Crandon Park Tennis Center: Miami's Crown Jewel (And Why You Need to Play There)
- Johnny Tennis
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 29
Published June 1, 2025 | Court Review
Crandon Park Tennis Center is the kind of public court that makes private club members question their membership fees. Sitting on Key Biscayne with Biscayne Bay views that make you forget you're hitting forehands instead of sipping cocktails, these courts host everything from weekend warriors to ATP players during Miami Open qualifying. The 28 courts here don't just look professional - they are professional. Court 1 uses the same surface as the Miami Open's outer courts, which means your crosscourt backhand will translate directly to tournament play.
Multiple courts were resurfaced in 2023, and it shows in the true bounce and crisp lines, though some courts are still waiting for their glow-up. The nets actually stay tight - a Miami public tennis court miracle. Even better? You can actually book these courts three days in advance, which is a luxury in Miami's tennis booking chaos where most facilities force you into same-day scrambles or week-long waits. The $6 per player per hour is standard Miami-Dade public court pricing, but getting advance reservations at a facility this nice is genuinely rare.
What you won't find are the usual public court amenities: no hitting walls, no ball machines, and definitely no café for your post-match caffeine fix. Not every court has lights, and the ones that do vary wildly in quality, so night tennis here is a gamble. The staff in the front office are some of the most delightful people you'll encounter at any Miami tennis facility, but don't expect a proper pro shop. Most importantly, bring bug spray. The beauty of this waterfront setting comes with mosquitoes that are more aggressive than a Miami Open qualifier, and getting swarmed stings worse than a mishit overhead to the face.
Perfect for: Competitive Play, Tournament Prep
When to go: Early morning for the best bay views, coolest temperatures, and fewer mosquitoes. Weekend tournaments fill up fast, so book exactly three days in advance when reservations open.
Insider tip: Courts 21 and 22 have extra large clearance space outside the boundary lines - perfect for doubles but avoid singles unless you enjoy spending half your match time ball-chasing in the Florida heat
CVI (Court Value Index): 8.87 / 10
Address: 6747 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149 Courts: 22 hard courts Lights: Yes (until 930pm) Reservations: 3 days in advance via Miami-Dade Parks
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