Biscayne National Park

In May 2025, we visited the Biscayne National Park in South Florida. Despite not going on a boat tour or doing snorkeling or other water activities, it was still a fun place to visit. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center and its surrounding areas were great to see and experience. I am glad that we visited Biscayne National Park.

DO NOT MISS THIS PARK! The boat ride is great. Our captains Alex and Jeremy were very informative, sharing history and their knowledge about the park. FANTASTIC SNORKELING. The water is clear and beautiful. We went to a shipwreck and the 3rd largest coral reef in the world! To whole park is great to picnic, hangout, swim, kayak, boating, fishing. We could’ve stayed there another day. Saw crocodile and manatees by the visitors center.

Beautiful National Park! Unfortunately, the weather was not ideal, but still had a great time. When you go, be sure to book a tour on the boat or kayaks, this park is really all about the water. The parking was great, staff were wonderful, and walk around the ground’s was great.

One of those extremely unique parks where most of it is the water! The small islands don’t have much going for them but the real adventures lie in the water. Plan ahead and buy tickets ahead of time to get excursions from the institute coming out of Homestead. There’s snorkeling, Kayak and other boat type adventures. We did the paddle board adventures and it was defiantly unique and worth every penny!

beautiful, teal waters. this place deserves to be protected from development and industrialization as the largest coral reef along the continental US is here. this park is underrated in my opinion.

This place was magical. I've never seen the waters like this. My dad and I took a heritage tour out into the Florida Keys and we got to see different various sea creatures plus a true guide was amazing. She was very knowledgeable. We got to hang out on one of the keys

Truly a unique National Park. I believe our guide mentioned that 95% of the park is underwater. The eco diversity was incredible. You have to get into the water to experience this park. We did the eco snorkel and paddle board tour and could not recommend it more. The paddle got rained out, but not before we had an opportunity to snorkel with puffer fish, barracuda, spiny lobsters, and much more. Very cool place to check out. Would love to come back when snorkeling conditions are better

A beautiful national park with engaging water activities. The visitor center’s first floor offers snorkeling gear rentals. On land, a long boardwalk invites visitors to fish and stroll. However, the two young cashiers at the visitor center’s store were indifferent, absorbed in their phones for extended periods, seemingly as wary of human interaction as the green iguanas we encountered.

We hit this park during January 2025 by accident - driving to Miami from Key West brought us a few miles from the entrance - so we had to cross this one off the list. The majority of the park is water - so coming here to explore it might require some additional planning and time on a boat. We loved what we saw and would love to come back some day to spend time here as well as other Florida national parks.

Come for the beautiful white sand, turquoise waters, and stay for boat/kayak/snorkeling tours. The bay fluctuates between 3'-8' deep, and is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. Wildlife and nature here are so different from the Pacific Northwest, making every site a wonder.

To truly experience this park, since it is 95% water, one has to book one of the water experiences (eg. snorkeling, paddle boarding, etc), each with a range of prices, the cheapest being $130/person (snorkeling). This price doesn't even include snorkel rental equipment, so costs can creep up fast. I went on the snorkeling tour in the afternoon starting around 1:15pm and ending around 5pm or so. It was phenomenal! Our group ended up snorkeling in a mangrove area and a coral reef spot in the Atlantic. Both very unique flora and fauna that you have to see for yourself! I wish I'd brought one of those waterproof lanyards to carry your phone so you can have picture/video souvenirs in addition to the memories. The "free" part of the park itself is mainly the visitor center (with an exhibit) and a short 1/2 mile round trip "trail" with many fishing spots and simple views of the water. There were lots of picnic tables, as well as mosquitoes even in January. The parking fills up midday, but there were just a couple spots left when I went on a weekday. The staff in the visitor center were very friendly and seemed happy to answer any kind of question!

Great boardwalk trail! Enjoyed the walk and so accessible for wheelchairs. Great little eco adventure close to Miami or Lauderdale and you cross a national park off your list. We visited in February, and it was super cold, rainy and windy. Tough to boat or snorkel and 90% of park is in the water. Definitely visit this park in warmer weather so you can enjoy water activities.

