Sugarloaf Key.
Sugarloaf Key sits along Mile Markers 17 to 20 on the Overseas Highway, a twenty-minute drive north of Key West. It is known for its shallow backcountry mangrove channels and the strange, wooden 1929 Perky Bat Tower. Sugarloaf Key is worth visiting if you want to paddle quiet flats and eat smoked fish away from tour buses. Look elsewhere if you want sandy beaches, historic town squares, or nightlife within walking distance.
Last updated 29 Oct 2026
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What to do in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Sugarloaf Key is split into Upper and Lower islands, shaped by calm sounds, saltwater canals, and residential lanes rather than resort strips. Days revolve around boat ramps, flats skiffs, and quiet paddle trails through the mangroves. It suits independent travellers who prefer packing a cooler, renting a kayak, and cooking fresh catch over commercial attractions and crowded hotel pools.
24 hours in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Rent a kayak at Sugarloaf Marina by eight in the morning before winds pick up. Paddle the clear channels into Sugarloaf Sound, stopping to check the Perky Bat Tower on your return. Eat a late lunch of blackened grouper at Mile Marker 17, then finish with a quiet evening stroll down Old State Road 4A. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
A second day lets you cross to Lower Sugarloaf and explore the quiet loops along Sugarloaf Boulevard. Book a half-day flat-skiff fishing charter targeting bonefish, then drive seven miles north to Cudjoe Key for peel-and-eat Key West pink shrimp and Key lime pie at a rustic fish house. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
With three days, venture into the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge by skiff, drifting past uninhabited mangrove islands. Spend an unhurried afternoon birding the tidal ponds on Big Pine Key, followed by cold local beer and grilled snapper back at a local Sugarloaf Key marina.
Sugarloaf Key Florida United States itineraries by interest
Local Seafood in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Order fried yellowtail snapper, conch fritters, and smoked fish dip at roadside docks along the Overseas Highway.
Kayaking & Canoeing in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Launch into Sugarloaf Sound to navigate shaded mangrove tunnels and tidal flats holding barracuda and nurse sharks.
Roadside Curiosities in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Inspect the 1929 wooden Perky Bat Tower off US 1, built by Richter Perky to control mosquitoes with disastrous results.
Wildlife Watching in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Watch for Key deer grazing along quiet residential lanes and osprey nesting on telephone poles near Sugarloaf Sound.
Saltwater Fishing in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Target bonefish, tarpon, and permit on the backcountry flats with local skiff guides who know the shifting tidal currents.
Casual Dining in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Eat peel-and-eat pink shrimp and cracked conch on breezy screened porches beside Mile Marker 17 marina slips.
Biking in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Pedal the flat paved stretches of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail between Sugarloaf and Cudjoe Key.
Coastal Ecology in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Paddle through red mangrove roots to spot juvenile reef fish, sea stars, and upside-down jellyfish in clear shallows.
Boating & Marinas in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Rent a skiff at Sugarloaf Marina to explore the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge islands to the north.
Birdwatching in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Scan the salt ponds for roseate spoonbills, great white herons, and reddish egrets feeding in morning low tide.
Day Trips in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Drive fifteen miles south to Key West for Cuban coffee and 19th-century architecture, or north to Big Pine Key.
Sunset Viewing in Sugarloaf Key Florida United States
Grab a bench by the marina docks or sit on the Old State Road 4A bridge to watch the sun drop across the Gulf.