Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County has been ranked No. 10 on USA Today’s prestigious 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Florida’s best beaches.
The list, based on expert nominations and reader votes, highlights the park’s natural beauty and wide range of outdoor activities.
Anastasia State Park features more than 1,600 acres of largely untouched shoreline, including four miles of white quartz sand beach along the Atlantic Ocean.
Visitors can enjoy kayaking, surfing, shelling, swimming, and hiking, while also spotting local wildlife such as roseate spoonbills, ospreys, and the endangered Anastasia Island Beach Mouse.
The selection process began with an expert panel nominating Florida’s top beaches, focusing on scenic quality, recreational opportunities, and overall visitor experience. Readers then voted to determine the final rankings.
The park’s protected status was recently tested when plans to develop part of Anastasia State Park sparked opposition last August.
Furious local residents and conservationists rallied to preserve the area, helping to halt development and keep the park’s natural landscape intact.
Florida’s coastline stretches over 825 miles, and Anastasia joins other top-ranked beaches like Destin, Siesta Key, St. Pete Beach, and Clearwater Beach.
Delray Beach took the top spot for its pristine sands and award-winning public access.
