Spending a day in Key Biscayne National Park is more than just iconic beaches. Some amazing outdoor activities are snorkeling, boating, and fishing, all within a stone’s throw from downtown Miami. The entrance to the park is free, no park pass needed. We combined the park with a visit to Everglades National Park, which is only a 40-minute drive. This guide lists the best 8 things to do when visiting Key Biscayne National Park.
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A Guide to Key Biscayne National Park
Florida is home to three National Parks, Everglades, Dry Tortugas, and Key Biscayne. Key Biscayne is unique in that the 173,000-acre park is 95% water, containing the Florida Coral Reef and the Maritime Heritage Trail. The Maritime Heritage Trail protects six shipwrecks dating through the early 19th century. They built the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse in 1878 as they recently added it to the list. The lighthouse that lit the way for vessels headed to the port of Miami.
1. Dante Fascell Visitor Center
Only a 20-minute drive (9-mile) from Homestead, the entrance to the park is easily accessed via back-roads that pass by palm farms & rural areas. The park sign is at the small roundabout as you enter the park. We did a quick stop, not much parking to get our signature photo in front of the sign. On Biscayne Bay a 1/4 mile down the park road, you will find the Visitor Center. The parking lot has ample parking. Behind the Visitor Center is a small harbor protected by mangroves. The first floor of the center is restrooms and equipment rental. Outside, there is an interpretive trail that details the devastation Hurricane Andrew caused throughout the park.
Take the stairs to access the 2nd level. Inside, they have several very interesting educational displays highlighting terrestrial and marine ecosystems that you find within the park. In the theater, a short 20-minute film gives insight into the history of the park. The tour desk and a small bookstore are also on this level. The rocking chairs on the Visitor Center porch provide a splendid view of the harbor and bay a restful reprieve in the afternoon.
An easily accessible boardwalk runs along the shallow Biscayne Bay, leading to a jetty lined with mangroves. If time permits, take a ranger-led tour of the facility. There are benches to sit on and just soak in the view. Scattered along the shoreline are a few picnic tables and barbecue grills.
Best Things to Bring to Enjoy your Day
I recommend bringing food, snacks and drinks for a picnic by the water. There are no concessions on-site or on the island tours. Additionally, bring water in a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, bug repellent, binoculars, and a camera. There is a Walgreen’s in Homestead If you forget sunscreen or bug spray. A water refilling station is on the lower level of the visitor center. I suggest bringing a swim or wet suit, towel, and hat if you plan to do snorkel, kayak, or canoe tours.
2. Key Biscayne Institute Tours
To get a good appreciation of what Key Biscayne offers, I highly recommend taking a tour. The Key Biscayne Institute is an approved of National Park Service concessionaire that can provide boat tours. The Key Biscayne Institute has a few different tours to offer the visitor. The tour desk is on the 2nd level of the Visitor Center.
I have to give a shout out to the volunteers that operate the tour desk tour of the Key Biscayne Institute. On the morning of our tour, we had an issue with our car battery. Check-in is 30 minutes before the tours depart. One of the wonderful volunteers I spoke with on the phone assured us we would arrive within 5 minutes of our Boca Chita Key tour. They held the boat for us. This is by far the best service as they went above and beyond to calm our fears of missing our tour.
Best Things to Do in Key Biscayne -On the Water
3. Snorkeling Tours of the Bay
Consider doing a snorkel tour, since the vast majority of the park is underwater. Not only do you get to experience the Florida Keys Reef system, but you also get out on the water to see more of the actual park. A 30-minute boat ride takes you by Elliott Key, getting to the main reef. On the boat ride, occasionally pods of dolphins ride the boat wake. Other times, you will see loggerhead turtles, stingrays, or even a shark! You just never know what to expect.
Upon arrival at the reef, they give a brief orientation. They outfit you with the correct gear before entering the water. Then it is into the crystal-clear waters for a little adventure. Everywhere you can look, giant brain corals, swaying sea fans, unique sponges, and colorful fish surround you. The water depth is anywhere from 8 to 12 feet good for all levels of snorkelers. Take care not to touch the delicate corals, this is a fragile ecosystem.
