Up the Keys — Big Pine, Marathon, Islamorada, Key Largo
The day trips locals actually take.
The Florida Keys are 113 miles of bridges and islands. Most visitors never leave Key West — but the best snorkeling, the calmest sandbars, the most under-fished waters are 20–80 miles up. Big Pine has the Key Deer refuge and Bahia Honda Beach (regularly voted Florida's best). Marathon has the Turtle Hospital and Sombrero Reef. Islamorada is the sport-fishing capital of the world. Key Largo has Christ of the Abyss.
Bahia Honda State Park is a 50-minute drive from Old Town and worth the entire day. Pack a cooler. The old bridge ruins are climbable for the best photo in the Keys.
Do I need a car?+
Yes. There is no real public transit up the Keys. Greyhound runs once a day; rental car or scooter is the only practical way.
How long is the drive?+
Big Pine: 30 min. Marathon: 50 min. Islamorada: 1h 30. Key Largo: 2h 15. Mile markers count down as you head south, so MM 0 is Key West and MM 106 is Key Largo.
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