The Cape Florida Lighthouse, officially the Cape Florida Light, is an 1825 lighthouse within Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne, Florida. This guide covers hours, prices, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your trip.
This guide was last updated in August 2026. The park’s fishing piers remain closed for repairs first announced in September 2023, and Restroom #2, beach access #3, and picnic pavilions A8 and A9 have been closed for renovations since June 2025, so guides that don’t mention these closures may be out of date.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Park: 8 am to sunset, 365 days a year. Lighthouse tower tours: 10 am to noon, five days a week (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) |
| Entry fee | Lighthouse tour is free with park admission |
| Parking | Included in park admission: $8 per vehicle (2–8 people), $4 single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle |
| Address | 1200 S. Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, FL 33149 |
| Nearest transport | Personal vehicle recommended; Miami International Airport is about 35 to 40 minutes away |
| Typical visit length | 2 to 4 hours, including the lighthouse tour |
Cape Florida Lighthouse opening hours
The lighthouse tower can be toured five days a week, with guided tours running from 10 am to noon; the tower is closed to tours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park itself is open every day of the year from 8 am until sunset.
On busy weekends and holidays, the park closes entirely once it reaches capacity, and it does not reopen for at least two hours. During a full closure, no vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists are admitted, so arriving early is worth planning for.
Cape Florida Lighthouse ticket prices
The lighthouse tour itself is free once you’ve paid the park’s admission fee. This was checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
Park admission costs $8 per vehicle carrying two to eight people, or $4 for a single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle. Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, and those dropped off by a ride service pay $2 each. Boats entering No Name Harbor for the day pay $8. No separate ticket or reservation is needed for the lighthouse tour itself. The park is not included in any bundled city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS.
Why book a Miami experience?
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- 🏝️ Day trip to Key West with flexible activity options on this full-day coach tour
- 🐊 Everglades airboat adventure with chances to see alligators on this guided wetlands experience
- ⚡ Speedboat sightseeing tour combining thrills and skyline views on this high-energy Miami harbour ride
How to get to the Cape Florida Lighthouse
The lighthouse is located at the southern tip of Key Biscayne, reached from mainland Miami via the tolled Rickenbacker Causeway. Miami International Airport is roughly 35 to 40 minutes away by car, depending on traffic across the causeway.
There is no direct public transit stop at the park entrance, so most visitors arrive by personal vehicle, rideshare, or bicycle along the causeway’s dedicated path.
Parking at the Cape Florida Lighthouse
Parking is included in the park’s vehicle admission fee, with no separate parking charge. Golf carts are treated as regular vehicles and are not permitted on sidewalks, trails, or service roads.
Shelter rentals and new annual passes can only be purchased Monday through Friday at the ranger station entrance, due to high weekend visitation. If you’re planning to rent a picnic pavilion, arrange it on a weekday visit or call ahead.
How long to spend at the Cape Florida Lighthouse
The guided lighthouse tour itself takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes, including the climb up and back down. Most visitors combine the tour with time on the park’s beach or trails, bringing a typical visit to 2 to 4 hours.
Visitors focused solely on the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage can plan for a shorter stop, while those adding kayaking, cycling, or a full beach day should allow for longer.
Accessibility at the Cape Florida Lighthouse
The lighthouse tower itself is not wheelchair accessible. Guests must be able to climb 109 spiral steps and manage narrow spaces and heights unaided; children must be at least 42 inches tall and able to climb independently, though infants may be carried in a front harness with the adult’s arms free for the handrail.
The wider park lists accessible amenities among its facilities, including accessible restrooms and pathways, so visitors who cannot climb the tower can still enjoy the grounds, beach, and keeper’s cottage exhibits at ground level.
Inside the Cape Florida Lighthouse
Built in 1825, the Cape Florida Light is the oldest structure in Miami-Dade County and has survived nearly two centuries of hurricanes, an attack during the Second Seminole War, and an explosion of lantern oil and gunpowder. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognised on the Florida Black Heritage Trail, reflecting Cape Florida’s history as a point of passage for Black Seminoles and fugitive slaves seeking freedom in the British Bahamas.
From the top, a wrap-around balcony gives views over Key Biscayne: Miami Beach to the north, the Atlantic Ocean and its dolphins, stingrays, and manatees to the east, the stilt houses of Stiltsville to the south, and Cape Florida itself to the west. The adjacent keeper’s cottage forms part of the guided tour, and the on-site Lighthouse Café offers casual food and drink nearby.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekday if you want to rent a pavilion or buy an annual pass at the ranger station. |
| Crowds | Weekends and holidays are extremely busy; the park can close once it reaches capacity. |
| Layout | The lighthouse and keeper’s cottage sit at the park’s southern tip, past the main beach. |
| Entry process | Pay the park’s vehicle admission at the entrance station; the lighthouse tour needs no extra ticket. |
| On-site logistics | Check the tour schedule in advance, since the tower is closed to visitors on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. |
Frequently asked questions about the Cape Florida Lighthouse
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there an extra fee for the lighthouse tour? | No. The tour is free once you’ve paid the park’s standard vehicle or pedestrian admission. |
| Do you need to book the lighthouse tour in advance? | No. Tours run on a fixed daily schedule with no reservation required. |
| Can children climb the lighthouse? | Yes, if they are at least 42 inches tall and able to climb the 109 steps independently. |
| Are pets allowed on the lighthouse tour? | No. Pets are not permitted inside the lighthouse tower. |
| Is the park open every day? | Yes, 365 days a year from 8 am to sunset, though the lighthouse tour is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. |
Things to do near the Cape Florida Lighthouse
- No Name Harbor: a sheltered harbour within the park with waterfront dining, a short walk from the lighthouse.
- Cape Florida beach: a beach often ranked among the top 10 in the country, within the same park.
- Crandon Park Beach: a two-mile county beach just north of Bill Baggs, a short drive away.
- Key Biscayne village centre: shops and restaurants a few minutes’ drive from the park entrance.
- Miami Marine Stadium: a historic waterfront stadium on nearby Virginia Key, about 15 minutes away.
What to visit tomorrow
- Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse: a working lighthouse in Pompano Beach with limited public tours, about an hour away.
- Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum: a climbable 1860 lighthouse and museum, roughly an hour and 45 minutes’ drive.
- Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum: a cluster of historic buildings in downtown Fort Lauderdale, about 45 minutes away.
- Deering Estate: a historic waterfront estate with archaeological sites, roughly 25 minutes from Key Biscayne.
- The Barnacle Historic State Park: Miami’s oldest home still on its original site, about 20 minutes away.
More Florida travel
Other Florida travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- 5 reasons to visit Miami on a round-the-world trip.
- Guides to key Miami cultural attractions: Frost Science Museum, Perez Art Museum, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Graffiti Museum, HistoryMiami Museum.
- Miami Beach guides: Virginia Key Beach Park, Crandon Park Beach, Haulover Beach Park.
- The best stops on a road trip from Jacksonville to Miami.
- Florida Keys beach guides: Anne’s Beach in Islamorada, Sombrero Beach in Marathon.
