Florida Keys: What You Need to Know Before You Go

When people talk about Florida Keys, a 127-mile stretch of tropical islands connecting southern Florida to the open ocean. Also known as the Keys, it's not just a road trip—it's a gateway to snorkeling over coral reefs, fishing off wooden piers, and sleeping where the sun sets into the Gulf of Mexico. Unlike crowded Orlando or busy Miami, the Keys move at their own pace. You won’t find big theme parks here. Instead, you’ll find small towns like Key West, Marathon, and Islamorada, each with its own flavor—whether it’s sunset cocktails at Mallory Square, spotting dolphins in the bay, or grabbing a fresh conch fritter from a roadside shack.

The Florida Keys, a chain of islands formed by ancient coral reefs and limestone. Also known as the Overseas Highway region, are connected by 42 bridges, including the famous Seven Mile Bridge. This makes driving through them feel like cruising through a living postcard. But it’s not all sunshine: the Keys are vulnerable to hurricanes, sea level rise, and heavy tourist traffic in winter. Locals know the best times to visit—late spring or early fall—when the weather’s still warm, the crowds are thin, and prices drop. If you’ve been to Sanibel Island or the Gulf Coast, you might expect similar beaches. But the Keys are different. The water is clearer, the marine life is richer, and the vibe is more isolated. You won’t find Walmart here. You’ll find family-run dive shops, lobster shacks, and art galleries run by retirees who moved here 30 years ago and never left.

People come for the water, but they stay for the rhythm. The Keys don’t rush. They don’t advertise. They just are. That’s why real travelers keep coming back—not for Instagram spots, but for the quiet mornings on Bahia Honda Beach, the sound of conch shells clinking on a dock, or the way the sky turns orange over the Atlantic as the fishing boats head out. You’ll find stories here about people who moved here to escape the mainland, started businesses with $500 and a kayak, or turned their garage into a lobster roll stand. These aren’t tourist traps. They’re real lives lived on the edge of the ocean.

What you’ll find below are real traveler experiences, honest reviews, and practical tips about the Florida Keys—everything from where to find the cheapest boat rentals to which spots are closed after storms, and how to avoid the overpriced tourist traps. No fluff. No hype. Just what you need to know before you pack your bags.