Boca Chita Key Campground at Biscayne National Park

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Boca Chita Key Main Page

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CAMPING SEASON

The Boca Chita Key campground is open year-round, but you’d have to be out of your mind to come much past April due to bugs and high temperatures. The best time to camp is from November through March. I was there in early March and the bugs were already prevalent, but not burdensome. A volunteer told me that once the bug season comes, you can’t even step off your boat without being eaten alive. Park employees wear full mosquito suits in the summer.

TYPE OF CAMPING

Only tents are allowed in the Boca Chita Key campground, though you can also sleep in your boat, which is what the majority of the overnight visitors do. Thus, it is usually not a problem to get a campsite. A guy who camps regularly to Boca Chita Key told me that he has never seen more than a dozen tents at one time. The problem, at least on the weekends, is getting a space to dock your boat.

Group camping is also allowed on Boca Chita Key. If you have more than ten campers, call (786) 335-3609 to make a reservation and make sure that an area is held for your group.

NUMBER OF SITES

There are no designated campsites at Boca Chita Key, but all tents must be pitched on the open field near the harbor north of the restroom building. No camping is allowed in the wooded area on the south side of the island or in the cleared area between the restroom and the barn-looking structure (a storage garage). Picnic tables are spread out over the field, and obviously the best place to pitch your tent is next to one, but if all tables are taken, just find an empty spot somewhere on the field. Grills are also available, but not one at each picnic table.

Campsite near the shore at Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park

TERRAIN

The campground is completely flat with a few palm trees for shade, but unless your tent is in one’s shadow, it is exposed to the sun. Trees and other vegetation line the perimeter of the campground, and you can get more shade by placing your tent as close to the trees as possible, but this is also where you will find the most mosquitoes.

Flat terrain of the Boca Chita Key Campground in Biscayne National Park

AMENITIES

There is a restroom with salt water flush toilets, but no sinks or showers. There is no drinking water or food concessions on the island, so bring your own. There is no electricity available to campers or boaters. Generators are allowed except during quiet hours.

RESERVATIONS

Reservations are not accepted at Boca Chita Key Campground, so everything is first come, first served. Boca Chita Key is the most popular of the developed keys in Biscayne National Park. However, on a busy weekend or holiday it may not be a campsite that is hard to come by but a place to dock your boat. I visited on a Thursday and the harbor was about 60 percent full. I was told that it is usually full by noon on weekends from November through March. You can unload your gear at the dock and then anchor off shore if need be, but you’ll have to swim back if you don’t have some sort of dinghy. Also, if you do find dock space and then leave to go fishing or something like that, you may not find a spot when you return.

FEES AND PAYMENT

Anyone with a boat staying past sunset on Boca Chita Key must pay the boat docking / camping fee (currently $35). If you are getting dropped off, then you pay the camping-only fee (currently $25). If you have the Recreation.gov app on your phone, you can pay by credit card when you arrive. Scan the QR Code at the dock kiosk. If there is no phone service, you can still make the payment. Information is stored in the app and payment will be processed when you get to a location with cell service.

You can also pay by cash, but you won’t be getting any change. Pick up a payment envelope at the dock-side kiosk, fill out the information, tear off your receipt, and place the envelope with your payment into the collection box.

For the latest fees, check the National Park Service’s official Camping web page for Biscayne National Park.

Each campsite fee allows two tents and up to six people. If you have more tents or people than this, you must pay an additional fee.

Pay station at Biscayne National Park’s Boca Chita Key

CAMPGROUND RULES

• Campfires are not allowed

• Not pets on the island, not even in your boat (except service dogs)

• All trash must be carried out with you

• Quiet hours are from 10 PM to 6 AM

• Generators are allowed except during quiet hours

• Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days and 30 days total per year

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