Sheet 07 · Florida Keys
Key Largo vs Islamorada vs Marathon vs Key West: Where to Stay
Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, the Lower Keys or Key West? An honest comparison of the Keys bases by budget, beaches, drive times, families, couples and nightlife, with split-stay itineraries.
Look at a map of the Florida Keys and it seems like a simple choice: 106 miles of islands strung along one road, with Key West at the end of it, so you stay in Key West. Then you check the room rates for February, notice that the drive from Miami is nearer four hours than two, and realize that half the things you wanted to do — Pennekamp’s reefs, the Seven Mile Bridge, the Turtle Hospital, Bahia Honda’s beach — are nowhere near Duval Street. Working out where to stay in the Florida Keys is really a question about what kind of trip you want, and the four main bases give four very different answers.
This guide compares Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, the Lower Keys around Big Pine and Key West as places to base yourself — atmosphere, beaches, what is on the doorstep, driving times, nightlife, families, couples, budget — and ends with a verdict for each type of traveler and some sample split stays. Hotel price ranges are rough indications from booking sites checked in September 2026; treat them as the right order of magnitude, not a quote, because Keys rates swing enormously by season and by weekend.
The short answer
| If you want… | Stay in… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Diving and snorkeling, short drive from Miami | Key Largo | John Pennekamp and the wrecks on the doorstep, 1 hour 15 minutes from Miami |
| Sportfishing, waterfront dining, upscale resorts | Islamorada | The “Sportfishing Capital of the World,” the best resort hotels outside Key West |
| Families, beaches, a central base | Marathon | Sombrero Beach, the Turtle Hospital, Dolphin Research Center, halfway down the chain |
| Quiet, nature, Bahia Honda and Looe Key | Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys | Key deer, empty roads, the best beach and one of the best reefs in the Keys |
| Nightlife, history, walkable streets, restaurants | Key West | Old Town, Duval Street, sunset at Mallory Square, no car needed |
| A bit of everything | A split stay | Two or three nights at each end, driving the highway in between |
At a glance: the Keys bases side by side
| Key Largo | Islamorada | Marathon | Lower Keys | Key West | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile markers | MM 106–91 | MM 90–72 | MM 63–47 | MM 40–10 | MM 5–0 |
| Drive from Miami airport | About 1 hr 15 min | About 1 hr 45 min | About 2 hr 30 min | About 3 hr | 3 hr 30 min to 4 hr |
| Drive to Key West | About 2 hr 30 min | About 2 hr | About 1 hr 15 min | 30 to 45 min | — |
| Atmosphere | Laid-back, practical, dive town | Polished, fishing-focused, resort-y | Working town, family-friendly | Rural, quiet, natural | Lively, historic, busy |
| Beaches | Few; mostly resort beaches and Pennekamp’s small beaches | A few small ones and resort beaches | Sombrero Beach, one of the best in the Keys | Bahia Honda, the best in the Keys | Several small city beaches |
| Nightlife | Low-key bars | Tiki bars and restaurants | Quiet | Very quiet | The best in the Keys |
| Rough mid-range hotel, winter | $250–$450 | $350–$700+ | $250–$450 | $200–$400 (limited stock) | $350–$600+ |
| Need a car? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
A note on those prices: they are rough ranges for a standard room at a decent mid-range property on a winter weeknight. Weekends, holidays, spring break and big events push them higher; late summer and fall bring them down substantially. Luxury resorts in Islamorada and Key West can run well over $1,000 a night in peak season.
Key Largo: for divers and a short drive
Key Largo is the first island you reach from the mainland and the longest in the chain. For many visitors it is an overnight on the way to somewhere else. That undersells it. If your trip is built around the water — particularly diving and snorkeling — Key Largo is arguably the best base in the Keys.
Why stay here
- The reefs. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, at MM 102.6, protects the reefs offshore — Molasses Reef, French Reef, Grecian Rocks and the Christ of the Abyss statue at Key Largo Dry Rocks. The Spiegel Grove and Duane wrecks are just outside the park.
