Bahia Honda State Park, Key West: Beaches, Snorkeling and Camping

Bahia Honda State Park is a beautiful place in South Florida. It’s known for having some of the prettiest beaches in the United States. The park is close to Key West, a famous city in Florida. It’s a great spot for people who love being outdoors and going on adventures.

The park has very clean, clear water that you can see through. There are also forests with special trees called mangroves. You can see lots of different animals here too. It’s a perfect place to forget about your everyday worries and enjoy nature.

What to do at Bahia Honda State Park?

Bahia Honda State Park is famous for its beautiful beaches. The water is so clear you can see fish swimming around. The beaches have soft, white sand and palm trees. It’s a great place to relax, swim, or look at the sea life.

Bahia Honda State Park Beaches

Bahia Honda has some of the nicest beaches in the Florida Keys. The water is clear and great for swimming. Unlike some other beaches, the ground is sandy instead of rocky, which makes it more comfortable.

There are two main beaches in the park where you can swim. You can choose which one you like better based on how windy it is or how many people are there. There’s also a café near the beach where you can get food and drinks.

Calusa Beach

Calusa Beach is on the west side of a bridge called Bahia Honda Bridge. Many people like to stop here on their way to Key West. The water is calm and not too deep, which makes it great for families with kids or anyone who wants to relax.

From Calusa Beach, you can see the Gulf of Mexico and an old bridge that’s partly torn down. This makes the beach look really interesting. The water is very blue and clear, and the sand is clean and white. It’s a beautiful sight that’s hard to forget.

The beach is in a protected spot, so it’s not as windy as other areas. The water might be a bit warmer here too. Even though there’s grass at the bottom of the sea, people still like to go snorkeling. The beach has picnic tables, grills, bathrooms, and a place to buy food, so you can spend the whole day there comfortably.

Sandspur Beach

Sandspur Beach is on the east side of the park. It’s bigger and more private than Calusa Beach. It’s over a mile long and has very soft sand. There are lots of plants around, which makes it feel more natural and peaceful.

Because Sandspur Beach faces the ocean, the water is cooler and it’s windier here. This means there are more waves and seaweed. But when the water is calm, it’s a great place for snorkeling, canoeing, and paddle surfing.

After swimming in the clear, blue-green water or relaxing on the beach, you can use the facilities nearby. Sandspur Beach has showers where you can rinse off, bathrooms, changing rooms, and picnic areas. This makes it easy and comfortable to spend a day at the beach.

Bahia Honda State Park Snorkeling

Bahia Honda State Park is a great place for snorkeling and diving. Many visitors come here just for these activities. The water is very clear, and there are lots of interesting sea creatures to see.

The park is close to the Florida Reef, which is a special type of coral reef. It’s the only living coral barrier reef in the United States that’s not on an island. In the reef, you can see many colorful fish, beautiful coral shapes, and other sea animals. It’s a fantastic place for both new and experienced snorkelers and divers.

The water at Bahia Honda Beach is usually calm and easy to see through. This makes it a great place for anyone who loves nature and wants to explore underwater.

Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary Snorkeling Tour

One of the best places to go snorkeling near Bahia Honda is Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. It’s a popular spot in Key West where you can see lots of tropical fish and coral.

The best time to visit Looe Key is from December to April. During these months, the water is clearest and there aren’t as many boats around. You can join a tour or go on your own if you prefer.

You can take snorkeling tours that leave twice a day, at 9:30 in the morning and 1:30 in the afternoon. On these tours, you might see over 100 different kinds of fish and many types of coral.

If you need snorkeling gear like masks, fins, or life vests, you can rent them before the tour. It’s a good idea to book your tour ahead of time, especially if you’re visiting during a busy season or holiday.

Fishing at the State Park

Fishing is another fun thing to do at Bahia Honda Beach. The park is in a great spot for fishing because of all the different sea life around it.

You can fish for many types of fish here, like snapper, grouper, tarpon, bonefish, and barracuda. There are special areas along the beach where you can fish, and you can also fish from bridges and piers.

