Best Sandbars and Waterfront Spots Around Miami

Biscayne Bay is Miami's backyard. Within a short ride of downtown you can be standing knee-deep on a sandbar, anchored off a quiet island, or tied up beside a historic lighthouse. Here are some of the best-loved spots for a day on the water, plus a few tips to make the day go smoothly.

One thing before you go: sandbars only feel like sandbars around lower tides, conditions change, and local rules get updated. Always check the tide, weather, and current rules for wherever you're headed.

Haulover Sandbar

If someone in Miami says "the sandbar," they usually mean Haulover. It sits in north Biscayne Bay near Haulover Inlet, between Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles Beach, just inside from the ocean.

The vibe: On weekends, especially sunny Sundays and holiday weekends, Haulover turns into a big social raft-up with music, floats, and boats anchored close together. On weekdays it's much calmer.

Good to know:

• It gets crowded. Arrive early on weekends if you want space to anchor.
• The water near the inlet can have strong currents and heavy boat traffic. Be careful swimming and watch for passing boats.
• Leave enough room for your boat to swing on its anchor, and be a good neighbor with music volume.
• Haulover Park, on land next to the inlet, has its own rules (no alcohol or glass on the beach, for example), so don't assume the same rules apply ashore.

Nixon Sandbar (Key Biscayne)

On the bay side of Key Biscayne, Nixon Sandbar takes its name from the former presidential home on the island. It's generally a calmer, more laid-back alternative to Haulover, with shallow water that's great for floating, paddleboarding, and hanging out with friends and family.

Good to know: The shallows shift with the tide, so watch your depth and approach slowly. It's an easy run from marinas in downtown Miami, Brickell, and Key Biscayne.

Flagler Monument Island

This small island in Biscayne Bay, between Miami and Miami Beach near the Venetian Causeway, is topped by a tall obelisk honoring Henry Flagler. Boats anchor around it, especially on weekends and toward sunset, and the skyline views in both directions are hard to beat. It's not a standing sandbar like Haulover, so plan on swimming off the boat rather than wading.

No Name Harbor (Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park)

At the southern tip of Key Biscayne, No Name Harbor is a protected anchorage inside Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. It's a favorite place to tuck in, especially when the wind picks up, and the park has the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse and beaches to explore. Check with Florida State Parks for current fees and rules before you go.

Stiltsville

Just south of Key Biscayne, out on the flats, Stiltsville is a group of wooden houses built on stilts in the middle of the bay. They're part of Biscayne National Park. The structures are closed to the public unless you have a special-use permit, but cruising past them is one of the most memorable sights in Miami. The water around them is shallow, so watch your chart and depth.

Boca Chita Key (Biscayne National Park)

Boca Chita Key is the most popular island in Biscayne National Park, and it's only reachable by boat. It has a 65-foot ornamental lighthouse, picnic areas, grills, and a calm harbor with great views back toward Miami.

Good to know (per the National Park Service):

• There's a day-use docking fee of $25 Friday through Monday and on federal holidays, paid on your phone through the Recreation.gov app.
• Docking is only allowed along the cleated bulkhead, and boats may raft no more than two deep.
• Pets, except service animals, aren't allowed on the island or on boats in the harbor.
• There's no drinking water, and you need to pack out all trash.
• The harbor entrance is about four feet deep at low tide, so deeper boats should take extra care.

Elliott Key (Biscayne National Park)

Elliott Key is the park's largest island, with a marina of 33 boat slips, a campground, restrooms, and trails through tropical hardwood hammock. Like Boca Chita, it has a $25 day-use docking fee Friday through Monday and on federal holidays. The harbor is only about two and a half feet deep at low tide, so check the tides. Bring bug spray: the park warns that mosquitoes and no-see-ums are around all year.

Tips for a great day out

Check the tides and the weather

Sandbars change dramatically with the tide, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in South Florida summers. Look at the tide table and forecast before you leave, and have a plan to head in early if the sky darkens.

Protect the seagrass

Biscayne Bay's seagrass beds are vital habitat. Running aground or trimming through shallow grass can scar it for years. Idle through shallow areas, stay in marked channels when you can, and anchor in sand.

Watch for manatees and slow zones

Parts of the bay have posted slow-speed and idle zones, including manatee protection zones. Keep an eye out for signs and for manatees near the surface, especially in calm, shallow water.

Keep it friendly and clean

• No glass on the boat or the sandbar
• Pack out every bit of trash
• Keep music at a neighborly level
• Give other boats room to anchor and swing
• Whoever's driving stays sober

Know who can drive

In Florida, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, needs to complete an approved boating safety course and carry proof, like the Boating Safety Education ID Card, plus photo ID, to operate a boat with a 10-horsepower or larger motor.

Go with good company

The best sandbar day is less about the spot and more about the people you're with. If you don't have a boat (or you have one and want great people to share it with), Wave Boaters can help. Owners host days out, guests join trips, and everyone going is added to a group chat to make plans.

Join Wave Boaters when we launch and find your crew for the next sandbar day. New to boating with others? Start with our boat etiquette guide for first-time guests and how to meet other boaters in Miami.