Consider this Florida Keys Travel Guide your cheat sheet for planning a great vacation in the Florida Keys. If you’ve never been to the Florida Keys before, planning a trip there can be daunting, so we wrote this guide to cover everything you need to know. The best places to stay, top things to do, when to go, and packing tips too. Fear not, future Keys lover, after you’ve read this guide, you’ll be cruising down the Overseas Highway like a pro, top down and shades on.

Florida Keys Travel Guide: Why Visit the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are the tropical escape that you’re looking for, and you don’t even need a passport to get there. Surrounded by Caribbean-style water, offering laid back island vibes, and featuring fantastic sunsets nightly, the Keys are the perfect respite.

Where else can you visit historic sites, go on world-class fishing charters, kayak mangrove tunnels as well as crystal clear lagoons? Not to mention the beaches, state parks, and snorkeling and diving North America’s only living coral reef.

Florida Keys Overview

The Overseas highway connects 50 keys with 42 bridges on a 113-mile stretch from Key Largo to Key West. Considered one of the most scenic drives in the world with must-see attractions along the way. If you’re staying in Key West and driving from Miami, plan for 4-6 hours to get there to allow for stops.

The Florida Keys are divided into four sections: Key Largo, Islamorada, Middle Keys and Marathon, and everybody’s favorite, Key West. Where to stay depends on what you want to do.

Laid Back, Scuba Diving, Kayaking, and Nature: Key Largo

Key Largo is the Scuba Diving Capital of the World! There are plenty of dive shops that’ll set you up with everything from lessons to overnight tours. There are three shipwrecks from the Shipwreck Trail of the Florida Keys that you can dive near Key Largo. They’re so immersed in scuba diving in Key Largo there is a hotel that the only way to get to the room is by diving to it. The Jules Undersea Lab offers guests a two-bedroom suite with fantastic undersea views that is 21 feet under the water. No word on if Dominos will honor their 30-minute delivery policy there (welp, I just dated myself with that reference).

State Parks

There are nine state parks in the Florida Keys, John Pennekamp and Dagny Johnson are the state parks on Key Largo. Dagny Johnson State Park has nature trails, butterfly meadows and a lake in the middle. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the first underwater state park and has two beaches that are great to snorkel off of. They also have miles of mangrove kayaking tunnels, glass bottom boat tours, and snorkeling tours. Their visitor center boasts a 30,000-gallon aquarium filled with coral and the fish that populate the reefs around the Keys. There is an RV and tent campground as well as a marina if you want to dock your boat or rent one for the day.

Snorkeling

The Florida Keys are located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, that means that there is awesome snorkeling! If you’re not a scuba diver, there are plenty of outfitters on Key Largo that will set you up with snorkel gear and they’ll even take you to some really cool places to snorkel, including the Christ of the Abyss Statue. If you’re into movie memorabilia, take a cruise on the African Queen. Yes, the actual boat from the Humphry Bogart movie, it’s been restored and has traded the Nile River for the canals of Key Largo.

Dolphin Adventures

If dolphins are your thing, Key Largo gives you a chance to swim with and watch their performances at Dolphins Plus and The Keys Swim with Dolphins. There is also Island Dolphin Care, a non-profit that uses dolphins as therapy for children and adults with special needs.

Key Largo is packed with upscale restaurants, low-scale restaurants, and tiki bars offering some of the freshest seafood you’ve ever had. The Lazy Lobster and Key Largo Conch House are great places to unwind, enjoy waterside seating at Snooks, and Snappers, or dine under Gilbert’s Resort’s giant tiki hut.

If you want to break the bank on your lodging, The Bungalows of Key Largo offers luxurious accommodations. If you’re looking for something a little more mom and pop, try The Drift Motel with their private beaches, and a relaxing pier to hang out on.

Luxurious and Artsy Fishing Capital of the World: Islamorada

Islamorada is a collection of six keys, four are connected by the Overseas Highway and two are state parks that are only accessible by boat or kayak. Known as the Fishing Capital of the World, if you want to take a fishing charter in the Florida Bay or Atlantic Ocean, this is your spot to find one. You can also sign up for one of the many fishing tournaments that are hosted by local groups during the year.

