You’re coming to the Florida Keys! The only thing left to do is determine the best Key to visit in Florida. Each sandy little gem provides its own mix of nature, culture, and special attractions.
With so many of the Keys in close proximity to one another, it makes sense to plan stops in a few different ones if you have the time. Here’s what you need to know to pick the best Florida Key to visit!
A tour we think you'll love
1) Key West
Key West is the obvious choice when you want to enjoy a quintessential Florida Keys vacation! Home to the official southernmost point in the contiguous United States, it’s the jewel of the Lower Keys.
It’s also the spot where you’ll find the largest amount of available vacation rentals within walking distance of major attractions. Here’s what to put on your itinerary for this place they call the Conch Republic:
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Key Lime Pie – Yes, this is where you’ll find the best assortment of restaurants and bakeries serving up this iconic dessert. Places to stop include Kermit’s, Blue Heaven, Southernmost Beach Café, and the Original Key Lime Pie Bakery.
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Mallory Square – The legendary nightly sunset event has been taking place at Mallory Square for decades. Show up about an hour before sunset to enjoy street performers, music, and food trucks.
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Mile Marker 0 – As the official beginning of U.S. Route 1, the iconic Mile Marker 0 sign is the official last stop on any Florida Keys road trip. It marks the conclusion of Route 1’s 2,300-mile route extending from Maine to the Keys.
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Duval Street – Head out to Duval for nightlife and live music any night of the week.
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Amazing Restaurants – Restaurants in Key West serve famous Key West pink shrimp, conch fritters, and Cuban sandwiches. If you’re looking for the best fish sandwich, locals will direct you toward B.O.’s Fish Wagon on Caroline Street.
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Southern Tip – Visit the Southernmost Point Buoy to look out from the island’s southern tip that faces Cuba 90 miles in the distance.
Fun Fact: Mark Twain, John James Audubon, Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, and Jimmy Buffet have all famously spoken about witnessing local sunsets—with many of them standing at Mallory Square.
2) The Sandbars Around Key West
Convinced that Key West is the place? There’s actually a hidden world waiting for Key West visitors on the sandbars that surround the island. With just a short ride into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll delight in warm, turquoise tides peppered with idyllic sandbars.
At Key West Boat Trips, our experienced captains know exactly where to take you for an unforgettable day. Come float on the path less traveled with us when you book on of these popular excursions:
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Hopping Sandbars in Key West – Enjoy a perfect day on the water as you zip through gorgeous mangrove trails to reach the sandbars at Mud Keys and Snipe Point. After docking, rest on postcard-quality sandbars or do a little snorkeling. Your captain provides a large inflatable float and an ice cooler with bottled waters and sodas. This is a great family adventure for all ages!
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Key West Sunset Cruise – Come feel like you’re floating in the middle of the ocean after venturing through backcountry waters to enjoy a remote sandbar at sunset! Make an evening of it by bringing your own picnic dinner and some champagne.
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Mud Key Mangrove Safari – Enjoy a boat trip through backcountry waters to reach the spectacular Mud Key Sanctuary. It’s the perfect spot for taking a refreshing dip in warm, relaxing tides. You can also enjoy a peaceful sandbar stroll while soaking up the sun.
We offer the easiest and most affordable way to enjoy sandbar cruises in Key West! Don’t miss your chance to make incredible memories with friends or family. Our experienced captains are here to help you plan the perfect excursion. Book a spot with us today!
3) Key Largo
What’s so magical about Key Largo? This gem in the Upper Keys shows off a quieter side of paradise. Located roughly 90 minutes from mainland Florida, it is considered one of the top diving and snorkeling destinations in the world because of its crystal-clear blue waters.
Key Largo is a popular stop on road trips because it’s the first island of the Keys to be reached from the Overseas Highway on the journey down to Key West. Some fun activities here include:
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Exploring shipwrecks, coral reefs, and underwater diving parks within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Top Upper Keys snorkeling sites within Key Largo include Molasses Reef, Grecian Rocks, and Christ of the Deep.
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Grabbing kayak rentals to explore the mangrove rivers and trails within lush John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
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Interacting with dolphins in their natural habitat at Dolphins Plus.
