Visiting Biscayne National Park Itinerary + Travel Guide
I recently took a road trip to see the Florida National Parks – including Biscayne, Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Parks. It was a fantastic trip!
The Florida parks are relatively close together, which makes it easy to see all three of them in the same trip. If you’re on limited time, I recommend combining this Biscayne National Park itinerary with a quick trip to the Everglades which is only 30 minutes away.
In this article:
- How to visit Biscayne National Park
- Biscayne National Park tours (& free things to do)
- One day in Biscayne National Park itinerary (& what to do with more time)
- Map of Biscayne National Park
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Biscayne National Park Overview
✈️ How To Get There: Fly into Miami (1 hr) or Ft Lauderdale (1.5 hrs)
🌴 Biscayne Must-See: Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key and Stiltsville
🎟️ Best Excursions: Sailboat tour and snorkeling in Biscayne Bay
💵 Entrance Fee: Free! But most tours cost extra
🛌 Where To Stay: Courtyard by Marriott in Homestead
TIP: I recommend booking your rental car with Discover Cars. They search across the major rental companies to find the best rate and let you cancel for free up to 48 hours before pickup, so you can grab a good rate now without stressing if your plans change.
How To Visit Biscayne National Park
Biscayne National Park is located just south of Miami, Florida. The best way to get to Biscayne is to fly into the Miami or Fort Lauderdale airports.
Distance from Miami to Biscayne National Park: 1 hour
Distance from Fort Lauderdale to Biscayne National Park: 1.5 hours
TIP: Miami traffic can be unpredictable. Without traffic it’s 1 hour from Miami to Biscayne, but it took me 3 hours to drive through Miami with traffic. Plan for extra travel time so you don’t miss your scheduled tours!
If you’re planning a longer Florida road trip, then alternative airpots like Orlando or Tampa may be convenient if your route takes you close by (and they often have cheap airfare).
Distance from Orlando to Biscayne National Park: 4 hours
Distance from Tampa to Biscayne National Park: 4.5 hours
🛣️ Florida Toll Roads
Florida has several toll roads. Payment is collected with a SunPass, but they also accept E-ZPass. If you already have an E-ZPass transponder I recommend bringing it with you – it’ll be the cheapest option for visiting Biscayne National Park.
Rental cars in Florida usually come equipped with a SunPass transponder. It’s convenient, but be prepared for an additional charge (~$25) from the rental car company for “managing” the payment on your behalf.
Getting From Miami To Biscayne National Park
Biscayne National Park is located just south of Miami in Homestead, Florida. The best way to get there is to drive yourself.
I do not recommend you rely on public transportation or ride shares like Uber. While you might be able to get a ride share to the park, it’s very unlikely anyone is going to drive out there to pick you up. It’s a bit remote.
Be prepared for several miles of undeveloped swampland before you arrive at the Biscayne National Park visitors center. There aren’t any restaurants or gas stations for the last few miles, so fuel up before you arrive.
NOTE: The visitors center and many Biscayne National Park tours depart from Homestead, Florida. However, a good number of tours are also available from Dinner Key which is right outside of downtown Miami and accessible by public transit and ride shares.
How Many Days To Visit Biscayne National Park?
Personally, I think one day in Biscayne National Park is the perfect amount of time. It’s enough time for you to take a boat tour, snorkel and explore the visitors center.
A visit to Biscayne National Park is different than most National Parks because 95% of it is open water. Only about 5% of Biscayne is above the water level, which means a majority of the things to do in Biscayne National Park are water related. Unlike other parks, you won’t find many hikes in Biscayne.
Depending on how interested you are in snorkeling Biscayne National Park or taking boat tours, the amount of time you spend in Biscayne will vary.
If you want a more relaxed schedule, 2 or 3 days would be ideal. However, I would not plan for more than 3 days as you’ll run out of things to do in Biscayne National Park.
Map Of Biscayne National Park
Use this map to plan your visit to Biscayne National Park! I’ve labeled items by activity type (noted by color and icon).
How To Use This Map:
1. To open in a new tab, click [] in the top right corner of the map.
2. To save to your Google Maps account, click ☆ (you must be signed in to Google).
3. To use during your trip, open Google Maps on your phone, select “You” from the bottom bar, scroll down and click the maps icon for a list of your saved custom maps.
Things To Do In Biscayne National Park
There are a ton of things to do in Biscayne National Park! The good news is that admission to this National Park is free! The bad news is that most of the activities inside the park cost money.
The most popular things to do in Biscayne National Park include:
- Biscayne National Park boat tours to Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key or Stiltsville
- Snorkeling
- Kayaking
National Parks Water Bottle
A fun way to collect all 63 National Parks!
