We were staying about 1/2 mile down the road and wanted to take a couple mile walk. Our hotel suggested Long Key State Park. We started on the bike trail along the busy highway, then turned into the park. At the guard house, the nicest ranger asked us to come in while he waited on a car driving through. He was so pleasant and caring about having water, giving us directions, etc. I am so sorry I didn't get his name. if you are walking or cycling, it is $2.50 per person. We met another ranger who was maintaining the restroom down by the shore and he was friendly, too! Walking down, there are mangroves on each side. Then you see the shore. They have done such a great job carving out little areas for people to sit or eat, etc. We were very impressed with that. There was no litter and the restroom was also very clean. Highly recommend if you need a break going to or coming from Key West. It is also great if you are staying nearby. read more

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This review is specifically about the PRICING policy for campgrounds in Florida State Parks. Camping in the Keys is a popular activity, and it's difficult to find availability. We were thrilled to find that Long Key had a site available for the March date that we needed. Our preference would have been for a site for a Class B RV, but we were willing to accept the only site available, a tent-only site. Our reservation for the site was quite expensive ($34.51) for a tent-only site in a public park, without hookups. The fees in Florida state parks really add up. The site itself was "only" $22.50, but there's also a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee and an assortment of taxes that totaled $5.31. Unfortunately, due to wildfires near Homestead, FL, we needed to reschedule our trip into the Keys, which also involved cancelling our reservation at Long Key. Of our initial outlay of $34.51, our refund was only for $10 and some change. There was a $17-something cancellation fee, and the initial reservation fee was non-refundable. Of the $10+ returned, over $5 of this was the sales taxes. read more

Only $6 for two ppl to enter. Don't expect a white sandy beach but the bathrooms are very clean and well stocked. We had the place to ourselves and sat for a bit and watched the ocean. The park ranger was very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

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Easily one of my favorite state parks in the keys. It is more than 900 acres with multiple trails to explore. For me, the trails is what really makes this place stand out from the rest of the parks in the Keys. There is an observation tower overlooking the mangroves. Of course there's the beach. Like all beaches in the keys, it is rocky. There are plenty of activities and amenities. Unfortunately, hurricane Irma heavily impacted this park. But you can see that the vegetation is slowly recovering. 5 stars. read more

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We got into Florida last night and met some friends at the Long Key State Park this afternoon. It's absolutely beautiful! We enjoyed hiking the trails and seeing unique wildlife. There are lots of dragonflies, crabs, and we even saw an ibis. There are several great spots for fishing as well as amazing looking campgrounds. Definitely recommend this park if you are in area. There is an admission fee of $3 a person but plenty of parking. Also be cautious on the trails for poison wood, although there is also the antidote nearby. I accidentally brushed my arm against the poison wood but was fortunately able to rub my arm on a gumbo limbo tree nearby. So far I'm itch free and literally knocked on wood to stay that way! read more

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What fun! Plenty of beaches and well manicured trails and a board walk to explore. Lots of gorgeous views. Nice, clean facilities is always a plus. Nominal entrance fee. Worth noting the camping area's all closed up due to hurricane Irma back in 2017. read more

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Cute small state park right on the water. Came on Valentine's Day and had a lovely picnic overlooking the water. It was delightful. Park was not crowded and people kept their distance from each other. read more

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People friendly. Walked the trails. They were clean, didn't see but one marker yhroughthe trail and it was towards the end. Walked the boardwalk. The observation decknis closed could be due to storm damage. Enjoyed the time here. read more

Visit the park, it's nice. Everything is clean, but the new campsites are terrible. No car access, no options for carts or anything during the day. You've got to trek the entire boardwalk and sand to get to the camp grounds. Then, zero shade anywhere. Worth noting the campgrounds are littered with rats. They spent the whole night trying to get into the tent. No more water view while camping, which was the main reason I liked this park before. read more

