The 10 Most Walkable Neighborhoods in Florida

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Florida’s sunny weather and generally flat landscape have made its cities popular destinations for those who like to travel on foot. And with environmental and affordability concerns increasingly on the forefront, finding a home within walking distance to everyday amenities is also a priority for Florida homebuyers.
Redfin wanted to see which Florida neighborhoods are the most walkable, based on data from Walk Score. Not surprisingly, densely packed Miami Beach ranked high on the list, nabbing the no. 1, no. 6 and no. 7 spots. Nearby Fort Lauderdale also had multiple showings on the list.
Which major cities didn’t make the cut for the most walkable neighborhoods? Tampa and Jacksonville were absent from the top 10 ranking. Read on to see the full top 10 list, including anecdotes from local Redfin real estate agents.

1. Flamingo Park, Miami Beach — Walk Score 94.6

“Flamingo Park is the central hub of Miami Beach’s nightlife and activity,” said Larry Kevelier, a Redfin real estate agent in Miami Beach. “People living in these condos are just a short walk or bike ride away from beaches on the east and west, clubs and nightlife, shopping and entertainment and of course, Flamingo Park itself. It’s easy and convenient to get around without a car, which is a good thing because parking is in very short supply. This neighborhood was designed with walkers in mind with its compact, village-style layout and access to two pedestrian-only streets: Lincoln Road, which is always car-free, and Espanola Way, which is closed to traffic Saturday mornings during the street fair. Flamingo Park is a great example of an urban environment that caters to those who enjoy a fun, active lifestyle.”

 

2. Downtown/Lake Eola, Orlando — Walk Score 92.6

“If you’re looking for a walkable neighborhood in Central Florida, this is your spot,” said MaryDell Penney, Redfin real estate agent in Orlando. “We get a lot of people moving to Orlando from Washington, D.C. and other, denser parts of the country. They are used to extensive transit systems and packed city blocks, so some of Orlando’s more spread out neighborhoods can feel very foreign. But for the transplant who wants to keep up their walking lifestyle, Downtown Orlando near Lake Eola is the place to be. You can walk to Lake Eola itself on the northwest corner of the neighborhood, or grab food and drinks at restaurants and cafes interspersed throughout the city blocks. And for those who work downtown, they can enjoy a stress-free commute by walking or riding their bike to work.”

 

3. Downtown St. Petersburg — Walk Score 90.9

“I’ve lived and worked in Downtown St. Pete for nearly 10 years now,” said Brian Walsh, a Redfin real estate agent in St. Petersburg. “There was a pre-crash boom of high-rise and condo development here that signaled the starting gun of St. Pete’s sprint into the town it has become today. The community now has changed so much – I swear every time I head downtown there is a new boutique restaurant or coffee spot. The local brewery, arts and music scene is also in full view with Jannus Live, State Theater, Morean Arts Center and plenty of awesome boutiques that appeal to all tastes. We host a fantastic number of annual events like the St. Pete Pride Parade, St. Petersburg Grand Prix, Mainsail Art Festival, Blues Fest, Rib Fest, Warped Tour, First Fridays; the list just goes on and on.”

 

4. Main Street, Sarasota — Walk Score 90.1

“This neighborhood has a lot of interesting mixed-use space and cute boutiques,” said Walsh. There are lots of small restaurants and antique shops that make it a fun neighborhood to stroll through on the weekend. It’s also really close to a lot of major condo towers on Bayfront that experience a surge of new homebuyer activity come fall and winter. The walkable neighborhood and pleasant weather has made Main Street a popular destination for snowbirds coming down to Florida to escape the colder winters up north.”

5. Downtown Fort Lauderdale — Walk Score 90

“The feeling of this neighborhood is ultra-modern, ultra-luxury,” said James Bednarczyk, a Redfin real estate agent in Fort Lauderdale. “A lot of the properties downtown are more euro-style with huge balconies overlooking the river, where you can see multi-million dollar yachts lined up. When I show properties in this neighborhood, often times my clients will arrive on foot. It’s a great destination if you want to live a car-free lifestyle. The opera house on the river attracts a lot of locals, as well as jazz in the park every other Sunday.”

 

6. South of Fifth, Miami Beach — Walk Score 89.7

“South of Fifth has all of the cafes and restaurants you’d ever want, but doesn’t have the same club scene as other parts of Miami Beach, making it the preferable spot for those who want a quieter area,” said Cecilia Cordova, a Redfin real estate agent in Miami Beach. “While it’s still mainly made up of the high-rise condos you find elsewhere in Miami Beach, you can also find the occasional townhome if you look hard enough. One of the best parts about South of Fifth is that it is surrounded by water on three sides, so a quick walk to the beach is possible no matter where you live.”

 

7. City Center, Miami Beach — Walk Score 89.4

“Residents living in City Center have a huge variety of activities at their fingertips,” said Vanessa Stelmach, a Redfin real estate agent in Miami Beach. “There are constantly events going on at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and tons of shopping along Lincoln Road. There’s also the Historic Fillmore Theatre, Miami City Ballet and the Bass Museum of Contemporary Arts. And of course, no matter where you are in Miami Beach, you’re just a short trip away from the water. Everything is so condensed here that walking is a feasible way to get to everything you need.”

 

8. Colee Hammock, Fort Lauderdale — Walk Score 88.9

“Colee Hammock has somewhat of an art-deco feel,” said Bednarczyk. “You’ll see more houses painted fun colors, with yellow or red doors and different types of architecture. Then mixed in you’ll also see a super modern home with sleek lines and a stone waterfall in the yard. The homes here suit many different types of buyers, and are within walking distance to a large strip of outside cafes, fine dining, clubs and even the beach.”  

 

9. Flagler Heights, Fort Lauderdale — Walk Score 88.3

“Downtown, Colee Hammock and Flagler Heights are all similar in their own way, but in Flagler Heights I’ve noticed a lot of really unique loft units that feel very New York in style and appeal to my clients moving from the Northeast,” said Bednarczyk. “They’ve got open and exposed AC ducts, polished cement floors and 14-foot ceilings. Then on the ground there’s a very artsy feel that you don’t quite get downtown. Lots of buildings have murals painted on the sides, and there are a lot of hip cafes and bars where younger crowds like to hang out.”

 

10. Rosemary District, Sarasota — Walk Score 86.9

“The Rosemary District is one of the oldest communities in Sarasota, and it’s seeing a great renewal with a lot of new construction and building activity taking place,” said Walsh. “It has a very city-like feel to it in a lot of ways, with huge waterfront towers always in view and a major shopping area just a few blocks away. The community is much more active than some of Sarasota’s more traditional bedroom neighborhoods.”

 

Walk Score Methodology: Walk Score analyzes hundreds of walking routes to nearby amenities to determine a neighborhood’s Walk Score, which is a number between 0 and 100.  Points are awarded based on the distance to amenities in each category. Amenities within a 5-minute walk (.25 miles) are given maximum points. A decay function is used to give points to more distant amenities, with no points given after a 30-minute walk. Walk Score also measures pedestrian friendliness by analyzing population density and road metrics such as block length and intersection density.

 

If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.
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Keena Bean

Keena spreads the word about Redfin and its agents by writing about a variety of housing market topics and sharing those stories with journalists across the country. Redfin is a full-service real estate brokerage that uses modern technology to make clients smarter and faster. For more information about working with a Redfin real estate agent to buy or sell a home, visit our “Why Redfin?,” page.

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