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John U Lloyd Beach State Park
Categories: Active Life Parks Active Life Bike Rentals Local Flavor Parks, Bike Rentals, Local Flavor [Edit]
6503 N Ocean DriveDania, FL 33004
(954) 923-2833
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
15 reviews for John U Lloyd Beach State Park
15 reviews in English
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Review from Ian S.
Palo Alto, CA
11/25/2011
This place is a real gem. The beaches and mangrove forests are gorgeous. When you're here, you feel very isolated, like you're on a deserted island. My family often comes here to rent kayaks and boat through the mangrove forests -- a must do!
The park is very large. There are tons of places for you to get lost and go on adventures. At the same time, there are plenty of nicely kept amenities throughout (tables, bathrooms, signage, parking, showers, etc.). There are lots of options ... sun bathing / snorkeling / kite boarding / surfing / fishing / bird watching / you name it...
The only downside is that the park is near the FLL airport and there is quite a bit of noise pollution.
Hands down, this is the nicest park in Broward, and it's very centrally located. It's amazing to me that this place isn't more popular! -
Review from Franz K.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
6/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Let me get the negatives out the way . . . when it is busy, this place can get backed up when trying to enter, and if a bridge is up, it can be time consuming when exiting. Also, like another reviewer said, watch your speed as they do have police lurking for speedsters and it is very easy to go faster than the 25 mph posted.
Other than that . . . this place is IDEAL to spend a day with the family. It is only a $6.00 entry and you don't have to worry about running back to a meter, they have a nice area to change and use the restrooms. Picnic tables, Grills . . . and the beach is CLEAR and the waves are nice. Very little seaweed when I went. Everybody was having a good time and it was really a nice family vibe.
Make sure you have cash when entering the park, preferebly exact change. Perfect spot for holiday gatherings, but I'm sure you want to get there early to grab a table. Have Fun! -
Review from Rick M.
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Many years ago when I was just a kid my parents would take us to this park and spend the day at the beach. I recent revisited to try something different, but found that conditions of beach due to errocion had changed considerably. Beach had lots of jelly fish and litter that had washed up all over the shore and water did not look as clean as other beaches in area ( might have been because its right on Port Everglade). Was glad to revisit but will not likely return as south Florida has many others area that are more suitable for swimming.
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Review from M M.
Miami, FL
2/26/2011
For canoeing:
This park is very pretty. The 'whisky river' would be great for young kids to learn how to canoe. The mangroves are gorgeous and you see all kinds of tiny fish and crabs due to the fact that it's a perfect fish nursery. However, they let boats come in and out of there which completed sucks not only for the kids but the fish nursery/mangroves. They probably do this to make money because the boats tie up and eat at the cafe there. Also planes fly constantly over very close as it's right next to the airport. When u go to the beachside it's ok because it's such a pretty beach with great water but still, you feel like you're under attack with the boats coming in and out and the airplanes coming every 10 to 15 minutes. Not remotely peaceful. Will not go back. -
Review from Floyd R.
San Jose, CA
3/31/2010
This is a great park with a beautiful beach and restroom facilities.
WARNING: I was pulling out of the parking lot and driving A SAFE speed of 25 MPH. As soon as I drove past the first speed limit sign that said 15MPG there are flashing lights behind me.
I received a traffic violation stating "Speed too fast for condition special hazard" "Bicyclist and pedestrians present on recreational road"
There were no bicyclist or pedestrians present at the time and there was no speed limit sign from the time I pulled out of the parking lot until I was pulled over.
In my opinion this is a tourist trap and I just wanted to warn you so the same doesn't happen to you. -
Review from jewel m.
Miami, FL
11/18/2009
We had a family picnic here a few weeks ago. By family, I mean my boyfriend, myself, and our adorable fetch-crazy Boston Terrier (or terror), Odie. This is one of the only beaches in South Florida that permits dogs. If you bring your pooch, they have to stay in the picnic area, and aren't permitted in the ocean or by the water, but it's still the closest our little bundle of joy has been to the Atlantic.
