Key West, the southernmost point in the United States, offers the perfect mix of sandy beaches, vibrant culture, and fun nightlife. Spending one day in Key West is nowhere near enough time, but you can certainly make the time you have into a wonderful adventure.
Due to strong winds, My husband and I found ourselves with an unexpected free day to explore the island. We had originally scheduled a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, excited to explore Fort Jefferson and snorkel in the blue waters.
However, upon check in we were offered a refund as the ride to the fort would have been quite choppy and no snorkeling was allowed. While disappointed not to explore this less-visited National Park, we were quite excited to have a day to explore Key West.
This post provides everything you need to know about Key West, including suggestions of the best things to do if you only have a day in this beautiful place.
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Where is Key West?
The Florida Keys lie along Highway 1 (also known as the Overseas Highway) and are made up of Key Largo, Islamorada, Big Pine Key, Marathon, and the southernmost key, Key West.
Where to Stay in Key West:
While Key West is only 7.2 square miles, there are plenty of lodging options from popular hotel brands to adorable B&Bs.
Sam and I arrived in Key West the evening before we were due to head to Dry Tortugas National Park, traveling about four hours from our hotel near Fort Lauderdale. We spent the night at a great hotel, 24 North Hotel. With the temperature chilly and very windy, we did not get a chance to try out the glistening pool, but we did grab a drink at the outdoor Toasted Coconut Bar. The rooms were a bit run-down from the salty air, but cozy and the price for the night couldn’t be beat.
Additional properties to check out during your stay in Key West include:
– Truman Hotel (boutique hotel with outdoor pool and modern rooms)
– Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Key West at The Keys Collection (shuttle service provided to Old Town)
– Key West Bed and Breakfast (near parks, beaches, and gardens)
Booking.comHow to Get to Key West:
Surprisingly, there are several ways to get to Key West depending on your preferred mode of transport. If you are roadtripping within the United States, the Overseas Highway will take you the 113 miles through the Florida Keys to Key West. The drive takes approximately four hours one way, but there are numerous wonderful stops along the way.
If you prefer to fly, consider flying into the Key West International Airport, eliminating the need for a rental while visiting Key West. Airlines like Delta, American, and United fly directly to Key West.
If you’re looking for a cheaper options, consider flying into Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport or Miami International Airport and driving the Overseas Highway to Key West.
A unique way to get to Key West is via the Key West Express via a jet-powered catamaran. The boats leave from Fort Meyers and Marco Island and takes about four hours, and pets are allowed for an additional fee.
Top Things to Do in Key West:
Visit Mallory Square
Home to the world famous sunset celebration, Mallory Square is one of the most popular spots to visit in Key West. It’s quite literally a giant, empty square on the water that is quiet and empty in the morning, but by the time the afternoon and evening rolls around, is bustling with activity.
Every evening it houses a Sunset Celebration where visitors gather to see local vendors, musicians, artists, and more. The area is also known as the hub of Key West’s social and commercial life, so you’ll find plenty of events, attractions, and hotels around Mallory Square.
Explore Key West by Bike
While Key West is only about 4 miles long and 1 mile wide, you can end of walking quite a bit during your time on the island. I highly recommend renting bikes to see more of the island. Sam and I decided bikes were a must to really get the full Key West experience.
There are several places that offer bike rentals and if you are staying in Key West, your hotel or resort likely offers bike rentals. While walking back to get sub-par breakfast at Harpoon Harry’s, we happened upon a bike rental shop, WeCycle and rented two single-speed cruisers for the day.
Bikes are very popular on the island, but you must use caution as cars are zooming around you. And don’t forget to watch out for the roaming roosters that are famous in Key West!
Spend an Afternoon at the Beach
Key West is home to several incredible beaches. The two most popular spots for laying out and enjoying the water are Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and Smathers Beach.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is located near the southern tip of Key West and is the perfect spot for a beach day. Along with a large beach area complete with concessions, a gift shop, and beach rentals, the park also has bike paths, hiking trails, and a Civil War era fort.
The park entrance fee is $6 per vehicle or $2.50 per person if arriving on foot or bike. I love that the park entrance has a dedicated bike lane.
Even with the colder weather, the beach had gathered a small crowd by early afternoon. The beach area was great and the water was beautiful, but the shore was a bit rocky, making it somewhat difficult to enter the water. Not to mention, the water was freezing!
Smathers Beach, located on the south side of Key West, is the largest public beach on the island and sees over 150,000 visitors annually. The beach is about a half of mile in length and offers restrooms, changing rooms, volleyball nets, and jet ski rentals.
While there is no charge to enjoy the area, parking at the beach costs $5 per hour.
Take a Photo at the Southernmost Point
Key West is the (unofficial) Southernmost Point, located at the intersection of South and Whitehead Streets. Okay, I know it is not technically the Southernmost Point of the United States, or even of the lower 48 states, but we were so close to the unofficial point we had to make a stop.
The location is marked by a large, colorful buoy, painted to commemorate the Southernmost point. It’s free to visit, but be prepared to wait in line if you want a photo with the buoy. There was a decent-sized line to get a photo when I visited, so I snapped a solo-buoy photo before realizing I was standing next to this guy with a super cool bike.
Turns out, this guy had just completed his months-long bike ride from Washington to Key West. He gave Sam some tips on how to prepare for a long bike ride and we left him to celebrate the completion of his journey.
Enjoy a Duval Street Bar Crawl
Any visit to Key West should include a walk up Duval Street, located in Old Town. The street is the heart of Key West, filled with vibrant nightlife, culture, and tourists.
I was so excited to hit up Duval Street for a mini bar crawl. Earlier in the day we had passed a bar with a balcony and Sam was hooked. That was stop one!
On the way up to the second floor porch, we heard that there were actually three bars – The Bull, Whistle Bar, and Garden of Eden. I decided to check out the third floor while Sam ordered our drinks.
I should have bought that round.
Turns out third floor is clothing optional, hence the no photography and no naughty business on premises signs. I got to the third floor and was a bit surprised to see a man taking off his towel to reveal his man parts. I quickly made my way back downstairs.
Needless to say, there is something for everyone at that bar. We thoroughly enjoyed the second floor as we sat outside and people-watched while overlooking Duval Street.
Next up was Fogarty’s Restaurant & the Flying Monkeys Saloon, right across the street from Whistle Bar. Here we enjoyed a drink and a delicious house salad with grilled chicken. Although I’m not much of a hard-liquor drinker, this place had just about any frozen drink you could ask for. They also offered a virgin option as well.
After some food, I was more than ready for dessert. On the next block over we found ourselves a Hard Rock Café that was very empty – I needed to sit inside as the wind was picking up. The Banana-Split Sundae was AMAZING! I stuffed myself with more calories than I even want to think about (totally worth it!) and Sam and I reflected on the wonderful day we had.
Post-banana-split I was ready to slip into a sugar coma so we hit the road and headed back to the Fort Lauderdale Area.
Overall Impression:
I highly recommend a visit to Key West. From our pre-trip research, Sam and I weren’t expecting much from Key West, but we were quickly persuaded that more than a day should be allotted to truly experience all that Key West has to offer! I loved the lively atmosphere of Duval Street paralleled with the relaxing environment at the beach. Make sure to check out my posts on Jekyll Island, GA and Tampa, FL for additional awesome beach destinations.
