Biscayne National Park is an absolute jewel situated off Florida’s Southeast coast. The park is home to a stunning array of coastal waters, coral reefs, mangrove forests, and small islands.
The park is 95% marine-based, so most of the activities in this park take place in or near the water. Visitors to the park enjoy activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and paddle boarding.
Winter is the best time to visit Biscayne National Park due to the fact that the weather is more pleasant and less extreme during those months.
In addition to discussing when the best time to visit Biscayne National park is, we’ll also discuss topics including:
- What is the entrance fee for Biscayne National Park?
- What should you bring on a trip to Biscayne National Park?
- Information regarding nearby Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
What is the best time to visit Biscayne National Park?
Winter (Dry Season)
The best time to visit Biscayne National Park is during the winter months. This is the dry season in the park. As such, the weather is typically milder and more favorable. The park’s dry season lasts from November through April. Plan to hit the park between that time frame if you’re looking to visit when weather conditions here are more pleasant.
Heavy thunderstorms and rain are rare during the dry season at Biscayne. Infrequent storms may bring some rain and strong winds, which can diminish visibility underwater when snorkeling or scuba diving. However, an upside to these fronts is that they’ll blow away pesky mosquitos.
Biscayne’s lovely winter weather, typical of South Florida, is a welcome escape from the cold and wet winters much of the rest of the U.S. experiences. For example, during the months of December, January, and February, the high temperatures average only in the mid to high 70’s. Rainfall during these months is also low, with only around 2 inches on average.
Summer (Wet Season)
Summer is Biscayne’s wet season and lasts from May through October. This time of the year brings heavy and regular rainfall, high humidity, hot temperatures, and swarms of mosquitos.
High concentrations of mosquitos are especially prevalent amongst the coastal mangroves.
However, this time of year in the park isn’t all bad. Summertime is excellent for snorkeling and scuba diving in the park’s waters. As long as there are no heavy storms, underwater visibility is usually outstanding during the summer.
You should also be mindful of Florida’s infamous hurricane season, which lasts from June through November. Be sure to keep an eye out for possible hurricane forecasts during those months before you visit.
Average high temperatures here during the months of June, July, and August are in the high 80’s to low 90’s. The average rainfall during these months is 10.6 inches in June, 7.4 inches in July, and 9.6 in August.
What is the entrance fee for Biscayne National Park?
The park is 100% free to visit and does not charge an entrance fee.
What should you bring on a trip to Biscayne National Park?
There aren’t any beaches to visit or swim in at Biscayne National Park. Nonetheless, you should plan on bringing essentially the same supplies as you would on an actual trip to the beach—items such as hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and snacks.
If you’re planning on taking a snorkeling or scuba diving trip, you’ll want to plan on bringing a bathing suit, an underwater camera, and some towels. You should also bring a bag to hold important valuables like phones, wallets, and keys to help keep them dry.
List of what you should bring:
- Reef-safe sunscreen (this is a sunscreen that lacks certain chemicals that are harmful to coral reefs)
- Bathing Suit
- Towel
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- A regular camera and an underwater camera
- A dry bag for important valuables
- Plenty of snacks and water (bring a refillable water bottle)
- Bring a good lunch if you’re taking a full-day boat trip
If you plan on fishing at Biscayne National Park during your visit, you should check out the park’s website to see what fishing restrictions and regulations there are.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
While visiting Biscayne National Park, it’s also worth taking a visit to nearby Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
The park is a haven for various outdoor activities, such as swimming, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and bicycling. The park is filled with beautiful nature trails, spectacular beaches, fantastic restaurants, and an old lighthouse dating back to the 19th century.
Final Thoughts
To recap, Biscayne National Park is one place you must see to believe. The beautiful turquoise waters, bright green islands, and coral reefs are a welcome sight away from the heavily populated Miami area.
Again, the best time to visit Biscayne is during the winter when the weather is more agreeable. Summertime in the park, however, is not to be counted out since scuba diving and snorkeling can be outstanding during this time of year.
Another reason Biscayne National Park is so fantastic is that it charges no entrance fees for visitors to enter.
When visiting Biscayne National Park, plan on bringing the same kind of items you’d typically bring on a beach trip, e.g., hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and snacks.
When visiting Biscayne, make sure to also make a stop at the nearby Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. This wonderful state park is extremely close to Biscayne and has a number of fun outdoor activities and scenic locations.
Want a FREE complete list and recap of all our US National Parks as well as downloadable maps and other great resources? Check out our US National Parks List and Map guide!