- Closest to Miami. About an hour and a quarter from Miami International on a good day. For a long weekend, that matters a great deal.
- Value. Room for room, Key Largo is typically cheaper than Islamorada or Key West, with a good range of dive motels and mid-range hotels.
- Bayside sunsets. The Gulf side of the island faces west over Florida Bay, and waterfront bars and resorts make the most of it.
The downsides
- Much of US 1 through Key Largo is a commercial strip of gas stations, shops and chain restaurants. It does not feel like the tropical Keys of the postcards until you get off the highway.
- Few natural beaches. Most “beach” is a resort’s man-made strip of sand or a small park beach.
- Key West is two and a half hours away. It is not a realistic day trip from here.
Where to look
Upscale resorts on the bay side such as Playa Largo Resort & Spa and Baker’s Cay Resort; Kona Kai Resort, an adults-only boutique property with a botanical garden; and a large number of dive motels and small hotels that package rooms with dive trips. Jules’ Undersea Lodge, where you sleep in an underwater habitat reached by scuba, is Key Largo’s novelty.
Best for: divers and snorkelers, weekenders from South Florida, anyone short on time. Our full Key Largo guide and the John Pennekamp State Park guide cover the island in depth.
Islamorada: for fishing and a polished resort stay
Islamorada is not one island but a village spread across several — Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe and Lower Matecumbe — between roughly MM 90 and MM 72. It calls itself the Sportfishing Capital of the World, and the marinas full of charter boats and the taxidermy on the restaurant walls suggest it means it.
Why stay here
- Fishing. Backcountry flats for bonefish, permit and tarpon on one side; offshore for sailfish, mahi-mahi and tuna on the other; and a deep bench of experienced guides.
- The best resorts in the Upper Keys. Islamorada has the most polished, upscale collection of hotels outside Key West, with beaches, spas and good restaurants on site.
- Waterfront dining. More good dockside and tiki-bar restaurants per mile than anywhere else in the chain, many of which will cook your catch.
- Things to do. Feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s of Islamorada, Theater of the Sea, the History of Diving Museum, Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key by kayak, and the sandbars.
The downsides
- It is expensive. Islamorada’s average hotel rates are consistently among the highest in the Keys, rivaling Key West.
- Traffic. US 1 through Islamorada is slow, and turning left across it at busy times can take a while.
- Nightlife is dinner, a few drinks at a tiki bar, and bed. That suits most people who stay here.
Where to look
Cheeca Lodge & Spa, a long-established luxury resort with its own beach and pier; The Moorings Village, a palm-studded collection of cottages and houses with a white-sand beach, popular with couples and photographers; and a range of smaller resorts and motels, from the recently refurbished to the proudly old-fashioned, many with their own docks.
Best for: anglers, couples looking for a comfortable resort, anyone who prioritizes good waterfront dining. See our Islamorada guide for the details.
Marathon: for families and a central base
Marathon, in the Middle Keys between roughly MM 63 and MM 47, is a real working town with a hospital, schools, marinas, supermarkets and a small airport. It lacks Islamorada’s polish and Key West’s character, and it knows it. What it does have is a very practical location, the best beach in the Middle Keys and several of the chain’s best family attractions.
Why stay here
- Location. Right in the middle of the chain. Key West is about an hour and a quarter away, Bahia Honda half an hour, Islamorada about 40 minutes. For a week of day trips, nowhere is more convenient.
- Sombrero Beach. A free, sandy, family-friendly public beach with a playground, shade and calm water.
- Family attractions. The Turtle Hospital, the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key, Crane Point Museum and Nature Center, and the Old Seven Mile Bridge walk to Pigeon Key.
- Value. Rates are generally lower than Islamorada and Key West, and there are plenty of vacation rentals with docks and pools.
The downsides
- US 1 through town is commercial and unlovely.
- Limited nightlife and fine dining compared with Islamorada and Key West.
- It lacks a strong sense of place. People love staying in Marathon; they rarely fall in love with it.