There are designated fishing areas along the park’s shoreline, as well as bridges and piers that provide excellent vantage points for casting a line. For those looking to venture further out, there are boat ramps available, and nearby marinas offer charters and guides for unforgettable deep-sea fishing excursions.

If you want to go fishing further out in the ocean, there are places where you can launch a boat. You can also hire a fishing guide to take you out for deep-sea fishing.

Remember, if you want to fish here, you need to have a Florida fishing license. There are also rules about how many fish you can catch and how big they need to be. It’s important to follow these rules to help protect the sea life in and around Bahia Honda State Park.

Bahia Honda Railroad Bridge

An important part of Bahia Honda State Park’s history is the old railroad bridge. This bridge was built in 1912 to cross the Bahia Honda Canal in the Florida Keys. In 1935, a big storm called Hurricane Irma badly damaged the bridge. After that, the railroad company never fixed it.

Today, you can only walk on a small part of the bridge because the top part is broken and unsafe. Even though you can’t go all the way across, walking on the bridge is still fun. It gives you a great view of the park from up high. This old bridge is an important reminder of the area’s history and makes visiting the park even more interesting.

Lodging near Bahia Honda State Park

There are many different places you can stay near Bahia Honda State Park. Here are some options:

Camping at Bahia Honda State Park

You can camp right in Bahia Honda State Park. They have spots for tents and RVs. Camping here gives you easy access to the beach and all the park’s activities. The views from the campsites are beautiful too.

If you want to camp here, you need to plan ahead. You can book a spot up to 11 months before your trip. It’s a popular place, so it can be hard to find an open spot. Camping in the park is pretty cheap because it’s a state park. When you book, make sure to check if your spot has electricity and water.

Bahia Honda State Park RV Campground

The park has a special area for RVs. These spots have everything you need to be comfortable, like electricity and water hookups, picnic tables, grills, and bathrooms with showers. The RV area is close to the beaches, so it’s easy to go swimming or sunbathing.

Staying in the RV area lets you enjoy the park day and night. You can watch the stars, look for birds, or walk on nature trails right from your RV.

It’s a good idea to book your RV spot as early as you can, especially if you’re visiting during busy times. You can make a reservation by phone. If the park is full when you call, don’t give up. Sometimes people cancel their reservations, so you might be able to get a spot if you keep checking.

Cabins at the State Park

Bahia Honda State Park also has six cabins you can stay in. These cabins are right next to the water, so you get great views. Like the camping spots, these cabins are very popular. You should try to book them as early as you can, especially if you’re visiting during a busy time.

Staying in a cabin is a nice way to enjoy the beauty of the park while still having a comfortable place to sleep.

Hotels near Bahia Honda State Park

There isn’t a hotel right in the park, but there are some nearby. The closest hotels are about 15 minutes away in a place called Boot Key. Some nice hotels in the area are Isla Bella Beach Resort, Courtyard Marathon Florida Keys, and Caption Pips Marina. These are fancy hotels with views of the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay.

Best Time to Visit

The best times to visit Bahia Honda State Park are in the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). During these times, the weather is nice and there aren’t as many people as in the winter, which is the busiest time.

Where is Bahia Honda State Park?

Bahia Honda State Park is in the Florida Keys. It’s about 37 miles northeast of Key West and 12 miles south of a place called Marathon. The park’s address is 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043.

How to get to Bahia Honda State Park?

• By car: Most people drive to the park. From Miami, you take US-1 South (also called Overseas Highway) for about 120 miles. The park entrance will be on your right.
• By bus: You can take a Greyhound bus to Marathon, FL. From there, you can take a local bus called the Lower Keys Shuttle that stops near the park.
• By ferry: There’s a ferry called the Key West Express that goes between Fort Myers Beach, Marco Island, and Key West. Once you get to Key West, you can rent a car or take a bus to the park.

What Mile Marker is Bahia Honda State Park?

The park is at mile marker 37 on the Overseas Highway. Mile markers are signs that show how far you’ve traveled on the road.

Conclusion

Bahia Honda State Park, located on Bahia Honda Key in Florida, is a beautiful place for anyone who loves nature and outdoor adventures. With its clear blue waters, lots of plants, and many different animals, it’s easy to see why so many people love to visit this park in South Florida.