Canaveral National Seashore | BIO LAB ROAD

Bio Lab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Bio Lab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge


See the Scenic Drives web page for an interactive location map.


Bio Lab Road is a 6-mile dirt road that runs north to south along Mosquito Lagoon. It lies within Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and there is a fee to enter the area. You can get a pass online in advance at Recreation.gov, or on the day of your visit at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center or the self-pay kiosk located at the entrance to the road. Payment is cash or check only, even at the Visitor Center—no credit or debit cards. You cannot get change if paying in cash at the self-pay kiosk. If you need change, you must get a pass at the Visitor Center. I recommend first stopping there anyway just to get basic information. National Park Service annual passes, Duck Stamps, Canaveral National Seashore passes, and annual Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge passes are also good for using all facilities within Merritt Island (boat ramps, Bio Lab Road, and Black Point Wildlife Drive). At the time of this writing the fee is $10 / day, but be sure to get the latest prices on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge’s Visit Us web page.

Pay station near the entrance to Bio Lab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Pay station near the entrance to Bio Lab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

The first mile of Bio Lab Road from the southern end allows two-way traffic, but the rest of the road is one-way and requires starting at the northern end. This entrance is accessed via a side road off of Kennedy Parkway—follow the signs to Bio Lab Boat Ramp. This road dead ends at the boat ramp, and Bio Lab Road is on the right just before the ramp. It ends at Playalinda Beach Road within Canaveral National Seashore, which means you are essentially sneaking into Canaveral without paying the park entrance fee (the southern end of the road comes after the pay station). However, without paying there is not much you can do since Playalinda Beach is all Canaveral National Seashore has to offer at its southern end, and you can’t park at any of the beaches without displaying a paid pass on your vehicle’s dashboard or rear view mirror.

Entrance to Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Entrance to Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Bio Lab Road runs along Mosquito Lagoon, though you can’t always see the water due to brush and other vegetation. However, some sections are right on the water, and it’s easy to see why the road is often closed—it won’t take much of a storm to wash the road away.

Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge runs along Mosquito Lagoon

Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge runs along Mosquito Lagoon

Bio Lab Road is another great place to see wildlife within Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore. Though it could have just been a lucky day, I saw more wildlife here than on Black Point Wildlife Drive, the park’s premier scenic drive. There were areas that looked like something you’d expect to see in Africa: flocks of pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, and egrets all mixed together; flocks of coots swimming in the ponds. I even saw two alligators, double the number I saw along the Black Point Wildlife Drive. If you want to do is take photos, visit in the morning because you’ll be facing west when looking at the marsh. In the afternoon and late evening the sun will be shining in your face, which is not good for taking photos.

Alligator in the marsh along Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Alligator in the marsh along Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, and Egrets mix in the marsh along Bio Lab Road on Merritt Island

Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, and Egrets mix in the marsh along Bio Lab Road on Merritt Island

Coots in the marsh along Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Coots in the marsh along Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Coots in the marsh along Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Coots in the marsh along Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Alligator in the marsh along Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Alligator in the marsh along Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Biking and hiking are allowed on Bio Lab Road, and since there is very little traffic, this is about as safe a place as any to bike or hike. The best way to see animals is on foot, but there is no reason to hike the entire road if this is your goal. Most of the animals are found in the marsh area located along the last southern mile of the road. If you want to walk, I suggest parking along Playalinda Beach Road within Canaveral National Seashore and then hiking out-and-back to the marsh, which amounts to a couple of miles, round-trip. I only recommend traveling the entire road if you are in a vehicle or on a bike. This last mile allows two-way traffic, so you can drive to the marsh as well.

Northern end of Bio Lab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Northern end of Bio Lab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

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Last updated on February 5, 2024
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