• Closest Airport to Hernando Beach, Florida
• History of Hernando Beach
• The people and the Town
• The Three Sections of Hernando Beach
• What is the Water Temperature in Hernando Beach Florida
• Why Hernando Beach, Florida?
• What To Do in Hernando Beach, Florida
• Boat Tours
• Scalloping Out Of Hernando Beach
• Kayak Rentals Around Hernando Beach & Weeki Wachee
• Boat Rentals
• The Weeki Wachee Water Park
• The Beach
• The Flats at Hernando Beach
• Things to do a Little Outside of Hernando Beach
• Places to Stay in Hernando Beach
• Motel:
• Weeki Wachee River
• Hernando Beach
• Restaurants in Hernando Beach, Florida
• Silver Dolphin Restaurant
• Brian’s Place
• Upper Deck
• Hernando Beach Tropical Grille
• Lazy Lizard
• The Drunken Mullet
• Other Places To Eat – Chain Restaurants
• Towns Near Hernando Beach Worth Visiting
• In Conclusion
• Our Recommendation

Closest Airport to Hernando Beach, Florida

Hernando Beach, Florida is located on the the Gulf Coast side of Florida, just around 1 hour north of Tampa International Airport. This is the closest airport to the area.

Hernando Beach’s temperature is very mild all year round and it enjoys lots of sunshine year-round. Boating, swimming and fishing are just a few hobbies that are common here in Hernando Beach, which is only a short drive away from Tampa (1 hour) and St Pete (2 hours).

History of Hernando Beach

Hernando Beach is a waterfront canal community that has access to the Gulf of Mexico. Before 1953, this area was swampland. Developer Charlie Sasser purchased it in 1959 and by 1965 had developed most all of what exists today . The community was built by developers in the 1960s. It has a small-town feel, with many residents living or working within walking distance of each other. 

There are major expansion plans in the works, but Sasser’s project sadly came to an end when the EPA decided that the Gulf of Mexico needs to be preserved and no more canals were allowed.

For this reason, the number of waterfront homes in Hernando Beach will remain the same – this constant supply coupled with an increase in demand for waterfront homes is one of the top reasons Hernando Beach homes value have skyrocketed in the last few years. 

A typical home sold for $300,000 in 2018 is now worth over $600,000 in 2022, as seen in this Zestimate chart:

The people and the Town

Hernando Beach started as a retirement community for Florida residents and some snowbirds from up north, but new development projects are bringing new people and businesses to town. It is not uncommon today, to find families with young children living in the area. 

Homes are situated close together, and most houses have a saltwater canal in their backyard.

The town has a “golf cart” feel—you can pretty much get to the Dollar General store or any number of local restaurants from your house with a golf cart, or a bike. The community has been petitioning to be recognized as a golf cart community, but so far it hasn’t happened.

Because many houses have a boat, there are several restaurants that can be reached by water. Tropical Grille and Zig Zag Scallops are two such places.

The Three Sections of Hernando Beach

There are three sections of Hernando Beach, Florida – the North, South, and the Central.

The North Section is where the first residents settled.

The Central Section is an older section of Hernando beach.

The South Section is the newest section of Hernando Beach.

If you talk to a realtor, or look on Zillow, you would see homes referred to as “Indirect Access” or “Direct Access” to the Gulf of Mexico. There are good reasons for this.

This refers to whether or not you can drive your boat from your house directly to the Gulf of Mexico, or you have to first lift your boat over a boat lift. This map illustrates it well: the section circled on top goes right out to the ocean whereas the bottom section does not.

This is also a big reason why home values in the “Direct Side” are approximately $100,000+ more than a comparable home on the “Indirect Side”.

In addition, wildlife such as manatees, dolphins and stingrays are frequently seen in the Direct Side canals, which has a gentler current that flows from ocean to canals. With water flowing back-and-forth regularly between those two areas, it is often swimmable.