On my quest to make my dog a BARK ranger to multiple national parks. The person at the info desk was really nice. I called ahead and they answered courteously and were very helpful. There was enough parking. The day was rainy and cold, but beautiful and peaceful. Facilities were clean. Entrance is free.

Definitely one of the more unique national parks as 95% of this park is water. As a result, it requires a bit more advanced planning than a lot of the other national parks. The only portion of the park you can get to by car is the visitor center. Once there, they have a little museum and bookstore as well as the short Jetty Walk trail that takes you onto the water. It's a very easy walk that gives you your first beautiful view of Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park. They do allow fishing here, so you'll find many people fishing off the side of the walk. But there's so much more to Biscayne National Park than just this small, car-accessible area. To really experience all this park has to offer, you'll need to explore the area by boat. We booked a tour through the Biscayne National Park Institute that took us through Stiltsville and Boca Chita Key as well as gave us a great history lesson about Biscayne. If you only have one day to visit the park like we did, this tour was perfect because it hit two of the iconic aspects of Biscayne. Stiltsville is so unique with such an interesting history, so it's pretty cool to get to see the area. And Boca Chita Key is beautiful with simple hiking trails and calm, blue, clear waters perfect for swimming in. Since it is only accessible by boat, even though we went during a high tourism season, there still was not that many people there. Much better for exploring and enjoying the nature. If we had planned ahead better, we would've loved to go snorkeling in the park but all of our opportunities to book an experience for this were full. Their Maritime Heritage Trail is supposedly wonderful for both snorkelers and scuba divers to explore some of the park's ship wrecks. While some are really only accessible to scuba divers, it looks like a wonderful experience and definitely something worth looking into. This park is both unique and beautiful, and absolutely worth your time to explore.

Such a beautiful national park! Since 95% of the park is underwater, I do suggest their snorkeling and/or paddle boarding tour to really see the park. Snorkeling was so much fun and we saw a great amount of sea life. Such a rich history as well. Not many locals even know it's a national park, nor many tourists so it isn't crazy busy and pretty easy to book tours same week you plan to go. The 5% of land has a beautiful view too!

This park that has a great view of the bay is the best hidden spot for a quiet picnic, fishing, kayaking and more!! Big parking lot, even for camping RV's!! If you look at a map, Biscayne National Park starts just south of Key Biscayne and all the way south before Key Largo. It's a big area! The Dante Fascell Visitor Center organizes paddling, snorkling, evening cruises, cleanups, kayaks and more! Check out the Center, it has a small show and tell area of nature explaining mangroves and wildlife. Lots of greean area for picnics. The views to the water are incredible.

Cannot recommend Biscayne National Park enough! Make sure you book some type of tour through the Biscayne National Park Institute as 95% of this incredible National Park is underwater and you've got to get out on some type of boat to truly experience it in all of its glory. This particular section of the park at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center provides you with a really great walking path to catch some amazing views. We had an unforgettable time here!

95% of the park is water... Biscayne National Park often gets overlooked by the more popular Everglades and even Dry Tortugas. Biscayne NP is Florida's third national park and is located in the Florida Keys, somewhere on the drive from Miami to Key West. We arrived at the park around 10:30a. We stopped by the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead to get my NP Passport stamped and there so happens that a free tour led by a park ranger was about to start shortly. Sweet! We did not have to pay park fees, they are open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, and is completely free to visit -- there are no entrance fees or passes required. You do have to pay for the boat tours. Felt like we were worlds away in this southern part of Florida but in reality we were only 15 miles away from Miami. Greg was the volunteer tour guide. We learned among many things the importance of the mangroves as it protected its offshore barrier reefs. Know what the difference between the "key" and an island? Keys are formed by living things on the surface of a coral reef. An island is formed by a volcanic activity. Our visit to the park was short and sweet and we knew this coming in. There was only a few things we could do at the visitor center since the park is mostly water (like 95% water), coral reefs, and a couple islands. We would have to join a boat tour to explore most of the park. These tours will take visitors to the islands, see old lighthouses, and if lucky, may even see wildlife like green sea turtles, pelicans, manatees, dolphins, sharks, and many species of birds and fish. This is the place to come for kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Make sure to bring mosquito repellent! In 1968 the area became a national monument then officially a national park in 1980. Review #2878