An alternative snorkel tour may be offered if weather conditions are not ideal. The website states it can be a Wreck, Reef or Bay-side snorkel. The Mangrove forest snorkel is a unique experience. Mangrove Forests are important in tropical waters from an ecological standpoint. The Mangrove acts as the ideal nursery for much of the juvenile fish. It provides vital protection for many native fish species that spawn in the roots. Snorkeling here you will see stingrays, mangrove snapper, young mullet, and grunts. The roots solidify the shoreline, stopping damaging waves from taking away the sand. If we want to protect the fish on the reef, we need to sustain the mangrove habitat.
4. Kayaking Adventures
The tours provide you with everything – canoes, paddles, life jackets – just show up. You’re good to go.
This is a great way to spend a morning. Paddling through the mangrove forest, the guides stop often to talk about marine life and natural history. It is a laid back paddle trip – and it’s really not too much of a workout. Even the novice will enjoy this trip. I think most of the longer day trips that are offered may be a bit more intense and for experienced paddlers only. The bay is a kayaker’s paradise.
5. Saltwater Fishing
Well known for the elusive Bonefish and the hard to catch Permit along with the acrobatic Tarpon. Fishing in the park requires a Florida saltwater fishing license. They permit fishing on the island, off-limits are the swim areas and marinas. There are many species for anglers to find within the grass flats, mangrove channels and the offshore reefs. They enforce saltwater regulations additionally they allow NO harvest of lobster within the park boundary waters.
6. Boca Chita Key Boat Tour
This is one of the most popular tours. It is advisable to book early through the Institute’s website; they limit space on the boat to 25 people. The cost approx. $40 per person is an excellent value. The one-hour boat trip over was very nice, with a great commentary from a marine biologist and guide. On the ride out, the Captain stated we might get a bit wet, a bit of an understatement. It was very windy the day we did this trip. Because we were late, we took the last seats in the middle of the boat. We had light rain gear, and it saved us from being soaking wet upon arrival at the island. The Turkey Point Nuclear Plant is visible on the ride out to the island. Sometimes you may see dolphins, however, today we saw little with the heavy waves.
Boca Chita offers a protected harbor with covered picnic tables and grills that provide protection from the sun and occasional showers. Upon arrival at the island, the large yachts blaring loud music appalled us. Many generator cords create an obstacle course around the marina. Towels and kids’ bikes were all over the boardwalk, trash was overflowing the receptacles. I had read earlier reviews that the weekend crowds are often a problem. Because it was Christmas, they overcrowded the marina basin with boats.
What to do at Boca Chita?
You will have about 1 hour to explore the island. The best option is to see the 50′ lighthouse. The tour operator unlocks the lighthouse when you arrive on the island. It is only open for a short time each day. We took advantage of the climb up the steps to get a great perspective of the island and the view on a clear day you can see the Miami skyline. In the 1930s Mark Honeywell build the lighthouse. It was purely decoration. It never was a working lighthouse. The park ranger was very knowledgeable as he chatted about the history of the island quite interesting.
We hiked the short trail around the island in about 10 minutes. The trail originally looped around the island. Today the trail is out and back because Hurricane Irma washed the small footbridge away. If you wade through the channel, it can be a loop trail. The bathrooms are well-maintained by the park rangers daily. There is no running water, so come prepared. There is a small beach area on the north side of the island. We did not see anyone venture to swim, as the weather was uncooperative today. The shallow waters are prime for swimming and snorkeling in warmer weather, so if you want to bring the beach essentials, I would when the weather is better.
Campers can stay on the island, there are restrooms, picnic tables and grills. There are no wash sinks or showers and no running water on the island.
