Bahia Honda State Park is a Florida state park on Bahia Honda Key, located at Mile Marker 37 in the Florida Keys. This guide covers hours, prices, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your trip.
This guide was last updated in August 2026. Because the park frequently reaches capacity in its day-use areas and turns arriving visitors away, the concessionaire now offers advance booking of boat trailer parking for holiday periods, a detail worth knowing before you show up expecting a guaranteed spot.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | 8 am to sunset, 365 days a year |
| Entry fee | $8 per vehicle (2–8 people), plus a 50-cent Monroe County surcharge per person |
| Parking | Included in admission; boat trailer parking limited and can reach capacity on holidays |
| Address | 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, Florida 33043 |
| Nearest transport | Personal vehicle recommended; Key West is about 50 minutes away |
| Typical visit length | 3 to 5 hours |
Bahia Honda State Park opening hours
The park is open every day of the year from 8 am until sunset, with no seasonal variation. Because of its popularity, the park may close its day-use areas once they reach maximum capacity, and arriving visitors are asked to return later.
Arriving early is especially important on weekends and holidays, when the park is most likely to reach capacity before midday.
Bahia Honda State Park ticket prices
Admission costs $8 per vehicle carrying two to eight people, plus a 50-cent Monroe County surcharge per person. This was checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026: Bahia Honda State Park, Florida State Parks.
A single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle pays $4.50, with the county surcharge included, while pedestrians, bicyclists, and extra passengers pay $2.50 each. Launching a boat costs $10 plus the standard park entry fee. Camping runs $36 per night plus tax, plus a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee and a $7 nightly utility fee for RVs, which doesn’t apply to tent camping. Bahia Honda State Park is not included in any bundled city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS.
5 great Key West experiences to book
- 🛶 Look for wildlife in the mangroves on a guided kayaking tour.
- 👻 Go on a ghosts and mysteries tour and discover Key West’s dark side at night.
- 🐬 Combine dolphin-watching and snorkelling on a half day adventure.
- 🍴 Take a cultural food tour and learn about Keys heritage as you eat and drink.
- 🍹 Explore lesser-known bars on a craft cocktail crawl.
How to get to Bahia Honda State Park
The park is located at 36850 Overseas Highway on Bahia Honda Key, roughly 50 minutes from Key West and about 25 to 30 minutes from Marathon. It is located between Big Pine Key and the Seven Mile Bridge along US 1.
There is no public transit stop at the park entrance, so a personal vehicle is the practical way to arrive; some Key West-based tour operators also run day trips that stop here.
Parking at Bahia Honda State Park
Vehicle parking is included in the standard admission fee, with no separate parking charge for day visitors. Boat trailer parking at the marina is more limited and can fill up during holiday periods, at which point the park is unable to accommodate additional boat launches.
The park’s concessionaire offers advance booking of boat trailer parking for visitors who want to guarantee a spot during busy periods; call 305-872-3210 for details.
How long to spend at Bahia Honda State Park
Most visitors spend 3 to 5 hours at Bahia Honda, enough time for swimming, snorkelling, and a walk along the historic Old Bahia Honda Bridge trail. Its beaches and shallow, clear water reward a relaxed, unhurried visit rather than a quick stop.
Overnight guests at one of the two campgrounds, or visitors booking a snorkelling boat trip to nearby Looe Key, often plan for a longer stay of a day or more.
Accessibility at Bahia Honda State Park
The park lists accessible amenities among its facilities, including accessible restrooms and pathways in the main day-use areas; contact the park office in advance for specifics on current conditions.
Shade is limited across the sandy beaches, so visitors with sun sensitivity may want to rent an umbrella from the concession or bring their own.
Inside Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda is one of the few spots in the Florida Keys with genuine sandy beaches, backed by palm trees and framed by the historic Old Bahia Honda Bridge, a remnant of Henry Flagler’s early-1900s railroad to Key West. The shallow, clear water close to shore is well suited to beginner snorkelling, with a variety of marine life visible just offshore.
The park’s sole concessionaire, Coral Reef Park Company, rents chairs, snorkelling gear, and kayaks, and runs daily snorkelling boat trips to the nearby Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. A small snack bar serves food, and free 24-hour Wi-Fi is available at the concession building, though nowhere else in the park. Two campgrounds, Buttonwood and Sandspur, plus cabins, offer overnight stays, and the park is also a recognised spot for stargazing thanks to the Keys’ relatively low light pollution.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive early on weekends and holidays, before the day-use areas reach capacity. |
| Crowds | Midday on weekends is the most likely time to be turned away if the park is full. |
| Layout | The beaches, concession, and Old Bahia Honda Bridge trail cluster near the main day-use area. |
| Entry process | Pay the vehicle admission fee at the entrance station; no separate ticket is needed for the beach. |
| On-site logistics | Bring your own shade, since natural shade is limited across the park’s sandy beaches. |
Frequently asked questions about Bahia Honda State Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost to visit? | $8 per vehicle for two to eight people, plus a 50-cent per-person county surcharge. |
| Does the park turn visitors away when full? | Yes, day-use areas can reach capacity and close temporarily, especially on weekends and holidays. |
| Is Bahia Honda good for beginner snorkellers? | Yes, the shallow, clear water close to shore suits beginners well. |
| Is there Wi-Fi in the park? | Only at the concession building; there is no Wi-Fi elsewhere in the park. |
| Are pets allowed? | Yes, on a 6-foot leash in designated areas, though not on beaches, in the water, or in buildings. |
Things to do near Bahia Honda State Park
- Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary: a popular snorkelling reef reachable by boat tour from the park.
- National Key Deer Refuge: a wildlife refuge on nearby Big Pine Key, home to the endangered Key deer.
- Seven Mile Bridge: an iconic Keys landmark visible from the park, a short drive north.
- Sombrero Beach: a sandy beach and park in Marathon, roughly 25 to 30 minutes away.
- Big Pine Key: a small community with shops and dining, a few minutes’ drive from the park.
What to visit tomorrow
- Curry Hammock State Park: a beach and nature park in Marathon, about 25 minutes away.
- Long Key State Park: a Florida Keys park with a lagoon trail and beach, roughly 35 minutes’ drive.
- Anne’s Beach: a boardwalk beach in Islamorada, about 55 minutes away.
- Smathers Beach: Key West’s largest public beach, roughly 50 minutes’ drive.
- Higgs Beach: a palm-lined Key West beach with a wooden pier, about 50 minutes away.
More Florida Keys travel
Other Florida Keys travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Know the differences between the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum and the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum.
- How to spend three days in Key West – including the Hemingway Home and Museum, Harry Truman’s Little White House and a cruise to Dry Tortugas National Park.
- What to expect at Key West Aquarium.
- Can you go inside the Key West Lighthouse?
- Plan your visit to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon.
