Region:
Southeast
JOHN U. LLOYD BEACH STATE
PARK
Hollywood, Florida
Contact Information
6503 N. Ocean Drive
Dania, 33004
(954) 923-2833
Adjacent to busy Port Everglades is a beachfront
park that preserves some of south Florida's vanishing
natural resources. Beyond preserving them, the Florida
Park Service is actively restoring natural areas
that were damaged by earlier users.
John U. Lloyd Beach is 251 acres of barrier island
between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal
Waterway, from Port Everglades on the north to
Dania on the south. Its natural setting contrasts
sharply with the urban development of Ft. Lauderdale.
Plantlife
Further inland are stands of subtropical coastal
hammock (seaside hardwood forest). A self-guided
trail offers a leisurely 45-minute walk through
the hammock. Non-native plants are regularly removed
from this area. Removing these "exotics,"
such as Brazilian pepper and Australian pine,
is a long-term process throughout the park.
On the west side of the park, along the Intracoastal
Waterway, a man made wetland is bringing back
red mangroves to the shore. The mangroves not
only screen the view but provide a rich nursery
ground for fish and other sea life. The wetland
is a mitigation site to replace wetlands destroyed
by Port expansion in 1989.
Wildlife
Changed beach sand can cause problems for nesting
sea turtles. Lloyd Beach, one of Broward County's
most important sea turtle nesting beaches, produces
some 10,000 hatchlings a year. When necessary
to prevent them from washing away, turtle eggs
are sometimes moved to a protected hatchery.
Hours of Operation
Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until
sundown 365 days a year.
Driving Directions
I-95 to Sheridan Street (Milepost Exit 21 - Old
Exit 24), east to A1A, north 1.5 miles; or Florida
Turnpike to Hollywood Blvd. (Exit 49), east to
A1A, north 2.5 miles.
Park Activities
Boat Ramp
Lloyd Beach has two boat ramps at our marina with
easy access to the ocean through the Port Everglades
Inlet. There is a user fee for the boat ramp.
There is plenty of room for boaters to beach along
the northern end of "Whiskey Creek"
where the whole family can enjoy a picnic with
easy access to their boat.
Boating
Boating is excellent at John U. Lloyd Beach State
Park. Whiskey Creek, a manatee sanctuary, flows through
the park and is adjacent to Port Everglades and the
Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). It provides an excellent
opportunity for viewing scenic wildlife by canoe or
kayak. Motorboats can be accommodated from the ICW
to just south of the restaurant, which is a short
walking distance from our popular swimming beach.
The park also has a boat ramp ($5.00 fee) which provides
easy access to the ICW. Ocean access is available
through the Port Everglades Inlet, about a mile away.
There is also a full service restaurant, “The
Loggerhead Café”; at the north end of
the creek which provides canoe and kayak rentals.