National Parks Passport
Keep track of the parks you’ve visited (with dates!)
America The Beautiful Park Pass
Frequent visitors save money on entrance fees
Biscayne National Park Tours By Boat
To truly experience Biscayne National Park you’ll want to charter a boat and explore the water. Boat tours and snorkel tours are the two most popular things to do in Biscayne National Park.
Biscayne National Park Institute is the approved concessionaire to operate tours in the park. They offer a wide variety of tours, schedules, and pick-up locations.
NOTE: Tours depart from two different locations, so be sure you’re booking the right pick-up spot (they’re about an hour drive between so it’s crucial to get it right!)
These are some of the best Biscayne National Park tours by boat:
- Heritage of Biscayne Cruise ($83, 3.5 hour tour) – A boat tour and historical overview of Biscayne Bay with a 1-hour stop at either Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key, or Adams Key depending on conditions.
- Stiltsville Guided Tour From Coconut Grove ($70, 2 hour tour) – This two hour boat tour takes you from Coconut Grove (closer to Miami) through the 6 remaining historic Stiltsville houses.
You can check out a complete list of tour offerings from Biscayne National Park Institute here.
There are also several other operators who offer private boat tours in the area. If you’d prefer to skip the crowds, this sailboat tour through Biscayne Bay is a great option for a small group.
I think the most unique Biscayne National Park tour is this boat tour from downtown Miami to Raccoon Island (yes, it’s full of friendly raccoons!) It also includes a guided kayak tour through mangrove tunnels.
Biscayne National Park Tours For Snorkeling
If you’re looking for an opportunity to go snorkeling there are also several great Biscayne National Park tours you can book.
For $115 per person you can take this 3.5 hour snorkeling tour with Biscayne National Park Institute, which leaves from the visitor center in Homestead.
Depending on the weather, the ship takes you to coral reefs, shipwrecks or mangrove tunnels for snorkeling.
You can bring your own equipment or rent a mask, fins and snorkel for $16.
If you’re staying in Miami, check out this snorkeling tour of Biscayne Bay. It’s a 1.5 hour long boat tour, with a stop at a sand bar for snorkeling, and a visit to a secluded private island.
Kayaking Biscayne National Park Tours
There are a few options for kayaking Biscayne National Park.
If you have your own kayak you can park at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center parking lot and use the boat launch next to the building. It’s free to use if you have your own kayak.
If you don’t have your own kayak you can join a group. For $39 you can spend an hour and a half kayaking through the mangroves with a naturalist who will show you where to spot wildlife.
You can also explore Biscayne Bay on paddle boards or take a jet ski tour of Key Biscayne.
Free Things To Do In Biscayne National Park
On land, there is very little to do. You can visit the Dante Fascell Visitor Center which has several interesting exhibits that explain the different ecosystems and wild life in the park.
Additionally, just outside the visitor center is a short walk along the jetty. In total, the Jetty Trail is 0.8 miles and completely flat. It takes you out into the bay and there’s a surprising amount of birds, fish and lizards you can see.
I liked this little hike! (If it can even be called a hike…) There’s a surprising number of lizards and birds along the path, and I had it mostly to myself.
Itinerary For Visiting Biscayne National Park
With a few hours… If you’re already in the Miami or Fort Lauderdale area then I highly recommend taking an afternoon trip out to Biscayne. It’s very possible to see this park in just a few hours.
With a full day… With limited time be sure to book a tour that leaves from Homestead – that way you’ll be able to see the water by boat and also explore the small visitors center and Jetty Trail from the same location.
With more time… However, if you have the time I highly recommend spending a full day in Biscayne National Park so you aren’t rushed and have time to see everything.
One Day In Biscayne National Park Itinerary
Ideally, you’ll have a full day to explore Biscayne National Park. Depending on the time of year you’re visiting, daylight hours will vary so you may need to make some adjustments to this itinerary.
I visited Biscayne in mid December and the sun was setting around 5:30 pm, which meant I had to squeeze in a lot in just a few hours, but it’s very do-able!
Personally, I think December or January are the best months to visit Biscayne National Park because the temperatures are far more manageable than in the summer.
However, December in Biscayne comes with the risk of windy conditions, which can be a problem for boat tours and cause rough water conditions.
TIP: Book your boat tours for in the morning, before afternoon winds cause less favorable water conditions.
I had booked an afternoon boat tour to Stiltsville and was really looking forward to it, but sadly it was canceled due to windy conditions.
In the afternoon, spend some time exploring the grounds and exhibits at the Dante Fascell Visitors Center. The second floor is filled with interesting models of the plant and animal life, and is a nice way to escape into the air conditioning for a minute.
