A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

National Park Service campground

Elliot Key Campground

National Park Service campground in Biscayne National Park, Miami-Dade County, Florida. -2 feet. 12.1 miles from Cutler Bay.

Managed by
National Park Service Biscayne National Park
Elevation
-2 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
99 66 boat in, 32 tent only non-electric, 1 mooring
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Eliott Key is only accessible by boat. No services are available on the island.

Elliott Key is the park's largest island. Restrooms with sinks and cold water showers, picnic tables and grills are available. Drinking water is available, but bring water as a precaution if the system goes down. There are 33 boat slips in the marina.

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you can pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app.

There is limited cellular connectivity at this location. Please download the free Recreation.gov mobile app and create an account prior to arrival.

Recreation

Daytime use and overnight camping - the campground is located on the Biscayne Bay side. Overnight camping and docking fees are required.

Picknicking - tables and barbecue grills are available in the campground and marina.

Hiking - a mile-long loop trail starts near the campground. Also, "Spite Highway" runs approximately six miles down the center of the island. It affords a good opportunity to see a variety of habitats in the martime forest.

Fishing - permitted from the maintenance dock (south of the harbor) or from the shoreline outside of the no-wake zone. Fishing regulations apply.

Facilities

Camping - the campground is located on the Biscayne Bay side. Overnight camping and docking fees are required.

Picknicking - tables and barbecue grills are available in the campground and marina.

Restrooms - cold water showers are available. Fresh drinking water is located outside the building. It is recommended that you bring your own fresh water, just in case the generator breaks down.

Hiking - a mile-long loop trail starts near the campground. Also, "Spite Highway" runs approximately six miles down the center of the island. It affords a good opportunity to see a variety of habitats in the martime forest.

Fishing - permitted from the maintenance dock (south of the harbor) or from the shoreline outside of the no-wake zone. Fishing regulations apply.

Things to Remember -

Mosquitoes and no-see-ums (biting midges) are prevalent year round.

Pack out all trash.

There are no sales facilities

Boats may dock among 33 slips.

Pets on a leash are permitted in the developed areas of Elliott Key. Pets may not be left unattended.

Natural Features

The largest island in the park was once a thriving community of pioneers engaged in pineapple farming, sponging, wrecking, and other pursuits. Today the island offers camping, picnicking, wildlife watching and a hiking trail.

A mile-long loop trail starts near the campground. Also, "Spite Highway" runs approximately six miles down the center of the island. It affords a good opportunity to see a variety of habitats in the martime forest.

Nearby Attractions

Elliott Key is located just south of Boca Chita Key.

The description, directions and fees are the National Park Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • day use area
  • hiking
  • picnicking

The land around Elliot Key Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.