Bayfront Park and the Baywalk with a stroller

Bayfront Park is downtown Miami’s front yard: wide paths, big lawns, palm trees and Biscayne Bay sparkling right next to you. Add a pirate ship playground and a free train that drops you at the door, and it’s one of the easiest city walks you can do with a baby.

The 32-acre park was originally called Royal Palm Park and is the oldest public gathering space in greater Miami. Today it has a broad baywalk along the water, winding paths, a playground, a small sandy beach (no swimming), a dog park and two concert venues. To the north, the waterfront path continues to the 30-acre Maurice A. Ferré Park, home to the Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum of Science.

At a glance

• LengthAbout 1 to 2 miles with the Baywalk
• SurfacePaved paths and promenade
• ShadeSome palms and trees
• HillsFlat
• Best withAny stroller
• CostFree

The park’s management lists Bayfront Park’s hours as 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Leashed dogs are welcome on the paths.

Map

Open in Google Maps

Bayfront Park is at 301 Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami. The Baywalk follows the water north past Bayside Marketplace toward Maurice A. Ferré Park.

Stroller or carrier?

Bayfront Park is easy with any stroller. The Baywalk and main paths are wide and paved, and the whole route is flat.

• 👶
  Best overallAny stroller

  Full-size or lightweight both work well. A big canopy helps on the open bay paths.

• 🚆
  Metromover daysA quick fold

  If you’re riding the Metromover, a stroller that steers easily into the cars makes things smoother.

• 🧸
  Museum add-onBring a carrier too

  If you plan to visit the museums, a carrier can be handy for crowded galleries.

Getting there and parking

By Metromover

This is our favorite way to arrive. The free Metromover stops at Bayfront Park station, at Biscayne Boulevard and SE 2nd Street, right at the park. Metromover connects to Metrorail at Government Center and Brickell, so you can get here without a car from much of the city.

By car

The park has a paid lot next to the park management offices. It was recently listed at $20, with posted hours, and cars left after hours can be towed. There are also public garages nearby, including at Bayside Marketplace. Parking gets very tight during concerts, festivals and Heat games at the nearby arena.

The route

1. Start at the south end. Begin near the playground and Tina Hills Pavilion, at the southern end of the park.
2. Walk the Baywalk north. Follow the wide path along Biscayne Bay, with views of the water, the port and the boats.
3. Wander the inner paths. Loop back through the lawns, past the fountain and the public art.
4. Keep going to Bayside. The Baywalk continues to Bayside Marketplace, with shops, snacks and boats in the marina.
5. Add Maurice A. Ferré Park. If you’re up for more, continue north to the museums and the longest continuous baywalk in Miami.

Make it longer

Want more miles? From the south end of Bayfront Park, the Miami Riverwalk follows the Miami River west toward Brickell. With some street crossings and a few gaps along the way, you can link up with the Miami River Greenway and the start of The Underline near SW 7th Street. Our Underline guide picks up from there.

Heading north instead, the waterfront path runs past Bayside Marketplace to Maurice A. Ferré Park, the calmer, greener choice with a stroller. Either way, the Metromover makes it easy to ride back when little legs (or yours) are done.

Restrooms

The park’s official FAQ lists public restrooms at both parks: at Bayfront Park in front of the InterContinental Hotel, and at Maurice A. Ferré Park near the dog park and parking area. Bayside Marketplace has more options. Bring a portable changing pad.

The playground

The Lee and Tina Hills Playground sits at the south end of the park next to the Tina Hills Pavilion. It has a pirate ship, slides, climbing areas and a play sculpture with waves, dolphins, turtles and a manatee. It’s designed for kids about 5 to 12, but younger toddlers love watching the action. The playground is open sunrise to sundown, and adults can only enter with a child under 12.

Feeding and nap stops

Bayfront Park has more shade than you might expect for a downtown waterfront. The landscape plan includes groves of subtropical trees that shade the lawns.

• Under the trees on the lawns. Bring a blanket and settle in for a feed with a bay breeze.
• Near the playground. Seating close by for watching older siblings.
• Along the Baywalk. Benches facing the water are perfect for a stroller nap with a view.

