If you’re craving seclusion and relaxation, the most popular beaches won’t do. Here are few beautiful beaches that are always worth a tank of gas. 

Bowditch Point Park 50 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes Bowditch Point Park is found at the northern tip of Estero Island, and its beaches provide a laid-back atmosphere for beachgoers. Swim, sunbathe, and maybe even build a sand castle on its shores. Parking is $2 per hour though, so keep that in mind. Photo via sergiogrill/Instagram
Atlantic Beach 800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes Many people believe Atlantic Beach was the site of the first year-round Native American Settlement in North America, but today it claims miles of beaches with some great surfing. And when you need a little city life, you can head into Jacksonville. Photo via jamestnorth/Instagram
Bean Point Anna Maria Island Beach, Anna Maria Island, Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes Anna Maria might be a beach hot-spot over the summer, but Bean Point is at the very northern tip of the island where most visitors never reach. The beach is quiet, and here you can enjoy a great sunset without the obstruction of people’s rainbow umbrellas. Photo via iluvannamariaisland/Instagram
Blowing Rocks Preserve 574 South Beach Road, Hobe Sound, Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes Named for its Anastasia limestone shoreline, Blowing Rocks Preserve is a barrier island sanctuary that underwent a lot of coastal habitat restoration. Daily beach access is $2, and you can swim, scuba and snorkel. During the summer, loggerhead turtles use Blowing Rocks Preserve as a nesting ground, so there is a chance for you to spot a couple. Photo via robbie_d.nikonjunkie/Instagram
Clam Pass Park Beach 465 Seagate Dr, Naples, Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes In order to get to the beach at Clam Pass, you have to walk through a three-quarter mile boardwalk, which gives a new meaning to secluded beaches. But the walk is half of the fun. It runs through a mangrove forest which houses a variety of wildlife, marine life, and birds. Photo via tarastiehl/Instagram
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Preserve 13640 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound, Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes Since it is a wildlife preserve, there are no condos, no hotels, and practically no people to disturb you at Hobe Sound. There is an entry fee of $5 per vehicle, but there are very few beaches in Florida that will truly be empty in the summer, so this one is worth it. There are no signs alerting you to where the beach is, but with a little exploring, you’ll find it. Just keep walking north. Photo via kywardk/Instagram
Little Talbot State Park 12157 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville, Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes Little Talbot Island is one of the last remaining undeveloped barrier islands in Northeast Florida, and you’ll be able to relax all along its 5-mile stretch of beaches. You’ll be able to do all of your favorite summer beach activities without the summer crowds. From surfing to fishing for bluefish, there are tons of things for you to do beside just swim. Entrance is $5 per vehicle. Photo via sketchy_pam /Instagram
Lovers Key 8700 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes Lovers Key is rumored to once have been a haven for couples to enjoy its remote beaches, which used to be only accessible by boat. However, you don’t have to have a significant other to relax along its quiet shores. Today, this beach is known for its excellent shelling, sunbathing, swimming and picnicking. They also offer kayak tours from the park’s concession stand. Entrance is $8 per vehicle. Photo via larrybrophy/Instagram
Playalinda Beach 402 Titusville, Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes Located in Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda was rated “Quietest Beach” by Tripadvisor in 2013, so if seclusion is what you’re after, this is one that is definitely worth the drive. It also has some great waves for surfing, and while pets are not allowed in the beach, they are allowed in the lagoon. Photo via joyceaye/Instagram
Juan Ponce de León Landing 4005 Florida A1A, Melbourne Beach, Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes This park is a memorial to Juan Ponce de León’s 1513 landing near Melbourne Beach. Today, it offers sandy beaches and great surf fishing. It might not exactly have been the fountain of youth, but León discovered a little stretch of paradise that people can still enjoy over 500 years later. Photo via bg32935/Instagram
Santa Rosa Beach 1701 S Co Highway 393, Santa Rosa Beach, Approximately 5 hours 45 minutes Yeah this one is too far for a day trip, but it you’re able to stay a couple days, Santa Rosa Beach’s turquoise waters might be hard to say no to. It’s a charming beach town in the Emerald Coast, with all its white sand and clear water, but without the Destin crowds. Photo via jeremylinker/Instagram
Stump Pass Beach State Park South end of Manasota Key 900 Gulf Blvd, Englewood, Approximately 2 hours 40 minutes If shell collecting is your thing, Stump Pass Beach State Park is one to put on your list. A lot of seashells and even shark teeth wash up on the shore, and you can kayak and paddle to the two off-shore islands east of the park. Entrance to the Stump Pass is just $3 per vehicle. Photo via mandajean526/Instagram
Tigertail Beach 490 Hernando Dr, Marco Island, Approximately 3 hours 50 minutes Tigertail Beach is part of the Great Florida Bird & Wildlife Trail, so great bird-watching is one of the highlights of this beach. There is also a good opportunity for you to spot some dolphins and manatees from its shores, as well as nesting sea turtles. And later, stay to watch the sunset to see if you can spot the green flash. Photo via mermaid_at_heart87
