Pros & cons
PROS
- Lakeside picnic tables with grills/fire rings
- Convenient pull-in parking at each table cluster
- Two restrooms along the loop road
CONS
- Mosquitoes can be fierce in warmer/wetter months
- Limited shade under the open pine canopy
Overview
A low-key, genuinely pleasant spot for a meal outdoors, the Long Pine Key Picnic Area loops around a small lake just before the Long Pine Key Campground. Clusters of tables sit beside the road with grills/fire rings, easy pull-in parking, and a quiet, away-from-the-main-road vibe. If you want a simple picnic with water views, this is one of the better choices in the area.
Setting and What You'll Find
- Five table clusters: several roadside pullouts plus a larger lakeside grouping with roughly ten tables at the end loop.
- Grills/fire rings at each cluster for simple cookouts; all tables are first-come, first-served.
- Two restrooms along the road; no food service or store here, so bring everything you need.
- Easy access for any vehicle—the loop at the end makes turnarounds painless.
Why It’s Interesting
You’re picnicking in the rare pine rocklands—slash pine above a limestone ridge (the Miami Rock Ridge) with a diverse understory you won’t see in the marshy parts of the park. It’s a subtle landscape but a unique contrast to the surrounding wetlands.
Wildlife and Lake Notes
Expect birds and typical Everglades critters around the lake and pines. Alligators are possible here—no swimming. Fishing is allowed, but eating your catch isn’t advised due to mercury concerns.
What to Bring
- Bug spray, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
- Your picnic and any charcoal/wood for the grills.
- Trash bags to pack out—wildlife will scavenge unattended food.
Crowds and Vibe
It stays quieter than the headline attractions, but as one of the park’s main picnic areas it draws families on weekends and holidays. Lakeside tables are the first to go.
Getting There
From Main Park Road near the Homestead entrance, turn toward Long Pine Key Campground. At the lake, take the right fork for the picnic pullouts (the left fork continues to the campground).
Best Time to Visit
- Time of day: Mornings or late afternoons for cooler temps, softer light, and fewer biting insects.
- Days: Weekdays for the calmest experience; arrive early on weekends/holidays if you want a lakeside table.
- Season: Drier, cooler months generally mean easier bug conditions and more comfortable picnics.
Where it is
25.3984, -80.6564Tips for Long Pine Key Picnic Area
- 01Take the right fork around the lake; the left goes to the campground.
- 02Arrive early on weekends and holidays for the lakeside tables.
- 03Bring bug spray, sunscreen, and all your food and water—there are no services.
- 04Pack charcoal or wood if you want to use the grills/fire rings.
- 05No swimming, and avoid eating fish from the lake due to mercury.
Amenities
Near Long Pine Key Picnic Area
All places →All trails →
0 mi awayLong Pine Key LakePine-rockland lake with trails, picnicking, and a quieter vibeTrailhead · Parking
0 mi awayLong Pine Key CampgroundShady pine-rockland basecamp with hot showers and lakeside trailsCampground · Restroom
0.1 mi awayLong Pine KeyQuiet pineland hub for biking, birding, and lakeside picnicsTrailhead · Restroom
2.3 mi awayPinelands TrailShort, shady paved loop through rare pine rocklands and karst holes.Easy · 0.4 mi · 24 min
2.6 mi awayNike Hercules Missile Site HM-69Cold War missile base with ranger tours and real missilesExhibit · Parking
3.1 mi awayGumbo Limbo TrailShaded, paved loop through a lush tropical hardwood hammockEasy · 0.4 mi · 18 min
4.7 mi awayLong Pine Key TrailFlat pine rockland traverse with bikes allowed and big winter skiesEasy · 6.1 mi · 5.5 hr
7.6 mi awayOld Ingraham Highway TrailHistoric roadbed into wild, alligator country—long, flat, exposedModerate · 22.8 mi · 6.5 hr
