Getting there and getting around
Key West sits at the far end of the Florida Keys, 113 miles of island chain connected by the two-lane Overseas Highway (US-1). From Miami it is a 3.5 to 4 hour drive if traffic cooperates, longer on winter weekends, so leave early and treat the drive as part of the trip. You can also fly into Key West International (EYW) directly if you want to skip the road.
Once you arrive, leave the car at your hotel. The old town is compact and parking is genuinely tight, so walking, biking, and the Conch Tour Train or Old Town Trolley are the sane ways to get around. As one of the most walkable stops on any list of the best islands in Florida, Key West rewards visitors who slow down and cover it on foot.
What to do in the old town
The nightly Mallory Square sunset celebration, with buskers, food carts, and the crowd applauding the sun into the Gulf, is the ritual that defines a Key West evening. By day, tour the Hemingway Home and Museum and its famous six-toed cats, walk Duval Street's bars and shops, and get your photo at the Southernmost Point buoy. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park on the island's south end pairs a Civil War fort with the best swimming beach in town and good snorkeling right off the sand.
Key West is also a working water town. Fury Key West Watersports and Sunset Watersports Key West run snorkel, reef, and sunset sail trips from the downtown waterfront, and Danger Charters runs sailing and backcountry snorkel excursions. If you would rather fish, Cora Beth Fishing runs small-boat inshore trips for tarpon, permit, and bonefish in the clear flats around the island.
Using Key West as a base for Dry Tortugas
Key West is the only jumping-off point for Dry Tortugas National Park, the remote islands and Fort Jefferson 70 miles west. The Yankee Freedom ferry and the seaplane both leave from here, and the ferry sells out weeks ahead in peak season, so book it before you lock in your Key West nights. A common plan is to arrive, spend a day in town, and give the Tortugas its own full day.
For a place to stay near the action, Opal Key Resort & Marina on Front Street sits on the harbor a short walk from the ferry terminal and the sunset crowds at Mallory Square, which makes an early ferry morning much easier. Book central if you want to leave the car parked the whole visit.
When to come and what to expect
Key West is tropical and warm year round. The winter and early spring dry season, December through April, is peak: warm, dry, and busy, with the highest prices and the biggest crowds around holidays and Fantasy Fest. Summer is hot, humid, and cheaper, with afternoon storms and the calmest, clearest water for snorkeling in flat spells. Hurricane season runs June through November, so watch the forecast if you travel then.
The town runs on a slower, salt-worn rhythm, and the point is to lean into it: an early reef trip, a long lunch, an afternoon at Fort Zachary Taylor, and sunset at Mallory Square. If you are chaining the Keys together on the drive down, break the trip in Islamorada for fishing and waterfront dining before you push on to the end of the road.
Where to eat and drink
Key West runs on seafood, key lime pie, and a long happy hour. Duval Street holds the famous bars, from open-air music joints to the rooftop spots, and it is where the evening tends to drift after sunset at Mallory Square. For daytime, the marinas and back streets hide conch fritters, fresh fish sandwiches, and pie by the slice.
If you are staying at Opal Key Resort & Marina on the harbor, you are within a short walk of the Front Street and Duval action, which keeps the car parked and the night easy. Pace yourself in the heat, drink plenty of water between the frozen drinks, and remember that the point of Key West is the slow lane, not a checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Key West from Miami?
About 3.5 to 4 hours by car down the Overseas Highway (US-1), covering roughly 160 miles through the Keys. Winter weekend traffic can push it longer, so leave early. You can also fly directly into Key West International (EYW).
Do you need a car in Key West?
Not once you arrive. The old town is compact and parking is tight, so most visitors leave the car at the hotel and get around on foot, by bike, or on the Conch Tour Train and Old Town Trolley. You do need a car to drive down from the mainland.
What is the best time to visit Key West?
December through April is the peak dry season: warm, sunny, and busy with the highest prices. Summer is hotter and cheaper with afternoon storms and the clearest snorkeling water in calm spells. Hurricane season runs June through November.
Is Key West a good base for Dry Tortugas?
It is the only base. The Yankee Freedom ferry and the seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park both depart from Key West, and the ferry sells out weeks ahead in peak season, so book it before your other plans.