Monroe County Florida Keys · Florida
Long Key State Park beach
- State
- Florida
- County
- Monroe County
- City / community
- Long Key
Florida Keys · Monroe County Florida Keys
A shallow state-park shoreline with designated swimming and snorkeling areas and birding. Choose it for a nature-focused day visit; dated notices list primitive camping and Golden Orb Trail as closed for construction, with possible tidal-flooding restrictions on day use.
Good fit: A shallow state-park shoreline with designated swimming and snorkeling areas and birding. Choose it for a nature-focused day visit; dated notices list primitive camping and Golden Orb Trail as closed for construction, with possible tidal-flooding restrictions on day use.
Plan around: Check Long Key notices and contact the ranger station about tidal flooding and construction before travelling; an ordinary day-use description is not a current opening guarantee.
PLAN THE BASICS
At a glance
- Parking
- Use the named public arrivalDetails & restrictions
- Dogs
- NoDetails & restrictions
- Restrooms
- YesDetails & restrictions
- Lifeguards
- Unknown · clarification pendingDetails & restrictions
- Public access
- Public accessDetails & restrictions
- Beach driving
- Unknown · clarification pendingDetails & restrictions
- Accessibility
- Check the exact usable routeDetails & restrictions
Choose an entrance
Long Key State Park beach · named arrival guidance
See the entrance section for parking and entry details and sources. Swimming is available in designated areas; do not extend this to every shoreline parcel. See the entrance section for accessibility details and sources.
Official route / restriction details ↗Parking, route & accessibility evidence
Parking & entry: Use the named public arrival. Use the verified public arrival guidance and posted parking/payment instructions; exact current parking details remain unresolved.
Parking source ↗Accessibility: Check the exact usable route. Park documents a beach wheelchair and accessible restrooms; exact sand transition remains to verify. The park lists a beach wheelchair, accessible restrooms and a ramp to a mangrove boardwalk. Accessible campground showers are separately scoped; no continuous waterline route is established. A beach wheelchair and accessible restrooms are listed, with a ramp to the mangrove boardwalk. The exact parking-to-swimming-water route remains unverified.
Accessibility source ↗Open the county entrance directory ↗
Use the directory to check each entrance’s identity and status. Guide map pins are approximate shoreline locations, not turn-by-turn entrance directions or proof of current opening.
Known for
A shallow state-park shoreline with designated swimming and snorkeling areas and birding. Choose it for a nature-focused day visit; dated notices list primitive camping and Golden Orb Trail as closed for construction, with possible tidal-flooding restrictions on day use.
Sources & review date ↗Check Long Key notices and contact the ranger station about tidal flooding and construction before travelling; an ordinary day-use description is not a current opening guarantee.
Rules & facilities
Check before you go
Check Long Key notices and contact the ranger station about tidal flooding and construction before travelling; an ordinary day-use description is not a current opening guarantee.
Sources & review date ↗Admission, payment & passes
Official pages agree on $4.50 for a single person and a $6 multi-person base, but differ on which occupants incur the surcharge. Confirm the total at the ranger station; no computed party total is asserted.
Sources & review date ↗What to bring & supporting visit details
Plan your visit
Use Long Key State Park designated day-use areas after checking current notices; campground showers and boardwalk access do not establish a continuous waterline route.
Sources & review date ↗Public or private?
Public access
Who can visit: Open to the general public, including visitors, during permitted hours and subject to posted rules.
Entry route, fees & access boundaries
- Manager / access authority
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida State Parks
- Access basis
- This listing covers a publicly managed beach access or park, not a private guest-only beach.
- Where to enter
- The named manager lists Long Key State Park beach as a public visitor shoreline destination. Use Long Key State Park designated day-use areas after checking current notices; campground showers and boardwalk access do not establish a continuous waterline route. Admission, permitted arrival routes and current closures remain separate; this is not a present-opening guarantee.
- Fees & reservations
- Official pages agree on $4.50 for a single person and a $6 multi-person base, but differ on which occupants incur the surcharge. Confirm the total at the ranger station; no computed party total is asserted.
- Restrictions & exceptions
- Swimming is available in designated areas; do not extend this to every shoreline parcel.
- What this label covers
- Named shoreline eligibility, not current opening or approval of every historical entrance.
Beach ownership, the route across land, public shoreline-use rights and access to facilities are separate questions. Rules vary by state and location. Use the identified public entrance or documented permission; neither a nearby resort nor an admission fee by itself establishes that a beach is private. A mapped beach is not permission to cross private property.
Access policy reviewed 2026-10-04. Not a live closure report or a property-boundary survey.
