Biscayne National Park Itinerary + Travel Guide

I recently took a trip to see the Florida National Parks – including Biscayne, Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Parks. It was a fantastic trip. The parks are relatively close together, which makes it easy to see all 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 – about 30 minutes away.

In this article:

• Recommended 1-day Biscayne National Park itinerary
• How to get to Biscayne National Park
• Best things to do in Biscayne National Park (free options, boat tours & snorkeling) + map
• Where to stay nearby (Homestead, Florida City or Miami)

How To Get To 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

Note: Miami traffic can be a total nightmare. The drive times above are very rough estimates because traffic can be wildly unpredictable. It took me 3 hours to drive through Miami with traffic – without traffic it should have been just over an hour.

If you’re planning a Florida road trip, then alternative airpots like Orlando or Tampa may be convenient.

Distance from Orlando to Biscayne National Park: 4 hours
Distance from Tampa to Biscayne National Park: 4.5 hours

Orlando and Tampa flights tend to be a little more expensive than Miami and Ft Lauderdale flights, but it’s always worth comparing flight options and prices before deciding which airport to use when you visit Biscayne National Park.

Additionally, I recommend comparing rental car pricing before determining which airport you’ll use. In my experience, Tampa, Miami and Fort Lauderdale have reasonable rental prices but Orlando can be far more expensive.

Pro Tip: Florida has several toll roads. Their primary payment transponders are called 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. If you don’t, your rental car should come equipped with a SunPass transponder, but be prepared for an additional charge from the rental car company for “managing” the payment on your behalf. I’ve had “management fees” as high as $25+tolls in the past, which feels like highway robbery (literally).

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.

Depending on where in the city you’re coming from, it can take 1-2 hours to get from Miami to Biscayne National Park. Traffic is a huge variable for Miami so always give yourself enough time so you don’t miss any scheduled tours.

Be prepared for several miles of swampland before you arrive at the Biscayne National Park visitors center. There aren’t any restaurants or gas stations for the last few miles.

How Many Days In Biscayne National Park?

A visit to Biscayne National Park is unusual 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.

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.

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.

One day in Biscayne National Park also fits perfectly into a week long Florida road trip itinerary, so you’ll have time left to see the other Florida National Parks (Dry Tortugas National Park and Everglades National Park!)

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 there will cost you money to book.

Use this map to plan your Biscayne National Park itinerary! I’ve labeled items by activity type (noted by color and icon).

Tip: Open this map in your browser by clicking the icon in the top right corner. Then click the star icon on the left-side bar. This saves the map to your google maps app on your phone so you can easily reference it during your trip. Locate this map in your Google Maps app by selecting ‘you’ at the bottom of the app and then scroll down and click ‘maps’ to find saved trip maps.

Biscayne National Park Itinerary Free Things To Do

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.

Biscayne National Park Tours By Boat

To truly experience Biscayne National Park you’ll want to charter a boat. Boat tours and snorkel tours are the two most popular things to do in Biscayne National Park.

These are some of the best Biscayne National Park Tours by boat:

• Heritage of Biscayne Cruise ($83, 3.5 hours) – 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 hours) – 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.

The schedule varies by season. Keep in mind that some tours depart from Coconut Grove, which is located in Miami about an hour north of the Dante Fascell Visitor Center.

Biscayne National Park Snorkeling

If you’re looking for an opportunity to go snorkeling in Biscayne National Park there are also several great tours you can book.

For $115 per person you can take this 3.5 hour snorkeling tour, 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.

Kayaking Biscayne National Park

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, then 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.

Biscayne National Park Itinerary

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 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.

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

Highlights:

• Take a boat tour & snorkel
• Dante Fascell Visitors Center
• Jetty Trail

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.

I visited Biscayne in mid December and the sun was setting around 5:30pm, 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 because of the more manageable temperatures (it’s still hot, though!), but it comes with the risk of wind which can be a problem for boat tours and cause rough water conditions.

I recommend booking a morning boat tour. The temperatures will be more favorable and the threat of wind is usually less in the morning than the afternoon.

I had booked a boat tour to Stiltsville and was really looking forward to it, but sadly it was canceled due to windy conditions.

After, spend some time exploring the 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 is flat. The trail follows the boardwalk over the water where you can see fish and sometime manatees! Then you walk through mangrove trees along the jetty out into the ocean. I spotted tons of birds and a few lizards.

I think one day was the perfect amount of time to explore 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 accessible unless you can spend a few hundred dollars. To me, that feels like it’s directly opposite of the intent of our parks systems, but I can appreciate the importance of Biscayne’s National Parks designation in protection of the reefs and aquatic life.