Long Key State Park is one of a number of State Parks that call the Florida Keys home. An annual pass for all the Florida State Parks is $60 per person I'm sure discounts apply for families. If you purchase a annual pass note that the State Parks located in Monroe County charge an addition $0.50 per person even with your pass unless you also purchase a Monroe County Stamp with your annual pass. This is a relatively small park but it offers a number of amenities and some beautiful scenery. The water surrounding the park is absolutely beautiful this is a great place to take a driving break and have a snack while enjoying the peacefulness. Long Key State Park is a 965-acre Florida State Park located on Long Key, one of the Florida Keys, in Monroe County, Florida, United States. It is at mile marker 67.5 on U.S. 1. History: Prehistoric coral reefs grew here over the course of millennia, when the sea level was over 20 feet deeper. The remnants came to form Long Key, and the rest of the Florida Keys. "Cayo Vivora", or Rattlesnake Key, is what the first Spaniards called the island, since to them it resembled a snake with its jaws open. By the early twentieth century, Long Key became an important depot for the completed Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railroad. The railroad's founder, Henry Flagler, also established the Long Key Fishing Camp, a resort that attracted the greatest saltwater fishermen from around the world. But it did not last for long, when in 1935, the Labor Day hurricane devastated the Club, the railroad, and much of the Keys. The land that came to comprise the park was acquired between 1961 and 1973, with the official opening in 1969 read more

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I can't rave about this place enough! My boyfriend and O this past weekend found it too cold for our original plan to go diving, so I looked up good parks for kayaking and this park came up. Admission for both of us was $6, and a 2 hour tandem kayak rental was ~$21, which is incredibly reasonable. I love in South Florida, and the water was so incredibly flat, I am pretty sure I dreamt it! Tons of gorgonians and sponges visible from kayak right off shore, we spotted a couple of stingrays, tons of herons, and the coolest I think- a juvenile Hammerhead! Afterwards we walked their trails which were nice. The beginning of the trail was a boardwalk that had a cool observation tower (tip: pictures from the tower make for cool drone-looking shots). I can't wait to visit here again!! read more

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No more RV camping, but a great getaway for privacy...tables, shady spots, walk on the ocean...very nice

My better half and I pit-stopped here on the drive home from the lower keys to have a little picnic. It was $6 total for entry on a Thursday and there weren't many people so it was nice and quiet. There are kayak and paddleboard rentals available, reserving those and payment takes place at the entry gate (we did not enquire about the cost). We found a picnic bench in the shade (there were a few but not all) and set up shop with hors d'oeuvres, a sub that we split from Publix, a couple of sides and an adult beverage station. The weather was fantastic and it was a very nice afternoon. We then decided to take an impromptu hike through the Golden Orb Trail on the other side of the park which is 1.1 mile long. I'd say it was 1/2 shady and 1/2 fully exposed to the sun. The first half of the trail is definitely more shaded than the back half and there are a few benches (seemingly new) strategically placed throughout. I'd recommend a water bottle for this trail, especially on a hot day. read more

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Nice walk--go early before the sun gets too intense. Beautiful birds and adorable crabs

Some of this park was closed when we were here due to a rough hurricane season in the fall but ,boy, even though that was the case...the little gem was perfect. Not many visitors. It was quiet and serene with beautiful waterfront access. Nice trail and boardwalk area. We enjoyed our quiet afternoon enjoying the water of the Florida keys. read more

