Florida Keys

State: Florida. Type: coral cay archipelago and island-chain destination extending southwest from the tip of the Florida peninsula to Key West and the uninhabited Dry Tortugas. Location: primarily Monroe County (more than 95% of the land area), beginning about 15 miles south of Miami. Total land area roughly 137.3 square miles. Southernmost part of the continental United States; Key West sits about 93 miles from Cuba. Linked to the mainland by U.S. Route 1, the Overseas Highway. The Florida Reef offshore is often cited as the third-largest barrier reef system in the world.

The Florida Keys are a string of low-lying coral and limestone islands that curve southwest from the bottom of the Florida mainland out toward the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. Beginning roughly 15 miles south of Miami, the chain runs through Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and a series of smaller keys before reaching Key West, the westernmost inhabited island and the county seat of Monroe County. What ties the islands together is the Overseas Highway, the U.S. Route 1 causeway that leaps from key to key across dozens of bridges and gives the drive its famous "highway that goes to sea" reputation. The Keys grew from a scattering of fishing, wrecking and cigar-making communities into one of the country's best-known warm-weather escapes, built around water: snorkeling and diving on the offshore reef, sport fishing in the flats and deep water, boating, and a laid-back island culture. Because the islands sit within a tropical climate zone that has never recorded a hard freeze, they draw visitors year-round, though the reliably dry, mild winter is the peak season. Much of the surrounding water and reef is protected within state parks, a national marine sanctuary and nearby national parks, making the Keys as much an outdoor and ecotourism destination as a beach one.

The Florida Keys lie off the southern coast of Florida, arcing south and then west from the southeastern tip of the peninsula. More than 95% of the land area is in Monroe County, though a small northeastern portion falls within Miami-Dade County. The chain begins about 15 miles south of Miami and runs to Key West, with the uninhabited Dry Tortugas roughly 70 miles farther west. Mile markers along the Overseas Highway number from 0 in Key West up past 100 near Key Largo, and locals give addresses and directions by these markers.

The Keys have a tropical climate, warmer and more stable than the rest of the continental United States; sources note the islands have not recorded freezing temperatures since settlement. Winters (roughly November through April) are mild and comparatively dry, with daytime highs commonly around 75 degrees Fahrenheit and overnight lows near 60. Summers (June through October) are hot and humid with frequent afternoon showers. Hurricane season runs June through October, and the low-lying islands are exposed to tropical storms and storm surge, so travelers in those months should monitor forecasts.

The most popular time to visit is the winter dry season, roughly November through April, when humidity is lower, skies are often clear and temperatures are comfortable. This window overlaps with the peak tourist season, so rates and crowds are higher. Late spring and early summer can still be pleasant with warm water, while the June-through-October period brings the greatest heat, humidity and hurricane risk. Divers and anglers often pick their timing around water conditions and fishing seasons rather than the calendar alone.

The Keys were long home to Native peoples before Spanish contact, and Key West later grew wealthy in the 19th century on the wrecking (salvage) trade and industries such as cigar making and sponging. The islands were transformed in the early 20th century by Henry Flagler's Overseas Railway, an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway that reached Key West in the early 1910s and connected the isolated islands to the mainland by rail. The railway was destroyed by the catastrophic Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, a Category 5 storm that killed hundreds of people, including many World War I veterans working on relief projects. Rather than rebuild the rail line, the state converted the surviving roadbed and bridges into a highway, and the Overseas Highway (U.S. Route 1) was completed in 1938, cementing car travel as the way into the Keys and shaping the tourism economy that followed.

Water activities dominate: snorkeling and scuba diving on the offshore Florida Reef, glass-bottom-boat tours, sport and flats fishing, boating, kayaking and paddleboarding. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, established as the first undersea park in the United States, is a hub for reef trips. Visitors also explore state parks such as Bahia Honda for beaches and swimming, take the boat or seaplane trip to remote Dry Tortugas National Park, and stargaze under the Keys' dark skies. Key West adds a distinct cultural layer, with its historic Old Town, sunset gatherings at Mallory Square, and literary and maritime history. Wildlife viewing, from wading birds to the diminutive Key deer in the Lower Keys, rounds out the options.

Signature sites include John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Key Largo), Islamorada's sportfishing waters, Marathon in the Middle Keys, Bahia Honda State Park's beaches, and Key West's Old Town with landmarks such as the southernmost-point marker and Mallory Square. Offshore and outlying draws include the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Dry Tortugas National Park with its historic Fort Jefferson, reached by ferry or seaplane from Key West. The Overseas Highway itself, with the long Seven Mile Bridge, is a destination in its own right.

