7 Most Bike-Friendly Towns in Florida
As one of the top states to visit for the scenery, weather, and entertainment along its beaches, Florida ranks as the 10th most bicycle-friendly state in the nation. Home to 27 bicycle-friendly communities, Venice is its beach cruising capital. From beautiful parks with shaded trails, picnic facilities, and beach access to dedicated lanes and paths downtown, pedal your way to better health while helping the environment. With rentals readily available and friendly advice, you can save money on gas and avoid the parking hustle.
Whether you enjoy the exercise or are looking for a leisurely ride to soak in some vitamin D in the views and fresh air, local-style, these seven small towns have treasures around each corner. Cedar Key boasts a historic state park with a nature trail, while Jacksonville Beach boasts some genuinely amazing Ocean Islands Trail biking. Just watch out for the cruising families along Venice's Legacy Trail system or during the art festival in Lake Worth Beach for everyone's scenic enjoyment.
Anna Maria Island
Running on island time and biking long, Anna Maria feels out of this world in the sea breeze, particularly on the quieter north end to the uncrowded Bean Point Beach at the tip. According to locals, it is the best way to get around, as evidenced by bike racks hanging around shopping plazas and rental companies readily available. Although beach biking is not allowed to protect the sensitive nesting turtles, the main stretch of the road features a bicycle lane, and some trolleys can hold cruisers if you're too far or winded to bike back to your hotel. Enjoy direct access to the island via Highway 64 over Bradenton's Perico Island, hitting Manatee Public Beach as your first stop. The beachfront park offers a playground, picnic tables, grills, bike racks, restrooms, and showers.
After scoring a bike from Beach Bums, explore the quaint residential streets with pretty cottages without chains or condominiums to obscure the sparkling sea views ahead, equipped with baskets to make shopping easier. From farmers' markets to unique boutiques, stock up on picnic provisions and gifts. Tipping the south, the most popular Coquina Beach offers public swimming, picnic tables, cabanas, play areas, and a casual cafe. Stop by the Bayfront Park and The Donut Experiment, while Beach Bistro is a new-age American restaurant. Teeming with fish and peppered with charter companies, Ugly Grouper is a bustling, easygoing eatery with a funky 3,000-pound metal fish sculpture, serving seafood and burgers.
Cedar Key
Just 50 miles southwest of Gainesville, three hours north of Tampa, and three hours west of Jacksonville, Cedar Key is easily accessible. The main island is a group of keys; it is listed on the National Historic Register and features a mostly paved downtown. Part of Florida's Levy County, discover the island town's one-of-a-kind charm in a laidback space at a local pace. Reminiscent of Florida in the first half of the 20th century, even along the side streets, Cedar Key Museum State Park features port and railway history, a restored 1920s home, and a nature trail. Lacking every type of traffic, it is easy to admire old buildings like the Island Hotel & Restaurant, with a stop at the Cedar Key Historical Museum and seafood at Tony's or the oceanfront Steamers.
When the entire town makes for a leisurely ride of about 13 miles, you know you've hit a winner with treasures through art galleries, unique cafes, plus the Lil Shark Park for the kids and an opportunity to enjoy some short, scenic hikes. For the outdoors, the Cedar Key Railroad Trestle Nature Trail is suitable for a mountain bike, while the Cedar Key Fishing Pier is paved next to the main beach with soft sands and alluring scenery. Rent a kayak for inlets and coves that stay hidden from the eyes of the landbound, join locals fishing, or simply lounge, gazing into the blue ocean, which feels engulfing on all sides. The ancient Shell Mound archaeological site, as well as the remote Atsena Otie Key, get you the most of the island experience.
Jacksonville Beach
While the bustling Jacksonville is not very accommodating to bikers, its little beach brother is one of the state's most bike-friendly towns. Just east of the city, many escape for a breezy seaside ride without crowds and unobscured views of the Atlantic, with lots of bicycle racks outside the shops and restaurants. Telling of the small town's love for the ride, the rush, or the simple convenience of getting there, parks, as well as bike, kayak, and paddleboard rentals, are readily available. Champion Cycling and Rent Beach Stuff are just two of many rental companies, while some hotels by the beach can arrange bike delivery upon your arrival. Ranging from luxury resorts to budget hotels, access the beach and the bustling commercial areas with the same ease.
Browse the art market, take a walk through the kid-friendly museum, and visit other attractions like Adventure Landing and Shipwreck Island Waterpark. In addition, Jacksonville Beach features some truly unique Ocean Islands Trail biking and its own Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier for sunset strolls. From Jax Beach Arts Market to Seawalk Pavilion, the unique Beaches Museum offers permanent and temporary history displays on the region, plus a historic chapel and an old steam train. Next to the museum and Oceanfront Park, catch a live show at Players by the Sea. So plan your stay year-round to cruise along the downtown streets, surf, swim, sunbathe, or ride a beach cruiser at Jacksonville Beach with a detour to the Sunshine Playground at South Beach Park.
Key West
Just four square miles in area, some say biking is the key to exploring this furthest of the Florida Keys island. After a friendly chat with Tom Theisen, rent a bike from his company, BikeMan Bike Rentals, among others, which offers one-speed cruisers, kids' bikes, and those with seats and trailers for kids. Offering access via the Overseas Highway, some take their own speedboat or even a private jet to the town's small landing strip. In addition to being a very accessible and convenient mode of transportation, with Key West's limited parking, you'll be thankful you gave up the gas-eating engine. Off the main stretch, the sidewalk trail along Smathers Beach is part of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, open only to non-motorized bikers and pedestrians. Key West is considered one of the most bikeable cities in Florida, with a Bike Score of 87, according to Redfin.