We had a difficult time finding the park, and by the time we made two or three wrong turns we only had about an hour and a half of sunlight left. We decided that since we had come all that way, purchased ready to eat picnic food ( a treat for us health food nuts ) , and gotten the puppy all excited by repeatedly shrieking "wanna go to the beach?" and "we're gonna play!", we would pay the six dollar admission fee and go enjoy the sunset.
The gate keeper, poor guy, was a little strange. He wouldn't make eye contact, but instead kept glancing behind our car in a very disturbing way that made me hold my breath in anticipation of whatever was about to jump out of the bushes and devour us. He was one of those people that took about twenty minutes to give you three sentences of useless information you didn't request, and as the sun sank closer and closer to the horizon my temper grew a little more volatile. He finally shut the - up and let us through the gate.
We found parking in the very closest spot to the beach access, (probably because everyone else had already left), unloaded our psycho- I mean doggie- and our food and started toward the dog area. We immediately got yelled at by another hillbilly park ranger type in a golf cart who insisted we put a leash on our dog to cross the five feet of empty parking lot. Whatever.
We made it safely to a nice private picnic table and played fetch and stuffed our faces until the sun went down. We had a wonderful family bonding afternoon, and really enjoyed the experience. We got hilarious videos of Odie swinging through the air, teeth determinedly clamped on a frisbee he would not let go of. Mike and I watched the sunset, side by side.
Another annoying ranger came by on another annoying golf cart to rudely insist we all "Gotta get out! Gotta get out! Gotta get out!"
to recap.....
(Plus) nice park but (Negative) hard to find.
(Plus) dogs are allowed but (Negative) every ranger we met was a toolbox.
(Plus) plenty of tables by the clean restrooms (Negative) there were NO trash cans.
You get the idea. Solid Three stars.Listed in: Things to do on a lazy weekend…
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Review from Renee D.
Miami, FL
12/7/2010 2 photos
Fantastic place for a big group to join for a fun beach day/picnic.Sure it's $6 to get in, but just think of it as contributing to a good cause - nature. Now the drive back to the beach itself seems quite long, but once you get there (and really the parking situation is stellar), you are greeting by clean bathrooms, outdoor showers, bbq pits and tons of picnic tables, and not to mention an expansive beach with plenty of space to hold a soccer game :) You also get a nice view of the FLL port behind you. Just remember to hide your alcoholic beverages, and be out of there by sunset, because, they are truly serious about those two rules :) Happy Beaching!
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Review from Dawn E.
6/9/2008
This is my childhood beach. It wasn't the closest beach for use to get to, but it was the best. My mom would always drive the extra couple of miles to get here.
The park is clean and the water is warm and you feel like you're in the great outdoors at the beach instead of being surrounded by villas and condos.
I can't think of a better way for a family to spend a warm summer day than picnicking and swimming at John U Llyod State Park.Listed in: South Florida, Go Outside Damnit
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Review from Janessa A.
Pembroke Pines, FL
8/30/2009
Been here a couple of times, first time was very traumatizing as we only go here to jetski. WEll yeah me and my boyfriend missed the entrance to go back to the docking mairna and ended up in a small canal next to these huge cargo ships. It was so scary the water was black with oily film on top, and the water was coming up onto the jetski. But after driving around for a while we eventually found it. Beasides that day Ive been back i think 2 other times. It is good for people with boats are jetskiis you just ride out as longa s you want as far as you want. The water was perfect . Very outdoors park so if youre not into that this place is not for you. If you want a nice clean beach thats very picturesque you wont find it here. It is very crowded and and somewhat dirty.
Last time I was here though we did spot a huge.. I mean huge humongouse, colossal manat ray really close to shore, it was amazing. Also this was a colored beach back during days of the civil rights movement. -
Review from Colleen R.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
2/21/2010
I'm not sure where these other folks are going, especially Larry - this beach was not crowded at all when we went - and it was a Saturday. I thought this beach was calm, beautiful, and relaxing. It isn't a "see and be seen" beach - its for those who want a nice relaxing day.