In contrast, the Indirect Side has less swimmable waters – and the possibility of gators in the brackish water. The boat lift that takes your boat to the other side has been known to not work. If you have a boat or love wildlife, your best bet is the Direct Side of Hernando Beach.

What is the Water Temperature in Hernando Beach Florida

Some actual recorded temperatures I took with Brian as we go out in the boat:

Date	Water Temp	Notes
6/26/2022	89
8/29/2022	87
9/1/2022	84.3
9/12/2022	84 – 87
10/25/2022	72	water temp varies greatly depending on sun
10/28/2022	79	notice what temp was just 3 days ago
12/9/2022	73	sunny this week in Hernando Beach
12/19/2022	59	cold this week – notice what the temp was just 10 days ago
2/1/2023	70	80 degrees and sunny this week
2/5/2023	65	we had one cold day – notice how quickly temp drops from 5 days ago
2/14/2023	65	70 degrees and warm this week but water won’t get above 65-68

Hernando Beach is a waterfront canal in the Gulf Coast. In this area, water is very shallow – around 3 to 6 feet for miles and miles outward. For this reason the water temperature changes quickly as the season warms up.

In the winter months, expect water temperature around high 50s to 74. In the summer months it can get as high as 92 degrees, although 86-89 is more common on a sunny day. We visited this area in April – the water was around 74 degrees at the time. By the time we returned in late June, the water was already 89 degrees!

In contrast, the famous Weeki Wachee River that is located just minutes from Hernando Beach is a spring fed river that stays around 74 degrees year round. It is also this reason that manatees gather here in the winter months when the water temperature in the Gulf is too cold for them. Your chances to see manatees in the river in winter months is very very good!

Why Hernando Beach, Florida?

There are many unique features about Hernando Beach:

• The city is surrounded by water on three sides.
• Most people visiting Florida still don’t know about Hernando Beach (no 1-hour waits at restaurants and attractions!)
• Minutes away from America’s first Live Mermaid Show at the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
• Minutes from Weeki Wachee river – a freshwater river where kayakers often encounter manatees.

What To Do in Hernando Beach, Florida

Hernando beach is the perfect Florida destination. Whether you’re looking to have fun or relax, you’ll find it here. Hernando beach is home to kayaking on the Weeki Wachee river, boat tours of the coast, dolphin tour cruises, and waterpark fun. If you don’t mind driving 45 minutes away you will also find airboat tours and swim with manatees tours in Crystal River.

Related: Things To Do

Boat Tours

Don’t feel like driving a boat? There are lots of boat tours available in Hernando Beach. Our favorite is Let’s Get Salty LLC – you can have a sunset tour, a dolphin sighting tour, visit the Flats (more on this later), or tour the canal homes. Meet Captain Brandy on Daisy street or get picked up from your backyard.

Scalloping Out Of Hernando Beach

There are many great scalloping locations around Hernando Beach. A lot of people prefer to scallop off of Bayport. If you are up for a 45 minute drive, Homosassa River is also a very popular location for scalloping. 

Not sure where to go? Book a Scalloping Tour!

Kayak Rentals Around Hernando Beach & Weeki Wachee

Right next to Upper Deck restaurant is a kayak rental place where you can rent kayaks for a half a day, or a full day. You launch right into the Weeki Wachee river at this location. If you bring your own kayaks, Rogers Park right across the street is where you’ll find a kayak launch that also directly leads into the river.

If available, go for the clear bottom kayaks. They are great for beginners and good for anyone who wants to be see wildlife in the river!

Friendly Mobile Kayaks is an affordable alternative to renting from Weeki Wachee or any other rental company.

If you are planning to visit this area, be sure to look for a Airbnb or VRBO home that have kayaks. If you stay at any of the homes on the Direct Side, you can also kayak right from the backyard – take a quick tour around the canals, or venture to the Gulf of Mexico for an unforgettable sunset! (hint: Janine and Brian’s Airbnb homes each have 4 free kayaks, and are both on the direct side!)

Boat Rentals

Hernando Beach Marina and Blue Pelican rent boats to visitors in the area. You do not need a license to operate a boat in Florida.

