.jpg){kind=link}
The Florida Keys are a 113-mile chain of islands connected by the Overseas Highway (US 1) and 42 bridges, running from Key Largo in the north to Key West at Mile Marker 0. The best things to do in the Florida Keys are snorkeling the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, fishing and paddling the backcountry, walking the Old Seven Mile Bridge, and ending the drive at sunset in Key West. Winter, roughly December through April, brings the driest, most comfortable weather and the highest prices.
This Florida Keys travel guide walks the islands in driving order, from the Upper Keys to Key West, with what to do, where to eat and where to stay on each stretch. For the drive itself, see the companion Florida Keys road trip guide to the Overseas Highway.
Florida Keys at a glance
- Length: about 113 miles of Overseas Highway from Key Largo to Key West, with 42 bridges.
- Drive time: about an hour from Miami to Key Largo; plan 3.5 to 4 hours from Miami to Key West without stops.
- Regions: Upper Keys (Key Largo, Islamorada), Middle Keys (Marathon), Lower Keys (Big Pine Key and the islands to Stock Island), and Key West.
- Addresses: locals give directions by mile marker (MM) and “bayside” (Florida Bay and Gulf side) or “oceanside” (Atlantic side).
- Peak season: December through April. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.
- Airports: Key West International Airport (EYW) at the end of the chain; most visitors fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale and drive.
- County: the whole chain is in Monroe County, Florida.
How are the Florida Keys laid out?
The Keys are one long road with islands strung along it, so it helps to think in mile markers rather than towns. Small green signs on the shoulder of US 1 count down from around MM 127 near Florida City on the mainland to MM 0 at the corner of Whitehead and Fleming streets in Key West. A business at “MM 82 bayside” sits on the Florida Bay side of the highway near Mile Marker 82, which is in Islamorada.
Each region has its own personality. The Upper Keys are about the water: diving, snorkeling and sportfishing. The Middle Keys center on Marathon, a working fishing town with family attractions and the Seven Mile Bridge. The Lower Keys are quiet, natural and the home of the endangered Key deer. Key West is the town at the end of the road, with a historic Old Town, museums, guesthouses and nightlife. The Florida Keys area guide lists local businesses across the whole chain.
| Region | Main towns | Best for | Approx. drive from Miami |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Keys | Key Largo, Islamorada | Snorkeling, diving, sportfishing, art | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Middle Keys | Marathon, Grassy Key, Duck Key | Families, wildlife centers, the Seven Mile Bridge | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Lower Keys | Big Pine Key, Cudjoe Key, Sugarloaf Key | Beaches, Key deer, reef snorkeling at Looe Key | 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Key West | Key West, Stock Island | History, museums, dining, sunsets, nightlife | 3.5 to 4 hours |
When is the best time to visit the Florida Keys?
The best time to visit the Florida Keys is December through April, when days are warm, humidity is low and rain is rare. In Key West, December averages a high of about 78°F and a low of about 68°F, with only around 2 inches of rain for the month. That comfort comes with peak rates and minimum-night stays at many inns, especially over Christmas, New Year’s and spring break.
May and early June are a good shoulder window: the water is warm, crowds thin out and rates ease before summer. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon storms, but it is prime time for calm, clear water and for the two-day spiny lobster mini-season in late July. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the highest risk from mid-August through October. If you travel then, buy refundable rates or travel insurance and watch forecasts from the National Weather Service in Key West.
Planning a holiday trip? The guide to Key West in December covers the lighted boat parade, New Year’s Eve and what to book early.
How do you get to the Florida Keys?
Most visitors fly into Miami International or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and drive south on US 1. From Florida City, the road crosses the 18-Mile Stretch to Key Largo; Card Sound Road is a quieter alternate route with a toll bridge that rejoins US 1 at the top of Key Largo. Key Largo is about an hour from Miami, and Key West is roughly 160 miles and 3.5 to 4 hours from downtown Miami without stops. Traffic on Friday afternoons southbound and Sunday afternoons northbound can add an hour or more.
