Deerfield Beach: a short hop up the coast from Pompano
About 6 miles north, Deerfield Beach has its own long fishing pier and a relaxed beach. Here is how to make a morning of it.
2-minute walk to the beach
Free parking
Courtyard pool
Book direct
Where Deerfield Beach is
Deerfield Beach is the northernmost coastal city in Broward County, just south of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County. From central Pompano Beach to the Deerfield Beach pier is about 6 miles by road. It feels a lot like Pompano: a working fishing pier, a family beach and condos along the shore.
Getting there
A1A
The prettiest route runs north on A1A, across Hillsboro Inlet and along the narrow strip of Hillsboro Beach, with the ocean on one side and the Intracoastal on the other. You pass close to the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse on the way. It is a two-lane road with low speed limits, so take your time.
Federal Highway
Federal Highway (US-1) is quicker when A1A is busy. Head north through Lighthouse Point, then east on Hillsboro Boulevard to the beach.
Beach parking in Deerfield is mostly paid and fills up on weekends. Check the city’s parking information before you go.
The International Fishing Pier
Deerfield Beach’s International Fishing Pier, at 200 NE 21st Ave, runs 976 feet into the Atlantic, a little longer than Pompano’s Fisher Family Pier. It was damaged by Hurricane Nicole in 2022, and the city closed it in 2024 for a major repair project with new railings, lighting and pavilions. It has since reopened.
Like Pompano’s pier, it is popular with anglers at dawn and with walkers in the evening. If you are a pier fisher, trying both in one week is a fun way to compare. Our Pompano Beach Pier guide has the rules for the pier closer to home.
Pier hours, fees and any repair closures are set by the City of Deerfield Beach. Check before you go.
The beach
The main beach sits on either side of the pier along A1A, with a palm-shaded walkway behind the sand. Surfers and paddleboarders tend to use the north side of the pier. The water is clear on calm days, and the crowd is a mix of families, locals and visitors.
How it compares with Pompano Beach
- Both have a long fishing pier near the center of the beach.
- Deerfield is a little further from the airport, Pompano a little closer.
- Pompano has the Hillsboro Inlet and its charter fleet at the north end of town.
- Both are calmer than Fort Lauderdale.
Many of our guests treat Deerfield as a change of scene for a morning, then come back for lunch in their own kitchen and an afternoon at the courtyard pool.
A simple Deerfield morning
- Sunrise: coffee on the sand in Pompano, a 2-minute walk from your door.
- Mid-morning: drive A1A north past the lighthouse.
- Late morning: walk the Deerfield pier and the beach.
- Lunch: back home, or keep going north to Boca Raton.
Combine it with the neighbors
Deerfield sits between Lighthouse Point and Boca Raton, so it is easy to string two together. The drive up A1A is also the best way to see the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse up close from the road.
If you only have time for one trip north, choose by what you enjoy most. Anglers and pier walkers will like Deerfield. Snorkelers and families who want a nature center should keep going to Boca Raton. Either way, the drive home is short, and the beach at Pompano is still a 2-minute walk from your door when you get back. Many guests like to finish the day with a swim in the courtyard pool, then a simple dinner in their own kitchen.
Hillsboro Beach on the way
Between Pompano and Deerfield, A1A runs along Hillsboro Beach, a long, narrow town of oceanfront homes and condos. The road is lined with sea grape and palms, and in places you can see the Intracoastal on one side and the ocean through gaps on the other. Much of the beach along this stretch sits behind private property, so treat it as a scenic drive rather than a place to stop.
Fishing both piers
For anglers, a week in Pompano is a chance to fish two long ocean piers. Pompano’s Fisher Family Pier is closest to home, with its bait shop and rod rentals. Deerfield’s International Fishing Pier is a change of water a few miles north. Fees, licensing rules and hours are set by each city, so check both before you go. Our pier fishing guide covers tackle and timing.
Deerfield with kids
The beach by the pier is an easy morning with children. Bring your own chairs and shade, since rentals and shade vary, and plan for a short visit rather than a full day. You can be back at the courtyard pool at Pompano Breeze by lunchtime.
Where to stay
Pompano Breeze is a 2-minute walk from the beach in Pompano Beach, with free on-site parking for day trips up the coast. Suites sleep 4 to 5 and studios sleep 2 to 3. Check availability and book direct with no platform fees.
The Pompano Breeze Standard
Clean every time
Every unit is cleaned and inspected before every arrival.
We reply fast
A real person answers calls, texts and emails.
Steps to the sand
Towels, chairs and the beach, a 2-minute walk away.
FAQ
How far is Deerfield Beach from Pompano Beach?
About 6 miles by road from central Pompano Beach to the Deerfield Beach pier, by A1A or Federal Highway.
How long is the Deerfield Beach pier?
The International Fishing Pier runs 976 feet into the Atlantic. It reopened after a repair project that followed Hurricane Nicole damage.
Which is better, Deerfield Beach or Pompano Beach?
They are similar. Both have a long fishing pier and a family beach. Pompano is a little closer to FLL and has Hillsboro Inlet at its north end, and Deerfield is a little closer to Boca Raton.
What county is Deerfield Beach in?
Deerfield Beach is the northernmost coastal city in Broward County, just south of Boca Raton in Palm Beach County.
Two piers, one easy week.
Stay a 2-minute walk from the sand in Pompano Beach and book direct with no platform fees.