Tips for spending the perfect day in Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys
Bahia Honda State Park sits in the lower part of the Florida Keys at MM 37, between Marathon and Key West. (Our Florida Keys for Families post goes further in depth on the mile marker system in the Keys.) Bahia Honda (pronounced BAY-ah HON-da) means “deep bay” in Spanish, because the channel on the island’s western side is one of the deepest natural channels in the Florida Keys.
The deep water creates gorgeous dark turquoise, teals, and aqua colors, which sparkle in the bright Florida sunshine. Read on for the best ways to spend a day in Bahia Honda park!
How to Get to Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda State Park is on Bahia Honda Key, the very first key after driving south over the remarkable Seven Mile Bridge. The majority of Bahia Honda Key is covered by the park, and it is one of the busiest state parks in the Florida Keys (along with John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Key Largo).
Spending a day in Bahia Honda is a great way to break up the drive if you are heading from Key Largo to Key West, or vice versa. Driving from Key Largo to the park will take a little over an hour on the Overseas Highway, and 50 minutes coming north from Key West.
The best things to do with a day in Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda has something for every member of the family to enjoy, and boasts some of the best beaches in the Florida Keys. The water is clear and perfect for paddling, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and boating. There are hiking trails, boat launches, and tons of shady areas for picnics. The entire family can find things to do at this park!
Visit the Bahia Honda beaches
Bahia Honda State Park has the largest natural sand beach in all of the Florida Keys. There are three beach areas at the park, each known for being beautiful and pristine. Calusa Beach sits in the Florida Bay and has views of the old Bahia Honda Bridge and the Overseas Highway. There is an area roped off for swimming and snorkeling in the turquoise water and plenty of space on the white sand for chairs and beach canopies.
Loggerhead Beach lies on the Atlantic Ocean side of the park and is a great spot for paddling or fishing. This is the longest stretch of beach with sand dunes, perfect for spotting manatees and dolphins right from the shore.
Sandspur Beach was nearly destroyed in 2017 from Hurricane Irma, and state park officials worked countless hours to restore the beach, campground, and trails in this area. It has recently (2024) been reopened and is a quiet and gorgeous stretch of sand and beach.
Take your kayak or paddleboard out on the water
Launching from the sandy shores of Loggerhead beach, you can paddle around the island, past mangroves, under the bridge, and over sandbars. The water is shallow for long stretches and reminds us of the Caribbean! Keep a lookout for marine life like manatees and dolphins, and large tropical fish.
Note: If you don’t have your own vessel, single and tandem sea kayaks can be rented from the gift shop.
We bring our inflatable paddleboards on any trip where we might find some water to paddle on. Our iRocker boards are lightweight, inflate and deflate in minutes, and have their own carrying bags. And just by adding a clip-on kayak seat, we can transform them into kayaks if we have a longer paddle planned!
Snorkeling at Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda offers daily snorkeling tours, taking visitors out to the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. One of the most spectacular reefs in the Florida Keys, snorkelers get an hour and a half to spot over 50 species of colorful coral, 150 species of fish, sea sponges, and all sorts of marine animals. Reservations must be made one hour prior to departure at the gift shop.
Calusa beach has areas for snorkelers who prefer staying near the beach. The water is shallow and clear, and you can see tropical fish and shells. Snorkeling Bahia Honda State Park is one of the best places to snorkel in the Florida Keys!
Go fishing in the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are known for being the sportfishing capital of the world! The best place to fish in Bahia Honda is right off of the old Bahia Honda Bridge. Here you can try your luck for snapper, tarpon, and grouper. Or fish right off the shore for bonefish or barracuda.
Tip: Be sure to bring your Florida Saltwater fishing license on your trip!
Pick a shady spot on the beach
The park has multiple areas with natural shade, as well as permanent shade areas with picnic tables scattered throughout. Our best tip is to arrive early to secure your spot, then you can spend all day in Bahia Honda exploring the park protected from the hot sun. Or, bring your own beach canopy or umbrella and pick a sandy beach area perfect for a blanket and some chairs.
Note: There is no alcohol allowed in Bahia Honda State Park. That being said, no one did any “cooler checks” upon our arrival.
Plan a family picnic
Is there anything more picturesque than enjoying a picnic lunch while overlooking miles and miles of aquamarine ocean? I think this is what Heaven feels like. We usually bring our own picnic lunch to save some money on trips, knowing the kids are going to want a special treat after a day in the sun.
