Where
Bahia Honda State Park is located at 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043. It features three main beach areas: Calusa, Sandspur, and Loggerhead.
Vibe
Tranquil escape for nature lovers with iconic Florida scenery. Palm-lined beaches, gin-clear waters and resplendent sunsets make Bahia Honda State Park a serene escape, albeit with abundant outdoor adventures. The park is home to the best natural beaches in the Florida Keys.
Here, expect to see couples, families, and groups of friends, and almost always, snorkelers.
See, feel
The old Bahia Honda Bridge provides a glorious backdrop for Calusa Beach, a small, narrow beach that faces the Florida Bay and offers two picnic pavilions. It has almost no current or surf. It fills quickly on sunny weekends. Sandspur features parking along the beach; a centralized restroom; and faces the Atlantic Ocean. It’s nearly a mile long and narrow, with shallow water and sand flats. You can escape the crowds here if you walk a bit. Loggerhead is situated on the southern and farthest west side. It offers fantastic snorkeling, some low sandy dunes, and a long stretch of sandy beach. There is often sea grass piled along the beach, which is good for the beach’s ecology, but some consider it unattractive and it can smell. Shade is limited, so consider bringing umbrellas or sunshades or renting them from the concession.
On or near the beach
Swimming, shelling, and kicking back by the surf are popular. Bahia Honda delivers some of the best nearshore snorkeling in the Florida Keys. The crystalline, turquoise water is a mere four to six feet deep, with vibrant sea life only a few hundred feet from shore. Outdoor adventures are unparalleled and numerous: You can rent kayaks and snorkeling gear; take a snorkeling boat tour to Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary; bird, boat, hike or bike; picnic; scuba dive; and enjoy outstanding star gazing.
Accessibility
Accessible parking, picnic pavilions and restrooms. A beach wheelchair is available for free, first-come, first-served. Service animals are welcome. Here’s where you can find more information about park accessibility.
Facilities
Amenities include restrooms and showers; picnic areas that are complete with tables and grills; campgrounds with cabins, RV and tent sites; a boat ramp; a Visitor Center; and nature trails. The park's concession offers souvenirs, essentials and limited marine supplies as well as rental snorkeling equipment, kayaks, umbrellas and beach chairs.
Lifeguards
No. Swim at your own risk.
Parking
Due to the park's popularity, the park may close when it reaches maximum capacity in its day use areas, so arrive early on weekends and holidays.
