Best Cabin Camping near Big Pine Key, FL

We love Bahia Honda and camp there every year. It's hard to get a reservation there so good luck. The Atlantic and the Gulf meet and it's a beautiful park. There are 2 main loops for camping. Buttonwood has some bigger sites and a little more privacy. If you lucky enough to get a waterfront site you can snorkel off your site or launch your kayak. We float on rafts after a day of fun and cool off. You see a good sunset here too. 

The sandspur loop is for campers under 23' and they are tighter with no shade or privacy. Yet they are right on the Atlantic ocean and the view is awesome. Loggerhead beach is beautiful. 

You can rent a kayak if you don't have one and paddle around the island. It's all good. The old Flagler bridge is a great photo op and you can walk up to it and catch a beautiful sunset or stargaze. 

There is a primitive campground  loop too on the gulf side near the Cabins. You can't get under the bridge to drive back with a high vehicle so make sure you look at the standards if you are booking a cabin or a primitive site. My truck with the kayak racks on top won't go under it. 

Lot's of good eats south on Big Pine Key and north on Marathon. There are 2 grocery stores on Marathon Key and a Winn Dixie on Big Pine Key. Lot's of small deer on Big Pine Key do not speed they will get you. As a matter of fact the keys are loaded with police looking for speeders so take it slow.

This campground has great reviews and we were looking forward to our visit.  Our site was right on the water, facing the overseas freeway.  We loved the location but we could not sleep, it was so loud with the traffic, trucks and cars.  Our site was 15 and faced the highway.  The park was lovely, the grounds and the beaches beautiful.  However, if you have dogs, it's a no-go.  No dogs allowed and they have to stay at your camp.  We were disappointed because potentially, we could return and stay for 14 nights, but with two nights of zero sleep, we were ready to go.  The nearest town is Big Pine Key and there's a Winn Dixie, UPS store, bagel shop and a dog park.  The dog park was packed so not an option.  Maybe check out other campsites that don't have the freeway noise.

This campground (buttonwood loop) is where the Atlantic meets the gulf. Beautiful view from the waterfront sites. Kayak, fish, float on a raft or swim from your own campsite.  The view of the old bridge is amazing. We've stayed in several sites yet do have some favorites.  You need to book 11 months in advance to get on the water or maybe you luck out if someone cancels. 

We had water & electric & there is a dump station. They have snorkel trips from camp store there & a little museum near the swim beach. Walk up on the old bridge what a great view. Good place to see sunset not that you site isn't a good place to see it too.  If you like to look at beautiful night sky the old bridge is a great place to take it in. 

The restrooms are being redone they were working on it when we were there this year. Hurricane Irma did some damage there they were also working on rebuilding sandspur campground. 

Manatees hang out near the fish cleaning station they drink the fresh water coming from cleaning the fish. There's a small nurse shark that hangs out there too.  There is a small area for some boats first come first serve to keep your boat in the water. Very shallow coming in and out the dock area stay in the middle or you will be sorry. If you snorkel along the campground you must have a floating buoy with a dive flag. Boats need to see you. 

They rent Kayaks if you don't have your own, it's a great paddle around the key. 

Usually at sunset someone blows the conch shell (sounds like a ship horn). 

Close to Marathon & Big Pine Key (deer key). Some good eats close by Sunset Grill has great crab soup, and a pool.  The Keys Fishery Raw bar is a fun place to see the sunset. They serve a free shot at sunset. La Nina has good cuban food.  Porky's is a favorite. And don't forget the No Name Pub on Big pine Key their Pizza is good and the sangria.  From Bahia Honda it's an easy drive to Key West always a good time down there.

We stayed 5 nights in spot #423 a waterfront site. Sunsets were amazing and so is the night sky. Near our site the marina has a area looks like a giant aquarium with Tarpon, Nurse sharks, tropical fish, Big Grouper/Jew Fish, and Manatees. Along with lots of iguanas. There are 2 fish cleaning stations, a pool, game room, small store, gas station, and 2 swim areas. One is on a sandy beach with lounge chairs and a large Tiki. The other is off the dock near site # 425. People fish off the dock too. The current can be strong. Nice place to watch the sunset. There are some good places to eat on Marathon along with shopping and grocery stores. Love Pokeys good food and you can find anything on the menu its got everything. Big Pine Key has the No Name Pub love their Pizza, Triano’s Taco truck excellent tacos. Taco truck is open Mon-Thurs till 5. He can run out of the good stuff earlier. Key Wes is about 45 minutes from here. Warning do not speed in the keys they will get you. Pay attention to the speed limit.

My father and I rode our motorcycles from Wisconsin to Key West in October 2019. My father was able to reserve a cabin in Bahia Honda for two nights. The location and views were amazing. The water is clear and the staff was polite and helpful. Look forward to returning in a RV someday.

Such a gorgeous place (if you go at the right time of year).

It can get super hot in July/Aug.

The beach is wonderful, the store has all you will need & the ”snack bar” is so much more than that!!!

I love this place for Tent/RV/Cabin trips.

The sites are legit! Lots of privacy.