Varn Park 3665 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast, Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes Varn Park is another excellent spot for bird-watching as well as fishing. It’s just north of Flagler Beach, so you’ll be able to enjoy the same blue waters in a much calmer setting. It’s also open from dawn until 11:00 p.m., so you can keep relaxing after the sun goes down. Photo via kirillzadov/Instagram
Red Reef Park 1400 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton Approximately 3 hours You can access the beach from designated locations in this 67-acre Boca Raton park, which is a popular snorkeling spot for visitors. The park is open from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day of the week, and has ever-present lifeguards to help your beach trips goes smoothly. Once you’ve wrapped up swimming for the day, make a visit to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and see some of their sea turtles. Photo via alphard_photos/Instagram
John D MacArthur State Park 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes John D. Macarthur is distinguished by its mixture of sunny beaches and mangrove forests that are home to several of Florida’s unique tropical species. You can swim at the beach, have a lazy lunch at the picnic areas, or if you’re feeling brave, rent a kayak to swim out to the nearby Little Munyon island, a small stretch of land that’s visited by all kinds of animals and underwater critters. But if you’re aiming to get a kayak, make sure to arrive early because they sell out quick. Photo via clintoncimring/Instagram
Coral Cove Park 1600 Beach Road, Tequesta, Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes The beach at Coral Cove park is open sunup to sundown, and is pet friendly to boot. It’s a fine place to fish, snorkel, picnic with your friends, or just get away from it all. If you’re bringing your kids, there’s a playground too. Photo via sheralynm/Instagram
Avalon State Park State Road A1A North, Approximately 2 hours Sporting a mile of undeveloped beachfront, a relative rarity in this day and age, Avalon’s dune crossovers protect the fragile dune ecosystem. Beachgoers are advised to watch out for underwater obstacles left behind from amphibious warfare exercises in WW2. And do mind the different species of sea turtles that nest on the beach during spring and summer. Photo via verobeachcrush/Instagram
Wabasso Beach Park 1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Vero Beach, Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes Open from 7 a.m. to Midnight, Wabasso Beach Park offers a reliable, remote beach that doesn’t offer much in frills but will get the job done if you’re looking to get away for a day trip. There’s limited parking, so come early. Photo via ibelongtothem/Instagram
Bonsteel Park 8455 Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach, Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes Bonsteel Park may not allow animals (besides service animals, of course), but you may not mind due to the presence of wildlife including but not limited to sea turtles, shorebirds, and turtles. Photo via movebeachside/Instagram
Tables Beach Park S Atlantic Ave, Patrick AFB, Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes This beach is open from sunrise to sundown, but don’t try to work around the schedule: The beach is very close to an Air Force Base, and the hours are heavily enforced. It’s considered a respectable surf and snorkeling spot, not to mention a place to hone your volleyball skills with the nearby courts. Photo via cgsurfer/Instagram
Lori Wilson Park 1500 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, Approximately 1 hour If you’re coming with a big group, Lori Wilson Park can keep you occupied. 6 dune crossovers, 3 pavilions along a 1000’ boardwalk, and a volleyball court are some of what this beach possesses. Also, if you’re just a birdwatching fan, there’s songbirds, seabirds, shorebirds, and 15 species of warblers to spot. Photo via judyhardiman/Instagram
Lighthouse Point Park 5000 S. Atlantic Ave., Ponce Inlet, Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes It’s $10 to get into this park located at the southern tip of the Ponce Inlet, but animal lovers will see enough for the price of admission. Dolphins frequent the shoreline, gopher tortoises are often seen the sand, not to mention the racoons, armadillos, shorebirds and other animals closeby. If you’ve still got energy after a swim, there are nature trails to be explored. Photo via rogers93/Instagram
Anastasia State Park 300 Anastasia Park Road, St Augustine, Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes This massive, 1,600-acre state park has up to four miles of uninterrupted shoreline which is watched by a lifeguard from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Be careful of rip currents and know that you’re forbidden to disrupt the sand dunes that serve as an important habitat for wildlife. Photo via alainhenry_13/Instagram
Sunset Beach Sunset Beach, Tarpon Springs Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes Located in Tarpon Springs, Sunset Beach is a tiny stretch of land built in 1926 that’s at the west end of the Gulf Road. It’s a popular choice among locals and visitors for picnics, boat launches, and swimming. It’s also a great place to see the sun set into the Gulf of Mexico. Photo via whoattersbomb/Instagram
Driftwood Beach Jekyll Island, GA, Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes Located at the north end of Jekyll Island, this beach gets its title from the various pieces of driftwood and trees that litter the shoreline, creating a graveyard of trees. This striking sight is very popular, and makes it a common location for marriages Photo via justboris_?Instagram