Biscayne Itinerary: What to See in 1, 2, or 3 Days

By David Sanchez · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Biscayne

Biscayne isn't a park you explore on foot from a parking lot: 95% of it is water. Biscayne Bay, the tropical islands, and the coral reefs make up most of the park, and the only way to reach them is by getting on the water. Show up without a boat or a booked excursion, and you'll end up staring at the bay from the mainland shore, wondering what you missed. The park's layout is simple: Convoy Point is your only land access, and you visit the rest of the park by water. Plan on at least two days to see the highlights. One day is enough for a quick introduction. Three days let you reach the reefs and spend a night under the stars on Elliott Key. Our complete guide to Biscayne gives you the big picture if you're just starting to plan.

Keep in mind that Biscayne National Park, the subject of this guide, is separate from Key Biscayne, the residential island south of Miami. They share a name and the same bay, but they're very different destinations.

How Much Time Do You Need to Visit Biscayne?

One day gives you access to the bay on a guided boat or kayak tour from Convoy Point. You'll see mangroves, the bay's turquoise water, and, if you're lucky, manatees or dolphins. It's a good day out, but it's not a complete visit.

Two days let you add an island. Choose Boca Chita Key and its ornamental lighthouse, or Elliott Key and its trails through tropical forest, depending on what you want to do. This is the length of stay we recommend for a first visit.

Three days open up the coral reefs. Diving and snorkeling along the Maritime Heritage Trail, with its marked wrecks in shallow water, are worth the trip from Miami on their own. A night camping on Elliott Key rounds out the experience.

Access, Entrances, and Getting Around the Park

The only land access point is Convoy Point, in Homestead, Florida, about 45 minutes south of Miami.

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center sits right at Convoy Point. With a museum, introductory films, an art gallery, and panoramic views of the bay, it's where you get oriented, pick up a paper map, and check the day's weather conditions with a ranger before heading out on the water.

There are no roads inside the park. You have three ways to get around:

• Guided boat tour: The NPS-authorized concessioner runs snorkeling tours, island visits, and diving trips from Convoy Point. It's the easiest option if you don't have your own boat.
• Kayak or canoe: A boat launch is available near the Convoy Point parking lot. The crossing to the islands is about 9 to 10 miles, depending on your destination, and you should adjust your plans for the day's wind and current.
• Private motorboat: Convoy Point Marina has slips available. Navigation in the bay is well marked, but you must follow the speed limits in manatee protection zones. Slow to idle speed in these marked channels or risk a fine.

Our guide to getting to Biscayne covers tour schedules, concessioner prices, and the boating rules you need to know before you leave.

Biscayne's Areas

The park is organized around four distinct areas. Visited in geographic order from the mainland toward the open water, they also represent a gradual increase in adventure.

Convoy Point and the Mainland Shoreline

This is the required starting point, not a destination in itself. The mainland shore is lined with mangroves, coastal forests growing over the water that serve as nurseries for marine life and a natural barrier against storms. The pier makes for a short walk with views of the bay. Stop here in the morning to prepare for the crossing, not to spend the whole day.

Biscayne Bay

Shallow and clear, with water that shifts from green to blue as the day goes on, the bay is a playground for kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders. Underwater seagrass beds provide habitat for sea turtles and manatees, which are especially easy to spot in winter when the bay's warmer water draws them in. A morning kayaking session, before the sea breeze picks up, often gives you the best wildlife encounters.

The Islands and Keys (Elliott Key, Boca Chita Key, Adams Key)

Three islands account for most of the park's land-based visits.

Boca Chita Key is the most photographed. Its ornamental brick lighthouse, built by an American industrialist in the 1930s, stands at the end of the island like an architectural fantasy that couldn't be more out of place. Its anchorage is one of the busiest in the park. The island is small and takes about an hour to explore, but the view of the bay and reefs from the top of the lighthouse is worth the stop.

Elliott Key is the largest and wildest of the park's islands. A trail follows the ridge from one end of the island to the other through dense tropical forest, where banyan trees make their presence known. It's also the only island set up for visitors, with camping, freshwater showers, and restrooms. I spent a night on Elliott Key in November, and the silence and light-pollution-free night sky reminded me why protected places like this deserve to exist.

Adams Key, the smallest of the three, has a few picnic tables and a quiet anchorage. It's an occasional stop, rarely a place to spend half a day.

The Coral Reefs

East of the islands, beyond the shallow-water zone, the coral reefs mark the park's maritime boundary with the Atlantic. This is diver and snorkeler territory.

The Maritime Heritage Trail features six marked wrecks at varying depths, from about 10 to 30 feet at the most accessible sites. You can visit the shallowest ones while snorkeling, without scuba gear. Coral has reclaimed the hulls, and parrotfish and moray eels have made them home. In good weather, visibility can reach levels that make the trip unforgettable.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: The Bay and Boca Chita Key

Arrive at Convoy Point when it opens. Twenty minutes at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center is enough to pick up a paper map and check the day's weather conditions with a ranger. In Florida, afternoon thunderstorms can move in quickly, so checking the forecast before heading out on the water is a habit worth developing.