Bring bikes because there is so much to explore

I went to this park to go camping and almost all the tent sites were wiped out I had a reservation but it was canceled but I was able to stay on the bluff overlooking this park. The RV sites and the cabins seem to be OK. On the west side of Bahia Honda there is great snorkeling, small reef, to left of the beach it is easy to get to and snorkel. No shade so bring your own. Small shop and cafe located on premises.

I got lucky when I stayed at Bahia Honda - typically they are booked 12+ months in advance.  I took a trip to the keys and got to the park super early. They let us know that if we hung out for a few hours and there were cancellations, we could be in line for that spot, but there were 3 other parties in front of us.  Somehow we were able to get a spot on the bayside after waiting, which was great!

I have seen and heard of the beach camping spots at Bahia Honda, but the Bayside was a very pleasant surprise. There were a few cabins and a few tent sites secluded on it's own side, and that's it.  It was beautiful, serene, and everything was perfect.

I keep looking to stay again, preferably on the beach, but every time I go to look there is nothing available even if I push it out a year.  Hopefully I can make it back soon!

If you can beat the bugs, stargaze and enjoy the sunrise. But take the bug seriously. Even in late January the mosquitoes or vicious. You'll want insect repellent long sleeve long pants and maybe even a mosquito net when you are out and about.

Flamingo Everglades is the concessionaire that operates this campground and the nearby marina. The campground is arranged into 2 loops (one for trailers; about half of them with electric) plus a bayside field area that also includes a group tent site. For these, you park and walk to your site, but you get a great view of the bay and sunrises. In addition, there are several new eco-tents (platform tents) with beds two chairs and lamps. I stayed in one of these.

The Flamingo area still shows the effects of Hurricane Irma a couple of years ago and some neglect. The B & C loops are not open, though NPS is working to clean them up. An employee I spoke with indicated that they hoped to have those open next year. I was there midweek and only the trailer loop was full. On the weekends they do fill up.

The campsites in the loops have picnic tables and fire rings. The bayside field sites have scattered picnic tables and fire rings in various states of rusty disrepair. The eco-tents some picnic tables closer to the bathrooms for the field sites are not occupied, you can use one of those. You can't use a stove in your tent or on your deck, so you do need to cook elsewhere.

Bathrooms include flush toilets and free showers, although the water never got very warm. They are solar heated.

Remember everything you need because it's a long trip back to Florida city or Homestead the nearest places for picking up supplies. Stop at "Robert is Here" on your way in or out for a smoothie or milkshake. The shop at the marina has some basic snacks and drinks. Tuesday to Saturday afternoons there is a food truck available. For activities, campers get a discount on bike rentals. They also rent kayaks & canoes and offer boat trips, though I wouldn't do the boat trip again.

If you choose to stay in an eco-tent, there is a cart with bicycle tires to quietly take your gear to your tent. The boardwalk lights up at night so you can safely find your way to the bathroom. You'll be conscious of the sound the zipper makes when you leave and return to your tent. These are tents and not cabins, so you may hear some neighbors talking or snoring. Even so, it was a welcome change from a sleepless, noisy night at a campground in the Keys.

If you're looking for birds, nearby Eco pond or the waterfront near the bayside campsites offer a nice variety for minimal effort.

No Verizon coverage, but I've been told there is AT&T. Wifi is available at the visitors center.

Super friendly staff, always answer the phone, are available 24/7 and are so polite. Great little store with a perfect mix of souvenirs, snacks and RV equipment. Pool, onsite food truck, nearby restaurant, easy Uber/lyft to key west or golf cart rental, nice bathrooms, great tiki hang out and game room. On top of it all We weathered a tropical storm here - wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

This is the most popular park in the keys. Clean camp sites with electric and water besides a handful of sites located in the tent only section. It is water only. I have stayed in both sections and I have to say the tent only is more secluded which I prefer. You can walk down this short trail right to the ocean and take a swim. Has kayak rentals, snorkling a giftshop with hot food.

Flamingo is one of only two campgrounds in the park, the other Lone Pine but Flamingo manages them both. Flamingo is more popular (so more people). The staff of young hosts were nice and helpful. Campground is huge with one big loop section for tents and the other for RVs. Good showers/toilets. Nearby restaurant and Marina store have WiFi. Lots to do in this park: boat rides, kayak rentals, biking, hiking. Only complaint are the bugs, especially the sites around the ring loop near the shrubs - they are relentless and almost unbearable. Not just mosquitos but those tiny gnats, just horrible really (like Northern Minnesota, Scandinavia, or Siberia). I’d suggest bringing one of those screened in pop up shelters.

It is an hour drive to the campground but a good road and worth the trip. There are several points of interest along the way but we did not stop to check them out. Check-in with reservations was very quick and easy. Both campgrounds are well maintained. The T-loop showers are cold water only but the A-Loop showers are solar heated and there was hot water on sunny days. We parked in a site without services but potable water is available at nearby restrooms. Our campground was quiet except for a couple of campers running their generator during official quiet hours, but they were not an issue. The beach area is a short walk or bike ride from the campground and is not suitable for swimming, at least by our standards. There are a variety of scheduled and unscheduled activities available. The Ranger Led Programs are excellent—guided canoe trip and mobile museum. The staff are very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. We biked on the paved trail to the marina several times and observed crocodiles, alligators, manatees, osprey, and vultures. Don’t leave food outside unattended because the vultures will visit your site. Supplies and rentals at the concession are bit pricey. Overall we enjoyed our stay and stops at the visitor centers and Nike site.

