Islamorada Sandbar

The Islamorada sandbar is a shallow stretch of white sand, just offshore of Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

The Islamorada sandbar is an extremely popular place for boats to anchor and swim in the crystal clear water.

Gatherings on the sandbar can be calm and relaxing, or wild parties, depending on the day and the crowd.

Many people also bring their dogs to run and play in the shallow water.

The Islamorada Sandbar is also known by other names, including the “Whale Harbor Sandbar”, “Tiki Bar Sandbar” and the “Holiday Isle Sandbar”, among others.

There are other sandbars near Islamorada as well, but this is the largest and most popular.

Location

By land, the Sandbar is located in the area around mile marker 84 on the Overseas Highway.

By water, the sandbar is located outside of the Whale Harbor Channel, less than a mile offshore from Islamorada, on the ocean side.

The approximate GPS coordinates for the Islamorada Sandbar are 24°55’59.9″N 80°35’54.7″W.

The sandbar is long and narrow. The main section is found near the red “4A” channel marker. There is usually an American flag planted on the sandbar to mark its location.

There are sandbars on both the north and south sides of the channel. Most boats anchor on the north side of the channel because it is wider.

There is more room to spread out on the north side, and the bar can accommodate more boats at anchor. Some boats anchor on the southern side, although the sandbar there is narrower.

Sandbar Description

The Islamorada sandbar is absolutely beautiful. The water is usually crystal clear, especially on calm days without wind or choppy water. The bottom is fine white sand.

The water depth varies with the tide, but can vary from zero depth to approximately 3 feet deep. It is generally about knee to waist high.

The sandbar and channel are bordered on either side by large beds of seagrass.

Sadly there are propeller marks throughout the fields where clueless boaters have plowed through the seagrass, which is extremely destructive to the marine environment.

Crowds

The Islamorada sandbar is one of the most popular sandbars in the Florida Keys.

The Islamorada sandbar is heavily visited year-round. There are boats present on the sandbar almost daily, as long as weather conditions are favorable.

The Islamorada sandbar is most crowded on warm summer holidays and weekends. It is least crowded during cool weather, and during weekdays.

During busy times the Islamorada sandbar can get extremely crowded. When crowds are present there is often loud music, and there can be rowdy behavior.

Some visitors are inconsiderate and may ruin the experience for others, or make the trip more exciting, depending on your preferences.

When the sandbar is crowded it’s a good idea to be on the lookout for people who don’t know what they are doing!

How to Access Islamorada Sandbar

The Islamorada sandbar is one of the most popular sandbars in the Florida Keys. It’s beautiful, and is easily accessible, even for people who don’t own their own boat.

Visitors can reach the Islamorada sandbar via a variety of easy options.

Many people visit the sandbar with their own boat, but it is also popular to use a sandbar tour, local boat rentals, or even kayak or SUP paddleboard rentals.

Kayaking to the Islamorada Sandbar

It is possible to kayak or SUP paddleboard from Islamorada, where rentals are available. The sandbar is less than a mile from the shoreline.

It can be difficult to find a place to park safely and to launch your boat or kayak.

Note: It is inherently dangerous to kayak or paddleboard to the sandbar for a variety of reasons.

Before kayaking to the Islamorada sandbar, paddlers should ensure that all safety precautions are taken:

• The weather and water conditions are safe
• All paddlers are properly equipped, experienced, and have the appropriate level of fitness to ensure a safe trip
• Be especially careful of boat traffic
• Stay out of the busy boat channels