It's amazing nature in the water, hard not to like! The boat/snorkeling experience is pretty much a must to be up close and personal with the habitat - highly recommended!

Okay, so this is a national park located in Homestead. It was really hot so we didn't walk around too much, but there's a small round inlet where folks were swimming with their toddlers: it's very small & very murky. The majority of the park is ocean water, but you can't access it from here. I'd love to do a tour- but unfortunately you have to drive into Miami proper- and the tour will bring you this way by water, but we live out this way already- so that would be a hassle. There are a couple walking trails close to the water, but honestly- I'm sure it's a better view via boat. Note: Not very accessible for folks in wheelchairs or WI ate disabled. The restrooms were in a building where you have to walk up the stairs.

Underwhelming as a National Park. Beautiful view of the bay and a nice walking area. Unless you get a reservation for a boat tour early, there is not much to see or do. They were sold out for the day at 11:00am. The park is 95% underwater. So if you want to see anything you will have to get wet.

Beautiful park or at least the visitor center. You see this national park's location 95% of it is a boat ride nearby. You can (which we didn't ) rent boat / canoe to explore. There's snorkeling activities and I'm almost certain that those snorkeling toir / activities are design (for tourist) to go treasure hunting. Some that came by boat probably didn't know that they're inside the National park. We got there just in time for a narrative tour by Ranger Greg Smith. The walking tour was very interesting. Ranger Gregg is very knowledgeable and informative on how this area came about. It's really worth the visit.

Please make sure you are well informed with the parks rules and regulations as there are multiple areas/entrances. Some areas are pet friendly and others are not. If you are with your pet, be sure to keep on a leash at all times. If you enjoy the nature and outdoors, this is a nice location to visit. You can also dock your kayak/canoe and take a stroll through the mangroves. The area is absolutely beautiful. You will also see that there are designated areas for fishing and other areas that you are restricted, please read the signs. No bikes allowed on the boardwalk.

We did a quick stop here to stretch our legs and enjoy the water view. The majority of what the park offers is on the water which includes kayaking, snorkeling, and informative tours. We simply opted to walk along the water and a small trail out to the check out the view. We saw plenty of fish from shore and enjoyed taking in the scenery.

We had to visit Biscayne National Park while in Miami. If you don't have your own boat, this non-profit is your only way to see the park (unless you just stay on the coastline, but that sounds boring). This is one of the best tours we've ever done. We did the Sail, Paddle, and Snorkel tour which was all day (from 10-4). Our tour guide Jesse was awesome. He had so many facts and stories about the park and the history of the land. I was a little nervous doing a group tour during Covid-19 (we were there in December), but they are doing a great job. Masks are required at all times unless you're snorkeling. Our group only had 4 other people in it. Plus you're outside with lots of wind. Paddling and snorkeling through the mangroves was so much fun. We even got to see a baby blacktip shark in the lagoon. I didn't have high expectations for this national park, but it ended up being an amazing day. They have several tour options so there's something for everyone!

