Rickenbacker Causeway

I love this bridge! It is definitely one of my favorite spots in Miami. One of the only elevated areas in Miami, it is definitely a go to spot when you’re in the mood for something other than flat terrain of Miami. I like to come here to walk and jog. A lot of other people do too, so on the weekend the bridge has a nice little crowd on the pedestrian path. There are a lot of bikers that come here as well. If you are looking for a lengthier walk you can start your walk/​run/​jog in Alice Wainwright Park and enjoy the water views all the way till the end of the Rickenbacker (and onwards).
On weekdays there is always plenty of parking on either end of the bridge. Whether you come during the day or in the evening this bridge also offers beautiful skyline views of Miami.
There are lots of little beach areas on the both ends and sides of the bridge. You can grill out here, rent kayaks, swim (though its kind of murky) and just enjoy the weather. Since it’s also close to Whisky Joe’s, you don’t even have to pack a lunch.
If you’re trying to compare it to the Golden Gate or Skyway bridge, it is not even in that realm of bridges. But within Miami, the Rickenbacker is quite a landmark.

I drive over this bridge daily for work and I have been on bikes rides here as well. It’s honestly such a peaceful ride. The scenery, the other people biking or running. Perfect for a nice day and a great area for working out. Love it!

I’ve driven over the Rickenbacker Causeway and boated under it countless times. Named after World War I flying ace, Eddie Rickenbacker, it is basically a toll bridge operated by Miami-​Dade County, hence your SunPass isn’t accepted. The tolls are charged only when heading southbound from Miami with no toll when returning northbound from the keys. It’s also one of the few causeways that are bicycle friendly though I have to say, when you bicycle it, you’ll soon find out how in shape or more likely how out of shape you are.
As far as causeways and bridges go, this one is a beauty not only for what it connects but for the views from on top of it as well as the views on the water from underneath it.
The best thing about it is, however, that coming out of Miami the Rickenbacker is what leads to one of the best gems of the area; a place where Miamians go to get away from Miami, the city, yet enjoy the beauty, scenery, wildlife and shorelines of what Miami is really all about.

I’m always looking for new places to jog, and so I made the trek 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale to Key Biscayne to tackle the Rickenbacker bridge. It was well worth the trip.
I realized that this is a very popular destination for runners and walkers, and I think I know why: the absolutely beautiful scenery. The view of downtown Miami is beyond compare, particularly in the mid morning as the rising sun shines brightly from the east.
There is a nice pathway with restrooms along the way, and a couple of food stands. In addition to the large number of runners/​walkers, there were patrons enjoying the beach areas, as well as folks fishing all over.
Looking forward to returning as this particular Sunday morning jog was very enjoyable and fulfilling.

Best run ever! But you can also walk or ride a bike across the bridge.
If you don’t want to pay the $ 1.75 toll you can park on the street before the toll in Brickell or you can pay for the toll and get free parking before and after the big bridge.
Even if you pay, IT’S WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Nach einem spektakulären Blick während der Überfahrt vom Festland von der Brücke nach Key Biscayne passiert man den Strand am Rickenbacker Causeway, den man sich für einen kleinen Stopp nicht entgehen lassen sollte. Für die Überfahrt zahlt man in Richtung Key Biscayne lediglich eine Maut von 1,50 US-​Dollar.
Die Straße ist nach Eddie Rickenbacker benannt, der ein berühmter amerikanischer Weltkrieg-​Flieger war.
Von einem gepflegten Parkplatz geht man ans karibisch anmutende Meer und kann die Weitsicht auf das Meer und die schöné Landschaft auf sich wirken lassen. Der Parkplatz scheint noch sehr neu zu sein, denn alles ist sehr gepflegt und sauber.
Das Meer war im Oktober wunderbar warm und das Ambiente war perfekt für ein paar Schnappschüsse mit der Familie. Da können unsere Rastplätze an der A7 nicht mithalten.

