Sandspur Beach, Bahia Honda State Park

Sandspur is the Atlantic-facing beach on the east side of Bahia Honda Key, where the water stays shallow and the currents are usually mild, so easy laps parallel to shore are the norm. Expect mid-to-upper 80s in summer and low-to-mid 70s in winter. Give the Bahia Honda Channel a wide berth, since its currents can run very swift, and come early because the park closes when it fills.

Directions

Photo: Daniel Di Palma · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 88/100 (Get in) for a typical swimmer: air 27°C, wind 9 km/h, waves 0.3 m, UV 4. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Shallow water with very mild currents; clearest when the wind is light, since waves stir up the sand and cut visibility.
Getting in: Florida State Park on Bahia Honda Key (36850 Overseas Highway); entry $8 per vehicle; open 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year. The park may close temporarily when day-use areas reach capacity.
Parking & transport: Parking runs along Sandspur Beach, facing the Atlantic; arrive early on weekends and holidays because the park turns arrivals away when full.
Lifeguards: No lifeguards are provided; swim with caution.
Water quality: Florida Department of Health Healthy Beaches Program samples the 'Bahia Honda Sandspur' site for enterococci bacteria every 1–2 weeks depending on county (Good 0–35, Moderate 36–70, Poor 71+ per 100 mL); an advisory is issued when a sample and its resample both exceed 70.
Season: Year-round. Water runs mid-to-upper 80s°F in summer and mid-to-low 70s°F in winter, when a wetsuit helps for longer sessions.
Watch for: Very swift currents near the Bahia Honda Channel — the one area the park says to avoid
Beach warning flags: double red means no swimming; purple means marine pests present
Kayaks and canoes are not allowed in the buoyed swimming areas
Facilities: Centralized restroom at Sandspur Beach · Shower station · Concession with snacks, chair, umbrella, snorkel and kayak rentals · Free beach wheelchair (first come, first served)