Elliott Key

Elliott Key is covered in tropical hardwood hammock, a dense forest of gumbo limbo, mahogany, and other subtropical trees, fringed by mangroves along the shore. A trail runs the length of the island, and shorter paths let visitors explore the shady forest, which shelters birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

The island has a harbor where boaters tie up, along with a campground, restrooms, and picnic areas, making it a base for a day visit or an overnight stay. Its quiet shores and forest offer a natural, low-key escape, a contrast to the developed keys and mainland nearby.

In the 1960s, developers envisioned turning this area into a major resort city, and part of Elliott Key was cleared and bulldozed. Famously, opponents of the park who owned land bulldozed a wide, six-lane-width path down the island in a defiant gesture, which came to be called Spite Highway; ironically, the forest has since begun reclaiming it, and the corridor now serves as the island's main trail.

The battle over Elliott Key and Biscayne Bay ultimately helped rally support for protecting the region rather than developing it, leading to the creation of Biscayne National Monument and later Biscayne National Park. Today the island stands as a green, protected retreat, a reminder of how close it came to a very different fate.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Elliott Key is the largest island in Biscayne National Park, Florida, and the northernmost of the true Florida Keys, meaning the coral-rock islands that form the Keys chain. It is a green ridge of tropical hardwood forest, or hammock, fringed by mangroves, reached only by boat. The island offers a harbor, a campground, trails through the shady forest, and quiet shorelines, making it a peaceful natural escape. Elliott Key also has a notable history: it was once slated for major development, and the fight to save it, including a defiant bulldozing of a path across the island known as Spite Highway, helped lead to the creation of the park. Today it is a protected retreat where visitors can hike, camp, and enjoy the subtropical forest and waters.

Elliott Key can only be reached by boat, as there is no bridge or regular ferry service to the island. Most visitors arrive on their own private boats, tying up in the island's harbor, and at times the park or concessioners may offer boat trips, though availability varies, so it is worth checking current options. Because the island has limited facilities, with restrooms and a campground but no store and limited or no reliable fresh water, visitors must bring everything they need, including plenty of water, food, and supplies, and pack out their trash. Boaters should be prepared for open-water conditions in Biscayne Bay and check the weather before setting out. The boat-only access is part of what keeps Elliott Key quiet and natural.

Spite Highway is the name given to a wide, straight corridor bulldozed across Elliott Key in the 1960s. At the time, there were competing visions for the area: some wanted to develop it into a resort city, while others fought to protect it. As the effort to create a national park gained momentum, some landowners who opposed the park reportedly bulldozed a broad path, about the width of a six-lane highway, down the length of the island in a defiant, spiteful gesture, hence the name. Ironically, the development never happened, the area was protected, and the tropical forest has been gradually reclaiming the cleared corridor. Today, this former Spite Highway serves as the main hiking trail running the length of Elliott Key, a curious reminder of the island's contentious path to becoming part of Biscayne National Park.

Yes, Elliott Key offers both camping and hiking, making it a rewarding destination for those who reach it by boat. The island has a campground with restrooms and picnic areas where visitors can spend the night, enjoying the quiet forest and shoreline; camping is primitive, so campers must bring their own water, food, and supplies and pack out their trash. For hiking, a trail runs the length of the island along the former Spite Highway corridor, now partly reclaimed by forest, and shorter paths explore the tropical hardwood hammock, where you can spot birds, butterflies, and lush subtropical vegetation. Mosquitoes can be intense, especially in the warmer, wetter months, so insect repellent is essential. Checking current conditions, camping rules, and fees with the park before your trip is recommended, since you must arrange your own boat transportation.