Matheson Hammock Park is a Miami-Dade County park on Biscayne Bay, located at 9610 Old Cutler Road just south of Coral Gables. This guide covers hours, prices, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your trip.
This guide was last updated in August 2026. The county’s current parking rate of $7 on weekdays and $10 on weekends and holidays is higher than the $5/$7 figures some travel sites still quote, and lifeguards at the atoll pool beach are staffed only on weekends and holidays, not on weekdays, which catches some visitors off guard.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Park: sunrise to sunset, daily. Atoll pool beach: seasonal hours, roughly 9 am–5:30 pm weekdays and 9 am–6:30 pm weekends in summer |
| Entry fee | No separate entry fee; parking fee covers access |
| Parking | $7 plus tax weekdays; $10 plus tax weekends and holidays |
| Address | 9610 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33156 |
| Nearest transport | Personal vehicle recommended; Miami International Airport is about 25 to 30 minutes away |
| Typical visit length | 2 to 4 hours |
Matheson Hammock Park opening hours
The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, with the park office and marina open seven days a week from 8 am to 5 pm. The atoll pool beach area keeps its own seasonal schedule: in summer, it’s open 9 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 6:30 pm on weekends, shortening slightly in winter to 9 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 5:30 pm on weekends.
Lifeguards are staffed at the atoll pool only on weekends and holidays, not on weekdays, so weekday swimmers should be extra cautious. Hours are subject to change due to wildlife, weather, or water quality.
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Matheson Hammock Park ticket prices
There is no separate general admission fee; the parking charge covers access to the park. This was checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026: Matheson Hammock Park, Miami-Dade County.
Cars pay $7 plus tax on weekdays and $10 plus tax on weekends and holidays, payable through the Pay-By-Phone or ParkMobile app or in person at the park office. Buses and RVs pay $15 plus tax per day. An annual park pass, which excludes the boat ramp, costs $165 plus tax, or $50 plus tax for seniors aged 62 and over; veterans enter free with ID and a Department of Veterans Affairs benefits letter. Matheson Hammock is not included in any bundled city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS.
How to get to Matheson Hammock Park
The park is located at 9610 Old Cutler Road, just south of Coral Gables and immediately north of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Miami International Airport is roughly 25 to 30 minutes away by car.
There is no dedicated public transit stop directly at the park entrance, so most visitors arrive by personal vehicle, rideshare, or bicycle along the scenic Old Cutler Trail.
Parking at Matheson Hammock Park
Parking fees are paid through the Pay-By-Phone or ParkMobile app, or in person at the park office, with rates of $7 plus tax on weekdays and $10 plus tax on weekends and holidays. Boat ramp trailer parking is charged separately, at $20 plus tax Monday through Thursday and $30 plus tax Friday through Sunday and on holidays.
Visitors heading only to the free West Matheson hammock trails can park in a separate pull-off on the west side of Old Cutler Road, opposite the main entrance, without paying the beach-area parking fee.
How long to spend at Matheson Hammock Park
Most visitors spend 2 to 4 hours at Matheson Hammock, enough time for the atoll pool beach, a walk along the nature trails, and a stop at the marina. Visitors adding lunch or dinner at the on-site restaurant, or exploring the West Matheson hammock trails, often extend their stay into a half day.
Kiteboarders, paddleboarders, and anglers using the marina and PADL kiosk sometimes spend a full day between the water and the shore.
Accessibility at Matheson Hammock Park
The park’s main paths, picnic areas, and beach access points are generally accessible, and the office can advise on current conditions for visitors with specific mobility needs.
Pets are not allowed anywhere within Matheson Hammock Park, including service animals’ usual exemptions elsewhere in the county system, so plan accordingly if travelling with an animal.
Inside Matheson Hammock Park
The park’s centrepiece is a man-made atoll pool on Biscayne Bay, a lagoon flushed naturally by the tides that creates a calm, shallow swimming area beside a white sand beach. A historic coral rock building on the beach houses Noma Beach at Red Fish, an award-winning seafood restaurant open Wednesday through Sunday, alongside a casual snack-bar grill.
Matheson Hammock is also home to Miami-Dade’s second-largest county marina, with roughly 330 wet slips and dry storage spots, 11 boat-launch ramps, a fuel dock, and a bait-and-tackle shop. A PADL self-service kiosk rents kayaks and paddleboards, and kiteboarding is popular in the open water off the beach. Coral rock and tiki picnic shelters, open picnic areas, and a playground are scattered through the grounds, while West Matheson, a roughly 109-acre natural forest area across Old Cutler Road, offers free hiking trails through one of the last remaining pieces of the ancient Miami Rock Ridge hammock.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekday for cheaper parking, though be aware lifeguards aren’t on duty then. |
| Crowds | Weekends and holidays bring the busiest beach crowds and higher parking fees. |
| Layout | The main beach and marina sit on the east side of Old Cutler Road; free hammock trails are on the west side. |
| Entry process | Pay the parking fee via app or at the office; there is no separate ticket for the beach. |
| On-site logistics | No tents, barbecue grills, or open flames are allowed in the beach area, so plan meals accordingly. |
Frequently asked questions about Matheson Hammock Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Matheson Hammock Park free to visit? | Entry is bundled into the parking fee; the free West Matheson trails don’t require payment. |
| Are pets allowed? | No. Pets are not permitted anywhere within Matheson Hammock Park. |
| Are there lifeguards every day? | No. Lifeguards staff the atoll pool beach only on weekends and holidays. |
| Are flotation devices allowed in the water? | No. County rules prohibit flotation devices at all bathing areas within the park. |
| Is there food available on-site? | Yes, at Noma Beach at Red Fish (Wednesday to Sunday) and a casual snack-bar grill. |
Things to do near Matheson Hammock Park
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: an 83-acre botanical garden directly adjacent to the park.
- Old Cutler Trail: a scenic, tree-lined bike path connecting the park to Coral Gables and beyond.
- Deering Estate: a historic waterfront estate with nature trails, about 15 minutes’ drive.
- Coral Gables: the historic “City Beautiful,” with shops, dining, and the Biltmore Hotel, a short drive away.
- Fairchild’s Old Cutler Rd corridor: home to several smaller county parks along Biscayne Bay.
What to visit tomorrow
- Crandon Park Beach: a two-mile county beach on Key Biscayne, about 20 minutes away.
- Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park: home to the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse, roughly 25 minutes’ drive.
- Virginia Key Beach Park: a historic mile-long beach with a carousel and nature trails, about 25 minutes away.
- Haulover Beach Park: a 1.4-mile county beach north of Miami Beach, roughly 40 minutes’ drive.
- Oleta River State Park: a mangrove-lined park with a small beach, about 40 minutes away.
More Florida travel
Other Florida travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guides to key Miami cultural attractions: Frost Science Museum, Perez Art Museum, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Graffiti Museum, HistoryMiami Museum.
- What to expect at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach and the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach.
- What to see at Flamingo Gardens near Fort Lauderdale.
- The highlights of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale.
- Florida Keys beach guides: Anne’s Beach in Islamorada, Sombrero Beach in Marathon.
