leashed pets at its parks and makes owners responsible for cleaning up after them. At Harry Harris Park in Tavernier, the County’s facility page narrows that: leashed pets are allowed, excluding the beach area. A leashed dog can come to the park, but not onto the beach area.
- All county-owned parks and beaches are no-smoking, except for an unfiltered cigar; leashed pets are allowed at Monroe County parks and owners are responsible for cleaning up after them. Monroe County, FL: Parks & Beaches
- Harry Harris Park features a beach wheelchair, leashed pets allowed excluding the beach area, a deep-water double boat ramp with finger pier (vehicle plus trailer max 55 feet), and 20 trailer parking spaces, first-come first-served. Monroe County, FL: Harry Harris Park facilities page
Where operators say no
Library Beach Park on Windley Key, run by the Village of Islamorada, posts “No dogs permitted.” It is a small beach overlooking a mangrove-lined creek, open 8 a.m. to sunset, as posted October 24, 2026.
- Library Beach Park in Islamorada (Windley Key) is open 8 a.m. to sunset (restroom closes 5 p.m.) and features a small beach overlooking a mangrove-lined creek, a playground, a pavilion with grills, an outdoor shower and public restrooms. Swim at your own risk. No dogs permitted. No motor boats or PWC. No fishing. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Parks & Beaches (name corroborated by Village Habitat page and 2024-05-03 Village weekly update)
Where nothing is posted
The remaining beaches in our inventory had no dog rule on the operator pages we checked on October 24, 2026. That covers the Florida State Parks beaches at Pennekamp, Long Key, Curry Hammock, Bahia Honda and Fort Zachary Taylor, plus Smathers Beach, South Beach, Rest Beach and Simonton Street Beach in Key West. “Not posted” is not a yes. Call the park or the City before you go.
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: 305-676-3777
- Long Key State Park: 305-664-4815
- Curry Hammock State Park: 305-289-2690
- Bahia Honda State Park: 305-872-2353
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park: 305-292-6713
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: 102601 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037; 305-676-3777. The park concession's FAQ places the entrance at Mile Marker 102.5 on US 1. Florida State Parks (park page) and Pennekamp park concession FAQ
- Long Key State Park: 67400 Overseas Highway, Long Key, FL 33001; 305-664-4815. Florida State Parks: Long Key State Park
- Curry Hammock State Park: 56200 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050; 305-289-2690. Florida State Parks: Curry Hammock State Park
- Bahia Honda State Park: 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043; 305-872-2353. Florida State Parks: Bahia Honda State Park
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park: 601 Howard England Way, Key West, FL 33040; 305-292-6713. The City of Key West locates the fort at the end of Southard Street through the Truman Annex. Florida State Parks and City of Key West facilities page
The rules that travel with your dog
Where operators do allow dogs, they attach the same two conditions: a leash, and cleaning up after the animal. The Village of Islamorada requires the leash at Anne’s Beach, the City of Marathon requires both in its parks, and Monroe County makes owners responsible for cleanup at county parks. None of the pages we checked posts an off-leash beach area. Pack bags, a short leash and water for the dog, and read the operator’s sign at the entrance, which can be newer than any web page.
What about a Key West dog beach?
Some guides point to a separate off-leash dog beach in Key West. We have not yet confirmed a separate off-leash Dog Beach with the City; Higgs Beach’s dog park is the city-published dog facility. Until a City of Key West page lists one, we will not put it on the map.
Every beach and its dog rule
This table carries the dog field from our dataset for all 16 entries, as each operator posted it on October 24, 2026.
| Beach | Island | Operator | Dog rule (posted Oct. 24, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon Beach (John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park) | Key Largo | Florida State Parks | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
| Far Beach (John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park) | Key Largo | Florida State Parks | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
| Harry Harris Park beach | Tavernier / Key Largo area | Monroe County Parks and Beaches | leashed pets allowed excluding the beach area |
| Library Beach Park | Windley Key, Islamorada | Village of Islamorada (Public Works) | no dogs permitted |
| Anne’s Beach | Lower Matecumbe Key, Islamorada | Village of Islamorada (Public Works) | dogs permitted; must be leashed |
| Long Key State Park shoreline | Long Key | Florida State Parks | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
| Curry Hammock State Park beach | Marathon (Crawl Key) | Florida State Parks | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
| Sombrero Beach | Marathon (Vaca Key) | City of Marathon Parks and Recreation | Marathon parks are dog friendly (leashed, pick up) except Community Park ball fields; beach-specific rule not posted separately |
| Coco Plum Beach | Marathon (Vaca Key) | City of Marathon Parks and Recreation | Marathon parks are dog friendly (leashed, pick up); beach-specific rule not posted separately |
| Bahia Honda State Park beaches | Bahia Honda Key / Big Pine Key area | Florida State Parks | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
| Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park beach | Key West | Florida State Parks | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
| Smathers Beach | Key West | City of Key West | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
| Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach | Key West | City of Key West | dog park on site (beach-specific rule not posted separately) |
| South Beach | Key West | City of Key West | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
| Rest Beach / C.B. Harvey Park | Key West | City of Key West | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
| Simonton Street Beach | Key West | City of Key West | not posted on pages checked 2026-10-24 |
To filter for dogs alongside island and fees, use the beach finder.
Are dogs allowed at Anne's Beach?
Yes. The Village says dogs are permitted at Anne's Beach and must be leashed. By contrast, dogs are not permitted at Library Beach Park in Windley Key, and leashed pets are allowed at Harry Harris Park but excluded from its beach area.
What time does Higgs Beach open?
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach (1040 Atlantic Boulevard) is open 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day and is operated by the City of Key West. It offers 16+ acres of oceanfront with a wide sandy beach, calm shallow water, a renovated wooden pier, playgrounds, a dog park, tennis and volleyball courts, restrooms and showers.
Is there a dog beach in Key West?
Higgs Beach has a dog park on site, and the City's facility pages list it among Higgs' amenities. A separate off-leash 'Dog Beach' near Louie's Backyard circulates in guides, but the City pages checked on October 24, 2026 do not carry it; confirm any off-leash rule with the City before relying on it.
Source: City of Key West: Higgs Beach (dog park); Dog Beach itself unconfirmed
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: Florida State Parks (official site)