The Florida Keys have long been hailed as the perfect blend of deep blue Gulf Caribbean water and the unpredictable Atlantic.
The four-mile-long Key West is the exotic endpoint of the 120 miles long Florida Keys island chain.
Florida was originally inhabited by Calusa and Tequesta Indians.
Juan Ponce de León named and claimed the area in 1513.
In the early 19th century, the Bahamians and later Mystic, Connecticut families built the first European settlements in the Keys.
Key West, also known as the Conch Republic, includes the southernmost point in the United States.
It boasts Flora-Caribbean cuisine, sunny beaches, historic sites, and a distinct pastel landscape.
Chicken and roosters have free range on the island, and Hemingway’s cats are pampered polydactyls.
The beauty of Key West is built on a coral base, and the unique geography of the sandy outcrop is the ideal place for amazing blue waters and a water-infused lifestyle.
10 Best Beaches in Key West
1. Higgs Beach
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park (Higgs Beach) is a lively Key West beach.
Part of a larger Key West playground, its golden sands are idyllic, offering a spot of sun and a refreshing dip.
A weathered pier stretches out into the Atlantic, where anglers and ray spotters perch.
Volleyball and tennis courts soothe any need for waterless activity.
Higgs vendors offer all manner of beach and water gear.
Nearby are come-as-you-are grills and bars with necessary amenities and free parking.
Higgs Beach is also home to the country’s only underwater marine park and the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail terminus.
2. South Beach
If you are looking for the United States’ southern edge, head to South Beach.
Just at the end of Duval Street, you will see the famous Southernmost Point Marker.
This anchored striped buoy represents the southernmost point in the continental U.S.
The inscription is – “90 miles to Cuba.” (That is an awfully long way to go for a mojito). Psst, don’t forget the selfie!
South Beach is a small sandy tourist haven.
With limited space for swimming, fishing, and SUP.
But it is beach-worthy or at least a good place to meet for lunch at the nearby Southernmost Beach Café.
It’s also a great starting or ending point for the infamous Duval Crawl.
This pub crawl covers Duval Street, a strip of Key West’s best bars and venues.
3. Smathers Beach
Smathers Beach stretches two miles along the Atlantic side of Key West at the end of South Roosevelt Boulevard.
A spring break mecca, it is some of Key West’s largest and most active white sand stretches on the island Play volleyball, talk a run, or find a spot to read your Kindle.
For the more adventurous, vendors offer parasail or Hobie Cat experiences.
And vendors rent everything from umbrellas to kayaks.
Unfortunately, parking at Smathers Beach isn’t free, but the sand is, as are the facilities.
This man-made playground is open 24 hours a day.
Lifeguards stay on duty during the day.
Nearby, casual beach bars offer frosty lagers and front-row seating for the ephemeral blood-orange Key West sunsets.
4. Fort Zachary Taylor Beach
Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is a Key West favorite.
A fixture on the Gulf of Mexico side, its shallow waters are great for water-infused days.
For first-timers, the sandy shore is coral based a bit hard on bare feet.
But most locals agree that Fort Zachary Taylor Beach has some of the best shore diving and snorkeling on the island.
For those that prefer a mindful stroll through the palms, the area is crisis-crossed with inviting nature trails.
The beach, on the western tip of the island, is actually part of Fort Zachary State Park.
Its decommissioned military fort is an iconic Key West landmark.
5. Rest Beach
Key West is a sandy paradise.
But if you’re looking for quieter sands, X.B. Harvey Rest Beach is the place.
Bordered by Higgs Beach and Edward B. Knight Pier, Rest Beach is just minutes from downtown.
This sabulous palm-lined oasis extends along Atlantic Boulevard near the end of White Street.
It’s an easy gateway to sunning, splashing, and small craft play.
And because of the island tides, it is a shell collector’s dream.
Rest Beach is also a superb spot for shore and pier fishing.
Its peaceful proximity to Key West nightlife makes its compact 300-yard-long locale ideal for greeting the morning or saying goodnight to our luminary star.
