This is my favorite safe haven and natural area when I am in Miami. It is such a beautiful, sacred place with a lovely lighthouse and pristine beaches. Although I haven't eaten at the restaurant in the park, I love the feeling that I am camping steps away from the beach. I always feel renewed after a visit and it's the perfect place to process thoughts and have a quiet, tranquil stroll. Yes, and forever Yes to this place. read more

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$8 fee to enter; cute little town-like center with stores and restaurants a bit of a drive in, then a long road to a group of about 6 really huge parking areas that give access to the trails, beach and lighthouse. Easy to spot public restrooms sprinkled here and there, seemed in decent shape. The beach is utterly beautiful, though aggravating in that so many tourists obnoxiously ignored to many posted signs to keep off the dunes and stay off the rocks. The lighthouse has tours, but the attached cabin seems semi-permanently closed. All in all, I'm glad we took the time to visit... and the bridge to Key Biscayne is its own treat. read more

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Beach inside of the state park. Costs $8.00 per car for the day. You can rent 2 chairs and an umbrella for $40 for the day. There's a restaurant if you get hungry, and restrooms. NIce clean beach. But be caref swimming. There's no lifeguard and a pretty wicked riptide, which I hear is not uncommon. read more

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Well maintained, ample parking, groomed sand and facilities. We like area B better than the end. Get there early if you want a promo spot on the sand. And over the summer in addition to SPF sunscreen, bring some OFF for the mosquitoes just in case. Even if you just go for a few hours -- it's a good mental reset. read more

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - A view from the dunes. - Parks Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

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Bill Baggs is a great little beach and park for lazing away a day in the sand and surf. It's super clean in my experience and the water is very clear and pure. There are folding chairs and umbrellas available right there on the beach for a small rental charge, which is very convenient if you forgot one. There are lots of activities to do if you're wanting more of an active visit. There are bikes to rent, boating, fishing, hiking, etc. Be cautious if you swim, though, because we have seen stingrays and jellyfish in the water and washed up on the beach, but that's true of any ocean beach. The coolest part of Bill Baggs is the lighthouse that is situated there. Very Instagrammable at sunset and neat to see during the day too. For a clean and cool place to relax a day away in Miami, definitely check out Bill Baggs! read more

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Went for a hike in this beautiful park and I think I will return again to go to the beach . Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park State park located in Key Biscayne, Florida, USA Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area occupies approximately the southern third of the island of Key Biscayne, at coordinates 25°40′25″N 80°09′34″W. This park includes the Cape Florida Light, the oldest standing structure in Greater Miami. In 2005, it was ranked as having the 8th best beach in the country, and in 2013 Forbes ranked it at ... The park was named in honor of Bill Baggs, editor of The Miami News from 1957 until his death in 1969. He worked to protect the land from development and to preserve some of the key in its natural state. In 2004 a large historical marker was erected at the site to mark it as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Trail, as hundreds of Black Seminoles, many fugitive slaves, escaped from here to freedom in the Bahamas, settling mostly on Andros Island. In the early 1820s, some 300 American slaves reached the Bahamas, aboard 27 sloops and many canoes. The US National Park Service is working with the Bahamas, particularly the African Bahamanian Museum and Research Center (ABAC) in Nassau, to develop interpretive programs at Red Bays, Andros. Recreational activities The park has more than a mile of sandy Atlantic beachfront, where snorkeling and swimming is possible. Besides the beach and tours of the lighthouse and keeper's quarters, activities include boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing from the seawall along Biscayne Bay, bicycling, hiking and wildlife viewing. The park has such amenities as picnicking areas and youth camping. It also has a visitor center, a museum with interpretive exhibits and concessions. No Name Harbor, a natural harbor in the park, is used for anchorage. read more

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Some parks feel like parks. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park feels like stepping into the spine of Miami's history, where every breeze off the Atlantic carries a story. You come here for the beach first--it's one of the best in Florida, no question. Wide stretches of soft sand, calmer surf than South Beach, and sunsets that feel stolen from a painting. But walk a little further and you hit the soul of this place: the Cape Florida Lighthouse. The lighthouse is the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County, built in 1825 to guide ships through the Florida Reef, that infamous graveyard of wrecks. It's survived hurricanes, neglect, and war. During the Second Seminole War in 1836, Seminole warriors attacked, burning the lighthouse and killing its assistant keeper. The head keeper, John Thompson, was trapped inside, wounded, firing back from the tower until a Navy schooner saved him. That's not just history--that's legend. The light was rebuilt, extended, relit, and it's still there today, a 95-foot reminder that Miami didn't start with neon and nightclubs--it started with survival. Climb the 109 steps and you'll see it: the sweep of Key Biscayne, the turquoise Atlantic, the city skyline in the distance. The view is worth every bead of sweat. The park itself is more than just the lighthouse. It's trails through coastal hammocks, mangroves full of egrets and herons, and seawalls where old-timers cast their lines the same way they did decades ago. Families grill under the shade, kids chase crabs along the shore, and somewhere in the breeze you can still hear the echoes of the Tequesta people who fished these waters long before Europeans arrived. read more

