Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne:

⚡ Quick Facts

Address 1200 S. Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149

Phone (786) 582-2673

Hours Daily 8:00 AM to sunset · 365 days per year

Vehicle Entry $8 per vehicle (2–8 people)

Motorcycle/Single $4

Pedestrian/Bike $2

Lighthouse Tours Thursday–Monday · 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM · FREE with admission

Lighthouse Cafe Daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · breakfast, lunch and dinner

Bike Rental Single $9/hour · Quad bike $20/hour

Kayak Rental $25–$40/hour at beach concession

Rickenbacker Toll $2.25 each way (SunPass discount available)

GPS Coordinates 25.6554° N, 80.1571° W

Website floridastateparks.org/bill-baggs

The Park at the End of the Island

Most people who cross the Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne turn left toward the village and Crandon Park. They never make it to the southern tip of the island.

That is exactly where Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park begins.

Bill Baggs occupies the southernmost 409 acres of Key Biscayne — a stretch of barrier island that feels genuinely wild despite being just seven miles from downtown Miami. The park protects more than a mile of pristine Atlantic beach on the ocean side and 1.4 miles of Biscayne Bay shoreline on the west. Between them sits a landscape of coastal strand, mangrove wetlands, seagrass flats, and subtropical forest that has been described as Miami's escape from Miami.

And at its southern end — visible for miles and lit every night since 1825 — stands the Cape Florida Lighthouse. The oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County.

The Cape Florida Lighthouse — Built in 1825

The Cape Florida Lighthouse is the defining landmark of Bill Baggs and one of the most historically significant structures in all of South Florida. Built in 1825 and rebuilt after being nearly destroyed in a Seminole attack in 1836, the lighthouse guided mariners through the treacherous Florida reef for decades before being decommissioned and eventually restored to its current magnificent condition.

Free guided tours of the lighthouse depart Thursday through Monday at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The tour includes a guided climb of the lighthouse's 109 iron spiral steps to a platform with 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay, the Miami skyline, and on clear days, the northern Florida Keys. Children must be at least 42 inches tall to climb.

Note: The lighthouse grounds — including the restored keeper's cottage and kitchen — are open Thursday through Monday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Even without climbing the tower the grounds are worth visiting.

The Beach — One of the Best in South Florida

Bill Baggs consistently ranks among the top beaches in Florida and the United States — and for good reason. The beach stretches over a mile along the Atlantic Ocean with a width and natural character that sets it apart from the more developed beaches to the north.

The combination of the lighthouse backdrop, the natural dune vegetation, the clear Atlantic water, and the relative quiet compared to South Beach or Crandon creates a beach experience that feels genuinely special. Chair and umbrella rentals are available at the beach concession for approximately $15 to $30.

Pro tip: The bay side of the park — particularly the area near the northern end of the 1.4-mile Biscayne Bay shoreline — offers extraordinary calm water swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding with views back toward the Miami skyline.

What To Do at Bill Baggs

Lighthouse Tours

Free with park admission. Thursday through Monday at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. 109 spiral iron steps. 360-degree views. One of the most extraordinary vantage points available anywhere in South Florida.

Beach Swimming and Sunbathing

Over a mile of pristine Atlantic beach. Chair and umbrella rentals available. Lifeguards on duty during peak hours. The water is typically clear and calm by South Florida standards.

Kayaking and Paddleboarding

Rentals available at the beach concession for approximately $25 to $40 per hour. The bay side of the park is perfect for beginners — flat calm water with extraordinary views. More experienced paddlers can explore the mangrove shoreline.

Cycling

Paved paths wind through the park and the island is extremely bicycle friendly. Bike rentals are available at the Lighthouse Cafe concession — single bikes from $9/hour, quad bikes from $20/hour.

Fishing

The park's bay shoreline and the area near the lighthouse offer excellent fishing access. Snook, tarpon, bonefish, permit, and a variety of other species are found in these waters. A Florida fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.

Lighthouse Cafe

Open daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Two open-air restaurants operate within the park offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Cuban specialties and fresh seafood — with some of the most extraordinary waterfront views of any casual dining establishment in Miami-Dade County. Budget approximately $12 to $25 per person for lunch.

Picnic Pavilions

15 smaller pavilions ($50 plus tax per day) and 3 large pavilions ($100 plus tax per day) are available for reservation. Perfect for family gatherings with beach access included.

Bill Baggs and Key Biscayne Real Estate

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is one of the amenities that makes Key Biscayne real estate so extraordinarily desirable — and so extraordinarily priced. When buyers ask me why single family homes on Key Biscayne start at two million dollars and go well beyond ten, I bring them here.

Standing at the tip of the island with the Atlantic on one side, Biscayne Bay on the other, the Miami skyline visible to the north, and the 1825 lighthouse behind you — it becomes immediately clear why people pay what they pay to live here.

Key Biscayne is a barrier island with no new land. What exists is what exists. And the combination of extraordinary natural parks like Bill Baggs, miles of pristine beach, world-class tennis at Crandon Park, and genuine community character creates a lifestyle that buyers from around the world specifically seek out.

Getting There

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is located at 1200 S. Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149. GPS: 25.6554° N, 80.1571° W.

From Miami: Take I-95 to exit 1A. Follow the Rickenbacker Causeway (SR-913) across Biscayne Bay to Key Biscayne. Continue south on Crandon Blvd past Crandon Park to the park entrance at the southern tip of the island. Rickenbacker Causeway toll: $2.25 each way.

Parking is available within the park. Entry fee: $8 per vehicle (2–8 people).

Before You Go — Tips

• Arrive early on weekends — the park fills up by late morning and the entrance may temporarily close when capacity is reached.

• Book lighthouse tours in advance when possible — space is limited and fills up quickly on weekends.

• Bring cash or card for the entry fee, rentals, and the Lighthouse Cafe.

• Pets are not allowed on the beach but are permitted in other areas of the park on a leash no longer than six feet.

• The park is open 365 days per year — even on holidays. One of the few South Florida parks where you can spend Christmas Day at a historic lighthouse on the beach.

• Rickenbacker Causeway toll is $2.25 each way — SunPass holders receive a discount.

📚 Related Reading

Key Biscayne Real Estate Market Update — September 2026 https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/key-biscayne-real-estate-market-update

Biscayne National Park — The Marine Park Most People Miss https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/biscayne-national-park-florida-complete-guide

Matheson Hammock Park — Coral Gables' Best Kept Secret https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/matheson-hammock-park-coral-gables-complete-guide

Relocating to South Florida — The Complete Honest Guide https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/relocating-to-south-florida-2026

Old Cutler Road — The Most Beautiful Drive in South Florida https://www.homesbysandraalonso.com/blog/old-cutler-road-south-florida-complete-guide

About the Author

Sandra K. Alonso | REALTOR® · Brown Harris Stevens

Sandra Alonso is a South Florida native and ten-year real estate veteran specializing in Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Pinecrest, and South Miami. As a 21-year original owner at Cutler Cay and a bilingual English/Spanish agent with Brown Harris Stevens, Sandra brings authentic hyperlocal knowledge to every buyer and seller she represents.

📞 305-613-3376  ✉️ salonso@bhsusa.com  🌐 www.homesbysandraalonso.com

Sources and References

• Florida State Parks — Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park · floridastateparks.org

• Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce · keybiscaynechamber.org

• America's State Parks — Bill Baggs complete guide · americasstateparks.org

• Florida Rambler — Bill Baggs lighthouse and beach guide