Key West International Airport (EYW) has direct flights from several East Coast and Southern hubs, which makes a fly-in, drive-out trip possible if you can book a one-way rental car. Inside Key West, you do not need a car at all: Old Town is compact, flat and best seen on foot or by bike.
What are the best things to do in Key Largo?
Key Largo is the diving and snorkeling capital of the Keys, and its main draw is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park at about MM 102.5. Established in 1963 as the first undersea park in the United States, Pennekamp protects a stretch of the Florida Reef and the mangrove shoreline that faces it.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
The park is open 8am to sunset every day. Entry for a car with two to eight people is $8 plus 50 cents per person; a single-occupant vehicle is $4.50 and walk-ins or cyclists pay $2.50 each, according to Florida State Parks. The park concession runs snorkel trips that last about 2.5 hours round trip, with roughly 1.5 hours in the water, plus glass-bottom boat tours on a 65-foot catamaran and kayak and paddleboard rentals for the mangrove trails. Book morning snorkel trips in winter, when afternoon wind often roughens the reef.
Christ of the Abyss and the Spiegel Grove
Offshore, the bronze Christ of the Abyss statue (also called Christ of the Deep) stands in shallow water at Key Largo Dry Rocks and is one of the most photographed dive sites in Florida. Advanced divers head for the Spiegel Grove, a decommissioned Navy ship sunk as an artificial reef. Local dive shops run both trips; ask about conditions the night before, since the statue site is weather dependent.
The African Queen and the bay side
The African Queen, the boat from the 1951 film, is docked in Key Largo and still takes passengers on short canal cruises. On the bay side, Blackwater Sound and Florida Bay are the place for sunset, paddling and backcountry fishing. For a classic roadside meal, Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen at MM 99 has been a Key Largo institution for about 50 years. The Key Largo area page lists local businesses as they join the directory.
What is there to do in Islamorada?
Islamorada, which calls itself the Sport Fishing Capital of the World, is a village of several islands in the Upper Keys known for backcountry and offshore fishing, waterfront restaurants and a growing arts district. It has the most relaxed, grown-up feel of the Upper Keys, and it is an easy base for both Pennekamp to the north and Marathon to the south.
- Morada Way Arts & Cultural District: galleries, studios and a brewery between MM 81 and 82. The Morada Way Arts & Cultural District hosts an art walk on the third Thursday of every month, 6pm to 9pm.
- Robbie’s of Islamorada (MM 77.5 bayside): hand-feed the giant tarpon off the docks for $2.50 admission plus $5 a bucket, then eat at the Hungry Tarpon next door.
- History of Diving Museum (82990 Overseas Highway): antique helmets and diving gear from around the world, open 10am to 5pm daily.
- Anne’s Beach (MM 73.5 oceanside): shallow, calm water with a 300-foot boardwalk and covered picnic pavilions, good for small children.
- Florida Keys Farmers Market: Sundays 10am to 3pm at Islamorada Gardens Plaza, 81001 Overseas Highway.
One update for repeat visitors: Indian Key Historic State Park, the offshore island with the ruins of an 1830s wrecking town, has been closed to landing since August 2025 for an environmental restoration project. The full rundown is in things to do in Islamorada, and the Islamorada area page collects local listings.
What should you do in Marathon and the Middle Keys?
Marathon, between MM 61 and MM 47, is the hub of the Middle Keys and the most family-friendly stop on the chain. It is also home to the Seven Mile Bridge, the most famous stretch of the Overseas Highway.
The Turtle Hospital
The Turtle Hospital at MM 48.5 (2396 Overseas Highway) rescues and rehabilitates injured sea turtles and runs guided educational tours. Tours are by reservation and sell out in winter, so book online before you leave home.
Dolphin Research Center
On Grassy Key at 58901 Overseas Highway, the Dolphin Research Center is a nonprofit education and research facility open daily from 9am to 3:30pm. General admission includes presentations; in-water programs are booked separately.