Through different neighborhoods, you will discover treasures along the designated lanes of the Old Town and New Town and plenty of attractions, like the antiquated Fort East Martello Museum against the beachscape and the sea. A must-stop for literary fans, the Hemingway Home and Museum offers a studio tour with 6-toed felines, possibly the descendants of his cat, as well as a garden to lose yourself in poetic beauty. Minutes-pedal south and you'll "hit" the simple monument signifying the southernmost tip of the continental US, just 90 miles north of Cuba. North of Hemingway's home, Truman Little White House, once the winter White House of the former president, is a museum with his memorabilia and tours. Key West attracts cyclists from all over during the annual Key West Bike Ride, while Key West Nature Preserve makes every bump worthwhile along the scenic boardwalk.
Lake Worth Beach
Lake Worth Beach is often overlooked as a haven for anglers, art lovers, and families, directly south in the shadow of the greater West Palm Beach. Home to roughly 40,000, the charming town on Florida’s Southeast Coast features bike paths, local parks, and wide residential streets adapted to cyclists' convenience, including Lake Avenue and Lucerne Avenue. Tourists who enjoy biking or are simply looking for a local, fun way to explore have everything they need to succeed via a scenic route. Bryant Park features a trail, boat ramp, fishing pier, a bandshell, and direct bridge access to the lush R. G. Kreusler Park. The adjacent Lake Worth Beach Park features a sandy Atlantic beach with restaurants, shops, and the Casino Building and Beach Complex, which hosts beach bonfires to "warm up" from November through February.
Lounge on the picturesque beach, play golf and stroll the boardwalk before the spectacular sunrise along the Lake Worth Pier. John Prince Park offers camping, biking, boating, and lake fishing, and if you're a biker who likes to fish, the Lake Worth Lagoon is the county's largest estuary, with over 250 types of fish. The artsy downtown is fun to pedal between galleries, boutiques, music venues, and a historic Lake Worth Playhouse, featuring productions and foreign films in an intimate, art deco vibe. Just be on the lookout for other cruisers during the annual street painting festival in February, as the streets can get crowded with visitors and artists. From cooling ice cream treats at Kilwins Lake Worth Beach to the waterfront Benny’s on the Beach for a family dinner, Cox Science Center and Aquarium is six miles north in West Palm Beach.
Sanibel Island
Widely known as a very bike-friendly town, biking in Sanibel is foremost the most convenient way to get around. It is fun for tourists to explore the local way, between shops and galleries like Tower Gallery. Artist Co-Op is next to the must-visit Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium. Stop by Rachel Pierce Art Gallery on the way to the beach with a picnic basket from the Sanibel Island Farmers Market. Stick around for waterfront dining or return for dinner at the most popular Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. Home to a small town population of 6,300 spread over a large area, the island is largely a vast natural or open space to roam at will. Although you can't bike directly on the beach, the cycle paths offer excellent coverage, giving you access to over ten beach miles, renowned for shelling opportunities.
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is popular for exploring along the waterways and winding bike-friendly trails. Featuring the one-way eight-mile and four-mile loops, open to both motorists and bicyclists, plus 230 species of birds, this park on the Gulf offers access to fishing, tours, and family activities. The best time to catch wildlife is during low tide and in the morning, while the warm year-round weather and shaded trails mean you can stay active or enjoy a relaxed pedal without breaking a sweat and look out for migratory birds in the winter months. The refuge is open daily, though Wildlife Drive is closed on Fridays, while the nearest rental facility is Tarpon Bay Explorers, two miles down the road, for half or full-day rentals.
Venice
Offering 14 miles of Gulf Coast beaches, Venice is not only a cruise-friendly town but the beach-cruising bicycle capital of Florida. And what could be better than seeing the Sunshine State's staple beaches on a refreshing ride along the sands in the salty sea breeze? Famed among bikers, the slower seasons offer all the views and no distractions, plus the good weather when it is not scorching hot to keep pedaling. Meet friendly cyclists out and about in downtown Venice, along with a few bicycle clubs that meet regularly in the area. Established in 2008, the well-kept Legacy Trail is one of Florida’s best-paved bike trails for smooth cruising and great scenery with interesting signage.
With a series of bridges, Legacy Trail can be a long, 30-mile interconnected paved trail ride or a short morning workout along a segment highlighting local history for immersive, uninterrupted pedaling. Crossing two roads and bypassing the busy US 41/Tamiami Trail, enjoy panoramic views of the area over Roberts and Dona Bays. The North Extension connected to downtown Sarasota in 2022, with access from two Sarasota trailheads, which offer parking and amenities, followed by the North Port/Warm Mineral Springs, an additional east-west section to the continuous paved trail. In addition, the Venetian Waterways Park Trail is an alluring bike trail that directly collides with the Legacy Trail.
Pedal Your Way Through Florida's Best Bike Towns.
With over 3,500 miles of bike trails, from paved paths to off-road trails, Florida is a dream for bikers year-round. Enjoy the mild climate and lower crowds off-season, plus flat terrain that is easy on the joints to explore. Sanibel's Wildlife Drive through J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is bike-friendly and can be used to sight birds, alligators, and flora. Cedar Key flaunts art galleries and unique cafes, plus Lil Shark Park and access to short, scenic hikes.
Key West, the most bike-friendly city in the state, hosts a zombie bike ride, regular bike tours, and the bike week in March. Join in the fun bonfires along the beach at the Casino Building and Beach Complex from November through February in Lake Worth Beach. Home to dedicated bike lanes and paths downtown, these towns attract experts, enthusiasts, and beach bums alike to admire the old buildings and the seascape.