Auf der anderen Seite kann man auf dem Rückweg die Skyline von Miami bewundern, ein wirklich fantastischer Blick. Das Meer war aber hier sehr verkrautet und hat nicht wirklich zum Baden eingeladen.
Atlantic auf der einen Seite und auf die Bucht und die Skyline von Miami auf der anderen Seite, wo hat man das schon. Für einen kleinen Bilderstopp oder mehr kann ich den Rickenbacker Causeway Beach nur ans Herz legen. Die Bilder mit einem schönen Sonnenuntergang blieben mir allerdings aus Zeitgründen verwehrt.

Imagine this: You fork your way through the busy streets of downtown Miami and Brickell, fighting traffic and bad drivers who think traffic signs are purely ornamental. Swerving to avoid business professionals entrenched on their phones and homeless people seeking a still-​smoldering discarded cigarette butt on the street, and buff boys & girls getting their afternoon run on… Your blood pressure is rising and frustration is starting to take hold. You need a reprieve. You make a turn towards Key Biscayne and greet the expensive toll booth, pay your dues, the gate opens and you are transported through a Wormhole to a distant paradise…
This is what the road to the non-believer’s heaven must be like!
The Rickenbacker Causeway isn’t just a road. It is a destination far away from the hustle and bustle of Miami. Whether you drive it, bike it, hike it or run it, nature surrounds you. Breathtaking views of the Atlantic, flanked on the north by the most amazing views of downtown Miami, and on the south, sun and water! On any given day, there are people enjoying every inch of this road; sunning on the beach, kite surfing, jogging, biking, picnic-​ing or just driving with the top down. This is a hidden gem. Miami’s well kept secret. It is where you go to get away, without going away. I like to come here, get on my road bike and cycle the causeway all the way to the beautiful park at the end and back a few times, and then sit and enjoy the sand and water, remembering how beautiful and peaceful things can be. This is my every day vacation and it is how I keep sane in this beautiful chaos that we call Miami.

After living in Miami for three years, being a California native, without question Rickenbacker Causeway, Village of Key Biscayne, Crandon Park/​Beach, The lighthouse, all of it is the single best thing in south Florida.
Why?
For runners and cyclist Rickenbacker bridge provides one of the few if not only «hill climbs» in SoFla. Paddle boarding is popular here as well. The snorkeling and marine life near the second bridge on the north west end of Key Biscayne provides a HUGE amount of diversity in the water. The lighthouse is gorgeous. If you live in Miami, Key biscayne feels like a vacation at home. The view of the Miami cityscape from Rick’s is amazing especially when a sub tropic storm looms on the horizon.
As a non-​Miami native and die hard «West-​Coast-​Rules» type, I was astounded that so few people (among my peers) took advantage of the causeway and all the things to do alongside the road from toll to lighthouse.
Now Rick’s is becoming a cyclist monument of sorts with Andrew Talansky, Key Biscayne native, finishing 10^th place at this Tour De France and #1 American Road Cyclist. Check out this interesting article.

Rickenbacker Causeway is the only way to reach Key Biscayne without a boat. If you go by car you pay a $ 1.50 to get in, but (for now) bikes are free. While the causeway is kind of an attraction in and of itself, there are also some really cool places to visit and some beautiful scenery here.
After moving to downtown I decided to start biking and this is probably my favorite place to go out for a ride. It’s a great place to get some exercise, and I see people running, walking, and biking all the time. Remember, if you do bike, be careful with traffic! It’s fun to go for a ride in the afternoon, get a hot dog or snack at one of the stands along your way, and then bike back just as the sun is setting for one of the most incredible views of the Miami skyline that I’ve seen so far.
There are several places where you access the beach here including the dog beach, Virginia Key, or Crandon Park (the dog beach is free but the other two cost to get in). Each have their merits, but my favorite of the three is Crandon Park, just because it’s the most remote and least crowded.
There are other things to see along the way, including an abandoned sea marina, Miami Seaquarium (not a huge fan of this place but it could be nice if you have kids), a couple «beach shack» style restaurants, and at the very end (in Crandon Park) you can see an old lighthouse and Stiltsville.
So unless you live in Key Biscayne, and you actually use the causeway to commute, this is a great place to occasionally visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of Miami, enjoy beautiful views, and get some exercise. Explore and enjoy!