Where to look
Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key, a few miles north of town at MM 61, is the big family resort of the Middle Keys, with pools, a saltwater lagoon, a marina and villas. In Marathon itself, Isla Bella Beach Resort and Tranquility Bay Beach House Resort are upscale beachfront options. Beyond those, the town has a wide choice of vacation rentals, many on canals with boat docks.
Best for: families, groups renting a house, anyone who wants to explore the whole chain without long drives. Our Marathon guide covers the town, and the Seven Mile Bridge guide covers its most famous landmark.
Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys: for nature and quiet
South of the Seven Mile Bridge, the Keys change character. The islands are closer together, lower, greener and much less developed. Between Bahia Honda at MM 37 and the approaches to Key West around MM 10, there are small communities — Big Pine Key, Little Torch Key, Ramrod Key, Summerland Key, Cudjoe Key, Sugarloaf Key — rather than towns. There are no big resorts, few restaurants and very little to do after dark. That is the appeal.
Why stay here
- Bahia Honda State Park. The best beaches in the Keys, with snorkeling, kayaking and camping. See our Bahia Honda State Park guide.
- Looe Key. One of the best reefs in Florida, a short boat ride from Ramrod and Big Pine. Our Looe Key Reef guide has the trips.
- Wildlife. The National Key Deer Refuge, the Blue Hole and the backcountry of the Great White Heron refuge.
- Close enough to Key West. From the southern Lower Keys, Key West is 30 to 45 minutes away — near enough for dinner and sunset, far enough to sleep in peace.
The downsides
- Very limited accommodation. Mostly vacation rentals, small motels and a few distinctive small resorts.
- Few restaurants and shops, and most close early.
- The Key deer speed limits on Big Pine are strictly enforced; driving through is slow.
- Hurricane Irma hit the Lower Keys hardest in 2017, and some properties never reopened.
Where to look
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, a very expensive, adults-oriented private island resort reached only by boat from Little Torch Key; Parmer’s Resort on Little Torch Key, a longtime family-run waterfront motel; Looe Key Reef Resort on Ramrod Key, a no-frills base for divers; and a wide range of canal-front vacation homes. Camping at Bahia Honda is excellent if you can get a site — our Key West camping guide covers availability and booking.
Best for: nature lovers, snorkelers, couples who want peace, anyone who wants to visit Key West without staying in it. See our Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys guide.
Key West: for everything at the end of the road
Key West is the reason most people come to the Keys, and it is a different world from the rest of the chain: a dense, walkable, historic small city with Victorian houses, hundreds of bars and restaurants, museums, the Hemingway Home, sunset at Mallory Square and a nightlife scene that runs until four in the morning. You do not need a car here, and you will not want one; parking is expensive and scarce.
Why stay here
- Walkability. Old Town is compact enough to walk or bike everywhere.
- Restaurants and nightlife. Far and away the best and most varied in the Keys.
- History and culture. Museums, historic houses, tours, galleries and festivals all year.
- Trips from the harbor. The ferry and seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park, sunset sails, snorkel boats and fishing charters.
- Flights. Key West International Airport has direct flights from several US cities, so you can skip the long drive entirely.
The downsides
- It is the most expensive place to stay in the Keys in most seasons, and minimum stays at busy times are common.
- Duval Street can be loud, crowded and rowdy, especially on weekends and during events like Fantasy Fest.
- Beaches are small and mostly artificial. For the Keys’ best sand, you have to drive an hour north.
- Four hours from Miami by car, with the rest of the Keys a long way behind you.
Best for: first-time visitors, couples, groups of friends, anyone who wants restaurants, bars and history within walking distance. Choosing a hotel and a neighborhood in Key West is a subject in its own right: see our where to stay in Key West guide and the Key West neighborhoods guide.
Head to head
Key Largo vs Islamorada
They are only 20 to 30 minutes apart, so this is largely about budget and taste. Key Largo is cheaper, closer to Miami and better placed for Pennekamp’s reefs. Islamorada is prettier, more upscale, better for fishing and has better restaurants. Divers on a budget: Key Largo. Couples wanting a resort and a good dinner: Islamorada.
