The Florida Keys.

NORTH AMERICA/UNITED STATES/24.6937° N, 81.1894° W

Salt spray sticks to your windshield the moment you clear Florida City and point the bonnet south down the Overseas Highway. A string of ancient coral fragments trailing into the Gulf, this narrow corridor trades mainland sprawl for mangrove channels, shallow turtle grass, and working boat ramps. Out here, life is calibrated to low tide, yellowtail snapper fresh off the day boats, and the quiet satisfaction of finding an uncrowded picnic table at dusk.

Last updated 4 Sept 2026

Field notes

Photographs · Wikimedia Commons
North America / United States24.69°N 81.19°W
The Florida Keys — Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park · Wikimedia Commons
The Florida Keys — Florida East Coast Railway bridge in the Florida Keys (9365847468)
Florida East Coast Railway bridge in the Florida Keys (9365847468) · Wikimedia Commons
The Florida Keys — Coconut Plantation memorial (Key Biscayne, Florida)
Coconut Plantation memorial (Key Biscayne, Florida) · Wikimedia Commons

What The Florida Keys is about

Twelve ways to read the region. Pick a town below and you can turn any of these into a timed 1, 2 or 3 day plan.

LOCAL SEAFOOD

Crack chilled stone crab claws at roadside fish shacks and order fried hogfish with lime wedge tartar sauce.

CORAL REEFS

Snorkel the living barrier reef at Looe Key and Molasses Reef, where parrotfish graze on brain coral.

MANGROVE KAYAKING

Paddle through tidal creeks and buttonwood canopy in Tavernier Creek and John Pennekamp State Park.

WRECK DIVING

Dive the submerged artificial reefs, including the sunken USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg off Key West.

DEEP-SEA FISHING

Charter a center-console boat from Islamorada docks for pelagic mahi-mahi, sailfish, and blackfin tuna.

COASTAL HERITAGE

Tour historic wooden cottages, the 1890 Custom House, and Ernest Hemingway's Whitehead Street writing studio.

STATE PARKS

Walk hardwood hammocks and limestone trails at Bahia Honda and Long Key State Park along turquoise shallows.

CRAFT BREWING

Sample tart key lime sours and crisp blonde ales brewed locally along the Overseas Highway mile markers.

WILDLIFE REFUGES

Spot endangered tiny Key deer foraging along the pine rocklands of Big Pine Key and No Name Key at dusk.

ISLAND CYCLING

Pedal vintage cruiser bikes through Old Town Key West or ride the paved Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.

SUNSET VIEWING

Watch the sun drop into the Gulf from Mallory Square or the old Seven Mile Bridge pedestrian walkway.

COASTAL ROAD TRIPS

Drive the 113-mile Overseas Highway crossing 42 bridges with turquoise water running under the floorboards.

Where to go in The Florida Keys

The bases worth booking. Each one has its own field guide with 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries.

  1. 01
    Key West

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    Old Town wooden porches, Cuban coffee counters, and fresh pink shrimp landings at Stock Island docks.

  2. 02
    Islamorada

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    The sportfishing hub across six islands, famous for dockside fish cleaning and yellowtail reuben sandwiches.

  3. 03
    Marathon

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    A practical mid-Keys family base anchored by Sombrero Beach and the historic Seven Mile Bridge approach.

  4. 04
    Key Largo

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    The northern dive capital with direct access to John Pennekamp coral beds and quiet mangrove kayak trails.

  5. 05
    Big Pine Key

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    A quiet, pine-forested enclave home to miniature native Key deer and trailheads leading into backcountry flats.

  6. 06
    Bahia Honda Key

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    Stunning natural sand beaches with panoramic views of the historic broken railway bridge standing out at sea.

  7. 07
    Tavernier

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    A slower-paced village between Largo and Islamorada with historic pioneer homes and great waterfront breakfast spots.

  8. 08
    Duck Key

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    A neat residential island network of canals and bridges positioned conveniently between Marathon and Long Key.

  9. 09
    Cudjoe Key

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    A calm lower-keys launching point for shallow backcountry flats fishing, bonefish runs, and quiet rentals.

  10. 10
    Stock Island

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    The working waterfront neighbor to Key West where shrimp boats dock, boatyards hum, and local fish fries thrive.

  11. 11
    Summerland Key

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    A relaxed island strip offering fast boat access to the vibrant coral spurs of Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.

  12. 12
    Long Key

    FLORIDA / UNITED STATES

    A tranquil state park stop known for coastal camping platforms, shallow bonefish flats, and mangrove boardwalks.

What to do in The Florida Keys

Stretching over one hundred miles into the Straits of Florida, the Keys are an archipelago of limestone islands linked by 42 bridges on US Route 1. Days revolve around boat departures, tide charts, and simple meals of peel-and-eat pink shrimp and cracked conch. It suits independent road trippers, sea anglers, and divers who prefer laid-back waterfront shacks to polished resort corridors.

When to go to The Florida Keys

Winter and early spring, from December through April, bring dry air, mild 75-degree days, and calmer seas for reef diving, though winter crowds drive up rates. May and June offer quieter boat ramps before hurricane season and humid summer swells set in from July through October.

Getting around The Florida Keys

US Highway 1 is the sole overland spine. Driving the full stretch from Key Largo down to Key West takes about two and a half hours without stops, though weekend traffic adds time. A car is essential for island-hopping, while bicycles suffice in compact Old Town Key West.