Most visitors drive in on U.S. Route 1, the Overseas Highway, which runs about 127 miles through the island chain and crosses a series of bridges (about 42 in all). For flying, Key West International Airport (EYW) serves the far end of the chain, and Florida Keys Marathon International Airport serves the Middle Keys; many travelers instead fly into Miami and drive south. Ferry services also connect Key West with points such as Fort Myers and Marco Island on Florida's Gulf coast. Once in the Keys, a car is the most practical way to move between islands.

The Keys are a region rather than a single gated attraction, so there are no overall opening hours; the Overseas Highway is open around the clock. Individual sites keep their own schedules, for example state parks such as John Pennekamp and Bahia Honda generally open from around 8 a.m. until sunset, and Dry Tortugas National Park is reached only by scheduled ferry or seaplane. Confirm hours for any specific park, tour or attraction before visiting.

There is no charge to drive the Overseas Highway or to visit the Keys generally. Individual attractions set their own fees: Florida state parks such as John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Bahia Honda charge per-vehicle entrance fees, and boat tours, reef trips, the Dry Tortugas ferry and fishing charters are priced separately by their operators. Check each park or operator for current pricing before you go.

A quick trip can cover a single area such as Key Largo or Key West in a day, but seeing a meaningful stretch of the chain, with time for the reef, state parks and Key West, generally calls for at least three to five days. Divers, anglers and those adding the Dry Tortugas often plan a week or more.

Lodging is spread the length of the chain, concentrated in the main hubs of Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Key West. Options range from waterfront resorts and dive lodges to smaller motels, guesthouses and vacation rentals; Key West also has historic bed-and-breakfasts in its Old Town. State-park and private campgrounds, including at Bahia Honda, serve tent and RV travelers. Because the Keys are a popular destination with limited land, rates rise sharply in the winter high season and around major events, so booking ahead is wise.

Dining across the Keys leans heavily on seafood, with local specialties such as fresh fish, stone crab, spiny lobster and conch, plus the famous Key lime pie. Casual waterfront seafood shacks, tiki bars and marina restaurants are common throughout Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and the smaller keys, while Key West offers the widest range, from raw bars to upscale dining, concentrated in and around its Old Town and Duval Street area. Many restaurants emphasize local catch given the region's fishing heritage.

Within and beyond the chain, visitors combine the Keys with Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park on the nearby mainland, the reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and remote Dry Tortugas National Park off Key West. Miami, roughly a couple of hours' drive from the Upper Keys, is a common gateway and add-on for a longer Florida trip.

Key West International Airport (EYW) and Florida Keys Marathon International Airport provide the closest commercial air access, while Miami International Airport is a major gateway for those driving down. There is no passenger rail to the Keys since the 1935 hurricane ended the Overseas Railway. Ferries link Key West with the Gulf coast, and once in the islands, personal or rental vehicles are the main way to get around.

On and in the water, watch for boat traffic, currents and marine hazards, use reef-safe sunscreen to protect the coral, and never stand on or touch the living reef. Sun and heat are intense, especially in summer, so hydrate and seek shade. During hurricane season (June-November), monitor forecasts and heed any evacuation orders, which for the low-lying Keys can be issued well ahead of a storm. For any emergency, dial 911.

Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and plenty of water are essentials in the strong sun. Swimwear, a rash guard, water shoes and snorkel gear are useful for reef and beach days, and insect repellent helps against mosquitoes and no-see-ums, especially near mangroves at dawn and dusk. If you plan a boat trip or the Dry Tortugas crossing, a light layer and motion-sickness remedies can help.

Give yourself buffer time on the two-lane Overseas Highway, where traffic and occasional bridge or lane work can slow the drive. Book accommodations, popular reef trips and the Dry Tortugas ferry well in advance during the winter high season. Use mile markers, not street addresses, to navigate and to describe where you're headed. If diving, allow appropriate surface intervals before flying home. Consider basing yourself in one or two hubs rather than moving hotels every night to cut down on driving.

For any emergency in the Florida Keys, dial 911, the nationwide emergency number in the United States. Non-emergency assistance is handled by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and local municipal police and fire departments; look up the specific agency's non-emergency line for the area you are visiting.

The Florida Keys & Key West (Monroe County Tourist Development Council) - https://www.fla-keys.com

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.