Long Key State Park - Beautiful!!! - Parks Near Me - Layton, Florida

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Let me start by saying I am not the camping type; I'm the hotel type! That being said, I tagged along with a friend to this state park for a little camping expedition. This is an awesome state park, both for day-use and for campers. As you enter this state park, you stop to pay a day fee, or register as a camper. The fee is minimal for day use. There are lots of picnic areas, right on the ocean, and PLENTY of birds for birdwatchers. If you go to the left, there's a nice boardwalk that is shaded by mangroves. By the boardwalk, there is a huge bathroom that was super clean and well-kept. You can picnic, ride your bike, birdwatch, and, of course, enjoy the ocean that you are surrounded by. There are lots of outdoor things to do in the park. The camping area is to the right. After you check in at the front area, you go through a gate to get to the camp sites. The camping area is not only secure by that gate, but there is also a fence around the entire area. At night, after the park closes, they lock the front gate. You are given a code if you need to get in and out; it is really good security. This is the most beautiful place. The camping sites are immaculate. We were in # 03, which only allows 2 people (the rules are strict). Some sites allow 2 people, some allow RV's, some allow more people. I found the site to be very private. It's a small strip, with a picnic table, a fresh water spigot, and electrical outlet (we didn't use the electricity), and a very nice fire well where you can light a fire and cook (you can buy firewood when you check-in if you didn't think to bring your own). Each camp site in this park is just steps to the ocean - all sites are oceanfront. Beautiful. You awake in the morning and peek out your tent and see the most awesome sunrise. In the evening, the ocean just bursts with orange from the beautiful Florida sunsets. The campground is SO quiet, peaceful and dark at night. When the stars come out, you can see them bright for miles. All of it really takes your breath away (see my photos). Site # 03 was in the full sun. After about 3pm, there was a little shade at the front part. The site next to # 03 (I guess that would be 04) had a HUGE palm tree on it and had a lot of shade (I put photos of several of the sites). Some sites farther down - some had shade, some didn't. Sea grape trees that are a little more than waist-high border the sites to give you privacy, and there is a little wooden fence separating sites. In # 03, there was plenty of room for the fire, the picnic table, our 2-person tent, a chair, and plenty of space to park the car. More than enough room. In this site, it was less than a minute walk to the showers/bathroom/trash area. Now let me discuss the bathrooms / shower areas. I have NEVER seen anything so immaculate! The one we used had 2 toilet stalls (one was a big handicap one), and 2 big shower stalls. It was just perfect; I couldn't believe how clean it was (see my photos). Outside of the bathroom was the trash dumpster and recycling bins (be sure to use them). There are no trash cans at the individual sites - which it good to keep wild critters out of your site. This was an awesome place for a camper. The check-in park people were SO nice and helpful. They run a tight ship here and it shows - the park could not be cleaner or better kept. Even as a non-camper-type, I found it so wonderful. I'm a fan! Who knows, I might even camp again!! read more

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There is a quiet irony about camping at Long Key State Park. It is the type of camping site where you go for peace and quiet. However, it's this peace and quiet that makes you go crazy after four days camping here. You can pitch a tent (or drive your RV), sit down at one of their picnic tables, and just watch the ocean tide come and go. And that is what I did during this Thanksgiving break, and it was pretty relaxing--maybe a little bit too relaxing. If R & R is not your forte, you also have the option of renting a couple of kayaks or taking a hike through the nature trail. Both are equipped with equal pros and cons. KAYAKING: There is a nearby vendor where you can rent kayaks for the whole day, or you can visit the ranger's station, and rent a kayak for $17 for 2 hours. The service at the ranger's station is exceptional, and they let me have my kayaking adventure for free because I was gone for less than half an hour. Major thanks to the ranger for being so friendly. Also, the best time for kayaking would be midday or in the evening. The low tide is notorious for ruining kayaking trips, and you have to find the best way to get around it. If not, your kayak may just be stuck at the muddy shore. Not fun if you don't like to get dirty. HIKING: Visit the nature trail. It is over one mile long, but you are exposed to the shoreline. If you are scared of spiders, do not go at night. The trail gets flooded at times, so be prepared to wade through water. AMENITIES: In regards to amenities (aka the bathroom), it is definitely the cleanest I have ever seen out of all the camping sites I have ever visited. If you are down for campfires, they put out stacks of wood you can buy for $3, but make sure you make your move because it goes by fast. Overall, a decent camping site. Pros: Clean bathrooms, scenic nature trail, friendly rangers Cons: They do not have an open field for planned recreational activites. read more