Nice park. The lighthouse was closed and the only vegetarian thing the in-the-park Lighthouse Café had was an avocado salad for $14.00. Everything else was seafood and chicken. So as a vegan I could not eat there, which I'm not sure I would have anyway if a salad is 14 bucks. But the park itself is cute. Some interesting history there, the beach was pleasant, not a ton of people, the water was clear and temperate. We walked along one trail and read the signs along the way about history and wildlife. The trail was not wooded, had no shade and it was a hot day, so we had to turn back about halfway through. There were iguanas in the trees and on the roof of the little house near the lighthouse. There were lots of turkey vultures sitting on top of telephone poles on the way into the park, and the streets in the area were very clean. All in all, a decent jaunt, but not something I'd say you have to see or do on a vacation in the area. Maybe it would be if the lighthouse were open and you could go to the top and see the view. read more

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Gorgeous sunset champagne was cold and fresh ... definitely will be back !! We didn't eat but soon read more

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - Dinner at Boaters Grill - Parks Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

Such a beautiful park with cool things to do. You can rent surrey bikes, go to the beach, rent pavilions for special occasions or have a picnic on one of their tables (subject to availability) or even do a brief tour to check out the lighthouse. The lighthouse was awesome but I'm still sore a few days later lol. The tours are available at 10:00am or 1:00pm and when I went on a Saturday the 1:00pm had a lot of people attending. You may be waiting a while to go up the lighthouse depending on where you stand in the line due to them only allowing up to 10 visitors inside at a time. Thankfully they do that because it would be extremely hot waiting inside the stairwell for your turn to get to the top and also coming back down there aren't any rails to hold on to unless you're using the opposite side. Also, if you have little ones they have height minimum which is 42 inches unless they are in a sling. It is 4 dollars a person and kids under a certain age don't pay (forget the age range). read more

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Beautiful gem right here in Miami.. just go and explore! The scenery is nice, the park is clean, everyone comes to the park to enjoy the beauty nature offers. Next time I'll pack a bathing suit and a few fishing poles! read more

Was interested in going to another beach that is not Miami Beach in the Miami area so decided to come to Bill Baggs. There is an entrance fee of $2 a person just just so you are aware whether you are by car, foot, or bike. The walk to the beach from the entrance is around 15 minutes which is not too bad but I would recommend renting our bikes for this park and to see the rest of Key Biscanye. Would make your life a lot easier and wouldn't have to care about parking. Here are my favorite things about the park/beach: - There is literally no one here, especially if you go to the east side of the beach. It feels like you have a private beach to yourself which is nice as a getaway from the noisy and crowded Miami Beach. You can hear the ocean waves so clearly and the see the stretches of white sand. - The views are so gorgeous. I can't think of a better place to take a walk as you get the distant views of Miami with the white expanse of the I guess Atlantic Ocean. - The paddle-boarding rental is probably the cheapest I have ever seen at $15 an hour. Unfortunately I wasn't able to try it as the waves were pretty big and there were no lifeguard on duty, but I would definitely come try it out the next time that I am here. Would recommend stopping by for an alternative view of Miami Beaches if in the area. Do be prepared to pay an entrance fee, although not very significant but still exists. read more

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - Beach views - Parks Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

We got there first thing in the morning as soon as they opened and it was fantastic. There was almost nobody there, and it was very peaceful. By 1 o'clock it was a mass of humanity. A lot of noise and music. If you like that, then it's the place for you. I'm definitely not saying that there's anything wrong with that. I'm just saying that we are country people and not used to having a lot of people around us. We normally go to the Outer Banks when we go to the beach And this was a very different experience. On a positive note, it was very beautiful and the water was very clear. We were just not prepared for the amount of people and the amount of noise. Just writing a review so people would know what to expect. We were there at the end of February and it was a Saturday. read more