Boaters should bring a change of clothes and sunscreen if they plan to go out on the water. Renting a boat is an easy way to enjoy the water without having to worry about driving or parking. A trip to Hernando Beach is not the same without a boat – if you are planning to be in this area for longer than 3 or 4 days, a boat rental is a must have!

The Weeki Wachee Water Park

The springs are a popular attraction in Northwest Florida, and there’s no denying that they’re among the most unique destinations you can visit in the area. Kids will love the lazy river and water slides, while parents will appreciate the live mermaid show. But whatever your age or interests, you’ll find plenty to enjoy when you make the short journey over to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.

Think of it as a small water park – but with real freshwater and not chemically treated pool water!

If you want to catch the Live Mermaid show, get in line 1-2 hours before the park opens – tickets sell out very fast (and I’m not kidding!)

The Beach

Though not what you’d consider a traditional beach, Pine Island is a small beach around 15 minutes away that you could visit and enjoy some sand and waves. $5 for parking, and it fills up quickly by 11am-12pm, so get there early!

Another place close by is SunWest Park that is technically a freshwater lake, but is made to feel like a beach. This park boasts a volleyball net, a rope climbing obstacle, and an inflatable obstacle course. A great place for the whole family. See our full post about SunWest Park.

The Flats at Hernando Beach

The Flats is a sand bar in the Gulf of Mexico just minutes from Hernando Beach where water is 2.5 feet – 4 feet deep. You can only get here with a boat. It’s easy: drive through the canals toward the channel markers. Follow the markers and take a right at channel marker 22 or 25.

@hernandobeachweekiwachee

♬ In The End – Mellen Gi Remix – Tommee Profitt & Fleurie & Mellen Gi

No worries, most of the time you’ll see other boats anchored here, so it’s easy to find. On the weekends, and in summer months where the water is 85 – 90 degrees, it is normal to see hundreds of boats here.

Of all the cool things we did in Hernando Beach, our 10 and 11 year old sons enjoyed this the most. They spent 3 hours every day “snorkeling” and feeding bread to the little fishes. Read our full post on The Flats here.

Things to do a Little Outside of Hernando Beach

If driving 45 minutes away doesn’t bother you, there are plenty more to do in Crystal River and Homosassa, Florida. You can take airboat tours, swim with the manatees, visit the famous Monkey Island, or bar hop on the river if you’ve got a boat (see below for more details).

Places to Stay in Hernando Beach

Hernando Beach is a small town in Florida and there are no major hotels. Instead, most vacationers choose to stay in an entire home or an apartment by using online vacation rental sites such as Airbnb.com or VRBO.com. 

Motel:

Hernando Beach Motel is an option but not recommended – it isn’t on the water, and you’ll miss out on the full experience that Hernando Beach has to offer.

Weeki Wachee River

Weeki Wachee River is the most popular, but it is also the most crowded – and the most expensive. If you don’t mind the crowd and high ticket prices, just make sure you choose a home that is close (enough) to Hospital Hole – this is where manatees like to gather due to the warm water coming up from the cave structures underneath.

Hernando Beach

Staying at a whole house in Hernando Beach on the direct side is our top choice – the price is right, and it is only a 5 minute drive to the river. Just make sure you book a home on the Direct Side! We currently have two homes available – they both fit these criteria: 

This is our 1200 sqft 3-bedroom home Gulf Winds Circle on Airbnb.com

This is our 1500 sqft 3-bedroom home on Lily Drive on Airbnb.com 

Restaurants in Hernando Beach, Florida

In Hernando Beach you have 2 main options for dinner. The first is the mom and pop restaurants around the historic main street Shoal Line Boulevard. Here there are places like Lazy Lizard, Silver Dolphins, Tropical Grille, etc..

The second option is Spring Hill or Brooksville which is 15 minutes away from Hernando Beach. This is more of a Main Street USA type feel compared to the first option in town. That’s because it has major chains such as Chipotle, Wendy’s, etc…

Let’s take a quick look at the in-town restaurants.