Your Florida Keys Travel Guide: Islamorada State Parks

There are three state parks in the Islamorada area. Windley Key has miles of nature trails that wind through the tropical hardwood forests that used to cover the Florida Keys. You can also walk in the quarries that produced the fossilized coral that made up the base for much of the Overseas Railway. There are slabs leftover from when the quarry was active, along with some of the equipment that handled and cut the ancient reefs into those slabs.

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is only accessible by boat and has a caretaker’s house from the early 1900s. There is a self-guided tour of the grounds that are a stopping point for migratory birds and butterflies.

Indian Key State Park is also only accessible by boat and was the site of an Indian raid in 1840. Most of the houses and warehouses were burned down in the attack. Today you can walk the old streets and view the old foundations and cisterns. After you’re done touring the island, grab your snorkel gear and head to the north side of the island to view fantastic marine life.

If you didn’t bring your own kayak and want to get to Lignumvitae Key or Indian Key, Robbies and Backcountry Outfitters will rent you kayaks.

Historic Florida Keys

For a fun history of scuba diving, The History of Diving Museum, is where you’ll want to stop. It’s filled with equipment and information about diving from present times to back over 5,000 years ago.

To get an in-depth understanding of the history of the Keys, spend a few hours at Keys History and Discovery Center. You’ll learn about how the Overseas Railway transformed into the Overseas Highway, along with 16th century artifacts from the people who inhabited the Keys.

Downtown Islamorada is filled with art stores for those looking for Florida Keys artwork. If you’re there on the third Wednesday of every month, you’ll want to attend the Morada Art Walk, it features local artists, live music, and fun libations.

After all that art walk walking, belly up to the bar at Islamorada Brewery and Distillery and enjoy locally brewed beers and concoctions.

For a great sunset celebration join the locals at Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar. A great happy hour and a spectacular sunset pair up for a great Florida Keys experience.

Travel Guide to the Florida Keys: Marathon and the Middle Keys

Marathon is another collection of keys that fall under one municipality. If you don’t feel like driving to get there, they also have an airport and plenty of dock spaces if you come by sea.

Your Florida Keys Travel Guide: Marathon State Parks

Three state parks are in the Marathon area, Bahia Honda State Park, Long Key State Park, and Curry Hammock State Park. Long Key State Park used to be a fish camp for the rich and famous, now it’s open to all. There are primitive campsites that are right on the water, check the state park website for reservations, there are only three, so it can be hard to get one. If you’re not camping, you can hike, kayak, snorkel, and fish in the park.

Curry Hammock State Park has more camping for tents and RVs. Popular with kite surfers, Curry Hammock also has a kayak trail and a nature trail if you didn’t bring the watercraft. The park is made up of tropical hardwoods, mangroves and seagrass beds. Migratory birds and shorebirds abound in the park.

Bahia Honda State Park is south of Marathon just past the Seven-Mile Bridge. If you’re a beach enthusiast, Bahia Honda features three sandy beaches that are probably the best beaches in the Keys. There’s also an iconic bridge from the old Overseas Railway that’s a prominent feature of the park. They have three campgrounds on the water, cabins for rent, and dock space for those looking to spend the night. Kayaking and snorkeling are popular pastimes, and you can rent equipment at the concession stand. There is also a charter that you can catch that will take you snorkeling at Looe Key.

Sealife Encounters

Sea Turtles face enormous challenges in the waters around the Florida Keys. They get hit by propellers, get stuck in plastic, and pick up infections among other things. Luckily for them the Marathon Turtle Hospital has had a hand in rescuing over 1,500 of them since 1984. Stop by this non-profit and find out how they’ve grown from a small motel and strip bar into a full-fledged sea turtle hospital complete with their own ambulance.

Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters lets you get up close and personal with dolphins, sea lions, and other marine life. Spring for one of their immersive encounter packages, or just take the tour and visit the touch tanks where you can pet sharks and stingrays.