7. Elliot or Adams Key Tours
Elliott Key is approximately 7 miles offshore from the Visitor Center. It is more family-oriented compared to Boca Chita. The harbor is shallow compared to Boca Chita. What I liked most is the camping area is large and you can camp almost anywhere except nearer to the marina. Restrooms with sinks and cold water showers, picnic tables, and grills are available. The Key’s main trail is a 7-mile north to the south trail. Only a couple of locations on the well-marked trail provide excellent views of the bay. There is a shorter trail that cuts across the island that is about a mile long. Be prepared, the well-marked trails are overgrown in some places. Because of the warm weather, often the mosquitoes are vicious on the island. Bring lots of bug spray.
Adams Key is open as a day-use area only. Facilities include a picnic pavilion and toilets. Only accessible by boat, the island was once an island getaway for the rich and famous. There is a small loop walking trail through the hardwood hammock. The marina has a small dockage. Most of the dock area is for the NPS employees who live on the island. Two homes located here house employees.
8. Stiltsville Scenic Tour
The Institute offers a 3-hour tour from the Deering Estate. Be sure to BOOK IN ADVANCE your tours, it only offers them the 1st and 3rd Sundays: 12:00 PM-2:30 PM. You can chance just showing up, but the boat may be full. Your ticket covers entry into the Deering Estate. Your entire tour is by boat. These are NOT houses you can tour, you will NOT be getting off the boat.
Built in 1933, the first Stiltsville house included restaurants, bars, and nightclubs frequented by the Miami crowd. Many of the bars served alcohol during the time of prohibition and considered illegal. At one time, the total number of homes was 27. Today, there are only 7 homes remaining. Many hurricanes, however, have taken their toll. Stiltsville became incorporated in 1985 within the park boundaries. They discontinued building in the park. The Stiltsville Trust today manages the last remaining homes. You can only explore them with a permit.
9. Deering Estate-The Rich & Famous
Consider combining the Deering Estate with the Stiltsville or Boca Chita tour. Offered daily Museum Tours starts at 10:30 AM & 3 PM. They offer Nature Preserve Tours at 12:30 PM – October through May.
The guided tour of the house was all decked out for the Christmas season. The holiday decorations are spectacular. The tour guide narrates all the history that goes with the estate. Richmond House was used as a hotel originally, however, when the railway came to provide faster transportation to the Florida Keys, it bypassed the estate. The wine cellar was a pleasant surprise and the upstairs bedrooms, each with a bath, were quite the find for a home in southern Florida. What I liked most was the sweeping views across the sprawling green lawn to the bay that can be seen from the balcony.
I definitely recommend doing the Nature Preserve tour. The guides are knowledgeable about the flora & fauna of the estate. They give details on the endangered habitats on the ten acres of lawns and traditional plantings. A visit to a Native Tequesta burial mound, an archaeological site, is interesting. The boat basin in the winter sometimes has Manatees, none today. Lined by palms, the area surrounding the boating basin has a few benches for visitors who want to sit and admire the views.
Take the time to wander the estate and enjoy this stunning piece of Miami history and its beautiful location.
Planning Resources
- Lodging options available – Key Biscayne National Park–visit this website to see the options available in the Park. Remember to book well in advance.
- Free RV Guide to Key Biscayne – RV Resorts & Campsites in Biscayne National Park.
- Deering Estate Website – plan your day at the Deering Estate
- Campground information is available through the official Park website
- Map of Key Biscayne National Park–a great resource to plan your trip and understand the location of the keys.
- Key Biscayne National Park Official Site–Plan your visit, get updates on weather and general information.
- Getting to there – Key Biscayne National Park – good planning guide with a few tips and tricks
- Outdoor Activities – Planning your outdoor activities-what to do and when to do them.
- Key Biscayne National Institute Tours-website to book tours before your trip.
Final Thoughts
Key Biscayne National Park has much to offer the traveler, whether it is for the day or an entire week. I am amazed by this park’s efforts to protect one of the world’s most famous live coral reefs. This is a wonderful place for a nature walk that will refresh your spirit. This is a must see for anyone interested in the National Parks. Bird watching, nature, and gorgeous water are the reasons you should go!
Have you visited Key Biscayne?? What did you enjoy most? Drop a comment below on what you liked the best, we love for you to SHARE!