Okay, so maybe not the most outstanding National Park of all we have been to (and we have been to most of them). But the area by the Visitor Center was very nice and also very peaceful. For being so close to Miami, you feel so far from the hustle and bustle of southern Florida here. Great for a picnic and the views. The exhibits in the visitor center are definitely worth an hour of so of your time to check out and learn more about this diverse ecosystem. We went on a guided boat tour called the "Heritage" which was about 3 hours and we went to a couple of places in the bay to learn about the people history. Pretty fascinating that people lived here and made a living growing stuff. Also the history of how this area was planned for huge development that did not pan out (luckily). Our last stop was Boca Chita where we got off the boat for a little over an hour (which was honestly an hour too long). The island is popular with boaters and they leave their trash everywhere, play their music too loud to be able to enjoy any peace and quiet, and seemingly let their kids run around unsupervised. The place was horribly unclean for a national park. The restroom was perhaps the worst I have ever been in my entire life. The smell gave it away long before you even opened the door. A pit toilet would be preferable to this restroom. Overall we were glad we ticked this national park off our list but would definitely not go out of our way to return. If we ever find ourselves in the area again, we might consider returning for a snorkel trip.

Went to Biscayne National Park on a whim during vacation and I am so happy we did! It is such a unique national park. 95% of the park is water so I highly recommend doing some sort of tour through the National Park Service or the Biscayne National Park Institute so the the money goes directly back to the park! We did a snorkeling tour and had a great time. The park definitely is not one of the more well known National Parks but it is still worth the visit. Another nice thing about Biscayne is that it is a park that you can experience in a day, however, I do want to go back and explore the park even more some day.

What a beautiful place, especially the boardwalk that extends right out into Biscayne Bay. There were lots of folks fishing here, and if you're lucky, you can find a bench to just sit and take it all in: the peacefulness of the water, unique plants and trees, and various birds. There's a museum here that informs you the history of the surrounding area, with nice displays. Also, restrooms, and a small store selling park merchandise. All the staff were very friendly. You can also take boat tours from here and rent a kayak. Admission and parking are free.

We took our kayak to the national park for the first time last Saturday. It was amazing!! The water was so calm and refreshing on a hot day. We saw dolphins swim near our kayak, a stingray, and a loggerhead turtle. A great activity on the weekend, get away from the crowds! There's also a nice visitors center, and a little gift shop. Don't forget your souvenir magnet! :)

We had the misfortune of signing up for the Snorkel and Paddle Eco-Adventure. It was a cold, windy and rainy day and the entire trip should have been canceled. Instead, because the water was so choppy, they took us to the nearby mangroves to snorkel instead of to the regular snorkel spot. What was intended to be the highlight of our trip was, instead, a long, perfectly awful day. There was nothing worthwhile to see in the mangroves. It was like snorkeling in black and white, no color of any kind at all. We saw nothing but a few bland looking fish, and the water was freezing even with wetsuits on. After an hour of that, we were taken to an island to eat lunch. It took us 10 minutes to eat (a lunch that we provided ourselves), and then 50 minutes of freezing to death until the boat departed again, as there was nothing to do or see on the island. It felt like a way just to pad time onto the trip so they could charge more. Then we were off to paddleboard in the mangroves, again, seeing very little. Our guide was nice enough, but seemed very disengaged. She told us one story about the history of Biscayne on the ride out, and pointed out a couple of bottle nosed sharks in the mangroves (literally the only thing worthwhile we saw in 6 hours), and that was the extent of her information sharing. If you are hoping to learn anything about the fauna or flora, you should pick another tour company. By the end of the trip, we were all so visibly miserable that the guide thanked us for not being angry with her because she knew many guests would be upset with the day. In sum, this trip was a huge disappointment and a colossal waste of time and money.

My wife and I didn't get to do any boat tour or snorkeling when we stopped because the weather was bad, but the area around the park was beautiful and the visitor center was awesome. I'm only giving it 4 stars because there was construction going on and there were waterfront walkways closed off

Got there around 4 and it all closes at 530. The interior beaches were closed so no idea what that is like. The side that has the walk way is nice. You can see Miami big buildings from here. The water is clear so a lot of wildlife to see.

