How to travel to Key West

From above, the island of Key West, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Key West is an island that lies miles off Florida's south coast. The tiny island measures 2 miles by 4 miles and is actually closer to Havana, Cuba than to Miami, Florida. To get to Key West, visitors have the choice of air, land and sea transportation.

Flights to Key West: Daily flights by a handful of major airlines bring in many passengers from all over the world. The airlines that service Key West are Delta, American, US Air, Cape Air, and Continental. For most every air traveler, you will change to a smaller plane in South Florida, for the final leg to Key West. Since our airport is small, expect your connection flight to Key West to be on a small plane, often referred to as a "puddle jumper". Almost all of these flights originate from either: Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, or Orlando. The one airline offering an out-of-state flight is Delta's Atlanta-Key West route...a route that is especially desirable for those in the Peachtree State. If you fly during daylight, the view of the Florida Keys is breathtaking.

Orbitz offers good options for low priced flights to Key West.
Use the search box below, conveniently set to Key West, to check flight availability and make reservations.

Rental Cars & Driving to Key West Key West is the westernmost island among the Florida Keys that you can drive to, and is one of the most scenic roads in North America. A series of bridges and islands extend nearly 90 miles off the mainland until it's end at U.S. Highway 1 mile marker zero: Key West.

Along the drive, you can check what the rest of the Keys look and feel like. But it is the bridges, sloping above the blue green water, that steal the show. The longest, the Seven Mile Bridge, gives drivers the truest sense that they are heading out to sea.

From Miami, the drive will take around 3 hours, from Ft. Lauderdale a little closer to 4 hours. Take your time on this drive. The speed limits are strictly enforced, especially in the 14 mile Key Deer zone where the speed is 35 at night and 45 during the day.

Once in Key West, you will not be using that rental car much. If you are staying in Old Town, the historic quarter, most everything is within a short, charming walk. Many guests return their car at the airport, and pick another one back up at the end of their week. For Key West car rental reservations, click the "Cars" tab on the Orbitz search box (above).

Ferry to Key West

Ferries are available to Key West from Ft.Meyers and Miami. These trips are full day with overnight options available.