Visiting Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys

If you’ve been to the Florida Keys before, you’ll know that the beaches there are not the best. It’s a bit surprising since the Florida Keys are very tropical looking, but I hate to break it to you if you haven’t been…the beaches are so-so. Probably because a lot of them are man-made. However, one of the few places that DOES have beautiful beaches is Bahia Honda State Park.

There are actually quite a few state parks in the Florida Keys, including John Pennekamp in Key Largo and Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West. But I love stopping at Bahia Honda State Park for it’s beautiful scenery and beaches.

About Bahia Honda State Park:

The Florida Keys are just a short drive down from Miami and is a great place for a long weekend getaway for people in South Florida. It’s about an hour and 20 minute drive until you reach the first key: Key Largo. If you want to go all the way to Key West, it will take about 3.5 hours from Miami, Florida.

Bahia Honda State Park is located at Mile Marker 37 along US 1. (Mile markers are how you find everything in the keys.) This park is located quite a ways down the Florida Keys; about two thirds down US 1 before reaching Key West. From Bahia Honda, it’s about 45 minutes down to Key West. It’s right before Big Pine Key and directly after the 7 mile bridge.

The cost to enter Bahia Honda State Park is $8 per vehicle or $2.50 for pedestrians or cyclists. And you can visit on any day of the year.

There are 500 acres of park, plus an off shore island. There are 3 beach areas, a campground/cabins, picnic areas and boat ramps. It’s very much a place to relax on the beach and take it easy. Bahia Honda is the tropical paradise that you probably imagine when you think of the Florida Keys.

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Things to Do at Bahia Honda State Park:

I’d say most people come here for the beaches. It’s probably one of the best options in the keys in terms of beaches, but it’s also just a nice place to explore and walk around.

Bahia Honda Beaches

There are three beaches at Bahia Honda State Park: Calusa Beach, Loggerhead Beach and Sandspur Beach. Each one is beautiful and worth a visit. Bahia Honda is a great place to swim as the water temperatures are typically warm and the water is shallow.

Calusa Beach

Calusa beach is on the Florida Bay side and has the best view of the old Bahia Honda Bridge and the Overseas Highway. The water color is fantastic here and I highly recommend taking the trail to the old bridge to get a bird’s eye view of the bay. It’s also worth noting that Calusa Beach is reserved for swimming and snorkeling only.

This was my favorite Bahia Honda beach. While the beach isn’t very wide, it’s got the best water color and pretty white sand. The water is shallow and a good place to hang out in the water. On a non-windy day, it’s a great place for families with kids because of how shallow it is. There are also picnic tables right on the sand, so you don’t have to go far for your picnic lunch.

Loggerhead Beach

Loggerhead Beach is a long stretch of sand towards the west side of the park. It faces the Atlantic Ocean and definitely has more room to stretch out. There are picnic tables nearby also and you can do other water activities on this side, such as kayaking and fishing.

Both beaches are not very wide, though Loggerhead Beach has more vegetation. We also ended up on this side because we went on a particularly windy day and it was far too windy on the Calusa Beach side. And while you don’t have a view of the bridge, you can walk down to the end and have a nice shot of it.

Sandspur Beach

This beach area is near the campgrounds of Bahia Honda but was hit by Hurricane Irma hit in 2017. The hurricane did quite a bit of damage as well as dispersed a lot of the sand. Both the beach and campgrounds reopened in 2022. This beach is also a long stretch of sand and is located just past Loggerhead Beach.

Old Bahia Honda Bridge

A fun thing to do is take the quick trail up to the old Bahia Honda Bridge that you can see from Calusa Beach and the very edge of Loggerhead Beach. This is the only trail here and it’s a pretty quick walk.

The Overseas Railway was built by Henry Flagler and changed the keys–allowing access to the islands and proving a road way was possible. (You can also visit the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach!) The original Overseas Highway began construction in the 1920s and had two completed sections before a hurricane hit in 1935 damaging the railway significantly.

The (new) Overseas Highway, which you can see from the old bridge, was built on portions of the old rail bridge instead and took the route all the way to the keys. It was completed in 1938 and includes the famous 7 Mile Bridge over water.