Allowed & prohibited activities
Florida State Parks prohibits consuming alcohol in public beach, paddling and first-come picnic areas. Separately designated concession, event and overnight accommodation exceptions do not authorize drinking on this bathing beach.
Sources & review date ↗No open-fire permission is established; use cooking facilities only where explicitly designated by the manager.
Sources & review date ↗Primitive camping is closed under the July 12, 2026 construction notice. The general activity page’s hike-in camping description does not establish available reservations; use current park notices. Pets remain excluded from the beach and natural shoreline.
Sources & review date ↗Fishing follows applicable species, size, method and seasonal regulations; park-wide fishing permission does not establish a casting route through a swimming area. Fishing must follow applicable size, catch, method and seasonal regulations; the activity listing does not approve every swimming shoreline as a fishing spot.
Sources & review date ↗- Hours
- Check destination and facility hours
8 a.m. to sunset.
Long Key State Park beach · managing authority ↗ - Dogs on the beach
- No ordinary beach pets
Pets prohibited on beaches, natural shoreline, picnic shelters and restrooms. Permitted areas require six-foot handheld leash. Pets are excluded from beaches and natural shoreline. In permitted other areas, pets require a hand-held leash no longer than six feet; service animals are separately allowed in public areas.
Long Key State Park beach · managing authority ↗ - Lifeguards
- Coverage unconfirmed
Beach-specific lifeguard coverage and duty schedule for Long Key State Park beach have not been confirmed. Park staff, a pool lifeguard, rental operator or general amenities listing is not evidence of a staffed beach tower.
Long Key State Park beach · managing authority ↗ - Restrooms
- Named facilities · check scope
Restroom facilities documented. Hike-in campground has cold outdoor showers; day-use shower access is not inferred.
Long Key State Park beach · managing authority ↗ - Access & beach rules
- Named manager restrictions apply
Swimming is available in designated areas; do not extend this to every shoreline parcel.
Long Key State Park beach · managing authority ↗ - Beach driving
- Use designated roads and parking
Use visitor roads and designated parking. Florida State Parks offers no ATV/off-road riding areas; golf carts and utility vehicles may not use off-road areas, boardwalks, trails or service roads closed to guests. This is not authorization for recreational driving on beach sand.
Long Key State Park beach · managing authority ↗
Conditions & activities Surf, sand, wildlife and suitability
Conditions at the beach
Saved reports below are dated snapshots, not live conditions. JavaScript refreshes them from official sources when available. Source timestamps and tide times identify their time zone.
Weather observation
Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
88°F · Clear
- The Florida Keys - Marathon International Airport · 24.3 km from destination reference · nearby reporting station, not a beach sensor.
Observation: 2026-10-04T18:45:00+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-04T19:03:19.381Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-04T20:45:00.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
UV forecast
No current-hour UV estimate is shown in this saved page. Use sun protection; the live forecast loads when available.
Daily forecast
Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
Saved forecast for this beach’s NWS grid
- 2026-10-04T15:00:00-04:00–2026-10-04T18:00:00-04:00: This Afternoon · 87°F · Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms · wind 10 mph E
- 2026-10-04T18:00:00-04:00–2026-10-05T06:00:00-04:00: Tonight · 81°F · Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms · wind 5 to 10 mph E
Source issued/updated: 2026-10-04T18:15:24+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-04T19:03:19.901Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-04T22:00:00.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
High & low tides
Saved prediction · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
Long Key Bight, Long Key. NOAA Long Key Bight, Long Key (8723879) is the disclosed tide-prediction reference. Long Key Bight regional reference; marked swimming-area conditions must be checked separately. Prediction times and retrieval time remain distinct; no current observed tide is claimed. Predictions, not measured water levels or safe crossing times.
- 2026-10-04 03:18 · High tide
- 2026-10-04 10:57 · Low tide
- 2026-10-04 17:50 · High tide
- 2026-10-04 21:51 · Low tide
- 2026-10-05 04:51 · High tide
- 2026-10-05 12:02 · Low tide
- 2026-10-05 18:39 · High tide
- 2026-10-05 23:21 · Low tide
Prediction dates: 2026-10-04–2026-10-05 · station local time.
Retrieved: 2026-10-04T19:03:19.720Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-05T19:03:19.720Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
Long Key Bight, Long Key. NOAA Long Key Bight, Long Key (8723879) is the disclosed tide-prediction reference. Long Key Bight regional reference; marked swimming-area conditions must be checked separately. Prediction times and retrieval time remain distinct; no current observed tide is claimed. Predictions, not measured water levels or safe crossing times.
NOAA tide station ↗NOAA swim & rip-current forecast
No usable dated snapshot available. Follow the official source link for updated information.