The ongoing pandemic has definitely taken a toll on a lot of businesses and public places since a consumer's mindset to buy anything outside of essentials or to visit a public place like a park or beach, has crippled down significantly. Now by living with what has become the new normal, it is commendable on how these businesses and public places continue to remain open and cater to the general public by following the safety standards. It is now all the more important that we as customers, support these heroes during these dark hours to mankind. We visited Biscayne when we were at Homestead, while visiting Everglades. Our plan was to just to be at Biscayne for a sunrise. The park and the environment was so good, we stayed beyond the sunrise time and hung around until the Visitor center opened. We checked into the visitor center that had some wonderful staff, to find out what boat tours they had and was recommended to take the Boca Chita one and the earliest they had was the 8.30 am, which we booked for the next day. There's an adjacent gallery/museum to the visitor center that houses some historical and archaeological pieces of the park and has a wonderful ranger - Gayle who patiently walked us through the activities we can do at the park. The next day we took the Boca Chita boat tour at 8.30 am. We were lucky enough to take the first tour of the day as we had only two other folks other than the captain Tom and the first mate, Ember. Since the park is only 5% land and 95% water, the boat tour gives you the wholesome experience of the park and Ember as the first mate was so informative giving us the complete history of the park, the industries surrounding it, Presidential parties of the previous century and the how the park survived from getting privatized. The 45 minute stop at the Boca Chita bay was the icing on the cake as we had some of the best views of the park, with the historical lighthouse, canon, clear water, trees and the birds that decorate it. We watched some beautiful pelicans, herons, turkey vultures, frigate birds and cormorants during this visit. We headed back to the park after the 3 hour tour and walked through the trail, which was a small hike. Beautiful park, amazing experience and a must visit!

We were only able to stop by briefly to Biscayne but were wowed by this park! Admittedly we only saw a VERY small fraction, given that the majority of the park is in the water and you get to see that via boat trips, tours, snorkeling, etc. However, we even just loved our quick visit to the Visitor's Center, the dock area, and enjoying the walk along their boardwalk and little peninsula that extends into the bay. The area is just GORGEOUS and we saw tons of little fish in the water!

Biscayne National Park is located in Homestead, FL. 1 of 3 Florida NP. I booked the Heritage Boat Tour with Captain John & environmentalist Jason. Remember to watch your step when entering the boat. Jason is the BEST, knows how to make you laugh, he started off the tour with all 26 passengers to introduce ourselves + why we were there, told us a lot of facts (some I knew the rest I didn't which I love learning new history facts), etc. We got to see dolphins, lots of saltwater getting splashed in our face LOL, got to learn where the Keys originally started, went to Boca Chita lighthouse, saw the old dock that Hurricane Andrew destroyed, etc. Definitely was somewhat hot out, so make sure you bring a hat or put your hair up. We didn't need bug spray as there weren't any mosquitoes to bite us. Bring snacks & drinks during the 3 hour tour. The island is surrounded by 95% water. We have 33 keys. Biscayne is known for its farming on the islands. P.S. (Jason if you ever read this I forgot to tell you that you remind me of Mark Ruffalo who played the Hulk of your voice) (IMPORTANT) NO park entrance fee. All tours & activities the proceeds go to help the funding for Biscayne National Park to restore the Keys.

Sadly the Dante Fascell visitor center was in disarray last week with all walking paths still closed due to construction, moving trucks blocking the roadway, and worse, completely non functioning toilets accumulating waste. Without a doubt the worst National Park experience ever. I'm sure it'll all be great when it's all done, but at this time, avoid.

Wow! A great charter snorkel trip from Coconut Grove location. Captain Tony was amazing in sharing his favorite spots for manatee, sting rays, barracuda, and lobster sightings. We stopped to appreciate Stiltsville, and picnicked on Boca Chita island which had amazing history and views.

Our tour guide during the kayaking expedition , Juan, was friendly, instructive, informative, and a little funny. He truly shows his love for the National park during the your guides and makes sure that everyone is safe and accounted for.

It's the only National Park System which is a marine sanctuary. So naturally you need to get out on the water to visit the Northern Key islands and see what lurks beneath the hard bottomed shallows. There is a ferry to one of the islands but the only way to get on Elliot Key is to charter a boat. Inside we watched a great documentary and enjoyed watching the exhibits; outside we walked along the pier where folks were fishing. Barracuda and tons of other fish right beneath our feet! Fun to watch all the aquatic life. If you don't have a National Parks passport I encourage you to get one, and have it stamped at each of them.

