The park is renowned for its year-round, mild sea breezes that caress the coasts in addition to its trademark Florida Keys beauty, sandy beaches, gin-clear waters, and breathtaking sunsets.
The uninhabited island of Bahia Honda Key became a popular tourist destination thanks to Henry Flagler’s audacious plan to construct a train to Key West in the early 1900s.
The park is well-known for the gentle sea breezes that caress the coasts year-round in addition to its typical Florida landscape, which includes palm-lined beaches, gin-clear waters, and breathtaking sunsets.
The park introduces nature enthusiasts to the island’s flora and fauna and is a great site to watch wading birds and shorebirds.
Rentable kayaks and snorkeling equipment are available, as well as boat cruises to the reef for snorkeling excursions.
In This Article...
Bahia Honda is which key?
About two thirds of the way along US 1 before reaching Key West, in the Florida Keys, is where you’ll find this park. It’s located after the 7 mile bridge and just before Big Pine Key. At milepost 37, there is a state park called Bahia Honda (mile markers are how you find everything in the keys).
Along with a 500-acre park, I recently learned about an offshore island (not sure where it is ha). There are three different beaches, cottages and a campground, picnic spaces, and boat ramps. It’s a spot where you may unwind on the beach and take it easy. When you think of the Florida Keys, you probably picture a tropical paradise similar to Bahia Honda.
How far is Key from Bahia Honda?
With its smooth sandy shoreline and tranquil, clear waters in the shadow of the railroad trestle bridge, Bahia Honda State Park, 37 miles north of Key West, consistently rates as one of the greatest beaches in the country.
One of the beaches near Bahia Honda is Sandspur Beach.
picture provided by Hans Gruber
The only live coral barrier reef in the continental United States lies off the coast of the Florida Keys, which provides great fishing, snorkeling, and diving opportunities. However, that same reef also prevents sand from washing ashore and forming natural beaches. The exception is Bahia Honda, which boasts not just one, but three breathtaking beaches, earning the park the title of America’s Best Beach in the past.
The largest beach on the island is Sandspur Beach, which you can reach by hanging a left as you approach the park. Grab a floatie, drop your belongings at a picnic table beneath one of the three pavilions, and enter the crystal-clear, shallow water.
You might search for a more sedate section of beach for a little more adventure. At the end of the Sandspur parking lot is where you can find the Silver Palm Nature Trail. One of the greatest remaining clusters of the shiny-tipped palm, follow its meandering, shaded trail.
You’ll pass by dancing orange butterflies, beach crabs, and sparkling spider webs as you stroll through a lush corridor of buttonwood, poisonwood, sea grape, and gumbo limbo trees. After passing over sand dunes, a tangle of green sea oats, and baby palms, you’ll come to a sun-bleached wooden gate that leads to a more private section of beach with gentle waves lapping at your feet.
What is the entrance fee to Bahia Honda State Park?
$8* per vehicle is the entrance fee that all guests must pay. 2 to 8 people maximum per car. $2.00* Passengers in vehicles with holders of Annual Individual Entrance Passes, bicycles, additional passengers, and pedestrians.
Does Bahia Honda State Park have sharks?
We have already utilized Bahia Honda excursions twice to snorkel at Looe Key. Sadly, there was an unpleasant customer at the snorkel shop, but the Captain and Jody, the other two guys on the tour, do a great job and the reef is amazing. Along with a ton of other species, we saw several sharks, large barracuda, an eel, and southern sting rays. One of the greatest reefs we have ever visited is here. We heartily recommend Bahia Honda Park tours and Looe Key; just deal with the sweet lady there instead of the obnoxious man.
Which Florida key has the greatest beaches?
The Florida Keys are a chain of islands that are renowned for their tropical atmosphere. As a result, these beaches are distinct from those on the mainland.
The beaches are smaller than those on the mainland, have fewer waves, and are significantly narrower, which are the key contrasts. Having said that, you’ve come to the ideal area if you’re seeking for warm, shallow water that has a bright turquoise hue, little swell, good snorkeling, and a very Caribbean vibe.
Why are these beaches so fantastic? As coral islands, the Florida Keys are first and foremost protected by offshore reefs. Because of the wave motion, they are unable to build extensive beaches.
However, these offshore reefs offer fantastic snorkeling opportunities. Although visiting the beach in the Keys is unlike other places you may have been, the relaxed environment more than makes up for it.
While the majority of the beaches in the Keys are undeveloped, those in Key West are often constructed using imported sand. Seagrass frequently washes up on the shoreline or in the water since the natural beaches are protected by offshore reef and grassy regions.
From their northernmost point near Miami all the way down to lively and exciting Key West, the Florida Keys are 125 miles long. Geographically speaking, the Keys can be separated into the Lower, Middle, and Upper Keys, with the Middle and Lower Keys having the most beaches. With very few exceptions, they are all found in state or national parks.
