Boca Chita & Elliott Key Campground

Camping is the only way to stay at Biscayne National Park. Boca Chita Key is the most popular island and contains one of two first-come first-serve campgrounds. It’s accessible by boat only, and you need to bring all your own provisions. There are no concessions or fresh water on Boca Chita (no sinks, no drinking water, zilch). The grassy camping area has picnic tables, barbeque grills, and an open-air pavilion, while a 65-foot ornamental lighthouse greets visitors sailing up on Boca Chita Key’s shores. Climb to the observation deck for amazing views of glittering turquoise water and island reefs as far as the eye can see. And take in a little piece of history while you’re roughing it in paradise: the cannon on this 1930s lighthouse was salvaged from one of the many shipwrecks in the area.