Homestead, Florida, is a Miami-Dade town on the Jupiter-to-Key West coast. This guide covers 9 beaches, parks and attractions, 12 places to eat and 5 upcoming events, kept current from official sources. Top picks: Everglades NP — Shark Valley, Big Cypress National Preserve and Knaus Berry Farm & Robert Is Here. One of the activities is free. Nearest towns: Coconut Grove (22 mi) and Coral Gables (22 mi).

Last updated September 7, 2026. Events refresh daily; places are hand-picked and re-checked monthly.

Homestead is the gateway town for both Everglades and Biscayne national parks, with the Redland's fruit stands, Robert Is Here milkshakes and Schnebly Winery on the way. It's a day-trip base, not a beach town, and the Homestead-Miami Speedway brings NASCAR in October.

For the live version of everything below, open the Homestead page: things to do · events · where to eat.

Beaches & Parks in Homestead

  • Everglades NP — Shark Valley (Tamiami Trail, 25 mi west of Miami) — 15-mi paved loop to a 65-ft tower: tram $34, bike rental $27, or bring your own. Wait for mid/late Nov when the dry season concentrates gators along the canal. Price: $35/car (7 days) · Dogs: leashed (loop road only).
  • Big Cypress National Preserve (Tamiami Trail) — Kirby Storter boardwalk, Oasis Visitor Center gator canal, 24-mi Loop Road gravel scenic drive. Best in November. Price: Free · Dogs: leashed.
  • Everglades NP — Anhinga Trail (Royal Palm) (Homestead) — The best 0.8-mi wildlife boardwalk in the park; Flamingo has boat tours. Price: $35/car · Dogs: no.
  • Dog-friendly trails (Various) — Birch State Park loop, Riverbend Park, Jonathan Dickinson, Loxahatchee NWR levee, Oleta, Bill Baggs, Big Cypress boardwalks, Barnacle Historic State Park grounds. Dogs: leashed.

Attractions & Activities in Homestead

  • Pompano / Fort Lauderdale wrecks (Hillsboro Inlet & Port Everglades) — 'Wreck capital of Florida': Lady Luck (324-ft tanker with underwater art), Captain Dan, Guy Harvey, Rodeo 25, Tenneco Towers, SS Copenhagen. South Florida Diving Headquarters (night dives, lobster trips, a Halloween dive), Pompano Dive Center, Scuba Monkey. Price: ~$85–100 two-tank.
  • Biscayne National Park Institute (Coconut Grove / Homestead) — Reef snorkel $115; sail-paddle-snorkel $209; Boca Chita lighthouse cruise $83; Stiltsville tour $70; evening bay cruise $65 from Nov. The best-value way to see the park.
  • Everglades airboats (US-27 / Griffin Rd, 30–35 min west) — Sawgrass Recreation Park ($31; private sunrise or 'Red Eye' night boat from $325) and Everglades Holiday Park (from $30, Gator Boys show). Further out: Billie Swamp Safari on the Seminole reservation (airboats + swamp buggies; more wild) and the Tamiami Trail operators (Coopertown, Gator Park, Everglades Safari Park, Miccosukee). Mornings or nights in Sept; anytime in Nov. Price: From ~$30 · Dogs: no.
  • Balearia ferry to Bimini (Port Everglades & Miami) — Fast ferry ~2 hr each way, roughly Wed/Fri/Sun; passport required. Snorkel the Sapona wreck and Radio Beach. Book November for the smoothest crossings. Price: Day trip from ~$199 round trip · Dogs: no.
  • Redland day: Coral Castle, Fruit & Spice Park, Schnebly Winery, Robert Is Here, Knaus Berry Farm (Homestead / Redland) — Hand-carved limestone oddity ($18), 500 fruit varieties with tasting table ($12), tropical fruit wine + Miami Brewing in a tiki courtyard (dogs OK outdoors), the famous fruit stand and milkshakes, and Knaus Berry Farm cinnamon rolls when it reopens ~late Oct/Nov. Dogs: yes (Schnebly, Robert Is Here).

Free things to do in Homestead

Nothing here charges admission (parking may).

  • Big Cypress National Preserve — Kirby Storter boardwalk, Oasis Visitor Center gator canal, 24-mi Loop Road gravel scenic drive.

Where to eat in Homestead

Casual & Family

  • Knaus Berry Farm & Robert Is Here (Homestead) — Cinnamon rolls, strawberry shakes, tropical milkshakes. Knaus reopens ~Oct 13 (new location); Robert Is Here (since 1959) for key-lime and tropical milkshakes with emus out back. Pair with the Redland day. $.