$ 1.50 to get through the tollgate, and you are exposed to this colossus of a bridge. 100 tons of concrete equates to an opportunity to run on one on Miami’s most scenic bridges.
I came here with my friend yesterday morning who has made it her personal goal to run the ING Half Marathon, and it was one heck of a run. There is ample parking on the sides before you hit the bridge, where you can park for free.
I thought the bridge would have been somewhat empty, but there was dozens of retirees who were running to keep in shape. I thought I was in shape until my knees gave out halfway, but I don’t think I should complain because going back down I saw a bunch of people carrying sandbags and lunging the whole length of the causeway. The causeway is a breeding ground for aspiring and accomplished athletes.
«No excuses, Keith!». I will definitely run the Rickenbacker Causeway again. It isn’t as hard as it looks, but there are miles of additional space to run if you are tired running on elevation.

Love this place, this place is heaven for a walk or a jog over the bridge and back, especially sight seeing while you are exercising. You have the deep blue ocean to see and coconut grove on the left and brickell on the right.

This bridge is amazing, i have been coming to run here for a very long time, cant really tell you for how long because its goes way back. The bridge makes it a great work out, whether you jog it, sprint it, or walk it out, you’ll feel it in the morning. There is something about exercising that when you integrate it with a great view of a beach, of a pier or a great skyline its just takes the tedious out of the hard work. The bridge offers all the mentioned views and its inspiring to just continue going back. Every sunset is a new experience and a reminder that it will set tomorrow again and that you should be there to experience it all over again.

I took my dog out to Rickenbacker for a quick swim and was quite impressed! The beach renovations make the place look so nice and I am glad dogs are still welcome. Free beach, easy parking, pets welcome, food vendors… Life is good.
For the folks not used to biking on the Rickenbacker — PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!! I have had way too many friends seriously injured on that road. Be aware of the crazies.

It’s a Bridge.
You go up.
You go down.
There’s water beneath it.
Oh and LOTS AND LOTS of stuff was filmed here. Miami Vice. Burn Notice. Scarface. Wild Things. You Name It. If it was filmed in Florida, chances are there was a scene here.
Oh and it costs to get across. I forget how much, but whatever.

The Rickenbacker Causeway is my escape from Miami. Up, up, over and away from big city living and over to what feels like the peaceful small town that I grew up in. This causeway takes me to so many of my favorite spots — Crandon, Bill Baggs, Doggie beach, and of course the Wetlab. And, as I’m just as excited to leave the city for a slower pace, I’m just as happy to travel back over the Rickenbacker, especially at Sunset, with a beautiful view of the the sky over Miami.

I have learned to respect this bridge as my marathon training continues. From one to the other end where the bathrooms are it’s about a mile each way and I must say that my legs and buns of steel are to thank for this.
Whether your driving, biking, rollerblading or walking this bridge try to do it during sunrise or sunset. Beautiful view whether your looking towards the beach or the city. It makes you really appreciate the city we live in.
To date my best session here was once when I went over the bridge 8 times in one training session. You really get to see how in shape you are when you can accomplish a small feat like that. I would like to thank my amazing coaches for this one! Looking forward to seeing you this weekend Mr. Bridge!
I love this little city and its great views!