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Visiting a bird sanctuary that’s home to hundreds of non-releasable tropical birds at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center.
Fun Fact: The name Key Largo is Spanish for “long key” in honor of the island’s configuration.
4) Big Pine Key
A nature lover’s dream, Big Pine Key delivers on scenery and family-friendly beaches. Notably, Big Pine is home to Bahia Honda State Park (Bahia Honda Key). Offering gin-clear water and balmy air, Bahia Honda State Park is the perfect place to dig your toes in the sand while observing shorebirds and wading tropical birds in their element. This state park is also a great place for kayaking or snorkeling amid classic Florida scenery.
National Key Deer Refuge is also located on Big Pine. Founded in 1957, this preservation area spans hundreds of miles of terrain representing pine rockland forests, freshwater wetlands, salt wetlands, and mangrove forests. More than 20 endangered plant and animal species call the preserve home.
Fun Fact: The endangered Key deer are the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer. The only place they are found in the entire world is here in the Lower Keys.
5) Lower Matecumbe Key
While often overlooked on Florida Keys trips, Lower Matecumbe Key is the best Florida Key to visit for families looking for some rest and seclusion. A spotlight stop is a beach with a shallow swimming area and gorgeous boardwalk called Anne’s Beach.
This naturally sandy beach is peppered with sand flats that let you step into the horizon with the water only reaching up to your knees. Feel free to simply “plop down” on the sand to bathe and relax for hours as the warm water laps over your body.
Fun Fact: Anne’s Beach is one of the most popular spots for windsurfers who visit the Florida Keys. If you come on a breezy day, expect to see them soaring and swooping all around you!
6) Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is a group of seven remote islands positioned roughly 70 miles west of Key West. Be prepared for an adventure! This park consists of mostly open water. It also showcases a subtropical ecosystem, primitive camping sites, and a famous historical site that contains a record-breaking brick structure called Fort Jefferson.
Snorkelers love coming here to dive into coral reefs teeming with tropical fish and queen conches. There’s a good chance you’ll even see the sea turtles that nest on the shores of the park if you come here when you visit the Florida Keys. You can also rent a kayak or paddleboard. If you decide to tour historic Fort Jefferson, set aside a few hours to get through the museum and grounds.
Getting Here: Dry Tortugas is remote and primitive. There are no resorts or vacation rentals you can book—other than primitive campsites. You must arrange transportation via ferry, private boat, or private plane when arriving and leaving the park.
7) Marathon Key
Marathon’s position in the Middle Keys makes it a great spot for booking vacation rentals and hotels in the Florida Keys. This is also one of many great spots in the Florida Keys to book a fishing charter if you’ve always wanted to cross tropical sportfishing off your bucket list. Some other fun attractions in Marathon Key include:
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The Turtle Hospital – Take a 90-minute tour of a turtle rescue and rehabilitation center where sea turtles are saved.
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Sombrero Beach – This lovely Atlantic beach offers tons of space to spread out. Enjoy volleyball courts, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, and other amenities.
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Old Seven Mile Bridge – Marathon is one of the best places to see parts of the Old Seven Mile Bridge that was replaced by the more modern bridge in 1982. A perfect spot for biking, walking, or rollerblading, the restored bridge can be followed for 2.2 miles to Pigeon Key for extraordinary views.
Good To Know: If you book a fishing charter in Marathon, be on the lookout for eager ospreys and pelicans that may try to swoop in to steal fish from your bucket! Ospreys around here have even been known to grab fish right from fishing lines with boldness!
Visit The Florida Keys Your Way – The Excursions Make The Trip
What is the best Florida Key to visit? Take it from locals when we say there’s simply no wrong Key to spend time in when you visit the Florida Keys. However, how you spend your time in any destination matters. That’s why our sandbar charters are perfect if you’re looking for a magical experience on the open water that few people even know about.
The beauty of Florida’s sandbars is too big to be contained within any single state park, beach, or marina. You will truly feel like you’re floating in the middle of the ocean while your experienced, talented captain takes care of all the details.
Let us help you plan an effortless excursion you’ll never forget when you visit the Florida Keys. Book your daytime or sunset sandbar-hopping adventure with us today!