Important cool note - you can have bonfires on this beach at night! Important non-cool note - you can't have alcohol on the beach.
The beach is not hard to find if you have directions - but I would suggest familiarizing yourself with the route prior to attempting it. There are brown signs leading you there from I-95 though.
The bathrooms are also very well maintained and there is a restaurant that serves decent seafood. You can have alcohol (well, they only serve beer) at the restaurant, but you can't leave with it. -
Review from Jordan S.
Satellite Beach, FL
6/6/2007 21 photos
This park is spectacular. It's located directly across from Port Everglades, on a narrow piece of land on the south side of the actual inlet.
The intracoastal waterway separates the mainland from the ocean, but in between lies Whiskey Creek; this small creek runs about 2 miles through John U Lloyd Park and provides an excellent fishing or paddling opportunity for kayakers and canoers. You can catch snook, snapper, barracuda and the undesirable puffer fish back here, or cast for bait like mullet to you use in the ocean.
Also, there is about 2-3 miles of (mostly) isolated beach area along the park. If you want to get away from the crowds, definitely go here. No shopping, no buildings, no lifeguards, just natural beach. I would often push my kayak right off the beach and fish along the natural reefs for snapper, grouper, trigger fish, lady fish, and whatever else I could get. A large section of the park is widely known as a gay beach. I was wondering why there were only guys there while I was fishing!
Near the north end of the park are the jetty's, a rock and concrete pier which allows you to fish while getting a close up of the nearly non stop boat traffic entering and exiting Port Everglades. They jetty's are a great place to relax and soak in some sun.
Amenities at the park include a snack bar/grill with surprisingly good food, canoe rentals, and a boat ramp just 1/4 mile from Port Everglades, which undeniably offers the easiest ocean access in the area. -
Review from Naomi S.
Miami Beach, FL
3/21/2011
This is one of the most laid back, chilled out spots that I've been to down in South Florida. I hit this park in late February and didn't have to deal with crowds or any real annoyances. The weather was magnificent. The people here were friendly and it certainly had a local vibe. I'm looking forward to coming back for another kayak trip down Whiskey River. I was there when the tide was a tad too low...
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Review from Larry L.
Hialeah, FL
10/8/2009 4 photos
This is not one of my favorite beaches, This Beach is always Really Crowded which i don't like being in crowded beaches. Last time my girlfriend and i went we saw a HUGE MantaRay Or StingRay Not Sure which one it was. Most of the times I've been here it's been for Mainly to ride jet Skis, also i really dont like the canal you have to go threw to get to the ocean because your right next to these huge Cargo Ships, Cruises and the water is Black and Oily ... Once you get out onto the Ocean it's a different Story! It's Gorgeous, the water is really Clear and if your lucky you will see wildlife swimming under you. Like the Last time i went saw Couple of turtles and lets not forget to mention again the Huge Manta-Sting Ray! i do like coming here to ride Jet Ski Only ...
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Review from Shannon P.
Hallandale Beach, FL
3/5/2008
Pretty park. Beautiful foliage. $5 vehicle entry. Nice spot to get away from overcrowded beaches.
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Review from Peter M.
Gainesville, FL
3/3/2009
This beach can have a long line to get into the park during the summer, but it never seems that crowded once you are inside. The park is for a day at the beach or a family picnic, this park provides an abundance of recreational activities. Surf fishing, canoeing, swimming, nature study, boating, and picnicking will keep the whole family busy. For those interested in South Florida's underwater beauty, Lloyd Beach has one of the easiest and most interesting shore dives in the area. The park has two boat ramps with easy access to the ocean through the Port Everglades Inlet if you want to go offdhore fishing. The mangrove-lined Whiskey Creek is a scenic place to canoe, observe bird life, and take photographs. At the Loggerhead Café you can have a bite to eat. A variety of items are available for rental: canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, sailboats, pontoon boats, gazebos, barbecue grills, and volleyballs.
Listed in: Florida Parks and Historical…, Hollywood Beach