Flamingo is right inside the national park and is the only center with services available in the park; marina, food and convenience store, rental equipment, boat tours with park naturalist, food truck, and a pricy gas pump for emergencies. 

Once you’re all the way down to Flamingo, you’re 50 miles away from nearest town, so bring everything you need that you wouldn't normally find at a convenience store. 

Nice array of overnight options: tent camping, new canvas eco tents with electricity, camper sites and even 6-person houseboats to rent (next time!).

I found one of the eco tents that had just been converted to off season (April-November), meaning no furniture except a fan and a large lantern. Bedding etc. is all removed for rainy summertime to avoid mold. Also means you pay $50 instead of $99, great deal! Bring air mattress and camp chairs and you’re good!

Loved the experience, with 3 sides of the tent being screens – can be completely opened or covered for privacy. Woke up to a gale blowing in from the water, felt partially like being on safari and partially like staying on a boat.

Things to know:

Try for waterfront tents 3,4 5, 6, 7 or 8. 

No eating or drinking inside the tents - they’re spotless but food remnants would quickly draw bugs in this climate. There are shared tables and fire pits for guests.

Food-wise, the food truck is OK for lunch but next Time I’d pack pre-made dinner and use the store’s microwave to heat it up. Options for anything healthy at the marina store are pretty scant. But... they do have lots of Haagen Dazs flavors for dessert! 

To solve for morning coffee, I’d pack my electric kettle and a french press or pour over next time, & drink it out on the tent deck. Coffee in store not recommended.

And bring your bike, kayak or board, and trail runners. All possible right from the campsite! Luckily I had all 3 :)

Definitely an experience not to miss - and every single person on staff at Flamingo was super friendly and full of great info and tips.

Boyd’s Campground, Key West, FL Campsites are tight—and I mean tight, Tent and RV alike. The interior tent sites are tiny. A 3 person tent is about all that will fit as you must also park your car there as well. The tent sites with power are a little larger. The primitive tent sites on the water are of varying size and tend toward pie shape which limits configuration of tents as your vehicle must head into the site at the narrowest point. If you have a small tent, the views are lovely. Small RVs and vans can also use these sites. The more parallel waterfront tent sites are closer to the RV sites and preferred if you have a larger tent (we have a Big Agnes bunkhouse 6–9x10 without the vestibules. We were originally assigned 18T and could not put up our tent and park our Jeep and still get out of our tent! We were then assigned 28T which was better but no way the 20x25 foot site we were told. There are also tent sites with power over in the RV village with “beachfront”—note that while you could walk into the water, it’s not really suitable. These sites did appear to be much deeper and would allow a larger tent and a 10x10 shade shelter. Each site has a charcoal grill of varying degrees of decline- some had new, ours was seriously rusted out and difficult to use. The newer ones allow you to turn them adjusting to wind direction. Ours was fixed. They said they are gradually changing them out. Also a 6’ picnic table—nice configuration because you do not have to step over the seat to sit down. The surface is hard packed coral “sand”. Be sure to bring your tent brush as this stuff blows in. And the waterfront sites are windy! The wind direction changes frequently. Putting up a tent and taking it down can be a challenge. Our site faced the naval air station so when wind came from the east, we heard national anthem and taps across the water. The waterfront tent sites are probably the best locations in Boyd’s—on the point. You almost feel like you are camping at the beach as the water is literally right there at your feet. There are some RV waterfront sites as well which are nice.

The bathrooms are well maintained and clean, the showers hot and the dishwashing sinks very nice. There are ramps up so no worries if cannot do steps. The laundry is big and clean. $2 for wash, $2 dry. The office sells ice ($3.50 for 10 pounds versus Publix at $3.29) and large firewood bundles (we didn’t use). The campstore/registration office carries some basic food and camping supplies, has hot coffee and frozen entrees—there is a microwave there if you need to use it. Bike and 50cc scooter rentals in front of the office.

Consistently helpful and cheerful Staff are constantly around so felt very secure. Sites are raked between occupancy. Most campers were respectful and quiet. Most also masked while in the laundry and shop.

This campground offers a beautiful spot to spend a couple of days while you enjoy many other activities in the area. The swimming here is fantastic, the snorkeling amazing and the park offers several nice picnic shelters (hurray for shade). The campground also has a nice little interpretive building with several small exhibits about the flora and fauna in the area.

The campground offers hot showers and restroom facilities. There are tent sites and RV sites with hookups.

The Florida Keys can be an expensive place to stay so this campground is a nice inexpensive alternative. It can be buggy and of course, hot...it is Florida after all.

Bring your snorkel gear and a kayak!

One of my favorite places in the Florida keys. The scenery is pristine. Very full most of the time it takes a few months in advance to get a spot sometimes a year out.