If you don’t feel like packing the cooler with food before your day in the park, the gift shop has a full food concession area offering anything from breakfast to dinner. They have breakfast sandwiches, cheeseburgers and hot dogs, nachos, sandwiches, subs, and of course, ice cream!
Check out the marina
One awesome feature about Bahia Honda State Park is you can arrive by boat and enjoy the park amenities. Boat slips can be rented for up to two weeks, so if you can’t get a camping reservation you could stay on your boat! The marina has 19 slips and is reasonably priced. This is also where the gift shop is located and where the snorkel tours begin and end.
Get a bird's eye view of the park from the old Bahia Honda Bridge
The Overseas Railroad was built by Henry Flagler in the 1900’s to bring visitors down to the lower Florida Keys. After a hurricane destroyed parts of the railway and the Bahia Honda Bridge in 1935, the railroad was transformed into the original Overseas Highway by adding a concrete top for vehicles.
Once the current Overseas Highway was constructed, the previous road became a place for people to exercise and a great fishing spot. You can see a good portion of the old railway from the park, and even walk on it a bit for a great view of Bahia Honda State Park and the miles of ocean surrounding the Keys!
Common Questions about Spending a Day in Bahia Honda State Park
What does it cost to visit Bahia Honda State Park? (Upd. for 2024)
- $8.00* per vehicle, up to 8 people
- $2.00* Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass
- $4.00* Single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle
*Plus $.50 per person Monroe County Surcharge.
Tip: The park fills up quickly on weekends and holidays, arrive at or before opening to assure you get a spot!
Is Bahia Honda a good place to visit with kids?
Absolutely! This is such a great park for families of all ages. If the swimming, snorkeling, and fishing, aren’t enough, Bahia Honda also has a 3 1/2 mile bicycle trail, and places to hunt for geocaches and seashells. Honestly, the hardest part of our day was getting everyone to leave!
Note: There are showers and large changing areas after you are done with your day at the beach.
Can you camp in Bahia Honda State Park?
Absolutely! There are 75 campsites in Bahia Honda State Park, with areas for tents as well as RV’s. Because of the popularity of the park, these sites can book up almost a year in advance- especially the oceanfront locations. We definitely recommend trying to snag a night or two, how often do you get to camp right along a beautiful beach?
Tip: Bahia Honda is one of the most popular state parks for camping in Florida. Make your reservations as early as you can, or try to snag a cancelation. That’s how we ended up with this site right on the water!
When is the best time to visit the Florida Keys?
The best time to visit the Keys is from January through April. It is warm enough to swim and do all the outdoor activities, there is a slight breeze at night that helps keep the mosquitoes away, and -besides during Spring Break- you will find a more relaxed vibe.
Bahia Honda State Park is open from 8AM until sundown, 365 days a year. Holidays and weekends are the busiest times to visit. The Florida Keys have a subtropical climate, with an average high of 82° F and an average low of 73° F. In summer (the rainy season) it gets super hot and humid, and June through late October is hurricane season.
Packing Tips for a Day in Bahia Honda
- If you will be paddling with your phone, use this waterproof phone case for protection
- Wear sunscreen, pack it with you, and remember to reapply. The sun is super strong down in south Florida. We love this one because it is reef friendly and zinc based- no more chemicals! And don’t forget your lips, they need protection too.
- UPF clothing is super functional on fishing charters. Most likely you will spend all day in the sun and you need to protect your skin!
- These sunglasses are lightweight and polarized, I have them in several colors.
- In the late summer the mosquitoes can be awful, so bring good bug spray. Also citronella candles or tiki torches are helpful if you are camping.
- We brought our own snorkel gear because it is fitted just how we like it, but if you don’t have any most snorkel trips can provide daily rentals.
- Don’t forget to drink your water! This is our favorite travel mug, keeping drinks cold for hours.
- If you are planning on spending even a few hours at one of the Bahia Honda beaches, you should bring some sort of shade. This canopy sets up in under a minute and has been great for traveling!
We enjoyed Bahia Honda State Park so much that we visited twice on our Florida Keys road trip. Any time we travel to the Keys we make it a point to spend a day in the park. It is paradise on earth!
Other amazing places to visit near the Florida Keys:
Safe travels!
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