Islamorada vs Marathon
Islamorada is more polished and more expensive; Marathon is more practical, more central and better for families on a budget. Islamorada has better restaurants; Marathon has the better public beach. If you want a resort experience, choose Islamorada. If you want a rental house with a dock and a base for exploring, choose Marathon.
Marathon vs Key West
This is the classic dilemma for families. Key West has more to do, but is more expensive, more adult-oriented after dark and farther from beaches and nature. Marathon is cheaper, calmer, has a proper family beach and is closer to the rest of the Keys — but Key West is a 75-minute drive away. With young children, Marathon is usually the better base, with one or two long day trips to Key West. Our Key West with kids guide helps if you choose Key West.
Lower Keys vs Key West
If you like the idea of Key West but not the idea of sleeping in it, a rental on Sugarloaf, Cudjoe or Summerland Key is the answer: 30 to 45 minutes from Old Town, far quieter, often cheaper, and with room for a boat or kayaks. The trade-off is the drive back after dinner — and one person staying sober to do it.
Verdicts by type of traveler
| Traveler | Best base | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| First-time visitor, one base only | Key West | Marathon |
| Long weekend from Miami or Fort Lauderdale | Key Largo | Islamorada |
| Scuba divers | Key Largo | Lower Keys (Looe Key) |
| Snorkelers | Lower Keys | Key Largo |
| Anglers | Islamorada | Marathon |
| Families with young children | Marathon | Islamorada |
| Families with teenagers | Key West | Marathon |
| Couples and honeymooners | Key West or Islamorada | Little Palm Island |
| Nightlife | Key West | Nowhere else comes close |
| Nature and quiet | Lower Keys | Islamorada’s quieter corners |
| Beach lovers | Lower Keys (Bahia Honda) | Marathon (Sombrero) |
| Travelers on a budget | Marathon | Key Largo |
| No car | Key West | — |
| Cyclists riding the length of the Keys | A new base every night | — |
For cyclists, our Overseas Heritage Trail guide suggests a four-night itinerary with overnight stops.
Split stays: the best of both ends
With a week or more, the best Keys trip is usually a split stay, because moving base once or twice cuts the driving and lets you see both the quiet islands and Key West properly. Some combinations that work well:
7 nights: Islamorada and Key West
- Nights 1–3, Islamorada. Fishing or snorkeling, feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s, kayaking to Indian Key, dinner on the water.
- Drive day. Stop at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, walk the Old Seven Mile Bridge, swim at Bahia Honda.
- Nights 4–7, Key West. Old Town, sunset at Mallory Square, a day at Dry Tortugas.
7 nights: Marathon and Key West (families)
- Nights 1–4, Marathon. Sombrero Beach, the Turtle Hospital, the Dolphin Research Center, a day trip to Bahia Honda.
- Nights 5–7, Key West. The Conch Tour Train, the aquarium, the Butterfly Conservatory, Fort Zachary Taylor beach.
10 nights: the whole chain
- Nights 1–3, Key Largo. Pennekamp reef trips and a wreck dive.
- Nights 4–6, Marathon or Islamorada. Fishing, beaches and the Middle Keys attractions.
- Nights 7–10, Key West or the Lower Keys. Looe Key, Bahia Honda, Key deer, then Old Town.
A practical tip for split stays: fly into Miami and out of Key West, or the reverse. One-way car rentals between the two airports are widely available, and they save you from driving the whole highway twice. Our Miami to Key West guide compares driving, flying, the bus and the ferry.
Hotels, resorts or vacation rentals?
- Resorts make most sense in Islamorada, Key Largo and Key West, where the best properties have beaches, pools and restaurants on site. Check resort fees and parking charges, which can add a substantial amount per night.
- Vacation rentals are the best value for families and groups, especially in Marathon and the Lower Keys, where a canal-front house with a pool and a dock often costs less than two hotel rooms. Check minimum-stay rules and cleaning fees. Our Key West vacation rentals guide explains the local rental rules, which are stricter inside the city.
