Florida Keys and Key West Information

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Travel and Explore The Florida Keys and Key West

• Visit Ramrod Key
• Visit the Torch Keys
• Visit Big Pine Key
• Visit No Name Key
• Visit Summerland Key

The Florida Keys are an outdoor play land with 4 National Wildlife Refuges on land and water and a National Marine Sanctuary that surrounds the islands on both the Atlantic and Gulf, making the Keys one of the most pristine places in the Continental US for viewing wildlife on land or on the water. Fishing, diving, boating, and sailing can be enjoyed almost every day. And don't forget our Keys sunrises and sunsets; one is more spectacular than the other. And if it's Key West night life and culture you are looking for, Key West has some of the finest restaurants, night clubs and music venues to finish off your day.

The Florida Keys consist of a chain of islands, connected by 42 Bridges that begin at the southern border of Miami Dade County and extents more that 126 miles to the Southern most point in the Continental United States, Key West. The Keys highway mile markers are commonly used for reference throughout the Keys as anyone who has traveled down the Overseas Highway has noticed. A drive down US Route 1 is a great way to experience the beauty of the surrounding waters and local color.

The Keys are divided into three area's Upper, Middle, and the Lower Keys. The Upper Keys begin just below Biscayne Bay however the Florida Keys experience for many begins on the drive down the 18 Mile Stretch. An area of transitional wetlands where the The Florida Everglades, Florida Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean meet. The 18 Mile Stretch is one of two roads that connects mainland Florida with the Florida Keys. The other is Card Sound Road a little longer and slower trip that also has a toll bridge on it.

Once through the stretch, you enter Key Largo, MM (mile marker) 107.2. The proximity to the Mainland makes Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada, and Upper and Lower Matecumbe, a popular weekend destination for many from the mainland. It also affords residents a short drive and to put it as locals do, "get off the rock".

The Middle Keys begin at MM 71.8, heading South on US 1, also known as the Overseas Highway, you will find Duck Key located at MM 60 Oceanside. Duck Key is a mix of residential homes and the Resort at Hawks Cay, a leading Keys Resort that incorporates town homes and villas, into its resort. The island also offers waterfront and non waterfront homes and deep water access. A little further south you will come upon the City of Marathon also known as Key Vacca. The first area of the city you will see is Grassy Key, primarily a bay front community with several resorts located ocean side on the Oversea Highway. Next you will come upon Key Colony Beach, a resort town with exclusive beach front living and canal homes, located Oceanside at MM 53.5. The City of Marathon continues south to MM 47 where the 7 Mile Bridge begins. Most day trippers tend to stay above the 7 mile bridge.

Once across the bridge you enter the Lower Keys, Here you will find Little Duck Key, Missouri Key, Ohio Key also known as Sunshine Key which hosts one of the Keys largest waterfront camping destinations and marina. Next at MM 36 is Bahia Honda Key, which hosts Bahia Honda State Park. The beach at the park is consistently ranked one of the top ten beaches in the world. No Name Key a community living off of the grid, lies just to the northeast of Big Pine Key. Continuing south past Big Pine Key are the Torch Keys, Little Torch Key, Middle Torch Key and Big Torch Key. Then on to Ramrod Key, Summerland Key, Cudjoe Key, where some of the deepest boating access canals are located in the Lower Keys. Then onto Sugarloaf Key which has both ocean front and bay front communities. Saddlebunch Keys, Shark Key, Geiger Key, Big Coppitt Key, East Rockland Key, Rockland Key, Boca Chica Key where Naval Air Station Key West is located, Key Haven, Stock Island, Key West, Sigsbee Park, Fleming Key. The Overseas Highway ends at MM 0 which is located on Truman and White Street in Key West. Sigsbee Park a Naval housing base and Fleming Key also a military installation lay to the west of the island of Key West.

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