Florida Keys Boat Ramps for Lobstering: Locations, Fees & Parking
The ramp you pick shapes your whole lobster day. It decides which spots are a short run and which are an hour away, whether you launch onto the calm side or the rough side, and on a busy morning, how long you sit in line before you ever touch the water. This is a ramp-by-ramp rundown of the main public launches from Miami down to Key West, with addresses, current fees, parking, and how crazy each one gets when everyone shows up at once.
How to use this list
A few things to know before the ramp-by-ramp details:
- Resident vs. non-resident. In the Keys, county and city ramps are usually free for residents with a valid ID and charge everyone else, so the Keys fees below are non-resident rates. Miami-Dade county ramps work differently: a flat daily launch fee for everyone, or an annual permit.
- Fees and hours change. Treat the dollar figures here as a current snapshot, not gospel. Always check the county or city website or call ahead, especially before a holiday.
- Holidays and mini-season cost more. Several ramps raise rates on holiday weekends and the two-day mini-season, and the lots fill before dawn.
- Monroe County is adding visitor fees. In late 2025 the county moved to start charging non-residents for parking, trailer parking, and launch and retrieval at its county parks and ramps. Expect new or higher non-resident charges at county ramps over time.
- Many ramps now use pay-by-phone. Bring a charged phone and a card. Some still take cash, but do not count on it.
Prices, hours, and parking rules in this guide reflect what was published as of mid-2026 and change often. Confirm the current rate and policy with Miami-Dade Parks, Monroe County, or the relevant city before you launch. Fees spike on holidays and during mini-season.
Miami & Biscayne ramps
The northern end of the productive lobster grounds is the Biscayne reef tract, the densest patch reefs anywhere. Several large Miami-Dade ramps feed it, and they all run on the same county fee schedule, with no resident discount: $20 to launch Monday through Thursday and $30 Friday through Sunday and holidays. If you launch often, an annual permit is $360, or $180 at the senior rate.
| Ramp | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black Point Park & Marina | 24775 SW 87th Ave, Cutler Bay | 10 lanes, ~200 trailer spaces, open 24 hours; gateway to southern Biscayne Bay |
| Homestead Bayfront Park | 9698 SW 328th St, Homestead | 10 lanes, 100 trailer spaces; next to Biscayne National Park headquarters |
| Matheson Hammock Park | 9610 Old Cutler Rd, Coral Gables | ~11 lanes; bayside launch into central Biscayne Bay and the flats |
| Crandon Park Marina | 6747 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne | 14 lanes, ~200 trailer spaces; fast access to the bay and the ocean off Key Biscayne |
| Haulover Park | 10800 Collins Ave, Miami Beach | Easy inlet access at the north end of Miami-Dade County |
Black Point is the workhorse for southern Biscayne Bay. With 10 launch lanes and close to 200 trailer spaces it can absorb a crowd better than almost anywhere, and being open 24 hours makes it a favorite for predawn launches. Homestead Bayfront sits right next to Biscayne National Park headquarters at Convoy Point, putting you closest to the park's patch reefs. Farther north, Crandon Park on Key Biscayne is the biggest of the group at 14 lanes, with quick access to both the bay and the ocean, while Matheson Hammock in Coral Gables is a solid bayside launch. Haulover gives easy inlet access at the north end of Miami-Dade County and marks the top of the app's coverage at Haulover Inlet. The popular ones back up badly on a summer Saturday or mini-season, so get there early.
Upper Keys ramps (Key Largo & Islamorada)
The Upper Keys give you the reef tract on the ocean side and the bay on the other, from Key Largo through Islamorada. Note that the whole of John Pennekamp closes during mini-season.
| Ramp | Where | Non-resident fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Harris Park | ~MM 92.5 oceanside, Tavernier | $40 + $15 vehicle (weekends); $60 on holidays & mini-season | Deep-water, easy-access ramp; free for Monroe residents |
| Founders Park | MM 87 bayside, Islamorada | $25 each way ($50 round trip) | Village park, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; free for Islamorada residents |
Harry Harris in Tavernier is a deep-water, beginner-friendly oceanside ramp, but it is also one of the priciest for visitors on a busy day, climbing to $60 on holidays and the two-day mini-season. Founders Park is a clean bayside launch in the Village of Islamorada at $25 each way. One thing to plan around: Islamorada closes its small neighborhood community ramps, the ones without trailer parking, during mini-season and busy holiday weekends to keep a lid on crowding, while Founders Park, the staffed trailer ramp, stays open. Beyond these, the Upper Keys also have small free FDOT roadside ramps and Monroe County ramps that are free for residents, handy if you have a local ID and a small rig.