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We decided to camp at the end of April; may not have been the best time of year but with a booking time of up to a year, this is what we got. Unfortunately you cannot pull up in your car to the site. Not unbearable (it is a lengthy walk) but when we got there a fellow camper warned us of the rat issue and they get into your car. So we had to pull all food items out of the car and lug it to the campsite. . The rats still managed to get into my car and found a mustard packet which made a mess of the front seat. No biggie but they got in the 2nd night to eat paper. Also most likely due to the time of year, the smell from the tidewater was quite bad. And lots of sand fleas from the sitting seaweed. Bathrooms were good for a primitive campground. Unfortunately we did decide to leave and lucked out getting in at Bahia Honda. Rats were there too though. But at least we could pull up and had a beautiful view and ocean breeze. My concern of the rats was mostly damaging my car. It would have been nice to have gotten a heads up from the rangers about not bringing too much food or preventative measures. We did speak to them and they said unfortunately this is a big issue. The sites were cozy but all the other conditions just weren't worth it. I would not recommend for tent camping and grateful for our fellow camper about the warning. read more

Love this park. It is beautiful and the beach is great! I enjoy visiting when I'm in the Keys

I am totally not an "outdoorsy" person and this was my first time camping. It's a beautiful place but what I recommend is to come in the winter. It's really hot inside the tent!! But it's nice and breezy outside which kept it cool at night. The whole camping area we stayed at was a sand lot surrounded by trees, there are outlets and fresh water to wash hands and use as needed. There's a big bbq to make your delicious food. Animals we saw... crab holes all over the place but they won't come out to bother you. By the water there are sea lice all over jumping everywhere. Take lots of repellent and watch out for those no-see-ums. We heard and saw lots of birds at night. Sunset and sunrise were awesome! Come out after 3 am when it's pitch black and look up, the stars look amazing. You can see every star you've wished upon. Bathrooms: considering a camping site, the bathrooms were very very clean. They have showers as well and very very clean! I am shocked! I would definitely recommend someone coming here to camp out. There's also a natural trail where you can go walking around to see the wildlife! Come out here and have some fun!! read more

Long Key State Park - Woke up to a beautiful sunrise - Parks Near Me - Layton, Florida

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We stopped off here on our drive from Miami to Key West...I can't really say this is worth stopping for unless you packed a picnic lunch and want a place to enjoy it or are in the Keys for camping. There is a short little path through the mangroves and a couple pretty views by the tiny pier, but other than that this is just a campground, albeit a beautiful one. If I learned one thing about the Keys it's that they take VERY good care of their state parks. I am dying to go back and camp all the Keys after seeing how many gorgeous, well-kept parks there are. Anyway, like I said, stop here if you want a place to have lunch, but skip it if you are looking for a beach/view/spectacular nature experience. read more

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Great little park, staff is wonderful and nature walk is nice. Lots of history in this part of Florida.

The rangers headed up by park manager Mark and asst manager Brian should be very proud of the work that has been done since hurricane Irma. Every part of the park is clean, the new primitive camping area is incredible and the trails and beach are worth a visit. read more

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Pros: Really nice view for an ocean-side campground, picnic table and fire-pit with grill in each lot, somewhat private lots separated by some trees, friendly neighbors, nice and informative ranger, clean bathroom. Cons: Close to the main road so you hear a bunch of cars passing by, park closes at 8pm so you have to open a gate with padlock to get in passed that time (not really a con, just a bit annoying). Tip: Very windy on ocean side! If you camp make sure to fasten your tent properly. read more

Long Key State Park - View from our ocean side camping lot. - Parks Near Me - Layton, Florida

My sister and I spend two days camping here recently. The most beautiful campsite I have ever seen. Yes the ocean is shallow, but how often can you get an ocean side view? The stars at night were absolutely gorgeous. There are trails, and canoe/kayak rentals, and the water is night and gentle for it. Each site, though small, has a fair amount of privacy by having lush greenery on each side of it, including coconut palms! My only complaints were that the toilets in the bathroom were constantly breaking and/or running out of toilet paper, and unfortunatly, that it's right next to route 1 which is a little noisy than I would like. It didn't really disturb my sleep though, and with the keys being so narrow, it's not really something you can do anything about! p.s. for slightly deeper waters to swim in, and a little less plant life on the beach and waters, try Anne's beach which is about 10-15 minutes before the campsite on route 1. It's public, therefore free, and also has a fun boardwalk to walk on between it's two beach access points. read more