Accessibility

The Baywalk and park paths are wide, flat and paved, and the free Metromover is wheelchair accessible. Bayfront Park station sits right by the park. Restrooms are listed in front of the InterContinental Hotel at Bayfront Park and near the dog park at Maurice A. Ferré Park. During large events, some paths and entrances may be closed or rerouted, so check the event calendar first.

What you’re seeing

Bayfront Park is full of history and art, which makes it a fun walk once your little one starts pointing at everything.

• 🌴
  Since 1925Miami’s front porch

  The park opened in 1925 on land that began as a small gathering spot by the bay. It was originally called Royal Palm Park.

• 🎨
  DesignIsamu Noguchi

  Starting in 1980, the famous sculptor and landscape architect redesigned the park around views of the bay and filled it with his work.

• 🚀
  MemorialThe Challenger Memorial

  In the southwest corner, Noguchi’s towering steel double helix honors the crew of the space shuttle Challenger. It was dedicated in 1988.

• 💡
  ArtLight Tower and Slide Mantra

  Noguchi’s 40-foot Light Tower and the Slide Mantra, a spiraling marble sculpture that kids can climb and slide down.

• 🔥
  LandmarkThe Torch of Friendship

  Dedicated in 1960, the torch symbolizes Miami’s ties to Latin America and the Caribbean.

• ⛲
  CenterpieceThe fountain

  A Noguchi-designed fountain sits at the heart of the park and was restored in 2025.

Across Biscayne Boulevard you’ll also spot the Freedom Tower, one of downtown Miami’s most famous historic buildings.

Free things to do

You can easily spend a morning here without spending a dime.

• 🧘
  MovementOutdoor fitness and yoga

  Bayfront Park has hosted free and donation-based yoga classes, and Maurice A. Ferré Park has an outdoor gym. Check the park’s calendar for current classes.

• 🐶
  Art walkThe Dogs and Cats Walkway

  At Maurice A. Ferré Park, a playful public art walk with 52 sculptures of dogs and cats. Toddlers love it.

• 🌊
  Water viewsBoat watching

  Watch boats, ships and the occasional pelican from the Baywalk.

• 🌱
  GardensThe rock garden and waterfall

  A tropical rock garden and waterfall in Bayfront Park dates back to 1926.

Events and closures

Bayfront Park is Miami’s go-to spot for big outdoor events, which is fun but can change your walk.

• Concert venues. The park has two performance venues, a large amphitheater and the smaller Tina Hills Pavilion near the playground.
• Big festivals. Major music festivals and New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July celebrations can close large parts of the park, sometimes for days of setup.
• Game nights. The Miami Heat’s arena is right next door, so traffic and parking get tight on game nights.

Before you go, check the Bayfront Park event calendar. On event days, Maurice A. Ferré Park to the north is often a calmer choice.

Add the museums

Maurice A. Ferré Park, a short walk north along the water, is a great add-on on a hot or rainy day. The Frost Museum of Science and the Pérez Art Museum Miami are both there, with air conditioning, restrooms and plenty for little eyes to see. The park also has a dog park, an outdoor gym and the playful Dogs and Cats Walkway sculpture exhibit. The Museum Park Metromover station makes it easy to ride back.

More about Maurice A. Ferré Park

Bayfront Park’s partner park to the north is worth a walk of its own. Formerly called Museum Park, it covers about 30 acres at 1075 Biscayne Boulevard and is managed by the same trust as Bayfront Park, with the same 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. hours.

• The longest continuous baywalk in Miami. Wide, flat and breezy, with skyline views.
• A dog park and outdoor gym. Plus open lawns for a blanket and a snack.
• Restrooms near the dog park enclosure and the parking area.
• Museum Park Metromover station, for an easy, free ride back downtown.

Put the two parks together and you have one of the best flat, paved, car-free waterfront walks in mainland Miami.

Coffee and food

Bayside Marketplace, right next to the park, has lots of quick food and snack options. Downtown and Brickell have plenty of coffee shops a few minutes away by Metromover. Bring water, since it gets hot on the open paths.

Safety and heat

The Baywalk is breezy, but it’s also wide open to the sun.

