Biscayne Bay Boating Guide
Last Updated on August 27, 2024 by Boatsetter Team
With Miami to the west and Miami Beach to the east, Biscayne Bay is a boating mecca on the edge of an urban environment.
The entire South Florida coastline features bays, rivers, and ports, but none have quite the allure of Biscayne Bay. While much of the boating here takes place in the crowded waters between Miami and Miami Beach, the bay stretches for over 35 miles from end to end including over 250 square miles of water making up Biscayne Bay National Park. From nightlife to wildlife, it can all be found in Biscayne Bay.
Boating in Northern Biscayne Bay: Miami and Miami Beach
From the Macarthur Causeway north, Biscayne Bay is a watery playground surrounded by the most modern of urban landscapes. In the warm Florida sunshine boating here is a year-round event, and if you don’t have a boat of your own there are also plenty of options for renting a boat in Miami. Everything from pontoon boats to motor yachts of all shapes, sizes, and speeds can be found here, both with and without captains.
Whichever sort of boat strikes your fancy you’ll have plenty to do in Biscayne Bay. Sandbar hopping is incredibly popular whether you head north all the way to Haulover sandbar, or you cruise south all the way to Nixon Beach sandbar. In either of these popular aquatic hangouts you can anchor up or raft off, and jump into crystal clear water over white sandy shallows. See our Miami Sandbar Boating Guide to get the complete scoop on sandbar hopping here.
If exploring is more your speed, there’s so much to see while cruising Biscayne Bay that a week, much less a day, wouldn’t be enough to take in all the different sites. Meander around the islands making up the Venetian Causeway and Star, Palm, and Hibiscus Islands to get a peek at breathtaking waterfront mansions and estates. Motor past Dodge Island to see the commercial ships unloading their cargo. Head over to Virginia Key and check out the Miami Marine Stadium. Or take a cruise up the Miami River, where you’ll pass by everything from mega-yachts to cargo ships.
Being out in the northern part of Biscayne Bay after dark is also a feast for the eyes, but in a completely different way. Many of the buildings and bridges in Miami are brightly illuminated with decorative and active lighting that’s reminiscent of Times Square. Before enjoying those sights, however, you’ll probably want to enjoy a feast that satisfies your palette. That’s no problem either, because there are plenty of Miami dockside dining options.
Boating in Biscayne Bay National Park
Beginning near Stiltsville (a small collection of shacks built over the water on stilts, which are worth paying a visit just to see) and running all the way down to Card Sound, Biscayne Bay National Park consists of over 170,000 acres. The vast majority of those acres are water, but five percent of the park includes undeveloped keys and barrier islands. Many adventurous explorers will haul a canoe or kayak here and paddle through the shallows along the mainland or across the bay in areas like Boca Chita, Elliott, or Adams Key. The wildlife in the park is nothing short of magnificent, and you’ll pass by mangroves, spot countless birds, and if you get lucky maybe even see a manatee or two.
More adventurous explorers may want to head outside the barrier islands with scuba or snorkeling gear and check out the underwater world along the reefs. Just east of the park sits the Biscayne Maritime Heritage Trail, with six historic wrecks including 19th century steamers and schooners. These popular dive sites are teeming with coral-encrusted wreck remnants, living coral reef, and fish, and in some spots the wreckage is as shallow as 10 to 20 feet so it’s easy to dive down to. To learn more about where and what to check out beneath the surface of these waters see Snorkeling in Miami: Best Spots to Visit.
There are many watery playgrounds stretching across America, but Biscayne Bay is one of a kind. The mix of urban and unspoiled is unmatched, and people of all varieties will find that this slice of the Atlantic coast provides endless fun and entertainment. Whatever gets you excited, however, one thing is for sure: Biscayne Bay is best seen by boat.
Before planning your trip see our top 3 Miami boating itineraries to try, and also check out the Ultimate Miami Boating Guide.
With over three decades of experience in marine journalism, Lenny Rudow has contributed to dozens of boating and fishing publications and websites ranging from BoatU.S. Magazine to BDOutdoors.com. Rudow is currently the Angler in Chief at Rudow’s FishTalk, he is a past president of Boating Writers International (BWI), a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and has won numerous BWI and OWAA writing awards.