We stopped on a weekday afternoon in April. Very few people there. We walked the loop trail which was a little over a mile. It's mostly in the open sun with maybe 20% shade. We saw maybe a couple water birds, 4 raccoons and thousands of little crabs. It does have a small beach area easy access as well. I imagine an early morning stop would be better. read more

We had the coolest experience here today! Walked the nature trail and there were small beach areas to explore and we saw the coolest wildlife... ever. read more

The Keys is loaded with State Parks... this one was interesting, thankfully the admission for one is only $4.50, because there's not much here if you're by yourself... there is a trail to walk on, and several picnic tables and you can camp on-site too.. I was expecting a shoreline with beach and that's not really the case. Nonetheless, a nice spot to chill for a bit and read, have a snack, etc... read more

Long Key State Park - Parks Near Me - Layton, Florida

I signed up on line for a site and put in our info. After a long days drive we arrived at the park and we were instructed to park and get out of our vehicle to check in. They hand us a map with emergency numbers. That was it. Why did we need to exit our vehicle? What were they checking out? They never asked for ID or checked tags. We arrived to our flooded site and passed out from exhaustion. Upon awakening I realized that our refrigerator was inoperable. Hubby called the emergency number. Moe couldn't fix it so he called Larry who supposedly fixed it. Then Larry bangs at the door for me to plug in the vehicle. He unplugged it. Although I am in pain I get out and walk around the vehicle and then he said he plugged it in. Moe and Larry back out and hubby stopped them because there was something else wrong with the electric they had to change the circuit breaker. They need Curley for help. Hubby went out with his flashlight as the workers had insufficient light. Finally they got it right. Electric should be checked before we inhabit the spaces. Path to gulf not clear and small itchy balls attack your legs and feet (see photo). Tide rising gives about 6 feet of beach ( see photo). We have a beautiful site right on the gulf but had to get used to the constant buzz of traffic all day and night, and it is loud. There are clean bathrooms with showers but no laundry and no internet. Dogs allowed. Picnic table needs a tablecloth because of heavy splintering. There is a barbecue grill and fire pit provided but you need to buy wood at the park for $7/bundle. read more

2 words. Primitive Camping! Best camp site for the money. I've stayed weeks, days and overnight. This place has become a religion for us! 20 bucks will get you through the weekend!!! Word to the wise, no food in the tent, hang any eats you can with a bag/ paracord, Bring natural lemongrass repellant and DONT go in the middle of the summer unless you like an absurd amount of humidity, heat, skeetos! read more

We decided to visit the Long Key State Park as we were driving a kind of spare of the moment thing, terrible idea to visit park you got to have plenty of water specially on very hot days, otherwise it was a lovely park. Plenty of picnic tables here and there and grills, not enough tables in the shade but you can always bring a tent and solve that problem, beautiful view of the ocean as you have your picnic. We decided to go to the other side of the park to do the nature walk, this is where I recommend you come prepare with lots of water as you will dehydrate extremely fast on the trail. The trail will take an hour or more depending how fast you walk or how many times you stop along the trail, this past weekend the temperatures were really high and the humidity was a factor, we couldn't finish the trail because we lacked WATER!!! we weren't expecting to do this so we can only blame ourselves/ You can climb to the observatory deck and be taller than the canopy, really spectacular. Remember to be prepared. read more

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This park was beyond amazing! We recently relocated to the Ft Lauderdale area and was looking for a great place to camp in the keys. From all the reviews we thought LK state park was a great first place to try. We knew we would be arriving late so we called ahead and were given the code to the locked gate that was set after sunset. There was another gate just before the camp ground with the same gate code. Each camp site had perfect space, a firepit, and a picnic table. The biggest perk was your very own ocean front entrance! We literally were able to carrying our kayaks 10 feet from our truck and place them in the ocean, also alleviating having to store our kayaks when not in use. Will be returning soon! Must see camp ground read more

Go on a Nature walk with Ranger Marty! He's a blast!!! I had so much fun and he was so knowledgeable! Highly recommended this State Park!!!!! read more