Spend the morning on the water, heading for Boca Chita Key on a guided tour or in your own boat. Allow about an hour to get there from Convoy Point and an hour on the island for the lighthouse, the view from the top, and a swim in the clear water on the leeward side. Return in the early afternoon. This schedule helps you avoid late-day thunderstorms and enjoy sunset from the Convoy Point pier.

Our guide to things to do in Biscayne lists all the options, along with practical details, skill levels, and the best season for each.

Day 2: A Deeper Look at Elliott Key

On day two, head for Elliott Key. Start early again and allow about an hour to get there from Convoy Point. Tie up at the dock, then take the main trail across the island from end to end. The forest is dense, and its shade is welcome if you're visiting in summer. The heat and humidity in July can be intense. Tropical birds are easiest to spot when you move quietly and stop often. Frigatebirds and tricolored herons frequent the edges of the trail and aren't especially wary.

After your hike, the island's west side, facing the bay, is perfect for snorkeling. The water is shallow, coral formations are plentiful, and the marine life is accustomed to visitors. If you're camping on Elliott Key, stay the night. Our Biscayne camping guide covers reservations, on-site facilities, and the rules you need to follow.

Day 3: The Maritime Heritage Trail Reefs

On day three, head out to the reefs. Book a guided diving or snorkeling trip from Convoy Point in advance, or reach the wrecks on your own if you have a boat and the necessary gear.

The Maritime Heritage Trail's marker buoys are easy to spot from the surface. In good weather and calm seas, you can snorkel the shallowest sites with a mask and snorkel, without specialized training. Plan to return to Convoy Point in the early afternoon. Conditions at sea often deteriorate later in the day, and the reefs require calm water to be visited safely and comfortably.

Our Biscayne hiking guide covers the trails on Elliott Key, including distances and difficulty levels.

Options for Different Lengths of Stay

For a half day (a quick stop): Stick to Convoy Point. Visit the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, walk the pier, and watch the bay and coastal birds. It's enough to get a feel for the park, but not enough to really discover it.

For one full day (an express visit): Add Boca Chita Key on a guided tour. This is the minimum to get off the mainland, set foot on an island, and see truly clear water.

For two days (the classic itinerary): Spend day one at Boca Chita Key and day two at Elliott Key. You'll cover the bay and islands without reaching the reefs. It's an ideal format for families.

For three days or more (the full experience): Visit the coral reefs, spend a night on Elliott Key, and kayak through the bay's mangroves. The trip becomes more focused on outdoor activities and immersion. It's the ideal length of stay if you're coming specifically to dive or snorkel.

For help planning your dates, our guide to the best time to visit Biscayne explains the advantages of each season. Biscayne is open year-round thanks to its subtropical climate, with temperatures around 68°F in January and 82°F in July. The dry winter season, from November through April, brings the best conditions on the water and the calmest reefs.

Itinerary Map

The NPS publishes an official Unigrid map of Biscayne National Park. You can download it from the NPS website or pick up a paper copy at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center. It shows anchorages, manatee protection zones, and the Maritime Heritage Trail markers. It's essential before you head out, especially in shallow areas where sandbars can catch you by surprise.

Our Biscayne map reproduces and annotates the key areas so you can organize your day before leaving the mainland.

Where to Stay Along the Itinerary

Inside the park, Elliott Key is the only place with a campground. It has sites for tents and hammocks, but no RV camping. Elsewhere, lodging is concentrated in Homestead and Florida City, about 15 minutes by car from Convoy Point.

Our Where to Stay guide compares options around the park, from an express motel to a lodge where you can recover after two days on the water.

Extend Your Trip: What to See Around Biscayne

Biscayne pairs naturally with Everglades National Park. The park's main entrance at Royal Palm is less than 30 minutes west by car. These neighboring parks have two radically different ecosystems: the sea in one, and freshwater marshes in the other. It's a classic combination if you have four to five days in South Florida.

South of there, the Keys stretch 125 miles to Key West. U.S. 1, also called the Overseas Highway, is the backbone of the island chain and a road trip in its own right, with stops in Key Largo, Islamorada, and Marathon. The reefs at John Pennekamp in Key Largo echo those at Biscayne, with more infrastructure for divers and more places to stay.

Our Florida Road Trip and Southeast Region sections offer guidance for these park-to-park extensions and for building a longer itinerary.

The Ideal Itinerary for Your Time

If you only have one day, go to Boca Chita Key. With two days, add Elliott Key and its trails. With three, don't leave without seeing the reefs. If you're a diver or snorkeler, plan at least two trips along the Maritime Heritage Trail. One isn't enough to see it all.

Biscayne rewards visitors who arrive prepared: book an excursion or boat ahead of time, pack snorkeling gear, and keep a paper map in your pocket. People who show up at Convoy Point without a plan sometimes leave feeling as if all they saw was a parking lot by the water. Those who cross the bay discover something else.

Frequently Asked Questions