Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples is listed at No. 4, and St. Andrews State Park in Panama City is ranked No. 7. Both parks feature sugar-white sand, abundant wildlife and top-tier amenities for visitors and families to enjoy. 

“Florida State Parks continue to set the standard for natural beauty, visitor experience and resource protection,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Our parks offer some of the best beach experiences anywhere in the country, and we are proud to share them with the world.” 

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is home to numerous shorebirds and wildlife. Visitors enjoy activities such as snorkeling the reef, hiking, birdwatching, fishing, picnicking and paddling. Kayakers and paddleboarders can explore the mangrove-lined Wiggins Pass, which opens to the Gulf of America.  

St. Andrews State Park features a mile-and-a-half of pristine shoreline ideal for swimming, snorkeling, surfing and fishing. Visitors can also hike nature trails through pine forests and coastal ecosystems or take a ferry to the undeveloped Shell Island, known for its emerald waters and secluded beaches. 

“Delnor-Wiggins Pass and St. Andrews are incredible natural treasures,” said Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher. “We're proud of the work our team has done to protect these beaches while ensuring they remain accessible for everyone to enjoy.”  

The annual Top 10 Beach List is curated by coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, known as Dr. Beach, a professor at Florida International University. The list, released each Memorial Day weekend since 1991, ranks beaches based on 50 criteria, including water color and clarity, sand softness, safety, cleanliness and available amenities. 

“Florida State Parks’ beaches are among the most outstanding in the nation, and Delnor-Wiggins Pass and St. Andrews are two of the best examples,” said Stephen P. Leatherman, Ph.D., also known as Dr. Beach. “Several other Florida beach parks also ranked in the top 20 this year, which speaks to the exceptional quality and stewardship across the entire park system.” 

Florida’s state park beaches have consistently earned high rankings, with six parks previously landing the No. 1 spot: 

• Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, St. George Island, 2023. 

• Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach, 2020. 

• Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, 2008. 

• T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Port St. Joe, 2002. 

• St. Andrews State Park, Panama City, 1995. 

• Bahia Honda State Park, Florida Keys, 1992.