CAPE FLORIDA STATE PARK
Where
Cape Florida State Park is located at 1200 S. Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne FL 33149.
Vibe
Relaxed, scenic beach set beside historic lighthouse.
More kicked back than some of nearby Miami’s popular beaches, this state park promises a magnificent stretch of sand that’s beloved by families, friends and couples alike, as well as a wonderland of outdoor experiences.
See, feel
Consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 beaches in the United States by Dr. Beach, Cape Florida's boasts a mile and a quarter of swimmable beach laden with soft, light brown sand set against a glorious natural backdrop of dunes, palms, and forest.
The clear, emerald-tinted waters tend to be calm with the gentlest of waves, thanks to a reef six miles offshore, but can vary according to tides, winds and offshore systems.
On or near the beach
Everyone in your gang can enjoy the tranquil waters at Cape Florida, swimming or splashing in the surf, and you can’t find a more stunning place to take a stroll. Soak up the sun on a beach towel, or rent chairs and umbrellas from the park’s concession.
Fishing, paddling, hiking and biking: Cape Florida offers them all, as well as gasp-worthy views of the Atlantic and Biscayne Bay atop the 1825 Cape Florida Lighthouse. Fuel the fun with a picnic or at one of the park’s three restaurants: The Lighthouse Café, the The Cleat Mia, or the Boater's Grill, voted two-time winner of “Best Restaurant of Key Biscayne.”
Accessibility
The park offers two beach wheelchairs and two swimming wheelchairs, both available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis. They’re located at the bicycle rental area inside the park.
In addition, you’ll find a Mobi Mat located at Beach Access No. 6, next to the Lighthouse Cafe.
Other accessible amenities include picnic pavilions and tables/benches, fishing piers, a playground, a paved bike trail, restrooms, water fountains, showers and restaurants.
Service animals are welcome in all public areas of the park.
Facilities
You can rent chairs and umbrellas as well as individual bikes or quad bikes from the park's concession, located steps from the Lighthouse Cafe. At Beach Access #1, a PADL station offers four rentable paddleboards, available using the PADL app.
Lifeguards
There are no lifeguards; swim at your own risk. During the winter, watch for Portuguese man-of-war warnings posted at the ranger station.
Parking
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is extremely busy on weekends and holidays. Plan to arrive early as the park will close once capacity is reached and will not reopen for at least two hours.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BILL BAGGS CAPE FLORIDA STATE PARK
Q. Where is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park located?
A. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park sits at the southern tip of Key Biscayne, Fla., at 1200 S. Crandon Blvd., about 10 miles southeast of downtown Miami.
The park spans 1.25 miles of Atlantic-facing beach on the southeastern tip of Key Biscayne island, with No Name Harbor on the bay side and the Cape Florida Lighthouse marking the point.
Get directions to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Google Maps.
Q. What are the hours and entrance fees at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park?
A. The park opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes at sundown, every day of the year.
Entrance fees are $8 per vehicle for two to eight people, $4 for single-occupant vehicles and motorcycles and $2 per person for pedestrians, bicyclists and ride-share drop-offs.
On weekends and holidays, the park fills to capacity and closes temporarily; arriving before 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays is the surest way to get in.
Call the park at 786-582-2673 for current status before heading down on a busy day.
Q. What is the Cape Florida Lighthouse?
A. The Cape Florida Lighthouse, built in 1825, is the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County and one of the few surviving examples of early American lighthouse architecture in South Florida.
It was burned and partially destroyed during the Second Seminole War in 1836, then rebuilt and restored; today it stands at the southern tip of the beach as both a working navigational aid and a historical landmark.
Guided tours climb the 109-step staircase for panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay; tours are available Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. , and visitors must be at least 42 inches tall to ascend.
For tour details, visit the Key Biscayne Chamber page for Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
Q. What amenities are available at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park?
A. The park has restrooms, outdoor showers, 18 picnic pavilions (reservations required at least two days in advance), a playground, and paved bike trail through the native vegetation.
Beach chair and umbrella rentals, and bike rentals are all available on site.
Beach wheelchairs and swimming wheelchairs are provided free on a first-come basis.
Q. Where can you eat at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park?
A. Two restaurants operate inside the park: the Lighthouse Café faces the Atlantic Ocean and serves fresh fish, seafood paella, sandwiches and grilled meats from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Boater's Grill sits on the lagoon side at No Name Harbor and has been serving Cuban cuisine and fresh seafood for more than 20 years; it's a favorite stop for boaters coming in from Biscayne Bay as well as park visitors.
Both restaurants are a genuine upgrade over typical park concessions, which makes a full beach day here easier than at most state parks.
Q. What are the water conditions at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park?
A. The beach faces the Atlantic Ocean with moderate Atlantic conditions that can shift significantly depending on wind, tides and offshore systems; always check the beach flags before entering the water.
An offshore reef about six miles out moderates some wave energy, making the water calmer than many Atlantic-facing beaches in South Florida, but conditions still vary day to day.During winter months, Portuguese Man-of-War can wash up on the beach following strong onshore winds; watch for them in the surf and on the sand, and keep children away from any you find, even on dry sand.
There are no lifeguards on duty; swimming is at your own risk.
Q. What activities are available at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park?
A. Swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding in the calm bay waters on the No Name Harbor side, and biking or hiking the paved trail through Australian pines and native palm hammock.
The lighthouse tour is the cultural anchor of a visit: the 109-step climb delivers views that give you a clear sense of the park's position at the edge of Biscayne Bay and the open Atlantic.
The bay side of the park, accessible from No Name Harbor, is notably calmer than the ocean-facing beach and popular for paddlers, kayakers and boaters arriving from the water.
Q. What wildlife can you see at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park?
A. The park sits along a significant migratory bird corridor, and the hammock vegetation supports a wide variety of species during spring and fall migration peaks.
Eagle rays, sea turtles and a range of reef fish are spotted in the shallow near-shore water.
Sea turtles nest on the beach from approximately May through October; nests are marked by the park and must not be disturbed.
Q. Is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park good for families?
A. Yes, with some planning: the beach is wide and inviting, the playground and bike trail give kids things to do beyond the water, and the two on-site restaurants remove the need to pack a full day's worth of food.
There are no lifeguards on duty, so parent supervision in the water is essential, and the Atlantic conditions require more attention than a calm Gulf beach.
Arrive before 10 a.m. on weekends to avoid the park reaching capacity and closing its gates.
Q. When is the best time to visit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park?
A. October through May is the sweet spot: Miami's dry season brings clear skies, mild temperatures and lower humidity, and the beach crowds are manageable outside of winter holiday weekends.
Weekday visits in winter (December through March) are often the quietest, and the lighthouse tour slots fill less quickly then.
Summer (June through September) brings heat, afternoon thunderstorms almost daily, and the potential for hurricane activity; the park also gets crowded with local visitors on summer weekends.
Q. Can you find shells at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park?
A. The Atlantic beach at Bill Baggs produces occasional shell finds, particularly after strong onshore winds or following heavy weather.
It's not a dedicated shelling destination, but the variety of species found on the Atlantic side, including whelks, conchs and a range of bivalves, makes a beachcombing walk worthwhile.
Collecting live shells is prohibited on all Florida state park beaches.
Q. Is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park accessible?
A. The park provides two beach wheelchairs and two swimming wheelchairs free on a first-come, first-served basis, and a Mobi Mat extends onto the sand at Beach Access No. 6.
Service animals are permitted throughout the park.
The lighthouse is accessible on the first tier only; the 109-step tower climb is not accessible for visitors with mobility limitations.
Call the park at 786-582-2673 to confirm current equipment availability before your visit.
