Flagler Beach is a laid-back city on the Atlantic coast
The small city of Flagler Beach is a laid-back community of about 5,000 known for its sandy coastline and top-notch surfing. And while this place is popular with tourists, building height restrictions have helped locals preserve the city’s slow-paced, small-town vibe. “Flagler Beach has a three-story, 35-foot height restriction, so you don’t get those big condo building shadows. It keeps [the area] charming,” says Realtor John Horan of Palm Wave Realty, who has decades of experience working with clients. One exception to the rule is the four-story Compass by Margaritaville hotel, which opened on Moody Boulevard in May 2025. “There was a hotel there many years ago that was the hub of the town, so this new hotel is a really cool, exciting thing for Flagler,” Horan says.
A variety of single-family homes, townhomes and condos
Flagler Beach homes come in a mix of Old Floridian styles, including block construction cottages with pastel-hued hurricane shutters and stucco-clad snout homes, so named for their front-facing garages. Large New Traditionals with broad front lawns and manicured gardens are common in subdivisions like Eagle Lakes and Fairchild Oaks. Townhomes and condos, in oceanfront buildings and inland, gated communities, are also available. Single-family homes typically sell for between $190,000 and $2.3 million, with the median hovering close to $560,000. Townhomes and condos range from about $140,000 to $575,000, depending on square footage and view.
The Matanzas River and the Halifax River are prone to flooding. High water and wind damage are risks during hurricane season. Hurricane Milton, a Category 1 storm that made landfall in October 2024, caused nearly $11 million of property damage in Flagler Beach.
Surfing and more outdoor recreation in Flagler Beach
“We’re a great surfing destination. We get such good summer swells,” Horan says. The waves are also some of the largest in the state, averaging 2.5 feet. Annual competitions, including the Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic in November and the Hang 8 Dog Surfing Competition in May, are held on the oceanfront near the Flagler Beach Fishing Pier. The pier itself is currently closed due to damage sustained during Hurricane Ian in 2022, but it’s expected to reopen in 2026.
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach, on the south side of town, has a sandy, swimmable oceanfront beach and boat access to the Intracoastal Waterway. The state park also has campsites, picnic areas and trails for hiking, biking and paddling. Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, nearby, features a multiuse trail and boat access to Bulow Creek. An outdoor museum and interpretive exhibits in the visitor center give an overview of the plantation’s history. Other parks in the area, including Wadsworth Park, Wickline Park and Silver Lake Park, have courts, playgrounds, picnic areas and more.
Local students are zoned to Flagler Schools or Volusia County Schools
Students may attend Flagler Schools, which earns a B-plus from Niche, or Volusia County Schools (B), depending on their address. Both systems allow in- and out-of-district transfers by application. The Flagler Schools district serves just over 13,000 students across 10 schools, including Old Kings Elementary (A-), Buddy Taylor Middle (B) and Flagler Palm Coast High (B-plus). The high school offers an Aeronautics program in which visiting professors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University teach dual-credit classes in aviation, aerospace and engineering.
Surf shops and seafood restaurants in Flagler Beach’s coastal downtown
Publix anchors the Beach Village shopping center, on the city’s west side, close to a CVS, a Sherwin-Williams Paint Store and a Dollar Tree. There’s a Dollar General about a mile east down Moody Boulevard, near Big Al’s Bait & Tackle and Coconut Bay, a beachwear and souvenirs shop. Z Wave Surf Shop and Flagler Board Shack, also nearby, offer surf lessons, along with board rentals and repairs. Restaurants are scattered throughout the coastal commercial district, too. Horan recommends Flagler Fish Company, a local favorite for seafood since 2005, and Next Door Beach Bistro, a chic French-inspired spot. He also recommends Crave’s Coastal Kitchen, a family-owned eatery. “It’s mostly seafood, but it’s the best prime rib in town,” Horan says.
U.S. Route 1, Interstate 95 run toward Jacksonville and Orlando
U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 95 follow the coast north toward St. Augustine, about 40 miles away. “The drive from Flagler Beach to St. Augustine is one of the most beautiful in all of Florida, because there are stretches where you can see the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean at the same time. It’s gorgeous,” Horan says. Jacksonville is roughly 75 miles northwest via I-95, and Orlando is about 80 miles southwest via Interstates 95 and 4. International airports in the two cities are within about 95 miles of most homes. AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital, a top regional employer, is less than 10 miles from most homes. Flagler County Public Transportation provides dial-a-ride service to the county.
