South Pointe Park: the pier, the playground, parking and when to go
What South Pointe Park at the tip of Miami Beach has, when it opens, where to park cheaply and what to know about the pier and the beach.
En bref
- Where: 1 Washington Ave, the southern tip of Miami Beach.
- Hours: Sunrise to sunset, every day; free entry.
- Cheapest parking: 5th & Alton Garage, 550 Lenox Ave: first two hours free.
- Street parking: $4 an hour on the street, $2 in city lots, enforced 9 am to 3 am.
- Best for: Watching ships in the channel, the pier, a playground with a splash zone.
South Pointe is the best free hour on Miami Beach: come in the late afternoon, park in the 5th & Alton Garage for free for two hours, walk the pier and watch the ships go out through the channel.
The park at the very bottom of Miami Beach, between the ocean, the beach and the shipping channel. Lawns, paths along the water, a playground for ages 2 to 12 with a splash spray zone, a bark park, an outdoor fitness station and public restrooms near the concession.
The City of Miami Beach lists it open every day from sunrise to sunset, with beach access and paid parking.
South Pointe Park Pier
The pier runs out from the park beside the channel, behind a bright speech-bubble gate by the artist Tobias Rehberger, installed in 2014.
The city's park page does not list separate pier hours, and in 2024 the pier closed for about two days while the gate was taken away for conservation. If the gate is shut, it is closed for a reason; check with the city.
What you actually do there
South Pointe is a park more than a beach day. People walk the paths along the water, sit on the lawns, push strollers, run, fish from the pier and watch cruise ships and freighters pass close by in the channel between Miami Beach and Fisher Island. The beach starts on the ocean side of the park and runs north toward South Beach.
For kids, the playground is the draw: separate areas for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, rubber surfacing, slides, climbing frames, toddler swings and a splash spray zone, right beside the water. The bark park is for dogs; dogs are not allowed on the city's beaches except at the dog beach in North Beach.
The park closes at sunset. The hour before sunset is the favorite time, so give yourself enough of it.
Parking near South Pointe Park
| Option | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5th & Alton Garage, 550 Lenox Ave | Free for 2 hours, then $6 for the third | $20 daily maximum; flat $15 from 11 pm to 6 am |
| Street meters, South Beach zone | $4 an hour | Enforced 9 am to 3 am, seven days a week |
| City lots, South Beach zone | $2 an hour | Same enforcement hours |
| 7th Street Garage | $2 first hour, rising to $20 | Fridays to Sundays, $15 flat from 8 pm to 5 am |
The South Beach zone runs south of 23rd Street, so it covers South Pointe. Pay at the pay station or in the city's parking apps.
City of Miami Beach parking meter and garage rate pages, checked October 2026
Swimming, lifeguards and what is changing
Miami Beach Ocean Rescue posts lifeguard duty hours of 9 am to 7 pm, with towers opening at 9:30 am and closing at 6:30 pm on its daily beach conditions page, which on October 26, 2026 also showed a high hazard flag. Swim only near an open tower, and read the flags on the day: they change with the surf.
The city is designing a marine park in the coastal waters from roughly South Pointe Pier north to 16th Street. Its project page, updated September 2026, expects design and permits by March 2029, with construction only after that, so nothing changes on the beach yet. Existing buoys may move later.
Les questions qu’on se pose
What are South Pointe Park's hours?
The City of Miami Beach lists the park open every day from sunrise to sunset.
Is South Pointe Park free?
Yes, entry is free. You pay only for parking: the 5th & Alton Garage at 550 Lenox Ave is free for the first two hours, street meters in the zone cost $4 an hour and city lots $2.
Can you swim at South Pointe Park?
Swim on the ocean beach near an open lifeguard tower; Miami Beach Ocean Rescue posts duty hours of 9 am to 7 pm. Never swim in the shipping channel.
Are dogs allowed in South Pointe Park?
Yes, in the park and its bark park. Dogs are not allowed on Miami Beach's beaches except at the dog beach between 80th and 81st Streets.
Autres guides
Parking in Miami Beach: city garages, lots, meter rates and the appsSouth Beach · Parking · Practical · 5 min de lectureLummus Park Beach: the South Beach strip on Ocean Drive, where to park and what the rules areSouth Beach · Beaches · South beach · 4 min de lectureThings to do in Miami Beach and South Beach, with the hours and prices checkedSouth Beach · Miami beach · South beach · 5 min de lecturePark hours and facilities from the City of Miami Beach South Pointe Park page; pier gate from the city's Tobias Rehberger art page and LTC 449-2024; parking rates from the city's meter and garage rate pages; lifeguard hours from Miami Beach Ocean Rescue; marine park from the city's project page; all checked October 2026.