Why Bahia Honda State Park In the Florida Keys Should Be Voted America's Best Beach

In the Florida Keys at mile marker 36 in Big Pine Key there is an absolutely beautiful State Park called Bahia Honda and throughout my many trips to Florida I can say this is by far my favorite!! Bahia Honda is 36 miles east of Key West which is about a 45 minute drive. We visited this state park December 2006 and it became the favorite part our Key West Vacation!!! There are so many things to do in the park we spent an entire day exploring the park and all it had to offer. The scenery is amazing from the old railroad bridge to the islands in the distance this state park has something for everyone. Here are some facts about the park and what you need to prepare for your visit.

Park Fees

Bahia Honda charges admission per person not by vehicle. Here are the fees for entrance to the park:

Admission

$1.50 - Pedestrian/bicyclist fee
$3.50 - Single-occupant vehicle
$6.00 - Double-occupant vehicle
$0.50 - Each additional occupant up to 8 people
$1.50 - Each additional occupant over 8 people
$10.00-Boat Ramp

Camping

The park has three camping areas with a total of 80 campsites which you can stay at and the rates are $31.49 a night. They are for both RV's and tents.

Snorkeling

The park is known for its wonderful snorkeling. You can walk right out from the beach and snorkel. We did this during our trip and it was fantastic. We saw tons of fish and the water was crystal clear. The park offers many boat trips to go out snorkeling as well they go 365 days a year and leave at 9:30 and 1:30. You get about 1 ½ hours of snorkeling in on each trip which costs $28.95 for adults and $23.95 for children. You also must pay $6 a person to rent equipment if you don't have your own.

Activities

The park offers a wide range of activities for everyone in your group. They have kayaking in which you can rent an ocean friendly kayak and paddle around the island or rent a bicycle and ride around the islands 3 ½ mile of paved surface to explore. There is also fishing available for the sea worthy with various charters offered.