Crandon Park

A county beach park on Key Biscayne with two miles of calm water, shade, grills and a nature center.

Checked October 2026

Crandon Park is the classic Miami family beach: calm, shallow water, picnic grills and room to spread out; the trade-off is a causeway drive, paid parking and crowds on summer weekends.

Why you go

You come for a big, easy family beach. The sand runs for about two miles on the Atlantic side of Key Biscayne, and an offshore sandbar keeps the water calm and shallow for a long way out. Behind the beach there are picnic areas with grills, rentable cabanas at the south end, a nature center with a mangrove boardwalk and a historic carousel. It rates 4.5 from more than 11,500 Google reviews.

When to go

Weekday mornings are the easiest: the lots are open, the water is flat and you can pick your spot under the palms. Weekends, especially summer Sundays, bring big family groups with grills and music by late morning. The visitor and nature center runs 9 am to 4 pm daily, so plan a mangrove walk before mid-afternoon. Our data has no posted beach hours, so plan around daylight.

Know before you go

Parking is $7 plus tax Monday to Thursday and $10 plus tax Friday to Sunday, per the county. Pets are not allowed except service animals, glass is banned, and flotation devices are not allowed in the bathing areas. You get there over the Rickenbacker Causeway. Bill Baggs at the south end of the island is quieter and more natural; Crandon is better for groups that want grills and space.

Questions people ask