Best of all, the beach is open 24 hours a day for that impromptu after-dinner stroll.
6. Simonton Street Beach
Simonton Street Beach is a small soft sand beach near Key West Bright and Sunset Key.
Kind of a local thing; it is frequented by families.
It is a great wading or sunning spot.
Perfect for anyone who just wants a bit of fresh air.
Simonton Street Beach has a modest playground and a picnic pavilion.
Umbrellaed tables provide shade for watchful parents.
And the horizons offer vistas of clear blue Atlantic waters.
One of the perks of this small hideaway is a boat ramp for easy in and out.
7. Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is a truly special place.
Technically it’s its own Key, the Dry Tortugas are about an hour’s boat ride from Key West, past the Marquesas.
Dry Tortugas consist of sand bars, coral reefs, and insanely clear blue waters.
Abundant wildlife above and below the waterline provides some of the area’s best snorkeling and diving.
Tortugas means ‘turtles.’ And without fresh water, the island was quickly named – Dry Tortugas.
But a significant sea turtle population is only one of the thriving species around the island.
Pelicans rule the beach, while bald eagles nest in the palms.
Anglers flock to the area for amberjack, mahi-mahi, and large-fin tuna.
Dry Tortugas National Park’s central building is Fort Jefferson.
This 19th-century massive red brick structure guarded shipping lanes from piratical entrepreneurs.
It reminds visitors of the Keys’ and the Carribean’s rich and bountiful history.
8. Dog Beach
Public beaches in Key West are not usually known for being dog friendly.
However, there is one exception: Dog Beach.
Another south shore oasis, this canine-inclusive spot, sits at Waddell and Vernon.
And it is a few steps from The Reach Gazebo.
All leashed four-legged friends enjoy the 25-foot wide strip.
This is just enough room for you and your pup to burn off steam.
And as all well-trained owners know, doggy-bag dispensers are required.
9. County Beach
Often overlooked, County Beach is a tranquil sandy stretch with crystalline waters and golden crushed coral.
A cozy retreat between Rest and Higgs Beaches, for shell hunters, this area is paradise.
It is also snuggled up to the West Martello Tower.
This is an island photo-op most visitors can’t resist.
County Beach is rarely crowded, making it the perfect secret hideaway.
10. Sunset Key (Private)
Sunset Key is just off the northwestern shore of Key West.
One of a handful of private beaches and islands complete with a luxury resort, its sunbleached sands offer amazing shore-based snorkeling.
A 15-minute ferry shuttles visitors and guests from Key West to the island’s restaurants and day spa.
Key West Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Key West Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Key West?
Key West claims the prize for the southernmost island.
It is one of the hundreds in the chain of sand and coral known as the Florida Keys.
It lies about 100 miles from the Florida Peninsula.
Key West can be reached by the Intercoastal Highway, also known as A1A.
What is the Conch Republic?
The Conch Republic (pronounced kȯŋk with a hard “K”) was officially created when Key West, Florida, seceded from the United States on April 23, 1982.
This standing joke still brings a smile to most ‘conchs’ and leaves visitors confused.
The Conch Republic motto? – “People who seceded where others have failed.”
Native-born Key Westers are called ‘conch,” and anyone who has lived in the city for over seven years is naturalized – ‘freshwater conch.”
What is the best beach in Key West?
Key West has a place for everyone.
For visitors, the busiest is South Beach.
For locals, Smathers or shallow waves at Higgs Beach make for a lazy day.
If you are looking for a day of activity, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park may fit your needs.
Regardless of which stretch of sand, don’t miss the iconic blood-orange Key West sunset – the sand, wind, and water make it one of the most beautiful in the Gulf.
Is Key West an Island?
Cayo Hueso, Spanish for Key West, is a coral oasis off of southern Florida separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
And the four-mile-long island is roughly 90 miles north of Cuba.
While many of the 800 Keys are sand bars or outcroppings, the size and coral base of Key West defines it as an island.