While I don’t travel on the Rickenbacker Causeway by vehicle very often, I do come here every several weeks by bike to ride from downtown to Crandon Park or Bill Baggs and back, conquering the Rickenbacker Causeway Bridge in both directions (if you don’t exercise often, your thighs, calves, buttocks and lungs will remind you of just how out of shape you are when you try and make the ride over the bridge!).
I appreciate having such a great area to ride with proper bike lanes. If you’re coming from downtown, the Gables, the Grove or S. Miami you can bike here by taking some back roads and streets without much traffic on them, or there’s always the M path that runs under the Metrorail tracks adjacent to US1. For people who must drive here with their bikes, a favorite spot for them to park is at Alice Wainwright Park, which is adjacent to the entrance of the Causeway, just before the toll booths.
Once you get on the Causeway itself, there are paved and and marked bike lanes that begin near the toll booths, and will take you as long and far as you can go on this road, finally terminating at the entrance of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at the far tip.
While this ride can be a challenging one if you simply cross the bridge and continue to ride as hard and as fast as you can, I tend to break up the ride a bit, as I always find something new and interesting to check out and explore. There’s a large marina to your right once you cross the bridge after RMSAS (which has a drinking fountain with ice cold water, perfect for refilling your water bottle), a bit further down there are the tennis courts and the large tennis facility where they hold the Sony Ericsson Open (formerly the Nasdaq 100) each year. Beyond that, there’s the city itself which contains a few roadside restaurants that seem to be popular with cyclists, and of course, Bill Baggs and Crandon Parks, both of which have many areas that are perfect for checking out on a bike (note that Bill Baggs does charge a $ 2.00 entrance for pedestrians and cyclists). On the ride back, there’s Virginia Key (home of Jimbo’s), a few more decent restaurants and there are beaches at Bill Baggs, Crandon, Virginia Key and on both sides of the Rickenbacker Causeway itself.
While I wish the City of Miami and the entire Miami/​Lauderdale area in general were more bike friendly, we’re getting there. For now, I’m happy to have gems like the Key Biscayne area to ride through and explore, and feel relatively safe using the designated bike lanes.

Really a 3.5 star, the views driving over are breathless, just so pretty.
I do not mind paying $ 1.50 to drive across. Be patient though because these attendants are in no hurry what so ever. Lines can be long at times. Once you get past the booth after paying they have places to pull in and park. You can have a picnic at Crandon Park, or do water sports. I know they have a bike path but personally I would be to afraid to ride only because of the unsafe drivers. Most seem to be talking or texting and not paying attention.
This causeway take you to Key Biscayne and we enjoy driving through embracing all the gorgeous views and stopping at various places.
On a recent trip it looks like they are adding some palm trees and greenery which is so nice. It looks so tropical and clean. Also, I noticed some new roads that they have put in widening areas to park your vehicles.
When visitors are in town we try and make a trip over for them to see the beauty of so many great views on the left and right. It’s a great chillaxin road to enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Also, as much as we enjoy Crandon Park for picnic’s, I see myself coming over more and more.

The Rickenbacker Causeway is unique and diverse and equal opportunity. When I first moved to Miami, it seemed as if every friend from up north decided to visit us during those first few years, and we always welcomed them with the mandatory drive through the Rickenbacker to Key Biscayne. A beautiful road indeed, but also a cruel joke to those who come from winter wonderlands in the middle of February to check out this town called Miami, and their first encounter is breathtaking views of the Caribbean sea as it forms into the Biscayne Bay, beaches where you can Kayak, sail, board sail, kite surf, paddle board, swim or sunbathe year round. The Miami Marine Stadium, Bear cut bridge, Bear Cut preserve, Crandon Park, Virginia Key … and on the return … the most beautiful view of the Magic City’s skyline.
For a Miami resident, this is the launchpad to every activity under the sun, whether is to catch a boat to go scuba diving, or fishing or running «bricks» on the bridge, or riding your bicycle.
And for the more extreme crowd, here is where you can catch the fittest South Floridians, participating in one of the many multi sport events throughout the summer.
For those who have only enjoyed the causeway as motorists, I say… ditch the car anywhere you can as soon as you pay the toll and take the time to really have an intimate relationship with Rickenbacker… it is a life changing experience.