More Florida Keys History

Crane Point Hammock was once scheduled to become a condo development and was preserved by Florida Keys Land Trust. Now it’s filled with nature trails, a mid-century house, and the oldest house in the Keys outside of Key West. You can see how the Crane’s (the owners, not the birds) lived in the 1950s at their house on the edge of the Florida Bay. Dunk your feet in the water and get a fish pedicure or grab some fish food and feed the larger fish under the bridge.

Pigeon Key was where the workers who built the Overseas Railway and later the Overseas Highway lived. Today there are original buildings that were preserved and one is now a museum. There are tours offered every day. You can spend time on the island fishing, snorkeling off their picturesque dock, or bring a lunch and enjoy a picnic. To get to Pigeon Key, take a two-mile walk or bike ride down the old Overseas Highway. Or you can take the trolley that just so happens to go there every day.

Your Travel Guide to the Florida Keys: Marathon Restaurants

Enjoy a great sunset while you’re eating dinner under the big tiki hut of the Island Fish Company Restaurant and Tiki Bar. Great seafood, fantastic drinks, and the longest tiki bar in the Keys.

If you want to get loud with the locals, Dockside Boot Key Harbor has live music, cold drinks, and great bar food.

Looking for BBQ while you’re in the Marathon? Get yourself over to Porky’s Bayside. Grab some of the best BBQ you’ve ever had while you’re enjoying waterfront views. If you’ve been fishing, dock your boat and bring your catch in, they’ll cook it for you.

Your Travel Guide to the Florida Keys: Key West for Fun and Adventure

Key West is basically split into two sections, Old Town and New Town, with some subsections, (Bahama Village, Stock Island) scattered about. You can fly into Key West’s international airport if that’s your thing. Driving to Key West on the Overseas Highway is something that everybody should do at least once. The views are incredible, you travel over history, and it’s less than a four-hour drive from Miami (traffic dependent).

If you drive, park your car at the hotel and forget it. Pedicabs, taxis, trolleys and buses all await you at conveniently placed stops. Or, depending on where you’re staying and what you’re comfortable with, you can walk to a lot of the town.

Duval Street

The heartbeat of Key West starts at the Gulf of Mexico and ends at the Atlantic Ocean. Duval Street is filled with art galleries, an extensive range of restaurants, and some historic bars. Souvenir shops abound in between the occasional cigar bar. Whatever time that you want to go doesn’t matter, Duval Street is active from early morning until late at night.

World famous bars Sloppy Joes, Capt. Tony’s Saloon, The Whistle Stop, and Irish Kevins all offer a great time and are open starting at lunch. Restaurants Viva Argentina Steakhouse and Old Town Tavern and Beer Garden are great casual dining options. If you want to class it up, head on over the Milagro Restaurant and Bar or Blackfin Bistro.

If you only have a long weekend to visit Key West, we have the perfect three-day Key West itinerary for you. Just follow the link and start planning your trip.

You’re Florida Keys Travel Guide to History in Key West

Did you know that there was once an extension of the White House in Key West? Harry Truman loved the Florida Keys and spent so much time there while he was president, there’s a Little White House that you can visit. Famous fisherman and part-time author Ernest Hemingway lived and loved in Key West, and you can tour his house. It’s now a museum and it’s been renovated similar to when he lived in it.

If you’re interested in the people who forged Key West out of the wilderness, stop by the Key West Shipwreck Museum and learn about the “wreckers” who worked the reefs rescuing ships, cargo, and people. Mel Fisher’s Maritime Museum is a must visit if you want to see what treasures can be found in the waters around Key West and the Florida Keys.

Fun on the Water in Key West

If you’re a fisherman, head over to the Historic Sea Port and set up a charter for some of the best fishing around. For some authentic “Key West adventure”, jump on a Danger Charters tour and sail the seas around the outer islands, stop to snorkel a reef, and kayak into some mangrove tunnels.