Just past the visitors center is a short walk along Jetty Trail. It’s only 0.8 miles and completely flat, so it’s great for all fitness and mobilities.
The trail follows the boardwalk across the water. Along it are educational displays, and you can see tons of fish in the water — and sometime even manatees!
The boardwalk transitions back to a gravel path towards the jetty. It’s nice and shaded under mangrove trees, and from here you can spot tons of birds and lizards with some wild colors.
I think one day was the perfect amount of time to visit Biscayne National Park. You won’t feel rushed, and you can still see a variety of the parks ecosystems.
I wish that more of the park was accessible for free. It feels strange to me that we have a National Park that isn’t very accessible unless you can spend a few hundred dollars. That seems directly opposite to the intent of our parks systems.
However, I can appreciate the importance of the National Parks designation in protection of the reefs and aquatic life in Biscayne. Without it, this area would likely have been developed by now, and much of the coastal wildlife lost.
The good news is that Biscayne is right next door to Everglades which has a ton of free ranger-led programs that are really interesting and unique. I highly recommend you add 1 or 2 days in Everglades National Park to your Florida trip.
Entrance Fees For Visiting Biscayne National Park
Entry to Biscayne National Park is free. And, if you have your own boat you can explore the waters for free, too.
Even though Biscayne entrance is free, expect to pay at least $100 per person if you join any Biscayne National Park tours, like a boat or snorkel tour.
Planning to visit the other Florida National Parks?
On my Florida road trip I also visited Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Park.
Dry Tortugas is $15/person to enter and Everglades is $35/vehicle.
In total, to visit all 3 Florida National Parks you’ll spend $50+ on entrance fees (add $15 for each additional traveler.) For a group of 4, entrance would cost $95.
Often, you can save money with the annual America The Beautiful Parks Pass. The pass is $80 and valid for 12-months. It gives you free entry to all US National Parks and recreation areas.
NOTE: For parks like Dry Tortugas, which charge per person and not per vehicle, the pass covers entry for 4 people.
Where To Stay While Visiting Biscayne National Park
The closest location to Biscayne National Park is Homestead, FL which is about 15-minutes from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center.
Courtyard by Marriott in Homestead has a free trolly stop in front of it that takes you to Biscayne and Everglades. You don’t need to stay at the Courtyard to use the free trolly, it’s available to the public.
Florida City is just a little farther, about 20-minutes from Biscayne, and is closer to Everglades National Park. Home2 Suites is modestly priced with very large rooms that have been recently renovated.
Both Homestead and Florida City are smaller towns with a “local” vibe. Expect a lot of farm land and locally owned shops and restaurants.
You could also stay in Miami. Keep in mind that Miami hotels tend to be a bit more expensive and generally do not have free on-site parking, but you’ll have more options for accommodations and restaurants. Miami also has some truly incredible vacation rentals.
Biscayne National Park Camping
Additionally, there are two options for camping inside of Biscayne National Park. You’ll need a boat to get to them, though.
Both campgrounds are first-come, first serve and cost $35/night to camp and $25 to dock your boat.
Toilets are available at both campgrounds, but water is only available at Elliott Keys where you can also find cold showers.
TIP: Boca Chita is more of a party crowd, so if you’re looking for a quieter camping experience I recommend Elliott Keys instead.
Best Time To Visit Biscayne National Park
As someone who has lived in Florida, I’ll say there are truly only two seasons in Florida:
Mosquito season, and “Fewer” Mosquitos season.
With this in mind, the best time to visit Biscayne National Park is during the winter months, when you stand a chance at not being consumed by mosquito bites. December is the best month to visit overall, and is known to be the least offensive for mosquitos.
If you’re visiting Biscayne National Park in the summer be prepared for heat. A lot of it. And South Florida has massive humidity, which makes it feel at least 10° hotter.
Spring and fall are great times to visit, except for the potential of a hurricane which is unpredictable and could really mess up your travel plans if you’re visiting Biscayne National Park in the fall. But, if you can avoid a hurricane you’ll have a great trip with fewer crowds and more reasonable prices on accommodations and flights.
Is Biscayne National Park Worth Visiting?
I enjoyed my visit to Biscayne National Park, but I would say taper your expectations. It’s a small park and, compared to other National Parks, has relatively little to do or see.
If you’re already in Miami it’s definitely worth a visit.
If you plan to visit the other National Parks in Florida, Biscayne is a great addition to your road trip.
I definitely recommend your Biscayne National Park itinerary includes a stop into the Dante Fascell Visitors Center, walk along the Jetty Trail and a boat tour to see the Biscayne keys or to snorkel.