- Motels and small inns are everywhere up the chain and can be excellent value — or tired and overpriced. Read recent reviews, and look at when a property was last renovated.
- Camping at the state parks is the cheapest way to stay on the water, if you can get a reservation.
When to book, and what it costs
Prices across all of the Keys follow the same broad pattern:
| Period | Demand | Prices | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas to Easter | Peak, especially February–March and spring break | Highest | Several months ahead |
| Late April to July | Moderate; lobster mini-season and July 4 spike | Mid-range | A few weeks to months ahead |
| August to mid-October | Lowest, peak hurricane season | Lowest, often much lower | Short notice possible; buy travel insurance |
| Late October to mid-December | Moderate; Fantasy Fest in Key West in late October | Mid-range, spikes for events | Weeks ahead; months for Fantasy Fest |
For month-by-month detail, see our best time to visit Key West guide, and for a full breakdown of what a trip costs, the Key West trip cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best place to stay in the Florida Keys?
It depends on the trip. Key West is best for first-timers, nightlife and walkability; Islamorada for fishing and upscale resorts; Key Largo for diving and a short drive from Miami; Marathon for families and a central base; and the Lower Keys for nature, quiet and the best beach.
Is it better to stay in Key West or the Upper Keys?
Stay in Key West if you want restaurants, bars, history and the ability to go everywhere on foot. Stay in the Upper Keys — Key Largo or Islamorada — if your priorities are diving, fishing, resort relaxation and a shorter drive from Miami. With a week or more, do both.
Which part of the Florida Keys has the best beaches?
The Lower Keys, thanks to Bahia Honda State Park, which has the best natural beaches in the chain. Sombrero Beach in Marathon is the best free public beach in the Middle Keys. Key Largo and Key West have mostly small or man-made beaches.
Where should families stay in the Florida Keys?
Marathon is the best all-round base for families with young children: a proper public beach, family attractions like the Turtle Hospital and Dolphin Research Center, lots of rental houses and a central location. Hawks Cay Resort on nearby Duck Key is the Middle Keys’ big family resort.
What is the cheapest place to stay in the Florida Keys?
Generally Marathon and Key Largo, followed by the Lower Keys. Islamorada and Key West are the most expensive. Everywhere is significantly cheaper from August to mid-October, which is also peak hurricane season.
Can you do day trips to Key West from other Keys?
From the Lower Keys (30 to 45 minutes) and Marathon (about an hour and a quarter), yes, easily. From Islamorada it is two hours each way, and from Key Largo two and a half — possible, but a very long day. See our Key West day trips guide for trips in the other direction.
Do I need a car in the Florida Keys?
Outside Key West, yes. The towns are spread out along US 1 and public transport between them is limited. In Key West itself, a car is more of a burden than a help; walk, bike or use a scooter.
How many days do you need in the Florida Keys?
Three or four days is enough for Key West alone. To see the Keys properly, with a split stay and the drive down the highway, allow a week to ten days.
Related Key West Guides
- Where to stay in Key West — hotels, inns and resorts at the end of the road
- Key West neighborhoods — Old Town, Truman Annex, New Town and beyond
- The Florida Keys beyond Key West — every island on the chain
- Key Largo guide — the diving capital of the Keys
- Islamorada guide — fishing, resorts and waterfront dining
- Marathon Florida Keys — the family-friendly middle
- Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys — nature and quiet
- Drive to Key West — the Overseas Highway, stop by stop
Photo Credits
Key Largo marina at dusk: A Key Largo marina at dusk by Baron Maddock, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Anchorage Resort on Blackwater Sound, Key Largo: Anchorage Resort & Yacht Club, Blackwater Sound, Key Largo, Florida by Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Whale Harbor marina, Islamorada: Florida Keys Scenic Highway – Whale Harbor Marina in Islamorada – NARA – 7718463 by Unknown author Unknown author or not provided, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources & corrections
Rates, hours and closures verified against operator listings and on-island visits. Prices are peak-season unless noted.