I lovee this spot, very beautiful, quit & peaceful! When you call for cab make sure give them the right spot, or else you will be so lost out there! Miami is fortunate to have one of Florida's most beautiful state parks on a bridge. Saved from development by Bill Bugs in the 1960s, this fully preserved wilderness is a great place for a family beach day trip. One of the main attractions is the 1.25-mile soft sandy beach with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. The park is long and relatively small, and where you park depends on what you want to do. If you only want to access the beach, park near access number 6. If you want to visit the beach or the historic lighthouse, park at Access # 7. Park in the washroom parking lot on the other side of the street and go to the fishing dock or stand by the breakwater. Park is also a hotspot for migratory birds. For a chance to see the birds, hike the Robins Bird Watching Trail. read more

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Have been to this park many times and most recently for a beach picnic and birthday. Last year we had our annual Friendsgiving here as well. Shelter A2 is pretty close to the beach across the bathrooms and a 5 min walk to the the Boater's Grill. Plenty of parking spots as well. Bathrooms clean with plenty of soap and toilet paper. The grills and the picnic tables need some TLC but overall a great place for your event. read more

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Where to start.. I love this park You can ride bikes, enjoy nature and the beach. The are two restaurants.. one is only known by locals, it's well hidden and my favorite place to sit down, have a cocktail, listen to the band playing live music, and watch the sunset. read more

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Such a tranquil spot. You can see Stiltsville in the distance. Great spot to catch a sunset and watch people fishing. read more

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So our work Whatsapp chat last week turned from a "what's everyone doing this weekend" to an impromptu beach day at "El Farito" to celebrate the weekend. Yes, the Miami nickname for it is due to the lighthouse (which I didn't tour) at the south end of the park. I'd definitely come back to tour the namesake lighthouse. Parking is $4 for solo riders, and $8 for a car load, for the whole time you're in the park. This is a grand bargain compared to other local beaches! When our group was there, the water was pretty clean and since geographically it's a little more exposed than Miami Beach, a decent amount of waves. The sand was clean and compacted enough to play kickball on. They also have camping facilities, walking trails and pedicab rentals (I'd love to try next time). I also want to check out their bar and grill. That's the only reason I'm keeping it at three stars, since I didn't have the opportunity to fully experience everything. read more

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - Parks Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

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I didn't have time to explore this massive park due to the inclement weather but it looks like there is lots to do here.

It's really beautiful, the water was just not as clear as a I thought, very cold and it was strong, the lighthouse was nice to see :) read more

An excellent place to relax! They've got plenty of amenities and parking here too with a historic 1855 lighthouse! read more

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Clear water with small rolling waves. Good beach for skim boarding! Lots of seaweed on the beach in winter, but no blue bottles/man o' war so we were able to swim! You can rent umbrellas & chairs for $30. Theres a snack bar and bathrooms close to the beach. 2 miles of nature trails & sidewalks for biking. The lighthouse was closed for renovations so we couldn't climb up, but you can get close for pictures. Several tables available for picnics near the parking lot. Great family beach & park -- highly recommended! Note: there are no lifeguards, but the surf is very gentle and shallow for a while out. read more

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - El Farito - Parks Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

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My only hesitation giving Bill Baggs Park 5/5 stars is that it may help the park become too popular and overrun with people. Beautiful piece of land at the southern most tip of the southern most island off of Miami, surrounded by Biscayne Bay on one side and the Atlantic on the other. The park is a great area for bird watching during the migratory times in the fall and spring. read more

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - Parks Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

First time to Key Biscayne since I was a kid. Nice ocean front park. Classic lighthouse that you can walk to the top. Some sand beaches near lighthouse. Most of the key is breakwall. Nice ocean front path around the island for biking or walking. Some restaurants along the waterfront. Good facilities bathrooms, parking, etc. read more

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - Parks Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

I had most of the day to kill before meeting my boss at the Miami airport at 5pm. After lunch, I decided to drive out here and get in some beach time. $4.00 to get in (solo driver) or $8.00 per car. Tons of parking near the beach and light house. No shade though! Bring/rent an umbrella if you are sun sensitive. Water was warm, and nice and calm. I had a great couple hours just laying on the sand and getting in the water whenever I got hot. Great beach for families and small kids. Also, the lighthouse! (Oldest structure in Miami/Dade County) Had a blast and would definitely come back! read more

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We came here to go to the beach, but we didn't stay long. There's a lighthouse which we walked around and explored for a bit. There's plenty of parking too. We went to look at the beach, but it was really small, crowded, and completely covered in seaweed. We decided not to stay and went elsewhere for a beach. You also have to pay $8/car to get into the state park. I'd recommend checking out the beach at Crandon Park instead. read more

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If you're wanting to find a beach spot in Key Biscayne that is quiet and beautiful, this is it. Lots and lots of parking - I went on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon and it was easy to find a spot. Even better - they charge $4 if you are the only person in the car. $8 otherwise for a carload which is still a great deal. On my recent trip there was a lot of seaweed on the sand from that "blob" that washed up, but the water was still crystal clear and lovely to swim in. Lots of picnic areas and bathrooms. Great beach spot. read more