Beaches in the Keys should be a component of a larger excursion; not many people would consider them to be a destination in and of itself.
Please read our list of the top beaches in the Florida Keys if you ever find yourself in this stunning and distinctive region of the USA.
Note: Due to recent global health and safety issues, certain businesses may be temporarily closed.
How long does driving across the Keys take?
The 113-mile distance could be driven in just under three hours, but why would you want to? The stops along the way are what make road trips, especially one as well-known as this, so memorable. So lower the top and turn on Jimmy Buffett.
Is a trip to Bahia Honda worthwhile?
If you’re visiting the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda State Park is a great area to stop by and spend the day—or a few days! This is a fantastic location to include on your Florida Keys itinerary, regardless of whether you are seeking for adventure, an active day, or just a few hours lazing on the beach in the sun. It is in a terrific location if you want to travel to other parts of the Keys for a day trip, but it can also serve as your home base while you are in the Keys.
Popular beach destination Bahia Honda is well-known for its wide range of activities, stunning white sand shorelines, and crystal-clear water ideal for snorkeling. There is also a short climb, fantastic campsites, and a historic railroad bridge that is visible from many locations across the park.
As a result of the park’s high popularity, you may need to arrive early in the day to guarantee a parking space, and you’ll need to make reservations for a campsite months in advance. But don’t worry—worth it’s it in spades!
We hope that this guide will offer you a solid overview of what to expect at Bahia Honda State Park, what to do, and what advance planning you might want to think about.
Be sure to get a copy of our Bahia Honda State Park Itinerary before your trip. We go through everything you need to know, including helpful maps, thorough descriptions of the treks in the region, what you should do before your visit, and what to do in the neighborhood.
Is there swimming at Bahia Honda?
The Calusa, Loggerhead, and Sandspur beaches in Bahia Honda State Park are well-known for their warm water, shallow sandbars, and good visibility. In the summer, the water is between the mid- to upper 80s F and the lower 70s F in the winter. Swimming is risk-free all year long, with the exception of the Bahia Honda Channel, where strong currents are present. Consider bringing your snorkeling gear if you want a view while swimming. Just a few feet from the shoreline, you can see a coral reef.
What Florida Key is the most beautiful?
With the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo is the location of one of the most well-known spectacular views in the Florida Keys. Some of the best snorkeling in the Florida Keys may be found here, which extends into the Atlantic Ocean. The park also offers kayak and standup paddleboard rentals in addition to a glass bottom boat. This topmost key is the perfect location to stop and get in touch with nature.
Which month is ideal for a trip to the Florida Keys?
The months of March through May are the ideal times to visit Key West. The weather is very similar to the delightful 70s and 80s of winter, the crowds will start to thin out, and accommodation rates will drop.
Can you bring alcohol to Bahia Honda State Park?
Bahia Honda State Park only permits the consumption of alcohol in certain areas. Alcohol is legal where you are camping, but it is not allowed on the beaches of Bahia Honda.
How much does it cost to get into Bahia Honda State Park?
A motorcycle or car with one occupant must pay $4.50 to enter Bahia Honda State Park. In the case of a vehicle carrying two eight people, the fee rises to $8. (plus a surcharge of 50 per person). It costs $2.50 to enter as a pedestrian or cyclist.
How do I get a reservation at Bahia Honda State Park?
On the Florida State Parks website or by phone at (800) 326-3521, you can make a reservation for a campsite at Bahia Honda State Park.
Is Bahia Honda State Park fully open?
Due to Hurricane Irma’s substantial devastation to the region in 2017, NoSandspur Campground is still closed. Restoration work is now being done. To help with this rebuilding initiative, you can donate to The Friends of Bahia.
Does Bahia Honda fill up?
Oh, by the way, it does! Campsites at Bahia Honda State Park quickly sell out due to its high level of popularity. In fact, looking for canceled bookings is your best bet for finding a campsite there.
At Bahia Honda State Park, is snorkeling possible from the shore?
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, board the snorkel boat trip operated by Coral Reef Park Co. Discover the magnificent Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, home to the Florida Keys’ most magnificent reef. The reef is alive with marine life, and you may explore an amazing underwater world. The water depths here range from 5 feet to 70 feet, making it the ideal location for snorkelers of all skill levels.
At Bahia Honda State Park, you may also go snorkeling close to the shore right off the beach. Bring your own equipment or rent some here, then relax above the near-shore rocky, hard bottom and seagrass beds to see the world below. A spiny lobster, starfish, or queen conch may be visible. Whatever you like, snorkeling seems to deprive you of some of your senses and transform the experience into a completely visual one where it’s just you and the ocean.