The Old Seven Mile Bridge and Pigeon Key
The original Seven Mile Bridge, built for Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad and later converted for cars, reopened to walkers, runners and cyclists in January 2022. The open section runs about 2 miles from Marathon to Pigeon Key, so the round trip is about 4 miles; go early in the morning, when it is cooler and the light is soft. Pigeon Key, a small island that once housed the railroad’s work camp, has a visitor center and tours. The modern Seven Mile Bridge runs alongside it, and driving it southbound at sunset is one of the best moments of any Keys trip.
For a meal, Keys Fisheries on the Gulf side of Marathon is known for its lobster Reuben and dock-side seating. A full Marathon guide joins this series later in November.
What is there to do on Big Pine Key and in the Lower Keys?
The Lower Keys, from the end of the Seven Mile Bridge to Stock Island, are the least developed stretch of the chain, and they reward slow travelers with beaches, wildlife and some of the best snorkeling in Florida.
Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda State Park, at 36850 Overseas Highway just past the Seven Mile Bridge, has the best natural sand beaches in the Keys, clear water and a trail onto a span of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge with long views of the channel. It is open 8am to sunset; entry is $8 per vehicle. The park can close to new arrivals when the lots fill, so get there by mid-morning on winter weekends.
National Key Deer Refuge
Big Pine Key and neighboring No Name Key are home to the Key deer, the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer and an endangered species found only in the lower Florida Keys. About three quarters of the population lives on these two islands. The refuge’s nature center at 30587 Overseas Highway is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 3pm. Nearby, the Blue Hole is a freshwater-filled former quarry where an alligator is often visible. Drive slowly through Big Pine, especially at dusk, and never feed the deer, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asks.
Looe Key Reef
Looe Key, a few miles offshore, is one of the healthiest and most colorful reefs in the Keys, with parrotfish, rays and turtles in shallow water. Charters leave from Big Pine and Ramrod keys. Back on land, the No Name Pub on Big Pine Key, papered in dollar bills, is a classic stop for pizza and a cold beer.
What are the best things to do in Key West?
Key West is the cultural and historic heart of the Keys, and the best things to do there are on foot in Old Town: museums and historic homes, galleries, Cuban coffee windows, and the nightly sunset at Mallory Square. The first-timer’s list of things to do in Key West goes deeper, but here are the essentials.
- Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square: a nightly street festival of buskers, jugglers, artists and food carts on the harbor. Arrive about an hour before sunset.
- Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: the writer’s 1930s home on Whitehead Street, with guided tours and dozens of six-toed cats. Open 9am to 5pm daily; adult admission is $19 (cards add a 3% fee).
- Harry S. Truman Little White House: the president’s winter White House at 111 Front Street, open 9:30am to 5pm with guided tours from $24.
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park: a pre-Civil War fort and Key West’s best swimming beach; vehicle entry starts at $6.
- Dry Tortugas National Park: about 70 miles west, reached by the Yankee Freedom ferry (about 2 hours 15 minutes each way, with the $15 park fee included in the fare) or by seaplane.
Key West’s restaurants are a reason to visit on their own: Cuban breakfast at El Siboney, a fish sandwich at B.O.’s Fish Wagon, brunch under the trees at Blue Heaven and a slice of pie from Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe. The Key West area page has more than 250 local listings, from guesthouses to fishing charters.
Where should you stay in the Florida Keys?
Where to stay in the Florida Keys depends on what you want to do every day: pick the Upper Keys for diving and fishing, Marathon for families and a central base, the Lower Keys for quiet and nature, and Key West for walkable restaurants, museums and nightlife.
- Key Largo: waterfront resorts, dive lodges and small motels along US 1, with the bay side best for sunsets. Closest to Miami, so good for a short first trip.
- Islamorada: boutique resorts and fishing lodges. Easy access to charter captains and the Morada Way arts district.
- Marathon: family resorts, condos and marinas, about an hour from both Key Largo and Key West, which makes it the best base for seeing the whole chain.
- Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys: vacation homes on canals, small inns and campgrounds at Bahia Honda. Quietest option, but you will drive for most meals.
- Key West: historic guesthouses and boutique inns in Old Town, plus larger resorts on the water. Stay within walking distance of Duval Street and skip the car.