Fury Charters offers dolphin tours, glass bottom boat tours, sand bar tours, and the ever-popular Commotion on the Ocean trip that serves you margaritas and music as you watch the sun set.

For a fun day trip from Key West, reserve a spot on the Yankee Freedom and take a 73-mile ferry ride to Dry Tortugas National Park. Explore historic Fort Jefferson, relax on picturesque beaches, and snorkel among sea turtles, stingrays, and other reef fish.

Travel Guide to the Florida Keys: Beaches in Key West

If you’re looking to relax on a beach while you’re in Key West, at Fort Zachary Taylor, you can tour a historic fort and then head to the beach to lounge or snorkel. Smather’s Beach is a nice wide sandy beach on the southeast side of the island with fantastic water views. Higgs Beach is close to Old Town, has a great sandy stretch, and a pier.

Sunsets in Key West

Key West does sunsets like no other place in the world. If you want to celebrate with a plaza full of people, jugglers, comedians, face painters, and craft-makers, get yourself to Mallory Square for the nightly sunset celebration. For the cruisers, they have romantic cruises, party cruises, musical cruises, or whatever kind of cruise that you might want.

Your Florida Keys Travel Guide to the Best of The Florida Keys

Best Beaches

• Bahia Honda State Park – Three beaches generally viewed as the best beaches in the Keys.
• Sombrero Beach – Fantastic white sand beach with a park in Marathon.
• Fort Zachery Taylor – Great for snorkeling, and sunsets.
• Veterans Beach – Best shallow water beach.

Snorkeling and Diving

For the some of the best snorkeling and diving in the U.S. hit these spots:

• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
• Sombrero Reef
• Looe Key Reef
• Dry Tortugas National Park

Food and Drinks You Must Try

• Key lime pie
• Fresh seafood
• Conch Fritters
• Rum cocktails

Be sure to enjoy them at your favorite tiki bar!

Top Tours and Activities in the Florida Keys

• Snorkeling tours
• Sunset cruises
• Kayak Mangrove Tours
• Fishing Charters
• Jet ski tours
• Sandbar trips
• Dolphin watching

Historic and Cultural Sites

• Fort Zachary Taylor
• Hemingway Home
• Pigeon Key
• Key West Lighthouse
• Truman Little Whitehouse

Wildlife in the Keys That You May Encounter

• Key deer
• Dolphins
• Sea Turtles
• Manatees
• Tropical Fish
• Iguanas

Always observe wildlife respectfully.

Your Florida Keys Travel Guide for When to Go to the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are warm year-round, but there is a balancing act between crowds, prices, and weather conditions. March to May is about the best time that you can visit, the winter crowds are thinning out, the weather is dry and it’s not unbelievably hot yet.

• January to February – Mild, dry, very busy, high prices, ideal for winter escapes.
• March to May – Warm and sunny, crowds are relatively down, great for getting out on the water.
• June to August – Low crowds and more budget friendly (if you’re into that type of thing), but hurricane season starts in June, it can be hot, humid, and rainy.
• September to October – Generally wet but also generally the lowest prices, hurricanes are possible.
• November – Weather starts drying up, not as crowded, and good values can be found before the peak season hits.
• December – Dry weather, big crowds, lots of fun.

Your Florida Keys Travel Guide for What to Pack for the Florida Keys

You can pack for the Florida Keys just like you would for any summer beach trip.

• The Essentials – Shorts, t-shirts, sundresses, water shoes, comfortable walking shoes, and don’t forget to pack plenty of swimsuits.
• During the Day – Coverups, wide brimmed sun hat, polarized sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen.
• Evenings – Light jacket or coverup if you plan to be out on a boat after sundown, stylish outfits if you plan on hitting the nightlife.
• Beach Accessories – Snorkel gear, dry bags for phones and wallets, go-pro or other waterproof cameras, small backpack or tote.

FAQs

Now that you’re ready for your Florida Keys trip, check out our Events Calendar to see what’s going on when you’re in the Keys. It has information on festivals, fishing tournaments, music, and other fun stuff that’s happening in the Keys.

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