Skip to Content

Day Trippin' › Florida › From Key West

Day trips from Key West

From Key West, the Hemingway Home, Mallory Square, the Southernmost Point and Fort Zachary Taylor are minutes away, the Dry Tortugas ferry under 10, Pigeon Key about 40, Bahia Honda State Park under 50, and the National Key Deer Refuge under an hour. The best day trips from Key West, by drive time.

31 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.

10 day trips from Key West

  1. Pigeon Key 39 min northeast
  2. Bahia Honda State Park 48 min east
  3. National Key Deer Refuge 52 min northeast
  4. The Turtle Hospital 1 hr 1 min east
  5. Crane Point Museum and Nature Center 1 hr 3 min east
  6. Curry Hammock State Park 1 hr 13 min east
  7. History of Diving Museum 1 hr 42 min east
  8. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park 2 hr 12 min northeast
  9. Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park 2 hr 14 min northeast
  10. Robert Is Here 2 hr 40 min northeast

Within an hour from Key West 3 spots

Beach · 48 min east

Bahia Honda State Park

Some of the best natural beaches in the Keys, plus a view from the old railroad bridge.

  • Half day · Easy
  • Year-round
  • Florida State Parks fee per vehicle (check)

Wildlife · 52 min northeast

National Key Deer Refuge

See tiny Key deer on Big Pine Key, and watch for gators at the Blue Hole, an old quarry pond.

  • 1-2 hrs · Easy
  • Year-round; nature center Wed-Sat
  • Free (check)

Historic site · 39 min northeast

Pigeon Key

Walk or bike the restored Old Seven Mile Bridge to a tiny island that housed the railroad builders.

  • Half day · Easy
  • Open daily except major holidays
  • ? (check)

1 to 2 hours from Key West 12 spots

Wildlife · 1 hr 1 min east

The Turtle Hospital

See sick and injured sea turtles being treated and released in Marathon. Guided tours only.

  • 1-2 hrs · Easy
  • Year-round
  • ? (check)

Hike · 1 hr 3 min east

Crane Point Museum and Nature Center

Trails and boardwalks through tropical forest, historic houses, a bird center and a museum in Marathon.

  • Half day · Easy
  • ? (check)
  • ? (check)

Beach · 1 hr 13 min east

Curry Hammock State Park

Uncrowded beach and calm water in Marathon. Good kayaking.

  • 2-3 hrs · Easy
  • Year-round
  • Florida State Parks fee per vehicle (check)

Museum · 1 hr 42 min east

History of Diving Museum

Old diving helmets and gear from around the world in Islamorada. A good rainy day stop.

  • 1-2 hrs · Easy
  • Open daily
  • ? (check)

Family fun · 1 hr 44 min east

Theater of the Sea

Marine park in an old quarry with dolphin and sea lion shows and a lagoon beach.

  • Half day · Easy
  • Open 365 days
  • Age 11+ $49.95, age 3-10 $32.95 (checked Nov 2026)

State park · 1 hr 45 min east

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park

Walk an old quarry where you can see fossil coral up close in the walls.

  • 1-2 hrs · Easy
  • ? (check)
  • ? (check)

Wildlife · 1 hr 14 min east

Dolphin Research Center

Nonprofit center in Grassy Key where you can watch dolphin and sea lion sessions and learn about them.

  • 2-3 hrs · Easy
  • Open daily
  • ? (check)

State park · 1 hr 24 min east

Long Key State Park

Oceanfront park with a paddling trail through mangroves and an observation tower.

  • 2-3 hrs · Easy
  • Year-round
  • Florida State Parks fee per vehicle (check)

See all 12 on the map

2 to 3 hours from Key West 8 spots

State park · 2 hr 12 min northeast

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

America's first undersea park, with glass-bottom boats and snorkel trips to the reef off Key Largo.

  • Full day · Easy
  • Year-round
  • Florida State Parks fee per vehicle (check)

Hike · 2 hr 14 min northeast

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

Quiet trails through rare tropical hardwood hammock in north Key Largo.

  • 1-2 hrs · Easy
  • Year-round
  • ? (check)

Food town · 2 hr 40 min northeast

Robert Is Here

Famous Homestead fruit stand known for fresh tropical fruit milkshakes. A perfect stop on the way to the Everglades or Keys.

  • 1-2 hrs · Easy
  • Seasonal (check)
  • Free entry

Historic site · 2 hr 43 min northeast

Coral Castle

Mysterious coral rock sculptures and buildings carved by one man in the 1920s to 1940s.

  • 1-2 hrs · Easy
  • Open daily
  • ? (check)

Family fun · 2 hr 46 min northeast

Everglades Alligator Farm

Gator shows, hundreds of alligators and airboat rides near Homestead. Good with kids.

  • 2-3 hrs · Easy
  • Open daily
  • ? (check)

Zoo · 3 hr northeast

Zoo Miami

Florida's largest zoo, with open habitats for elephants, giraffes and Florida animals.

  • Full day · Easy to moderate
  • Year-round
  • ? (check)

National park · 2 hr 53 min northeast

Biscayne National Park

A park that is 95 percent water, with coral reefs, islands and shipwrecks. Start at the visitor center and take a boat tour.

  • Half day · Easy
  • Year-round; best in winter
  • No entrance fee (checked Nov 2026); docking fees on islands

Historic site · 2 hr 58 min northeast

Deering Estate

Historic bayfront estate with nature trails, mangroves and old homes south of Miami.

  • 2-3 hrs · Easy
  • Year-round (check)
  • ? (check)
Get a day trip idea every Friday Three ideas for the weekend, one each for Washington, Oregon and Arizona, with a link to plan the day. Free. Unsubscribe any time.

Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 33040 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.