Key West’s independent guesthouses, many in restored 1800s homes, are some of the most characterful places to stay in Florida. Booking two to three months ahead for winter is normal, and three-night minimums are common on holiday weekends. For a head-to-head on the two most popular bases, read Key West vs. Key Largo.
Where should you eat along the way?
Eat local seafood wherever you stop: yellowtail snapper, hogfish, mahi-mahi, stone crab claws in season (October 15 through May 1) and Key lime pie are the Keys classics. A few long-running, independent stops by mile marker:
| Stop | Location | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen | Key Largo, MM 99 | Home-style plates and Key lime pie |
| Islamorada Fish Company | Islamorada, MM 81.5 bayside | Seafood market and sunset tiki bar |
| Green Turtle Inn | Islamorada, MM 81.3 | Roadside restaurant dating to 1947 |
| Hungry Tarpon at Robbie’s | Islamorada, MM 77.5 | Waterfront breakfast and lunch next to the tarpon docks |
| Keys Fisheries | Marathon | Lobster Reuben and dockside seating |
| No Name Pub | Big Pine Key | Pizza in a dollar-bill-covered bar |
| El Siboney | Key West | Cuban classics at neighborhood prices |
What is a good Florida Keys itinerary?
A good first Florida Keys itinerary is five days: one night in the Upper Keys, one in Marathon and three in Key West. With only three days, drive straight to Key West with stops along the way and spend two nights there.
Five-day Florida Keys itinerary
- Day 1, Key Largo: morning snorkel trip at Pennekamp, lunch on the bay side, sunset on Blackwater Sound.
- Day 2, Islamorada to Marathon: tarpon at Robbie’s, the History of Diving Museum, a swim at Anne’s Beach, then the Turtle Hospital in the afternoon.
- Day 3, Lower Keys to Key West: walk the Old Seven Mile Bridge early, beach time at Bahia Honda, look for Key deer on Big Pine Key, and reach Key West for sunset at Mallory Square.
- Day 4, Key West: the Hemingway Home in the morning, Truman Little White House, galleries on Duval and Whitehead streets, dinner in Old Town.
- Day 5, Key West: a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, or a slow beach day at Fort Zachary Taylor and a sunset sail.
What should you know before you go?
- Protect the reef. The Keys are inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Do not stand on or touch coral, and use mineral, reef-friendly sunscreen.
- Parking in Key West is tight. Many Old Town guesthouses have little or no parking. Ask before you book, or leave the car at the hotel and rent bikes.
- Book charters and tours early in winter. Snorkel trips, the Turtle Hospital and Dry Tortugas ferries sell out weeks ahead between Christmas and Easter.
- Expect island prices. Almost everything is trucked down US 1, so groceries, gas and dinners cost more than on the mainland.
- Use mile markers. Google may route you by address, but locals, signs and most businesses use MM numbers.
FAQ
How many days do you need in the Florida Keys?
Five days is a comfortable first trip: one night in the Upper Keys, one in Marathon and three in Key West. Three days works if you drive straight to Key West with stops along the way. A week lets you add Dry Tortugas, a fishing charter and a real beach day.
Which Key is best for a first visit?
Key West is best for a first visit if you want history, restaurants and nightlife in a walkable town. Key Largo or Islamorada is better if your trip is about snorkeling, diving or fishing. Many first-timers split their stay between the two.
Are there good beaches in the Florida Keys?
The Keys have fewer big sandy beaches than the rest of Florida because the reef blocks the waves that build sand. The best are Bahia Honda State Park in the Lower Keys, Fort Zachary Taylor and Smathers Beach in Key West, Sombrero Beach in Marathon and Anne’s Beach in Islamorada.
Is it worth driving to Key West instead of flying?
Yes, at least one way. The Overseas Highway, the Seven Mile Bridge and the stops in Islamorada and Marathon are a big part of the Keys experience. Flying into Key West saves time if you only have a long weekend.
What is the cheapest time to visit the Florida Keys?
Late summer and early fall usually have the lowest lodging rates, but that is also the peak of hurricane season. Late April through early June is the best balance of lower prices, warm water and stable weather.