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - Parks Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

I've lived in Miami for a few years and don't know why it took me so long to visit this place. Only 8$ entry fee per car. The beach near the lighthouse is beautiful. There is plenty of parking, bathroom facilities, and a cafe. Also plenty of picnic tables and pavilions for parties, I would just recommend getting there early to reserve. read more

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Loved this place!! $8/car and closes at 6pm it's the perfect place for a family or friends outing. Plenty of trails (shaded or open!). We explored the latter part of the park from beach entrance 6 onwards. Great family oriented beach ambience, plus the water was very mellow when we went whereas miami beach was choppy at the same time. There are at least two restaurants inside, one right by the front gate of the park and one close to the lighthouse. Throughout the park there is a kayak launch area, camping grounds, bicycle rentals, and fishing deck all prepped to make the experience enjoyable. Close to beach access 7, we found a playground that was all shaded and plenty of BBQs towards the end of the park. There were large cement gazebos that you could reserve in advance and plenty of bathrooms everywhere. Dogs seemed to be allowed except on the beach itself. This is the kind of place that you bring a cooler and plenty of food to stay all day. Note though: racoons are real and around in the middle of the day, so keep an eye on the food! A definite improvement that is much needed are to increase the trash bins... There were only a few which is a shame, so bring enough extra plastic bags. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Came here to watch the sunset on the Winter Solstice which is the shortest day of the year. It was beyond beautiful. Has to be one of the best places in South Florida to see a sunset! This park also has ample parking and great walking trails along with a large fire pit by the lighthouse for gatherings. Saw many people fishing here as well. read more

Yo estuve ahi, hoy mismo un lugar muy bonito, pero me sacaron porqué fui con un detector de metales, y dicen ellos que ahi es ilegal, cuando no ahi una señalizacion al respecto, me sentí muy mal, quiero hablar con el comisionado. Por favor sii alguien me dice el número de teléfono, Gracias. Contactar 786-857-7206. read more

I had never been here before and I absolutely loved it!! There was pretty much nobody there as we went on Tuesday - a day after Labor Day. The weather was perfect, the water was nice. Parking lot was pretty much empty. Large green space with bbq options. White sand beach. Don't litter and take your beach trash back to the bins in the park!! read more

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I absolutely love coming to the beach at this park. This is definitely one of those Miami spots you have to visit while you're in Town if you're not from around here and it's more than worth the $8 entrance fee. Miami Natives lovingly call this place "el farito" for the beautiful lighthouse at the end of the island. But that's not all you'll see when you visit; there's so much wildlife roaming around, you shouldn't freak out if you see a raccoon or iguana or even a huge school of fish swim by if you're in the water. For $25 you can rent two beach chairs and an umbrella and have the best beach day ever like I did in the photos attached. During the summer, the waters are mostly crystal clear and the riptide isn't too bad. Sharks have been spotted here before but I think South Beach gets much more shark action lol There are two restaurants in Bill Baggs. My favorite one is the one at the end nearest the lighthouse. They have tons of food and it's really fresh and delicious. The park has really clean bathrooms and trash bins everywhere for collecting garbage, which is really convenient because everyone has things they wanna get rid of before leaving their beach day and heading back to the car. Fresh water showers are also available. All CDC guidelines for COVID-19 and social distancing are in place with signage and park service aides riding around/keeping an eye out. Excellent park to visit during the week if you have a day off because it's really quite empty. Perfect spot most deserving of the full 5-star rating. read more

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Very clean. A little crowded, but we went on a Sunday so that is expected. Overall great beach.

very beautiful, it was pretty crowded and i'd bring your own chair/shade cover instead of paying $40 for a umbrella and chair read more