Silver Dolphin Restaurant

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If you’re looking for a good place to have breakfast, Silver Dolphin is a great option. It has a great atmosphere that’s casual and family friendly, everything from breakfast to lunch. The food is reasonable which makes it affordable for everyone. In terms of features, you can find ice cream and even a gift shop if you’re looking to buy a souvenir while you wait (or just want an excuse to eat more ice cream).

Brian’s Place

$$$$

Brian’s Place is an upscale fine dining restaurant that serves a Latin and Spanish fusion cuisine. It has a full bar with limited seating, and restaurant area with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a private area for small events. Weekly live music is also hosted from local artists. The menu features both meat and seafood entrees with unique dishes such as Grouper 3 Ways, Crab Bites, Shrimp Ceviche, etc. 

The seafood at Chef Brian’s restaurant is caught daily, so you know it’s the freshest around. Don’t be surprised if Chef Brian comes out of the kitchen to greet you.

Upper Deck

$$$

Upper Deck is a casual restaurant with two floors offering a great view of the Weeki Wachee River. For this reason, it is a very popular tourist spot.

The structure of the restaurant has an upper floor, which is where most of the seating is located and lowers down to the ground floor for drinks and appetizers.

The restaurant has a casual, relaxed atmosphere with an affordable menu of tasty food. Sitting on the deck, you can see the river, and might even be lucky enough to spot a manatee!

Hernando Beach Tropical Grille

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Tropical Grille is a small casual tiki bar located at the Hernando Beach Marina. Some of the features include a nice view of the water from the docks where you can get there from your boat, good food cooked in a food truck, and daily specials at affordable prices. 

When I went here we were sitting next to the bar and had a good view of the sunset. The ambiance was great and it was very relaxing.

As a bonus, you can also watch the boat lift pick up boats and put them in the water – I hold my breath sometimes when I see a $200,000+ boat being lifted by what seems like a very small tractor. 

Lazy Lizard

$$

Lazy Lizard is a riverside restaurant with a casual atmosphere. My favorite feature of the Lazy Lizard is that you can feed the fish and turtles while you wait for your food ($0.25 for fish food), so bring the kids – and some quarters!

The Drunken Mullet

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Don’t be fooled by the front of the store – it is around twice the size in the back!

The atmosphere is relaxed, fun, and filled with locals. The cost is affordable and the location is right off the main street — literally, people come here in golf carts, motorcycles, everything! This place seems to be the bar where locals hang out. Don’t worry, people in Hernando Beach at very friendly, and they welcome visitors.

Other Places To Eat – Chain Restaurants

If you’re craving more familiar food, Spring Hills or Brooksville on Route 19 is only around 15 minutes from Hernando Beach. This is where all the familiar chain restaurants are. In this area, you will find most major chains such as Burger King, McDonald’s, Chipotle, Panera Bread, Carabba’s, Texas Roadhouse, etc…

Towns Near Hernando Beach Worth Visiting

Staying for a few days? If you are visiting for longer than 3-4 days, it might be worth visiting some nearby towns:

In Conclusion

If you are someone who loves the outdoors and you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, Hernando Beach is definitely worth checking out. This is not a place where you can people-watch or go shopping, but it’s a great location if you want to recharge your batteries and enjoy nature and wildlife.

Maybe one day we’ll see more development here, but for now, it’s still a little bit of paradise in Florida.

Our Recommendation

We are biased because we frequent this area as our second home, but we truly believe it to be a hidden gem of Florida. We’ve been to other more tourist-y areas of Florida such as Orlando, Miami and the Keys, but ever since we discovered Hernando Beach, it’s been the only place we travel to when we go to Florida. We travel here 1-2 times a month, sometimes by flight, but half the time we actually drive here from Massachusetts!

It is a lot less busy than other areas of Florida, and the encounters with wildlife is just amazing.

Stay at one of our two homes located on the direct side of Hernando Beach. Book it through Airbnb here: