How to plan your first trip to the Florida Keys
There are over 800 Keys in the Florida Keys and so if you were to spend just one day at each Key, you’d be travelling this tiny part of Florida for almost 3 years! Point is, there is a lot to see and do on the Florida Keys and it can be overwhelming when planning your first trip.
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This guide will help you plan your first trip to the Florida Keys to ensure you see some of the best bits and get a really good feel for the place. We visited the Keys in July 2025 and honestly, it is a truly special place.
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Language: English
Population: 83,000
Currency: US Dollars
Average price of a coffee: $5
HOW TO USE THE MAP
Tap the icons on the map to learn more about each point of interest. To save this map for later, click the star next to its title to add it to your Google account. Then, open the Google Maps app, go to ‘Saved’, and select ‘Maps’. You’ll now see this map listed under its title.​​
The first thing we want to stress about the Keys (and really the US in general), is that it is very expensive. In the summer months, the average price of a resort is around $450-$1,000 a night. We booked our travel over 6 months in advance through Trailfinders and honestly, I dread to think how much we paid per night. You likely can find some cheaper Airbnbs/apartments to rent if you would prefer to travel that way instead.
Which Keys to travel
As it’s your first time on the Florida Keys, we recommend visiting: Key Largo, Marathon, and Key West.
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If you’re planning on visiting Miami on your trip to Florida, then we would recommend following this itinerary:
Days 1-4: Miami
(Check out our 3 Day Miami Itinerary)
Days 4-6: Marathon
Days 6-8: Key West
Days 8-10: Key Largo
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If you’re short on time, knock off a day in Miami, Marathon and Key Largo.
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We rented a car from Alamo in Miami, South Beach.
Marathon
When we arrived in Marathon, we were absolutely blown away by the journey. Driving through the Florida Keys is a really special experience.
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We stayed at the Isla Bella Resort in Marathon and it was exceptional. The hotel is absolutely stunning and the Marathon beaches are breathtaking. We highly recommend this resort.
ISLA BELLA RESORT
In Marathon, there are lots of activities to do, such as beaches to visit and snorkelling. Our favourite thing to see was the Seven Mile Bridge. You can pull over to the side and take some photos as well as run/walk along the bridge. You’ll need to drive across the bridge to get to Key West so don’t worry! You’ll have a brilliant drive across it very soon.
SEVEN MILE BRIDGE
Key West
Key West is the tip of the Florida keys and is only 90 miles from Cuba! It’s a really touristy town with lots of fun activities.
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We stayed at the The Reach Key West by Hilton and thought it was ok. Now we can see it was at least $710 a night and we feel a little sick! The room was ok and clean but nothing special.
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In Key West, there is so much to do. We recommend:
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Southernmost Point
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Truman House
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Eat Key West’s famous Shrimp
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Find the best Happy Hour spots
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Visit the beaches
SOUTHERNMOST POINT
In Key West, there are just random roaming chickens...
Key Largo
Key Largo is one of the most popular Keys and is a great vibe. On your drive from Key West to Key Largo, make sure to stop at Robbie’s in Islamorada. You can feed the Tarpons or take a snorkelling trip out. Feeding the tarpons was one of our highlights from the whole trip.
ROBBIE'S OF ISLAMORADA
In Key Largo, we stayed at the Baker’s Cay hotel. We were impressed with the hotel but the customer service is truly rubbish. Also, the maid stole my handbag… Anyway, the champagne hour was fun!
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Again, in Key Largo there is lots to explore. However, just be careful of the swimming activities. The water connects to the Everglades and there have been many sightings of saltwater crocodiles and alligators swimming in very shallow water.
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Don’t forget to stop for a Key Lime pie!
BAKER'S CAY HOTEL
Your trip ends here. However, with more time, we recommend driving back up to Miami for some more days, flying out to the Bahamas (or getting the boat), heading into the Everglades, or even driving up Florida further to Orlando or Tampa.
KEY LARGO