Forecast risk is not the flag flying at this beach. Conditions can vary within the forecast area.
Official local flag & condition status
Flag color: not currently verified
No timestamped observed flag connector is verified here. Follow the named authority and posted conditions; a forecast is not an observed flag.
The Beach Database does not convert weather or a rip-current forecast into a colored flag. Check flags and signs on arrival and ask a lifeguard where available.
Weather warnings & alerts
Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
Alerts returned at the recorded check
- Coastal Flood Statement · Coastal Flood Statement issued October 4 at 12:21PM EDT until October 5 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Key West FL · source expiration 2026-10-05T11:00:00-04:00
Source issued/updated: 2026-10-04T19:03:16+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-04T19:03:20.038Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-04T21:03:16.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
Weather alerts do not confirm swimming safety, lifeguard staffing, water quality or beach closures. No alert does not mean safe water.
Water quality
No exact named Long Key State Park station returned; tide/weather data are not laboratory water quality. The Monroe station registry and all five laboratory report pages were checked October 4. No other beach's result is substituted, and lack of an exact connection is not evidence of clean water.
Sources & review date ↗Crowd meter
No measured crowd level is available; plan around its actual arrival and facilities rather than a numerical crowd score.
Sources & review date ↗Sand & sandcastles
The park describes generally shallow water and a seagrass bottom; this does not promise clear water or gentle conditions today.
Sources & review date ↗Surfing profile
No researched surf break or approved surf launch is established here; use the manager’s designated activity rules and current conditions.
Sources & review date ↗Beachcombing
Enjoy observing shoreline finds; collection permission and shell abundance are not established here. Check the exact manager/zone rules before removing anything.
Sources & review date ↗This guide does not promote this beach for shark teeth or assign a yield rating.
Sources & review date ↗Snorkeling & scuba diving
Snorkeling is permitted in designated areas over generally shallow seagrass bottom. Check the marked area and conditions rather than treating an offshore reef trip as shore snorkeling. The park describes designated snorkeling areas over shallow seagrass. No verified visibility, surveyed entry or current water-safety assessment is supplied.
Sources & review date ↗A shore-scuba route is not verified here. Arrange any dive separately with a qualified local operator and lawful entry assessment.
Sources & review date ↗Shore & sky wildlife
The park documents year-round wading/shore birds, seasonal migrants, and occasional shoreline horseshoe crabs and sea stars. Kayak turtle sightings are paddling observations, not guaranteed beach sightings. The park describes resident wading/shorebirds and seasonal migrants; sightings are possibilities rather than a beach-day guarantee.
Sources & review date ↗History & interesting facts
Long Key’s railroad-era fishing camp ended with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. The state park opened in 1969; the old fishing camp is historical, not a current lodging option. Long Key State Park opened in 1969. The park’s history page links the island to Flagler’s railway and the earlier fishing camp ended by the 1935 hurricane.
Sources & review date ↗A closer look
Photos of this beach and its surroundings. Select a photo to view it larger. These are recorded views, not live conditions.
View larger ↗Long Key State Park beach · archival photograph 2011 · Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taken: 2011File:Layton FL Long Key SP beach pano01.jpg · Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized/cropped for display; original colors retained. Adaptations retain the stated license.
Food, stays & rentals
EXTEND YOUR BEACH DAY
Food & drink nearby
Local dining recommendations
Grassy Key Land and Sea Market at 58182 Overseas Highway offers breakfast, lunch and grocery/deli supplies. Useful for picking up picnic provisions before a park stop; it is not an on-beach concession.
Sources & review date ↗Accommodations by the beach
Atlantic-facing hike-in tent-only campsites with picnic table, grill and hammock stand; no electric/water hookups. Grassy Flats at 58182 Overseas Highway on Grassy Key offers rooms and suites, useful as a road-trip base for Middle Keys beaches. Resort beach-club access is private and separate from state-park admission.
Sources & review date ↗Activities & rentals
The park lists ranger-led kayak tours alternating with Curry Hammock, subject to tides/weather and ranger confirmation. Bring-your-own paddling is permitted; there is no trailer-accessible boat ramp.
Sources & review date ↗Explore nearby beaches
Sources & review date
Guide desk research reviewed 2026-10-04; this is not a field-by-field current verification or an on-site inspection. Official facts, dated agency evidence and editorial assessments retain their own scope. Unknowns and conflicts remain open. Methodology · Rating explanations · Correction history
Photo: File:Layton FL Long Key SP beach pano01.jpg by Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped for display; adaptations retain this license.
Visitor experiences
Original, moderated reviews and photographs. Visit dates and entrances provide context; visitor ratings and reports do not replace official facts or current conditions.
Read approved visitor experiences here when available.