• Watch the heat index. The National Weather Service issues a heat advisory for Miami-Dade when the heat index is expected to reach 105 degrees or higher for at least two hours. On those days, skip the walk or keep it very short and very early.
• Know the signs of overheating. For you and your baby: flushed or very sweaty skin, unusual fussiness or sleepiness, fewer wet diapers, dizziness or nausea. Get into shade or air conditioning, offer fluids as your pediatrician advises and call 911 if anyone seems confused, faint or unresponsive.
• Never cover the stroller with a blanket. It traps heat. Use a ventilated sunshade made for strollers and a clip-on fan instead.
• When thunder roars, go indoors. Summer storms build fast in the afternoon, and lightning is a real risk on open waterfront paths. Have a plan for where you’ll duck in.
• Walk with a friend and share your plans. Keep your phone charged and let someone know your route, especially early in the morning.

Keep little ones close near the water’s edge and on the small sandy beach, where swimming isn’t allowed. Downtown can be busy, so hold hands crossing Biscayne Boulevard.

Seasons

• WinterThe best season. Cool, breezy mornings on the bay. Watch for big events and festivals that close parts of the park.
• SpringWarm and sunny. Big music festivals can close the park for days, so check the event calendar.
• SummerHot and humid with afternoon storms. Walk early, then duck into a museum to cool off.
• FallStill warm, with hurricane season through November. Check the forecast before you go.

Rainy day backups

Downtown has great indoor options a short walk or Metromover ride away:

• Frost Museum of Science, at Maurice A. Ferré Park, with exhibits little ones love. Check hours and admission.
• Pérez Art Museum Miami, next door, with a shaded terrace overlooking the bay. Check hours and admission.
• Bayside Marketplace, right next to Bayfront Park, with covered walkways and places to sit.
• The Metromover itself. It’s free, air-conditioned and loops downtown with great views.

A sample morning

A no-car plan for a first visit with a baby:

• 8:00 a.m.Ride the free Metromover to Bayfront Park station.
• 8:10 a.m.Walk to the south end of the park and visit the Challenger Memorial and the playground.
• 8:30 a.m.Head north on the Baywalk past the fountain and the lawns.
• 8:50 a.m.Feed or rest on a bench facing the bay.
• 9:15 a.m.Continue past Bayside Marketplace toward Maurice A. Ferré Park, then ride the Metromover home from Museum Park station.

That’s about one and a half miles, all flat and paved, with a train ride on each end.

What to pack

Our short list for a Bayfront Park walk with a baby:

• Water for you, plus whatever your baby needs for feeds.
• A ventilated stroller sunshade and a clip-on fan. Never drape a blanket over the stroller.
• A hat and sun protection. Ask your pediatrician what’s right for your baby’s age.
• A portable changing pad and wipes, since changing tables aren’t guaranteed.
• A light rain cover, because summer storms pop up fast.
• A charged phone, with your route shared with a friend.
• A blanket for the lawn, for a feed or a snack under the trees.
• Museum hours and tickets, if you plan to add the Frost or PAMM.

Keep it light. A stroller basket stuffed with gear is harder to push and harder to fold at the end.

Pro tips

• 🚆
  TransitTake the Metromover

  It’s free and stops right at the park, so you skip the parking hassle.

• 🎪
  EventsCheck the calendar

  Concerts and festivals can close parts of the park and fill every garage.

• 🏝️
  BeachLook, don’t swim

  There’s a small sandy beach, but swimming isn’t allowed.

• 🏛️
  Rainy dayPlan a museum backup

  The science and art museums are a short walk north if the weather turns.

• 🐶
  DogsExpect pups

  Both parks are popular with dog walkers, and Maurice A. Ferré Park has a dog park.

• 📍
  Meeting upMeet at the playground

  “Meet at the pirate ship” is impossible to miss.

Miami heat is no joke for babies. Walk early or near sunset, keep little ones in the shade, and ask your pediatrician about sun protection and keeping your baby cool.

If you’re postpartum, check with your provider before adding longer walks, and build up gradually. Our guide to postpartum exercise once you’re cleared is a good place to start.

Walk Bayfront Park with us

Bayfront Park is one of the places we expect our first Miami walk clubs to start, especially for downtown and Edgewater moms. We’re taking signups now, and founding members help choose the first routes and times.

See everything we’re building in Miami.

More stroller walks in Miami

• Miami Beach BeachwalkSouth Beach to North Beach · our full stroller guide
• South Pointe ParkSouth Beach · our full stroller guide
• The UnderlineBrickell and south · our full stroller guide