Luckily, Biscayne is right next door to Everglades and Everglades 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.

Biscayne National Park Itinerary – Entrance Fees

Entry to Biscayne National Park is free. 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 a boat tour.

On my Florida road trip I also visited Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Park. Dry Tortugas is $15 to enter and Everglades is $35. In total, to visit all 3 Florida National Parks you’ll spend $50 on entrance fees.

I visit National Parks often, so buying an annual America The Beautiful Parks Pass for $80 saves me money each year! It also allows me to skip the long lines at the gate in many National Parks.

Where To Stay In Biscayne National Park

The closest location to Biscayne National Park is Homestead, FL which is about 15-minutes from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center. Florida City is just a little farther, about 20-minutes to Biscayne, but is closer to Everglades National Park.

Both Homestead and Florida City are smaller towns with a “local” vibe. It’s a lot of farm land and local shop owners. I recommend grabbing tacos at Tacazo (the al pastor was my favorite!)

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.

Home2 Suites is another great option in Florida City that’s modestly priced with very large rooms that have been recently renovated.

You can also choose to 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 traffic is notoriously unpredictable and awful, so if you stay in Miami I highly recommend giving yourself a bunch of extra travel time in your schedule, just in case.

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.

Boca Chita Campground, located on Boca Chita Key and Elliott Key Campground are both first-come, first serve so no reservations can be made. They both cost $35 per 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.

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

There are two primary seasons in southern Florida – mosquito and humidity season, and slightly less mosquitos and humidity season. I’m being cheeky, but there’s a lot of truth in this.

I visited Biscayne National Park in December. December is known to be the least offensive for mosquitos… and I still came home with over 200 bug bites. Even so, I think December is the best month to visit overall.

If you visit Biscayne National Park in the summer be prepared for heat. A lot of it. And South Florida brings massive humidity, which makes any temperature feel at least 10°F warmer.

Fall and spring are great times to visit, with the small exception of hurricane potential which is unpredictable and could really mess up your fall travel plans. But, if you can avoid a hurricane you’ll have a great trip with fewer crowds and more reasonable prices on accommodations and flights.

I recommend avoiding holiday weeks, if possible. For example, December, March, and April are all great months to visit – except for the week of Christmas, Spring Break, and Easter.

Summer In Biscayne National Park (June, July, August)
Weather: Insufferable – high humidity, afternoon storms, temperatures 80-90°F
Crowds: Busy season
Events: School break

Fall In Biscayne National Park (September, October, November)
Weather: Bearable – medium humidity, threat of potential hurricanes, temperatures 70-80°F
Crowds: Low season
Events: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Fantasy Fest in Key West

Winter In Biscayne National Park (December, January, February)
Weather: Pleasant – medium humidity, dry season, strong winds, temperatures 60-80°F
Crowds: Low season
Events: Christmas

Spring In Biscayne National Park (March, April, May)
Weather: Pleasant – medium humidity, some afternoon storms, temperatures 70-90°F
Crowds: Busy season
Events: Spring Break, Easter, Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

What To Pack To Visit Biscayne National Park

My favorite way to travel is usually with as little as possible. I hate lugging gear around that I never end up using.

The exception to this is when I travel to South Florida. Weather and conditions here are so variable that you’ll need a few things.

Additionally, the bugs and sun can become extremely uncomfortable if you aren’t prepared, so these items are always on my essentials list for a Florida trip.

*My Ted Talk On Bug Spray – I highly recommend something with Deet in it. I don’t usually like to put Deet on my skin, but in South Florida the mosquitos are absolutely insane. At one point my entire body was covered in them, like a fuzzy coat made out of layers of tiny wings. I’m not exaggerating, there were at least 300 mosquitos on my body at one time. My favorite heavy duty bug protection with deet is Ultrathon (30% deet) but it’s becoming harder and harder to find – I usually order it from Amazon or REI. Sawyer (20% deet) is another great option, available on Amazon. Additionally, I recommend Skin So Soft in addition to a deet option. This is a weird recommendation that came from a Boy Scout troop that really helps with the noseeums (much smaller flying insects that aren’t immediately painful like a mosquito bite, but they will leave you itching for a week or more).

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 would not recommend flying all the way to Biscayne National Park if you have no other items planned for your itinerary. It’s not worth a dedicated trip to see it.

I recommend your Biscayne National Park itinerary includes stopping by the Dante Fascell Visitors Center, walking along the Jetty Trail and taking a boat tour to see the Biscayne keys or to snorkel.