The walk is fairly short and you aren’t allowed to go far along the bridge as it breaks off at some point. However, you do get to go up high enough to see Bahia Honda from above.

The bridge has a great view of both of the beaches. Depending on time of day, you might get a different view. The view of Calusa Beach:

The view of Loggerhead Beach at different times of the year and different years (they have obviously changed the landscaping a bit):

Snorkeling

The beaches at Bahia Honda State Park are pretty shallow so it’s a great place to snorkel. If you swim further from the shore, you might see some small coral, tropical fish and other sea creatures. You can rent snorkeling gear from the concession stand if you don’t have your own.

Another option is to take a snorkeling tour to Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. The park has daily 1.5 hour tours at 9:30am and 1:30pm. Looe Key is located 12 miles off of Bahia Honda and its reefs have become a popular snorkeling place. You can rent snorkeling equipment for the tour or bring your own.

Tour Cost: $29.95 for adults, $24.95 for 18 and under.

Kayaking

Kayaks are available to rent through the concession stand as well to paddle around the area but you aren’t allowed in the designated swimming areas. You can rent them by the hour or for a half day.

Cost: Single Kayak–$12/hour or $36 for a half day. Double Kayak–$18/hour or $54 for a half day.

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Camping at Bahia Honda

If you want to stay longer, you can actually camp at Bahia Honda State Park! There are 80 camping spots available in a few different places. They have spaces for tents and RV’s but you should definitely reserve your spot. Campgrounds at state parks, especially in Florida, book out months in advance. Camping in Bahia Honda costs $36 per night plus a $6.70 reservation fee.

Buttonwood Campground

Sites 1-48. The Buttonwood Campground is the most accommodating campground. Whether you have an RV or tent, there are sites available for that. Here you’ll find showers, bathrooms, tables, grills, electricity, etc.

Sandspur Campground

Sites 49-72. The Sandspur Beach Camping has been closed because of the damage from Hurricane Irma and as of 2022, it looks to be reopened. This campsite can accommodate smaller trailers, popups and tents. You’ll also have similar facilities as the Buttonwood Campground.

Bayside Campground

Sites 73-80. This is the smallest area with only 8 spots available. It also has fewer amenities with only picnic tables, grills, water and a restroom available. You’ll also need a small vehicle to reach these spots as you have to go under a low clearance section of about 6.5 ft under the bridge.

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Things to know:

• There is a nature center, gift shop, dive shop and deli. However, I’d recommend coming prepared with snacks and lunch.
• There is little to no shade on the beach. If you are wanting to stay all day, you might want to bring your own umbrella for the beach!
• Dogs ARE allowed, but like all Florida State Parks, they need to be on a 6 ft leash and are NOT allowed on the beach. Basically, you can take them on the trails or sidewalks and have them in the camp area I believe.
• Lastly, you might have noticed seagrass in the pictures. I have been several times and the first time I went, there wasn’t any on Calusa Beach (you can see this in my pictures from the bridge). This recent time, there was lots (also seen in the pictures). It’s not pretty but the seagrass is not removed from the beaches as it’s beneficial to the beach’s ecology.

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Where to Stay

If you aren’t planning on camping at Bahia Honda State Park, but want to stay nearby, here are a few options to check out. Bahia Honda is located between Big Pine Key and Marathon. Big Pine Key is about 10 minutes down the road, while Marathon is about 20 minutes up the road.

• Coconut Cay Resort $$
• Banana Bay Resort & Marina $$
• Tranquility Bay Beach Resort $$$
• Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club $$
• Looe Key Reef Resort and Dive Center $$
• Parmer’s Resort $$

If you’ve never stayed in the Keys before, I hate to be the one to break it to you. But places in the Keys can get wildly expensive in the winter even for the dingiest of places. Cheaper accommodations will look very Art Deco with mismatched decor and outdated everything, but still be pricy during peak season. It depends on when you go and their availability at the time.

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There are a lot of places to stop and explore in the Florida Keys but none that have the beautiful beaches like Bahia Honda State Park. It’s a great place to spend the afternoon. Even if you just go to walk around for an hour or two, it’s still worth the views!

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