Middle Keys ramps (Marathon)
Marathon is the most flexible base in the chain, with oceanside patch reefs and Gulf-side backcountry reachable from the same ramp. The City of Marathon runs three public ramps.
| Ramp | Where | Non-resident fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33rd St Gulf | ~MM 49, bayside | $25 launch + $25 retrieve; $20/day parking | 24/7 access, no overnight parking; free for residents |
| The Quay | ~MM 54 | $25 launch + $25 retrieve; $20/day parking | 24/7 access; free for residents |
| Harbor Drive | Aviation Blvd & Harbor Dr (behind the airport) | $25 launch + $25 retrieve; $20/day parking | 24/7 access; free for residents |
| Vaca Cut | ~MM 53, gulfside | Free | Small FDOT ramp, about 5 spaces |
All three city ramps are free for Marathon and Key Colony Beach residents and charge non-residents to launch and retrieve, with trailer parking on top. The City typically staffs its ramps during the lobster sport season to keep things moving. For a small free option, Vaca Cut is an FDOT ramp on the Gulf side, but it has only a handful of parking spots and fills fast.
Lower Keys ramps (Big Pine & the lower islands)
The Lower Keys are the quiet, kayak-friendly end of the chain, with backcountry ledges and oceanside patch reefs.
| Ramp | Where | Non-resident fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Harbor Wayside | 33767 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key (~MM 33) | Free | FDOT ramp, paved with concrete abutments, ~5 trailer spaces |
Spanish Harbor Wayside on Big Pine Key is a free, paved Gulf-side ramp that opens up the Lower Keys backcountry and the oceanside near Bahia Honda. The catch is size: with roughly five trailer spaces it fills early, so it rewards a dawn arrival or a small, easy-to-park rig. There are a handful of other small ramps scattered through the Lower Keys, most of them free and tight on parking.
Key West & Stock Island ramps
Key West gives you diveable bottom for any wind, from nearshore rocks to the oceanside reefline to the backcountry.
| Ramp | Where | Non-resident fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Island (county) | West end of 5th Ave, Stock Island (~MM 5) | Free for Monroe residents | Backcountry and Atlantic access |
| City Marina at Garrison Bight | 1801 N Roosevelt Blvd, Key West | ~$25/day ($15 ramp fee + $10 day trailer storage) | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., first come first served, 2 lanes |
The Stock Island county ramp is the practical free option for residents and reaches both the backcountry and the ocean. City Marina at Garrison Bight is the convenient in-town launch. For most lobster trips, plan on about $25 for the day: a $15 ramp fee plus $10 to leave the trailer parked while you are on the water (rates effective October 2025). With two lanes and first-come parking, it is handy but not built for a mini-season stampede.
Mini-season and summer weekends: what to expect
The ramp is where mini-season chaos actually starts. The reefs are crowded, but the parking lots and launch lines are the real bottleneck. A few things hold true across the chain:
- Lots fill before sunrise. On the two mini-season mornings and big summer weekends, popular ramps can be full by first light. If you are not early, you are circling.
- Fees go up. Holiday and mini-season pricing kicks in at several ramps, Harry Harris being the standout at $60.
- Some ramps close or restrict. Islamorada blocks its neighborhood community ramps during mini-season, and John Pennekamp closes entirely. Do not count on a specific launch without checking first.
- Etiquette matters more than ever. Rig the boat in the staging area, not on the ramp. Have your plug in, gear loaded, and lines ready before you back down. Launch, pull clear, then park.
- Spread out. The ramps everyone knows are the ones that jam. Knowing a second or third launch option, and a spread of spots off each, is how you skip the worst of it.
Which side you launch onto should match the wind. If the ocean side is blown out, a bayside ramp puts you on the calm water, and the reverse holds on a flat day. That is the same logic in the weather guide, applied to where you put the boat in.
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Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to launch a boat in the Florida Keys?
It depends on the ramp and where you are. In the Keys, county and city ramps are generally free for residents with ID, and non-residents pay roughly $10 to $60. Miami-Dade county ramps charge everyone a flat $20 weekday / $30 weekend and holiday. Marathon's city ramps run about $25 to launch plus $25 to retrieve, Founders Park is $25 each way, and Harry Harris jumps to $60 on holidays and mini-season. Always confirm current rates.
Are there free boat ramps in the Florida Keys?
Yes. Several FDOT roadside ramps are free to everyone, including Spanish Harbor Wayside on Big Pine and Vaca Cut in Marathon, though they are small with limited parking. County and city ramps are typically free for residents with valid ID.
Which boat ramp is best for lobstering near Miami and Biscayne?
Black Point Park & Marina in Cutler Bay and Homestead Bayfront Park are the two workhorse ramps for the Biscayne patch reefs. Black Point has 10 lanes, close to 200 trailer spaces, and is open 24 hours; Homestead Bayfront sits right next to Biscayne National Park. Crandon Park Marina on Key Biscayne is even bigger at 14 lanes, with fast access to the bay and ocean. They all get very crowded on weekends and mini-season, so arrive early.
About Lobsterly
Lobsterly is built by divers, for divers, as the ultimate field guide to lobstering in Florida. The app maps 3,000+ proven spots from Haulover Inlet to Key West, every no-take zone, and 4,500+ Florida artificial reefs, all offline. One-time purchase, no subscription. We keep these guides current and check the regulations against the FWC.
Related guides
Ramp fees, hours, and parking change frequently and rise on holidays and during mini-season. Confirm current rates with Miami-Dade Parks, Monroe County, or the relevant city, and check the FWC Florida Keys boating guide before you go. Last updated June 2026.
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