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Florida, United States

Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys

A slow Jan 1 drive up the Overseas Highway to a beach, old railroad bridges and Key deer. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 3 activities and 1 place to eat from our curated routes.

Plan Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys with friendsBrowse 6 places
Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys, Florida, United States
Places
6

2 See · 3 Do · 1 Eat

Curated routes
1

Key West New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

30°C / 86°F avg high

Coolest month
January

23°C / 74°F avg high

Wettest month
September

about 167 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys

6 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around across Bahia Honda Key and Big Pine Key. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Old Bahia Honda Bridge in Bahia Honda & the Lower KeysPhoto: Sergiy Galyonkin · CC BY-SA 2.0
    See

    Old Bahia Honda Bridge

    A section of Flagler's 1912 railroad bridge inside the park, with a walkway on top that looks over the channel.

    Tip Walk up from the park's west end; the light is best late in the afternoon.

    • Bahia Honda Key
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Late afternoon
  • Blue Hole in Bahia Honda & the Lower KeysPhoto: EdoDodo · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Blue Hole

    A freshwater pond in an old quarry in the National Key Deer Refuge, where small Key deer and alligators are often seen.

    Tip Drive slowly on Big Pine; the deer cross roads, and feeding them is illegal.

    • Big Pine Key
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Morning

Do

3 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Bahia Honda Key, Lower Keys and Marathon.

  • Bahia Honda State Park in Bahia Honda & the Lower KeysPhoto: KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0
    Do

    Bahia Honda State Park

    A wide sandy beach on clear, shallow water, about 40 miles up the Overseas Highway from Key West.

    Tip Arrive before 10 a.m. on Jan 1; the park closes its gate when parking fills.

    • Bahia Honda Key
    • $
    • 3 hr
    • Jan 1 morning
  • Do

    Looe Key Reef

    A shallow coral reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, reached by snorkel boats from Big Pine and Ramrod Key.

    Tip Book a morning boat; afternoon trips are often canceled when the wind picks up.

    • Lower Keys
    • $$
    • 4 hr
    • Morning
  • Old Seven Mile Bridge in Bahia Honda & the Lower KeysPhoto: Raychristofer · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Old Seven Mile Bridge

    A 2.2-mile walk or bike ride on the restored old bridge from Marathon out to Pigeon Key.

    Tip Start at the Knights Key end in Marathon and bring water; there is no shade.

    • Marathon
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Late afternoon

Eat

Where we would book a table in Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys in Big Pine Key.

  • Eat

    No Name Pub

    A pizza and beer stop on a back road of Big Pine Key, its walls covered in signed dollar bills.

    Tip Bring cash for tips and follow the signs; the road ends at the old No Name Bridge.

    • Big Pine Key
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Lunch

How to fit Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys into a trip

Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys is stop 2 of 2 on our Key West New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys month by month

Average daily highs run from 23°C / 74°F in January to 30°C / 86°F in August. September is the wettest month, with about 167 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys weather and the best time to visit →

Near Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys

8 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys questions, answered

How many days do you need in Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys?

On our Key West New Year's Eve route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 6 places add up to roughly 11 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys best known for?

A slow Jan 1 drive up the Overseas Highway to a beach, old railroad bridges and Key deer. Standouts on our list: Old Bahia Honda Bridge (A section of Flagler's 1912 railroad bridge inside the park, with a walkway on top that looks over the channel); Blue Hole (A freshwater pond in an old quarry in the National Key Deer Refuge, where small Key deer and alligators are often seen); Bahia Honda State Park (A wide sandy beach on clear, shallow water, about 40 miles up the Overseas Highway from Key West).

When is the best time to visit Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys?

Our Key West New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (30°C / 86°F), the coolest in January (23°C / 74°F) and the most rain in September (about 167 mm).

What are the best things to do in Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys?

Start with Bahia Honda State Park, Old Bahia Honda Bridge, Blue Hole, Looe Key Reef and Old Seven Mile Bridge. Our guide lists 6 places in all, from 2 sights, 3 activities and 1 place to eat.

What is near Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys?

The closest destinations in our guides are Key West (about 54 km / 33 mi), Old Town & Duval Street (about 56 km / 35 mi) and Everglades (about 78 km / 49 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys with your crew

Open the Key West New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 6 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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