Park Overview
Biscayne National Park is located near Miami, Florida. It is 1 of 3 major national parks in South Florida, the others being Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park. Biscayne is 95% under water and protects 4 major ecosystems: the mangrove swamp on the shoreline, Biscayne Bay, the coral limestone keys, and the offshore Florida Reef.
The idea of preserving of Biscayne Bay came about in 1960, when the development of Elliot Bay was up for discussion. This got activists stirred up, which is what made Lyndon B. Johnson name it a National Monument in 1968. The preserved land was expanded twice, officially becoming a national park in 1980.
Getting to Biscayne
Biscayne is located in Southern Florida near Miami. The closest and easiest airport would obviously be the Miami airport (MIA). However, you could fly into Orlando and take a road trip down the coast! Keep in mind you are pretty much only visiting the visitor center. Otherwise, you will need do a boat tour to see any other parts of the park.
Fees & Cancellation Stamp
There is no entry fee for Biscayne. The cancellation stamp can be found at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center.
Time Required
You can experience the park in 1 day by spending the morning at the visitor center, and taking an excursion in the afternoon. There are some trips that are only offered on certain days or weekends of the month. If you want to do more than one excursion, you might need to add on more days to your trip.
I gave myself 2 days at Biscayne because there were two trips I wanted to do and I couldn’t fit them in the same day. I tried local restaurants and other area attractions to fill my time.
Camping in Biscayne
Most of Biscayne is under water, but you can camp on both Boca Chita Key and Elliot Key. Each key charges $25 per night to camp, or $35 to camp and dock your boat.
Boca Chita Key – there are toilets, but no sinks or drinking water available. No fires.
Elliot Key – there are bathrooms, sinks, and water available. Fires are allowed in the group campsite only.
Both keys are first-come, first served (no reservations). They both allow pets on a leash and fishing but not in the harbor.
Where to go in Biscayne
Elliott Key
Elliott Key is the largest key in Biscayne. It is the northernmost of the true “Florida Keys.” It holds the only true “hiking” trail in Biscayne: Spite Highway, which is a 6 mile trail down the center of the key. The name comes from the developers who started to build the highway, before production came to a hault in the 1960s when it was named a National Monument. It’s an excellent place for swimming, picnicking, and enjoying the wildlife.
Boca Chita Key
Boca Chita Key is the most popular key. There is a beautiful lighthouse and offers beautiful views of the harbor and the Miami skyline. I took a boat tour to Boca Chita Key so I was able to go inside the light house. I’m not sure it’s open otherwise. There is one small walking path behind the bathrooms.
Adams Key
Adams Key is the least popular key, and is open for day use only. There is a picnic pavilion and toilets available. There is a very small walking trail and it is said there are some nice areas to see fish, and a great place to start a paddling trip.
Excursions Ideas
Boca Chita Key Cruise
The Boca Chita Key Cruise leaves from Deering Estate. You get free entry to Deering Estate with your ticket, so I went early to spend some time there. I really liked being able to go in the lighthouse and get pictures from the top, and the ranger who gave the tour, but otherwise I wouldn’t recommend. I went on July 3rd, so maybe that is part of it – but it was packed with locals who were camping/partying on the island.
Jones Lagoon Paddle
I wasn’t planning on doing the Jones Lagoon Paddle, but the ranger on the Boca Chita cruise recommended it. A friend has already recommended it, so I went back to my airbnb and booked it. I didn’t book it originally because of the price, but the price is worth it. It was amazing and definitely saved my experience in the park. I learned way more because I was with the tour guide the whole time. The mangroves are a key part of Biscayne, if you go to the park, you must see them!
I really wanted to do the Stiltsville kayaking trip, but I didn’t have enough time. The snorkeling trips looked fun but I had just done a lot of snorkeling in Dry Tortugas. The top trip I wanted to do was the cruise to all 3 keys, but that is only offered one weekend a month and I missed it by one weekend. My only true recommendation is to do something IN the water (kayak, SUP, or snorkel).
Visit Biscayne National Park Institute for a full list of tours and excursions.
Insider Scoop
I didn’t realize how costly this trip would be when I picked the Florida National Parks as my trip for 2022. All 3 parks (Biscayne, Everglades, and Dry Tortugas) require tickets and tours. It’s not like the Smokies were you can go hike every day. I don’t regret this trip whatsoever, but I wish I had known in advance, or I would have saved differently.
In order to see and experience Biscayne, you will have to spend money on the excursions. You don’t have to, of course, but just going to the visitor center will not do the park justice. I briefly mentioned this under “Time Required” but I would definitely plan for at least 2 days in Biscayne so you can do more than one trip.
Last Updated: February 26, 2023
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