The most beautiful park to kayak at. Ample parking and a large visitor center. We were able to kayak to nearby man made islands. Definitely a must see!

We got the chance to come here right before covid struck. We went to Biscayne, Everglades and dry tortugas while we were in Florida and felt that although Biscayne is beautiful, it really is more about the planned ahead activities than the sites they have there. Unfortunately we didn't know that so we just picked a day and realized we should have planned to do one of the fun boat related activities they have to get out on the water. Either way we had fun learning about wildlife in the visitor center and walking around the park taking photos. If we get the chance to come again we will definitely be doing an activity!!!

Loving the breeze as we kayaked this morning! Stopped into the visitors center which was very inviting and then had lunch after kayaking on the picnic tables.

I love this park and use to come out a lot more when I was younger. It was a beautiful day and our nephew was in town and we thought it would be perfect to get him outdoors and see some wildlife and greenery. Located in Homestead, next to Homestead Bayfront park. Driving in is a nice path along greenery and ocean. Approaching once in the clearing you see the Dante Fascell visiting center, kayak and paddle board rentals and private parking. Along the boardwalk you have beautiful ocean views as well as greenery and lots of picnic tables and provided BBQ grills. On this particular day there were lots of families out having a great time doing just that. Our nephew (he's 6 years old) couldn't get enough of the views and couldn't believe how big the ocean was. They also have a telescope in two sizes, for the adults and children to look out on the ocean and see boaters far out, birds, and even all the way to Miami Beach and Biscayne Bay. Boat tours are also available and fishing is allowed further down the boardwalk. We spotted turtles, mullets, small fish, grey herons, and a crocodile in the distance. We walked up the visiting center but right before our nephew was fascinated by a cannon they had in a closed in display that once belonged on a ship. Once inside we were greeted by a park ranger who let us know not only were there lots to look at but by participating in watching a 15 minute environmental film and filling out a small packet, we could have our nephew sworn in as a junior ranger,including badge and all. We walked around the visitor desk as they had turtle shells, sponges and other cool things that we were allowed to touch, there's even a sign that says so. We watched the movie which got into depth about just how important not only our waters were but the plants, animals, reefs to and how people all played important roles as well. After we walked around the small museum like space and took lots of pictures of the fish displayed. We filled out the packet and our nephew was sworn in as a junior ranger. It was a very special day for him and ti was nice to see him take interest in the environment as well. Now he can't wait for us to explore more parks in Florida! Even though this park is mainly water, there is still lots to do and see and can be very peaceful. I'd recommend everyone to come here at least once and check it out!

A very nice National Park. Nice visitor center. Well maintained, but limited hiking opportunities. Beautiful scenery. Friendly rangers. No admission fee. Well done junior ranger program. All in all a nice park but just not nearly as interesting and / or differentiated as most other National Parks. Worth visiting if in area but probably not a destination National Park.

We canoed here for 2 hours and saw manatees!!! Absolutely cute. The mother and baby and another adult together swimming. We canoed and followed them. Sooooooo cute.

If you do only one special location during your trip to southern Florida, make it this national park. We booked one of their snorkel tours and it was AMAZING. We've snorkeled in Fiji, all over Hawaii, off the coast of California and Louisiana - and yet this was one of our favorite trips. I would say it's not necessarily for a first time snorkeler; you need to have experience with how to hold yourself still, how to roll onto your back to deal with mask or snorkel issues since you can't stand up without disturbing wildlife, and I highly recommend bringing your own mask and snorkel if you have them so you're familiar with the equipment. (If you don't have anything, no problem, they do rent them out and experience is not necessary because this water is literally two shallow to drown in.) I recommend picking someone in your party to buddy up with and make sure you have your hand-signs worked out because these fish were especially skittish of any noise or sound. But the views were so astounding! We were there in off-season, on a random day, just because we like national parks. Despite this, Biscayne is now one of our top parks to go back to. So are many species of fish; so many different environments; even the aquatic plant life was fascinating. The tour guides were knowledgeable but not pushy and they had a lot of resources available if you wanted them! I would recommend arriving early if you book the afternoon tours; the bookshop was closed by the time we got back and we were not able to add to our national park memorabilia collection as we would have liked to. Still, worth every dollar we spent!

