Best Stops in the Florida Keys
Our road trip through the Florida Keys was one of the best road trips we’ve ever gone on. We stopped at pristine white sand beaches, coconut groves, a deer park, Florida’s largest seashell shop, vegan smoothie spots, coral reef parks, and incredible snorkeling spots. Read on to discover the best stops in the Florida Keys.
The following are organized moving north to south for your planning convenience!
Biscayne National Park
Biscayne National Park contains the northernmost islands in the Florida Keys. It’s a great place to stop if you love supporting our beautiful National Parks, want to visit a place that’s 95% underwater, or if you’re starting your Florida Keys road trip from Miami. Schedule eco-friendly boat tours in advance through the National Park Service’s website.
Key Largo
Key Largo is a great introduction to the rest of the Keys. We stopped at the scratch-made kitchen Seaside Eatery for smoothies, wraps, and Açai bowls, all of which can be made gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, etc. From there, we stopped into Shell World, one of the largest seashell shops in the South. John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park is a perfect spot to snorkel, SCUBA dive, or relax at the beach.
Islamorada
Snorkel, swim, feed fish, and enjoy a slower pace in Islamorada. Island Home & Garden has an excellent selection of plants and garden decor (you know how much I love gardens!). Pierre’s is a Spanish colonial-style restaurant with an extensive menu of elegant seafood dishes, perfect for those seeking a more refined dining experience.
Long Key State Park
Located on Long Key, this gorgeous state park offers glamourous beach camping, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, hiking, and other beach activities.
Marathon & Seven Mile Bridge
This is such a fun part of the Florida Keys! Once the world’s longest segmented concrete bridge, the Old Seven Mile Bridge (what you can see decaying in the distance) has been recently converted into a biking and walking path on the portion that is still maintained. The rest is falling into the sea beside the newer stretch of highway. It’s a popular recreation area. Fun fact: the Seven Mile Bridge is actually 6.75 miles long, not quite a full 7.
Above: Old Seven Mile Bridge, Sailing Channel
Above: New Seven Mile Bridge
Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda Key is home to one of Southern Florida’s prettiest state parks: Bahia Honda State Park. We had a picnic here, waded, and watched snorkelers explore the coral reef. There’s a museum about the area’s natural beauty and history, spots to rent snorkeling gear, kayaks, and more, plus a snack stand, marina, and much more. It would be easy to spend a day or two here!
Little Palm Island
Home to one of Florida’s most exclusive and luxurious resorts, Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, a 3-Michelin-key resort, it’s the ultimate Florida Keys getaway. Not only is it the United States’ ony private island resort, it’s a Relais & Chateaux property, so you can trust it will be an excellent stay. Stay tuned to learn more about arriving by seaplane, private beachfronts, and exploring coral reefs.
Key West
We visited one of my best friends in Key West, and we had such a great time! We visited The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Key West Gardens at Fort West Martello, visited the Ernest Hemingway House, dined at great spots like Dorada at Casa Marina, Café Marquesa, and Louie’s Backyard, and fit so many incredible things into four and a half days. I hope we can visit again soon!
Dry Tortugas National Park
Accessible only by seaplane or a three-hour boat ride, Dry Tortugas is one of the United States’ least visited and most remote National Parks. This 101-square-mile park is home to coral reefs, the unfinished Fort Jefferson, and incredible stargazing for overnight campers. It’s a beautiful place to uniquely experience the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea.
Bring lots of sunscreen, snacks, water, and any snorkeling gear you don’t want to borrow or rent. I recommend booking your transportation at least 3 months in advance– the ferry sells out months in advance!
Explore my adventures in the Florida Keys, Florida, and the United States.
