Bahia Honda State Park in Florida, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-23. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bahia Honda State Park is a Florida Keys beach and camping destination beside the Overseas Highway near Big Pine Key. Florida State Parks manages its beaches, historic bridge overlook, campgrounds, and cabins. Choose your beach or overnight area before arriving: vehicle size limits differ, and busy day-use areas can close temporarily at capacity.

Highlights at Bahia Honda

• Walk the Old Bahia Honda Bridge trail from the Calusa area for views over the island and surrounding water.
• Choose between Loggerhead, Calusa, and Sandspur beaches.
• Arrange a concession-operated reef snorkeling trip or rent a kayak when conditions permit.

Know before you cross the Keys

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Confirm charges in the official fee schedule before booking. Arrive early on busy days; entry and boat launching can stop when their parking areas fill.

Water, sun, and vehicle clearance

No lifeguards are provided. Follow beach warning flags and stay out of the water when double red flags prohibit swimming. Avoid swimming near Bahia Honda Channel, where currents can be swift. Bring shade and drinking water for exposed beach areas.

The road to Bayside Campground and the cabins passes under a bridge with only 6 feet 8 inches of clearance. Include rooftop equipment when checking your vehicle's height. Sandspur accepts camping rigs no longer than 23 feet from hitch to bumper.

Protect the shore and share the water

Keep bicycles on roadways, off footpaths, boardwalks, and the old bridge trail. Do not paddle into buoyed swimming areas. Pets cannot use beaches, the water, cabins, bathhouses, or picnic pavilions. Keep pets leashed in permitted areas and never leave them unattended. Service animals follow separate access rules.

Book the correct overnight area

Use the Florida State Parks service linked from its reservation information. Florida residents can book campsites and cabins up to 11 months ahead; other visitors can book up to 10 months ahead. Cabins require at least two nights. Confirm Sandspur campsite and bathhouse availability when booking. A campground booking and an operator's boat-trailer parking arrangement are different services.

Arrival from the Overseas Highway

Use 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043. Select your beach, marina, campground, or cabin area on the map linked from the official park profile. The old bridge trail is a walking overlook, not a road crossing to the next island.

Nearby parks along U.S. 1

Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon and Long Key State Park are separate road stops farther east along the Overseas Highway. Long Key's primitive camping and Golden Orb trail are currently closed for construction. Check its tidal-flooding notices before making the detour.

Beaches, bridge views, and snorkeling

Loggerhead and Sandspur face the Atlantic; Calusa faces Florida Bay. Use the Calusa area for the walking route to the old bridge overlook. Keep a beach visit separate from a reef excursion, which needs an operator arrangement and suitable sea conditions.

The concession rents snorkeling gear and kayaks and operates trips to Looe Key. Call 305-872-3210 for trip arrangements and boat-trailer parking questions. For fishing, check current Florida rules; spearfishing equipment and tropical fish collection are prohibited in the park.

Match facilities to your campsite

Buttonwood has electric and water connections, a bathhouse with hot showers, and a dump station. Sandspur has electric and water connections but retains its shorter rig limit and temporary bathhouse facilities. Bayside has non-electric sites, water, and a small restroom; its hot showers are at Buttonwood, about half a mile away.

The park facilities guide identifies accessible amenities, including a lift at cabin 2 and a free shared beach wheelchair. Day-use areas have restrooms and cold outdoor showers. Ask staff about the accommodation you need before choosing a site.

About Bahia Honda

Railroad bridge to state park

The old bridge carried Henry Flagler's railway, which reached Key West in 1912. It was later adapted for highway traffic. Bahia Honda operated as a county park during the 1950s and became a Florida state park in 1961.

Shorebirds and island wildlife

Willets, sanderlings, herons, and egrets use the shoreline and shallow flats. Dolphins, sea turtles, and ghost crabs are also recorded here. Watch without approaching or handling wildlife, and do not plan around a guaranteed sighting.

Contact Bahia Honda

Park information: 305-872-2353. Concession and marina arrangements: 305-872-3210. The official park profile provides current notices, directions, and the park map.