Date Night

  • L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon ★★ (Design District) — French counter. The only two-star in South Florida; theatrical counter, flawless classics. $$$$$ · book ahead. (in nearby Miami, 27 mi)
  • Ariete ★ (Coconut Grove) — Cuban-American. Foie and plantain, canelones — "Miami on a plate". $$$$. (in nearby Coconut Grove, 22 mi)
  • Boia De ★ (Little Haiti) — Italian-ish, 20 seats. Funky wine, outrageous pastas. $$$ · book ahead. (in nearby Miami, 27 mi)
  • Cote ★ (Design District) — Korean steakhouse. Butcher's Feast; loud and fun date night. $$$$ · book ahead. (in nearby Miami, 27 mi)
  • Elcielo ★ (Brickell) — Colombian avant-garde. The chocotherapy course (you wash your hands in chocolate). $$$$$. (in nearby Miami, 27 mi)
  • Hiden ★ (Wynwood) — Omakase, 8 seats. Hidden behind a taco shop; door code by text. $$$$$ · book ahead. (in nearby Miami, 27 mi)
  • Le Jardinier ★ (Design District) — Vegetable-forward French. Elegant garden room. $$$$. (in nearby Miami, 27 mi)
  • Los Félix ★ (Coconut Grove) — Mexican, heirloom masa. Casual and starred; also a Green Star. $$$. (in nearby Coconut Grove, 22 mi)
  • Ogawa ★ (Little River) — Omakase, 10 seats. Two-hour edomae progression; arguably the best sushi in Florida. $$$$$ · book ahead. (in nearby Miami, 27 mi)

Bars & Nightlife

  • LauderAle (Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)) — Brewery. The quintessential dog brewery; food trucks; dog events most weekends. $ · dog-friendly patio.
  • Miami Brewing Co. at Schnebly (Homestead) — Brewery. Tiki courtyard; part of the Redland day. $ · dog-friendly patio.

What's on in Homestead

The next 5 events on the Homestead calendar (dates are America/New_York; confirm with the organizer before you go):

  • 11th Annual Stomp Out Sickle Cell 5K — Sat, Sep 26, 8:00 AM · Mayor Roscoe Warren Municipal Park · Races & Runs. 5K Our 10th annual 5k walk/run will begin at a beautiful park in Homestead. This certified course will start inside the park, continue to view parts of the city, and end at the top of the soccer field… Price: $25
  • Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Homestead, FL (39) — Sat, Sep 26, 8:30 AM · Races & Runs. 13.1 mi, 5K, 10K US Road Running Races US Road Running races are built for runners and walkers who like friendly, low-pressure race days with just enough competition to keep things exciting. Our events are local… Price: $30
  • Haunted 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Homestead, FL (43) — Sat, Oct 24, 8:30 AM · Races & Runs. 13.1 mi, 5K, 10K US Road Running Races US Road Running races are built for runners and walkers who like friendly, low-pressure race days with just enough competition to keep things exciting. Our events are local… Price: $30
  • Gobbler 5K, 10K, 13.1M & 26.2M at Homestead, FL (48) — Sat, Nov 28, 8:30 AM · Races & Runs. 13.1 mi, 26.2 mi, 5K, 10K US Road Running Races US Road Running races are built for runners and walkers who like friendly, low-pressure race days with just enough competition to keep things exciting. Our events are local… Price: $30
  • Holiday 5K, 10K, 13.1M & 26.2M at Homestead, FL (52) — Sat, Dec 26, 8:30 AM · Races & Runs. 13.1 mi, 26.2 mi, 5K, 10K US Road Running Races US Road Running races are built for runners and walkers who like friendly, low-pressure race days with just enough competition to keep things exciting. Our events are local… Price: $30

See the full list, refreshed daily: Homestead.

Getting there and planning your day

Homestead sits at 25.469, -80.478 in Miami-Dade. Parking rules, beach access and permits are on the City of Homestead site; the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau calendar lists county-wide festivals; check the National Weather Service Miami – South Florida forecast before a beach or boat day (summer storms build after 2 pm); snorkelers and anglers should read the NOAA tides: Virginia Key, Biscayne Bay; Miami-Dade Transit (Metrorail, Metromover, buses) is the car-free way in; the official Everglades National Park (National Park Service) page has hours and entry fees.

Nearby towns

Each has its own page in this guide:

Official sources and further reading

We link to primary sources so you can verify hours, fees and dates:

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