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Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is located on the barrier island of Key Biscayne. Key Biscayne is divided into thirds, the first being Crandon Park, the middle is the Village of Key Biscayne, and at the south end is the 442 acre Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. In the 1950's Bill Baggs was slated to become hotels, homes, and a condominium development. Every tree including the mangrove wetlands were cut down and the ground was filled in with dredged materials in order to level it for building. Bill Baggs was the editor of the Miami News. He supported conservation and got the developer to sell the land to the state before the development took place so that it could become a park. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park opened on January 1, 1967. Unfortunately by this time the land had become overrun with invasive Australian Pines. After Hurricane Andrew knocked down all of the pine trees, the park service decided to restore the land to it's before development condition. Two decades later the trees the park service planted have matured and now there is an expanding hardwood hammock with a canopy of sea grapes, strangler figs, and gumbo limbo. Admission to Bill Baggs is $8 per car load, $4 single occupancy and motorcycles. Admission includes a free tour of the Cape Florida Lighthouse completed in 1825. At the base of the lighthouse is a small museum in the lighthouse keepers cottage. The park has more than a mile of beachfront for snorkeling and swimming. Dr. Beach has consistently rated the beach here one of the top 10 beaches in America. Activities in the park include boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, biking, hiking, picnicking, camping, and wildlife viewing. There are 8 fishing piers along the western shoreline of the park. Bicycles can be rented in the park. They have both single and quad bikes. There is a 1.5 mile paved bike bath. If you have a boat for a fee of $20 you can anchor overnight in No Name Harbor. Boaters Grill is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and there is a second restaurant in the park, the Lighthouse Cafe. Nature trails are located on the west side of the park. The lighthouse, beautiful beach, and other amenities make this park an absolute gem. How lucky we are that Bill Baggs has the foresight to preserve this special area. There is so much history here. Pre Columbian artifacts relating to hunting and fishing have been discovered here. In the 1800's Key Biscayne was an important site on the Underground Railroad for escaping slaves. Abolitionists would take fleeing slaves to the Bahamas. Today you can bask in some of the best Florida splendor Mother Nature has to offer. If you have not been to beautiful Key Biscayne you have been missing out and Bill Baggs is one of the best places to experience all it has to offer. read more

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My husband had been wanting to kayak to Nixon Beach and found that Bill Baggs Park was super close and had a kayak launch point. This park costs $8 to get into, but it's a large park with bike trails, a cafe, kayak launch spot, beaches, fishing areas and pavilions. It also wasn't super packed, but please note it was not in-season so it could be busier in winter months. The downside for trying to get to Nixon Beach from here is that the kayak launch spot is on the ocean side and on the north end of the park. We would have to kayak about 5 miles around Key Biscayne to the other side to get to the sandbar. So that was a huge disappointment. We launched from the southernmost beach by the light house. This is when I could see houses on stilts in the distance. You can kayak from this park out to Stiltsville about 1.5 miles which was super cool. The park has a historic lighthouse you can go up in and the views are supposed to be amazing. The beach areas here are very clean and fairly wide and there are showers to wash the sand off along with bathroom structures. This park has a lot to offer for many outdoor needs at a very reasonable price for Miami. read more

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Wow so happy I found this little gem!!! What an oasis in the middle of Miami! I always go to south beach but now that I'm "older" aka 31 I wanted a more chill vibe for the beach and I found it with this place! First of all key Biscayne is so beautiful with tons of green space, buildings and bikes everywhere. Keep driving and you'll hit the peak of the key where this park is- $8 per car and I think $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists. Well worth the $8 honestly! Tons of parking once inside and numerous places to enter onto the beach. There's an old lighthouse from the 1800s that you can climb up and two restaurants once your inside. The water was crystal clear and the sand so white and perfect. Was a bit odd because we saw raccoons everywhere during the day, but they didn't seem to bother any people. So many activities to do here, fishing, bike riding, kayaking etc. They have their own bike rentals for $9 an hour and also these larger bikes that fit about 4 people in them. Absolutely loved this place and will be coming back for sure!! read more

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - Parks Near Me - Key Biscayne, Florida

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Great park where lately we have been using for picnics and days on the beach with our group. Though it is part of the Florida State Parks they belong more to Key Biscayne and they do things different. For example, if you want to rent a shelter you have to go there in person to rent it as opposed to most other Florida State parks that this can be done online. I guess it is just a way to keep less people coming from other areas. Key Biscayne can be like this, exclusive. Once you get past this, the park itself is pretty good with clean bathrooms and a nice beach. There is one restaurant/cafeteria so bring your own food and cooler. There are grills in mostly okay conditions by each shelter, but make sure to bring aluminum foil as these are never cleaned. The fishing areas have been closed forever and I don't think there is a date to reopen. I still like it as it is close to me. read more

Bill Baggs is a truly amazing place to visit for leisure, workout, or both. I have been coming here for many years and can say it is one of my favorites parks, hands down. There are trails, beach, water activities, marina, food/bev, bbq, fishing spots, etc. you are definitely guaranteed a good time here! I can say the beach here is one of my absolute favorite-- white sand and crystal clear water. A true marvel! If driving, my rec is to visit early on to avoid traffic and parking congestion. Walking is easy as you enter through a trail and it is a nice walk. About 90-120 mins full loop. Definitely a must on cooler, not hell-hot days! Overall this park is great! Please visit if around or looking to do/try something new. read more

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