How do you get to Bahia Honda State Park and is parking available?

Bahia Honda State Park is located on Big Pine Key at mile marker 37 on the Overseas Highway (US-1), about 35 miles north of Key West and 120 miles south of Miami. The park entrance is directly off US-1 with clear signage. Parking is available but limited, especially on weekends and holidays. The park often reaches capacity by mid-morning during peak season, and entry is closed once full. Arriving before 9 AM is recommended. There's a per-vehicle entrance fee (typically $8-9 for 2-8 people). No public transportation serves the park directly.

What food and amenities are available at Bahia Honda State Park?

The park has a small concession stand near Sandspur Beach offering snacks, ice cream, drinks, and basic beach supplies during peak hours, though options are limited. No full-service restaurants exist within the park, so bringing your own food is recommended. Picnic areas with tables and grills are available throughout. The park offers restrooms, outdoor showers, and a gift shop. Full-service grocery stores and restaurants are located in Big Pine Key (12 miles north) or Marathon (15 miles north). The park has camping facilities, but the nearest hotels are in Big Pine Key or Marathon.

Can you walk on the old Bahia Honda Rail Bridge?

Portions of the historic Bahia Honda Rail Bridge, built in 1912 for Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad, are accessible via a short trail from the park. You can walk partway onto the old bridge structure for unique views and photos of the turquoise waters below. However, the bridge is deteriorating and not fully accessible—safety barriers prevent walking its entire length. The bridge offers excellent sunset views and is a popular spot for photography. Informational signs explain the bridge's history as part of the railroad that once connected the Keys before the 1935 hurricane destroyed sections.

Big Pine Key · Florida · USA

Bahia Honda State Park Beach

You'll sink ankle-deep into flour-white sand that feels impossibly soft for Florida, while the old Bahia Honda Rail Bridge frames your view like a modernist sculpture. The water glows turquoise in depths so shallow you can wade a hundred yards out, warm as bathwater year-round.

🏆#1 in USA

1 / 8

Conditions right now

Reading live conditions…

Live from Open-Meteo · sea surface temperature and wave data modelled at 1-km grid resolution for Bahia Honda State Park Beach. Numbers refresh at the hourly tick.

Waves

—

01m2m3m+

Wind

—

kmh

Water

—

Air

—

OnlyBeaches IndexUpdated just now

OBI

—

Live-scored for Bahia Honda State Park Beach

Tuned for

Purity: 0%
Conditions: 0%
Crowd: 0%
Vibe: 0%

The OnlyBeaches Index weighs four pillars against your chosen persona. Purity comes from water clarity and air-quality heuristics; Conditions from Open-Meteo waves, wind and temperatures; Crowd from historical patterns; Vibe from nearby events within 50 km. The score rebalances throughout the day.

Verified beach

Big Pine Key·Florida·USA

4.8(5)Amazing 😊

famousfamilywhite_sandturquoise_waterscenicsunset

Trending This Week

Photos

8 captures from Bahia Honda State Park Beach

About this beach

Step onto Sandspur Beach and you'll understand why Floridians drive three hours from Miami for this particular stretch of shore. The sand here is the real thing—powdery calcium carbonate that squeaks beneath your feet and stays cool even at noon, a rarity in the coral-rock Keys. Above you, the weathered steel trusses of Henry Flagler's abandoned railroad bri…

Where it is

Bahia Honda State Park Beach

Big Pine Key, Florida, USA

24.6666°, -81.2581°

Open in Google Maps

Top things to do

At Bahia Honda State Park Beach

Wade the Shallows

Warm Atlantic water, gentle slope

Reef Exploration

Offshore coral patches, rental gear

Bridge Photography

Historic rail trusses frame sunsets

Mangrove Paddling

Launch from park, explore channels

Near this beach

Places, rentals, tours and events within walking and driving distance of Bahia Honda State Park Beach.

Loading nearby eat & drink…

Loading nightlife…

Good to know

Questions people actually ask about Bahia Honda State Park Beach.

Is it safe to swim at Bahia Honda State Park Beach?

Yes, Bahia Honda is generally safe for swimming with calm, clear waters ideal for families. The Atlantic side (Sandspur Beach) offers deeper water and gentle waves, while the bay side (Calusa Beach) features shallower, protected areas perfect for children. Lifeguards are not always on duty, so supervise swimmers carefully. Watch for occasional strong currents during tidal changes and after storms. The beach has restrooms and outdoor showers nearby. Marine life like jellyfish can appear seasonally, so check conditions at the ranger station before entering the water.

When is the best time to visit Bahia Honda State Park Beach?

Bahia Honda is enjoyable year-round, with water temperatures staying comfortable even in winter. December through April offers the best weather—lower humidity, fewer mosquitoes, and pleasant temperatures in the 70s-80s°F. However, this is peak season with larger crowds and higher camping rates. Summer (June-September) brings hot, humid conditions and afternoon thunderstorms, but fewer visitors and better availability. Hurricane season runs June through November. Weekdays are generally less crowded than weekends regardless of season. Sunrise and sunset provide spectacular views and optimal lighting for photography.