We stayed here with the family in July. Campground was clean the kids love playing in the water just seconds from our camper. My only complaint is the bathrooms need to be air conditioned or have better air flow. Overall a nice place to stay in the middle of the Florida keys. read more

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I researched this campsite and went due to all the online reviews about how quiet and beachy this place was. First off, there is no 'beach' in that there is no sandy beach. At low tide, you can walk out onto the water as it's very shallow for a long ways out however you would be walking on Corals. I'm actually kind of shocked they allow this. The highway is literally right next to the camp sites so all day and night you hear the restful sounds of cars and trucks flying by. There is really not much you can do here except walk out onto the flats after the low tied rolls in. There is a fire pit in which the fire circle is not even bolted onto the cement meaning a nice wind could send some embers out to start a fire. I was actually pretty shocked at the state of disregard for that however they were clean. The shower door was off the hing and although they were more or less clean, they definitely need to be repaired. We had campers that arrived at 10 pm and proceeded to set up their tent and argue loudly which sucked because I thought the park closed at sundown. The good: the site did not seem to be too crowded due to the layout if the camp sites. However given the 'beach' and the proximity of the highway, I would not go back. Also, campfire wood is 6 dollars and not 3 dollars as someone else wrote on a review. read more

Recently visited Long Key State Park for a day trip. The area is clean and quiet. The water is clear and low. Excellent for small children to play and snorkel. There are kayaks, nature trails and camping areas available. Small entrance fee of $6. You park where you beach. Your vehicle will be footsteps from the sand and water. Depending where you park there may be picnic tables and grills available to use. Plenty of shaded area as well but it is first come first serve. If you are looking for to swim in the ocean this isn't there right place for you. I would head to Anne's Beach or Bahia Honda. However, this park is an excellent place for a day trip to have a picnic and relax in the ocean. Just place your chair right in the water and take in the sun. read more

My family and I stayed at the campsite for five days. Quiet campsite with great oceanfront views. The ocean breeze helped keep the temps down. All of our neighbors were friendly and the view of the stars at night was amazing! The canoe rentals were a steal at $5 per hour or $10 for the whole day. The lagoon to canoe in was very calm and had lots of creatures and corals to keep us busy for hours. Only two complaints: the beaches and the bathrooms. The beach at low tide was shallow, which was cool because you can walk out far. But, the sand is muddy and slimy in some parts, and rocky in others. This just comes with the territory for the beaches in the Keys. We ended up going to a place called Anne's Beach in Islamorada. Less seaweed and actual sand. The second complaint is about the bathrooms, or more specifically, the showers. It was balls hot in the showers with no air flow....and the water was steaming hot as well. By the time I toweled off, I was sweating already. Even with those two gripes, Long Key State Park is a great place to stay and I wouldn't hesitate to return. read more

So I'll begin by saying that I've done real outdoorsy, leave-no-trace backpacking and even car camping (like this is) that's quite remote in California. So what I'll do here is letcha know that the campsites are only a stand of trees away from the only highway on the keys (it's busy), and your neighbors are as likely to be a rowdy family with a RV and a generator as another set of quiet tent campers. The bathrooms are really, really clean (though the hot water wasn't working the day I was there), which is nice, and there's recycling available. It's windy on the ocean side, so bring guy lines for your tent and a layer to throw on. There's a fire ring, so buy firewood somewhere nearby and you'll have a lovely view. And pray for well-behaved neighbors. read more

Definitely an amazing and beautiful Florida State Park along the Overseas Highway! Lots to see, including a 2-mile nature trail, views of the beach areas, shoreline, a boardwalk with an observation deck, and some picnic areas. Entrance fees vary by number of occupants in each vehicle. One of those locations you won't want to miss! read more

This is a fabulous Florida park. The camping facilities are very nice - one side it's on the ground, one side has wooden platforms very close to the beach. Lots of butterflies all around! Ten steps from your tent to the American Caribbean! For walkers, you can walk on wooden paths through the mangrove swamps and see the are up close and safely! A very peaceful place. read more