The most underrated national park of all the beautiful parks we have in this county. Thank you, Theodore Roosevelt, for having the foresight to preserve and protect some of the most incredible natural wonders that exist on earth. Being located in South Miami/Homestead area you can drive or take a boat to the park. It is situated between North Key Largo and Key Biscayne (Central Miami). The fingers of small mangrove islands are a long archipelago of nature, fish, transparent water that spark emerald greens and deep blue's depending on the depth of the water. Talking to all adventure seekers, divers and snorkelers: The reefs here go from 8 feet to 50 feet, and then to 200 feet and then to 1,000 feet. This drop in vertical feet of opens the door to all species from small marine creatures to Apex predators. The SeaLife that goes back and forth from the water column is incredible. Lobsters and hog snapper hug the brain coral and go in and out underneath the staghorn corals. You will see sharks if you snorkel or dive the reef so be careful if you are spear fishing and blood gets in the water.

Amazing time on the snorkel trip. Castle and the captain were very helpful and educated on the trip. We went on 7/19 on the morning tour. Saw some amazing reefs, fish, nurse shark etc. would recommend to take this snorkel trip! 3rd largest reef in the world!

Great location to kayak or take a walk especially with your dog. Nice variety of fishes in the water and several picnic tables available. They have a free museum upstairs! Free parking as well

Booked snorkeling trip online. Arrived well before departure time. Checked in at the park store as instructed. No one told us when we checked in, nor did the park website say you had to arrive 45 minutes early because the boat left from a different location. Park would not refund $200 spent for two adults, price of adventure, even though they did not inform us of this when we checked in this morning for the 1:30 pm trip. In fact, she said we should have figured it out. Pretty much ruined our vacation.

This national park is 98% water. The visitors center and a few small islands are the only land areas of this park. All rentals are done out of the visitor's center, mostly tours to the 3 Keys. Those need to be booked well in advance. We went in February and tried to book a tour for the next day and everything was sold out. If you have your own equipment, of course, you can use the water at your own leisure. The NP has tours for kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkling and boating. The guided tours can be booked at www.biscaynenationalparkinstitute.org.