This is a mixed review — 4 stars for the bike path that’s separate from the road, and 1 star for the actual road itself.
I know this is considered *the* place for Miami cyclists, but I have absolutely no desire to ride on that road. Yeah, there’s a «bike lane,» and theoretically, there should be enough space for bikes on the bridges — but in reality, I believe this road is too dangerous to be considered an excellent bike ride. The way people typically want to drive it, you might as well try biking the Palmetto Expressway or I-​95. The bridges are the worst parts — you’re on narrow 4-​lane bridges, completely exposed, with typical Miami sociopath drivers doing 80 just a couple feet from where you’re riding when they should be doing 40. I don’t find this to be a lot of fun — every time I brave this road, I think of some of the grisly, gruesome accidents involving cyclists that have happened on it over the years.
This is why I use the sidewalk/​path whenever possible. Granted, you can’t build up as much speed on the path, but this isn’t an issue for me, as I ride on fat tires anyway. Also, you technically aren’t allowed to ride up and down the path on the large Bay Bridge, but I do it anyway, as I don’t feel that I’m a danger to walkers or runners (I am one myself) — I take great care to ride in a safe, controlled manner. I find that not subjecting my life and limb to speeding drunks, pompous foreign playboys and texting teenagers is worth risking a little police harassment for my heinous crime of huffing a mountain bike up and down a safe bridge path.
The rest of the path is quite nice. It might not be ideal for a featherweight road bike, but if you leave your Tour de France fantasies at home and jump on a mountain bike or hybrid, you can still get a workout. Right now is a great time to do this ride, as the old Hobie Beach section between the Bay bridge and the Bear Cut bridge is undergoing substantial improvements — so for now, you won’t have to worry about dodging little kids swerving around on trikes.
By far, my favorite section of the path begins just after you cross Bear Cut. The path crosses the causeway adjacent to the Crandon Marina, and starts winding through the Bear Cut Preserve, one of Miami’s few untainted nature preserves. Here you will find lazy salt marshes and palmetto scrub. You’ll know you’ve entered the preserve when you hear the deafening cicada symphony. No, not Jon Secada, I mean the insect, not the musician.
After winding around the preserve for a while, the path dumps into Crandon Park. From here, you can either use the park’s paths, or take a paved singletrack through the trees parallel to the road. I suggest cutting through the park and checking out Crandon Gardens. From here, continue on to the Oasis (just north of the gas station at the first traffic light you see) for some refreshment before undertaking the ride back.
Ultimately, for straight-​up road riding, I think the Venetian Causeway is a safer ride. The Rickenbacker is fine, however, if you stick to the path.

Dear Rickenbacker Causeway,
I have traveled your glorious stretch of road for OVER a decade now; beginning with the fact that I attended a high school on Virginia Key, and now, years later, I work in Key Biscayne.
Rickenbacker, I have run up and down your bridge, I have run out of gas on the side of your road, and I have even seen a car get swallowed by a piece of the road that somehow became a sinkhole. I’ve witnessed the beauty of Miami from the peak of your bridge, and had tragedy when a friend fell off their bike over the side and into the ocean.
This has always been my favorite bridge to cross, and of course the entire length of your causeway. You do us the pleasure of connecting Miami with the islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne. Without your road, we would not be able to access these wonderful barrier islands.
You provide public beaches, as well as really the only dog beach in Miami. There is sailing and jet skiing and other water sports abound! There are also boat marinas and restaurants.
Rickenbacker, anyone who wants a peaceful and gorgeous road just to travel and see a differnt side of Miami, definitely needs to check you out.
Thank you for maintaining your roadway. But do you think we can stop making this a speed trap?! Why are there always 10,000 police trying to make their quota?! Oh and lets not forget the endless Immigration stops…
But still, I love you. I will be back on your roadway in about an hour. See you soon!
Regards,
Sabrina*
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From Wikipedia — I liked their descriptions!!!