State park · Florida Keys · Florida
Bahia Honda State Park is a Florida state park at Mile Marker 37 on Big Pine Key in the Lower Keys, and by our reckoning the most coveted campground in the state. Its 80 sites split across Buttonwood (1-48), Sandspur (49-72) and Bayside (73-80), backed by real white-sand beaches, clear turquoise water and the old Flagler railroad bridge. It suits snorkelers, kayakers, small-rig owners and anyone willing to plan a year ahead for the best Keys beach camping there is.
| Hookups | Mixed water/electric + water-only |
|---|---|
| Sites | 80 total across Buttonwood, Sandspur, and Bayside. The waterfront Buttonwood sites are the ones to chase. |
| Max RV length | 23 ft Sandspur; otherwise exact site |
| Cost | $36 + fees |
| Fees | $6.70/reservation + $7/night RV utility fee + tax. |
| Reservations | 11 months resident / 10 nonresident |
| Dump station | Available on-site |
| Cell signal | Moderate (Verizon best) |
| Best for | Travelers who want the single best Keys beach experience and will plan a year out to get it. |
Source-backed: Florida State Parks (checked 2026-07-18). Rates and site details change — verify with the operator before you book. Compare it with every other park we track in the price index.
Bahia Honda State Park is a Florida state park at Mile Marker 37 on Big Pine Key in the Lower Keys, and by our reckoning the most coveted campground in the state. Its 80 sites split across Buttonwood (1-48), Sandspur (49-72) and Bayside (73-80), backed by real white-sand beaches, clear turquoise water and the old Flagler railroad bridge. It suits snorkelers, kayakers, small-rig owners and anyone willing to plan a year ahead for the best Keys beach camping there is.
Buttonwood and Sandspur sites have water and electric with no sewer; a dump station serves the park. Bayside is water-only tent inventory behind a 6-foot-8 bridge clearance. Sandspur enforces a strict 23-foot hitch-to-bumper maximum, and Buttonwood fit is set by each site's reservation record, so measure and read it. Rates are $36 per night plus tax, a $6.70 reservation fee and a $7 nightly RV utility fee. Florida residents book 11 months out and nonresidents 10, with dates opening daily at 8 a.m. Eastern; peak sites can vanish in minutes. Winter is prime, shoulder months give better odds, and the trade-off is a booking gauntlet, scarce shade, no-see-ums and no reliable connectivity.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Full review
Bahia Honda State Park Camping: Prices, Reservations & Hours (2026)A current Bahia Honda State Park camping guide with campground differences, RV limits, official fees, park hours, and the Florida resident and nonresident booking windows.
Regional guide
RV Parks on the Beach in Florida: Where You Can Actually Camp on the SandBahia Honda is, fairly, the most coveted beach campground in Florida. Its beaches consistently rank among the best in the country, and the old Flagler railroad bridge gives the place a postcard backdrop. The campground splits into three areas, and the difference between them is enormous.
Field tip: If you can't land Bahia Honda 11 months out, set a cancellation alert. Keys plans fall through constantly, and weekday cancellations 2–7 days before arrival are your realistic backdoor.
For a deeper look at how the booking gauntlet actually works, see our Bahia Honda State Park camping review, and for the wider region read the Florida Keys RV parks guide.
Read the guide →Regional guide
Best RV Parks in Florida: From the Panhandle to the KeysBahia Honda is the most competitive campsite reservation in the state of Florida. Forty-eight sites — that is all — on a genuine white sand beach in the Middle Keys, with the old Flagler railroad bridge framing the view and clear water stretching to the horizon. It is as good as the photos suggest, which is why it books out within minutes of the reservation window opening.
The Sandspur camping loop is the prize: beachfront sites on the Atlantic side with direct sand and water access. Buttonwood offers shaded interior sites with full hookups. Bayside has partial water views. All three loops have a 34-foot hard limit on rig length, and rangers measure — show up at 35 feet and you will be turned away.
The booking strategy is not optional; it is a requirement. ReserveFlorida.com opens reservations 11 months ahead at 8 AM Eastern. Be logged in at 7:55 with your dates selected and payment ready. Peak-season weekends sell out in under 15 minutes. Weekday stays in shoulder season — November or May — offer better odds. For the complete loop comparison and reservation playbook, read our in-depth Bahia Honda State Park camping review.
Field tip: The 34-foot limit includes your hitch. Measure bumper to bumper before you make the drive. There is no overflow, no exceptions, and no refunds if you are turned away.
Read the guide →Regional guide
Florida Keys RV Parks: Island Hopping from Key Largo to Key WestLet's be direct: Bahia Honda is the single most sought-after campsite in the state of Florida, and arguably the most competitive reservation in any state park system east of the Mississippi. The park sits on a genuine white sand beach — rare in the Keys — with the old Flagler railroad bridge arching overhead and clear turquoise water in every direction.
Buttonwood — The largest loop, set back from the water in a buttonwood and mangrove canopy. Shaded, buggy, no water views from the sites. Full hookups.
Bayside — Small loop on the Florida Bay side. Partial water views, moderate shade. Electric and water only.
Sandspur — The prize. Beachfront sites on the Atlantic side with direct sand and water access. You're camping on the beach in the Keys. Electric and water only, no sewer.
The booking reality: Bahia Honda's 48 sites for peak season (December–April) sell out within 5–15 minutes of the reservation window opening. This is not an exaggeration. Set a calendar reminder for exactly 11 months before your target date. Be logged into ReserveFlorida.com at 7:55 AM Eastern. Have your dates selected and payment ready. Click the moment the window opens. Even then, you may not get the loop you want.
Weekday stays in shoulder season (November, May) are your best odds. Summer is hot and buggy but available.
The 34-foot limit is real. Rangers measure. If you show up at 35 feet, you will be turned away and there is no overflow lot. Measure your rig bumper to bumper, including the hitch.
Read the guide →Our verdict
Book Bahia Honda if you have a small or mid-size rig, can plan 10 to 11 months out or hunt cancellations, and want the best beach camping in the Keys at a public price. Skip it if you run a 40-foot rig, need sewer or working internet, or travel spontaneously.
No. Buttonwood and Sandspur sites have water and electric only, and Bayside is water without electric. A dump station serves the park; there are no sewer connections at individual sites.
$36 per night plus tax, plus a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee per booking and a $7 nightly utility fee for RV units. Day-use entry is separate.
Sandspur enforces a 23-foot hitch-to-bumper maximum. Buttonwood does not publish one campground-wide limit; each site's reservation record shows its dimensions and equipment fit, and rangers enforce it.
Florida residents 11 months ahead, nonresidents 10 months, with each new arrival date opening daily at 8 a.m. Eastern. Peak-season waterfront sites sell out within minutes; cancellation alerts are the realistic backdoor.
Buttonwood sites 15-25 on the waterfront are the prize, with 12-14 near the marina next best and 26-35 offering more shade. Sandspur is closest to the beach but only for rigs under 23 feet.
Yes, the campground is open year-round and the gate runs 8 a.m. to sundown daily. December through April is peak; May and early November offer better booking odds, and summer is hot, buggy but available.
Compare alternatives before you book — or browse the whole Florida hub.