I have visited this park close to a hundred times. The location here is the National Park Service Headquarters, there is a visitor center, a small board walk, picnic area, kayak launch, and tour boat launch. There is a separate Yelp page for the tour boat to Boca Chita. The land portion is relatively small but it has never been crowded during my visits. You can see Miami skyline in the far distance. There is no charge to get in. If you you just come here and aren't going on the water or haven't been on the water in BNP, you might feel let down after the long drive. The majority of the park is in the water and that is where the magic happens. Kayaking is a good way to see the park. You don't need to launch from this location, I have launched from Matheson Hammocks State Park, Black Point, and Bill Baggs State Park to get out to different areas of the park. I have had a HUGE sea turtle pop up next to me to check out my kayak and then silently swim away. This is a life time memory that you have to spend time in the water to see. The kayak launch is located a short distance from the parking lot and has a gently sloped entry. The park office has a list of kayak routes that range from an hour to a full day. Be mindful of your and your kayak capabilities, the winds and currents can turn a easy paddle into a reverse migration to Cuba. I use the park as a destination for my weekend bike rides. There is cold water there, some snacks in the gift shop, a sea breeze to cool you off, and places to sit down. There have always other bicyclists that are there from there rides. Black Point is a popular starting location. Be sure to lock your bicycle up or carry it with you and have it in site to prevent theft. In the last 120 days there were four larceny / thefts reported to MDPD at the park and I was there once when an armed robbery occurred. Being at the far south east end of the MDPD patrol area, criminals know that they can make a clean getaway. The visitor center is a cool place to hang out, literally, especially after a hot bike ride. There are the normal souvenirs, tickets for the boat rides to Boca Chita, a theater with a movie about the park, information about the park, and displays. The volunteers are very helpful there and there usually are not a lot of people lined up asking questions, if they cannot answer questions, there has always been a Park Ranger available, There are guided activities periodically that the rangers lead, check their website for info. If you've been a patron of the water portion of the park from other locations, it is definitely worth the time to come down to the visitor center to give more meaning to what you have seen. Stiltsville is a part of the park that has a separate yelp review page. It is definitely worth visiting to hunt for conch shells, watch birds, snorkel, or chill. In the canal just outside the park entrance there are manatees that congregate in the winter time. Just park your car and walk north until you see a manatee or you come to the lock. There is also a side canal road that goes to an inlet on the bay that is a good fishing spot within the park. I have enjoyed the picnic tables for lunch. They are usually not taken, but bring a blanket and chairs just in case, there are suitable grassy areas to eat lunch. The sea breeze is generally blowing enough to keep bugs and cool you down. I have seen homeless people here that use the bathroom. I have never had a problem with them approaching me. The bathroom facilities are spacious here, moderately clean and usually stocked with soap and towels. There is a trolley service to the park from Homestead. It is free, but seasonal.

Loved it. So serene and beautiful view. There was a visitor center that had a lot of information regarding wild life. There is also a nice outside restaurant right next to the ocean.. nice place for some drinks since it was very breezy. Will definitely be back. Great day at the park :)

Departing Florida we wanted to see the lighthouse which was closed on Christmas Day. It cost $8 per carload to enter the park. You drive to the end of the road and park so you can walk to the lighthouse. When you park, you find a restroom in case you need it. Walk along the gravel road and you'll smell the ocean and see different people fishing for their dinner. The vegetation is rich on one side and the calm ocean engulfs you with its beauty. At the end of the road you hit the lighthouse and the recreated houses of former coast members. You can physically walk up to the lighthouse and around the area. Nice pictures can be taken on the other side of a fence and on the jagged rocks infront of the structure. With good balance and safety, you can see manatees next to these rocks. This location is known for Seminole Indian attacks and the Southern route of the Underground Railroad that took slaves to the Bahamas. This is a family must see especially for the view and that smell.

Knowing that most of Biscayne National Park is in the water, we weren't expecting much, but we decided to visit anyways since we were driving past it. We were not disappointed! The Visitors Center is a real gem, with beautiful views of the ocean. There were a few people out picnicking on the lawn, and a few more boarding kayaks for an excursion, but for the most part everything was quiet and peaceful. We sat a spell while Kid got to work on her Jr. Ranger workbook, and overall we found it to be a very relaxing spot! We enjoyed the displays and watched one of the films--overall we only spent about an hour there, but it was a charming hour. If you don't have some way to get out on the water, or you don't have a Jr. Ranger in tow, then it's probably not worth making a special trip, but for our part we very much enjoyed our quick visit to Biscayne! **JUNIOR RANGERS: This is a nice spot for a quick badge, and required if you are trying to earn the South Florida Junior Ranger patch. The workbook is a nice one and can easily be completed at the Visitor Center, which is very kid-friendly. Badge is basic with the NPS logo.

Nice little park. Great place to paddle. Frozen bananas from the shop are great. Tours are wonderful!

We are National Park buffs. Biscayne is a hidden gem. It seems small as 95%is under water. We decided to book the sailboat tour and away we went to Boca Chita Key. It was absolutely beautiful. It was amazing in that everyone on Boca Chita Key were right around the little harbor. We walked around the island and found a little piece of paradise and had it to ourselves!!! It was just spectacular and the water, so clear and so blue!! Amazing! Definitely want to go back and explore a little more!