Getting to Biscayne National Park and Access Points

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center, 9700 SW 328th St., Homestead, (tel. 305/230-1144) the park’s mainland entrance, is 9 miles east of Homestead. To reach the park from Miami, take the Florida Turnpike to the Tallahassee Road (SW 137th Ave.) exit. Turn left, then left again at North Canal Drive (SW 328th St.), and follow signs to the park. Another option is to rent a speedboat in Miami and cruise south for about 1.5 hours. From U.S. 1, whether you’re heading north or south, turn east at North Canal Drive (SW 328th St.). The entrance is approximately 9 miles away. The rest of the park is accessible only by boat.

Because most of Biscayne National Park is accessible only to boaters, mooring buoys abound, as it is illegal to anchor on coral. When no buoys are available, boaters must anchor on sand or on the docks surrounding the small harbor off Boca Chita. Boats can also dock here overnight for $25. Even the most experienced boaters should carry updated nautical charts of the area, which are available at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center. The waters are often murky, making the abundant reefs and sandbars difficult to detect—and there are more interesting ways to spend a day than waiting for the tide to rise. There’s a boat launch at adjacent Homestead Bayfront Park and 36 slips on Elliott Key, available for a $25 docking fee. Docking fees must be paid in advance at recreation.gov.

Three-and-a-half-hour boat trips to Boca Chita and Elliott Key are available at biscaynenationalparkinstitute.org/boat-cruise and cost $83 for adults and $49 for kids 5 to 12.

Biscayne National Park Visit Center & Informations

Open daily from 9am to 5pm, the Dante Fascell Visitor Center (often referred to by its older name, Convoy Point Visitor Center),  is the natural starting point for any venture into the park without a boat. It provides comprehensive information about the park. See above for address and contact information.

For info on transportation, glass-bottom boat tours, and snorkeling and scuba-diving expeditions, contact the park concessionaire, Biscayne National Park Institute, located at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center.

Biscayne National Park Entrance Fees and Permits

 

Park entrance is free, but there is a $25 overnight docking fee at both Boca Chita Key Harbor and Elliott Key Harbor, which includes a campsite. Campsites are $35 for those staying without a boat. You can book your sites at recreation.gov.  Backcountry camping permits are free and can be picked up from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.