Key West vs. Key Largo: Which part of the Florida Keys should you visit?

Aerial view of northern Key West including Mallory Square and a cruise liner — Courtesy: Deatonphotos/Shutterstock

When considering a trip to the Florida Keys, are you stuck between visiting Key West or Key Largo?

The majority of travelers to this region of Florida are unaware of the sheer number of Keys in the archipelago! Since Key West is the most well-known Key, most people schedule their travel there.

But there are more than 200 islands that make up the Florida Keys! Naturally, not every one of those is livable, but there are still a good number of Keys available. Key West and Key Largo, which are situated on opposite extremities of the island chain, are the most well-known! And they sure aren’t the same.

I’ll answer all of your urgent questions regarding Key Largo vs. Key West in this post, including which Key has the best beaches, nightlife, snorkeling, and more! You’ll be able to choose which Key is best for you with the help of these answers!

To truly enjoy it all, I heartily advise you to take the road trip from Key Largo to Key West. But if you must select one, this article ought to assist you in making a decision!

Which Florida Key Is Best For Your Vacation? A Comparison Of Key Largo vs. Key West (And Why)

I wanted to offer a brief introduction to both Keys before comparing Key Largo and Key West! First, let’s discuss Key Largo.

Overview of Key Largo

The first Key in the sequence of islands known as the Florida Keys is Key Largo. You’ll cross the “Stretch,” a section of the Overseas Highway that links Homestead to the Florida Keys, while traveling from Miami to Key Largo!

You’ll enter Key Largo after crossing the Jewfish Creek Bridge! Key Largo, dubbed the “Dive Capital of the World,” is well-known for its amazing array of water sports. John Pennekamp, the country’s first underwater park, is located there as well. You’ll be amazed by Key Largo’s pristine beauty!

Key Largo is the largest Key in the Florida Keys, spanning 33 miles. Key Largo is a long drive, yet it feels extremely quaint and tranquil. Key Largo offers a variety of lodging choices, from opulent resorts to beachside homes. With an abundance of things to occupy your time!

Key West

Let’s now discuss Key West! Sometimes, Key West is the only thing most people in Key West know about the famed cruise ship stop and tourist destination! Despite being just 4.2 square miles, Key West offers an abundance of activities, including as museums, sunset cruises, and the well-known “Duval Crawl.”

This little Florida island city is a favorite destination for families, couples, travelers from abroad, and fishermen alike. Key West offers a variety of lodging options, including boutique hotels and vacation rentals, as well as well-known hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt.

Which Key Is Better, Key West or Key Largo?

After giving you a little introduction to both Key Largo and Key West, let’s explore their key distinctions. I’ve divided this comparison into numerous categories so you may choose the one that’s best for you!

Key West is the best key for beaches.

One popular misperception about the Florida Keys is that they are home to expansive, gorgeous beaches. Now, don’t get me wrong; there are some truly lovely beaches in the Keys, but not many; in fact, the majority of the beaches there are man-made.

If hitting the beach is your main reason for visiting the Florida Keys, you should go to Key West. One of the best beaches in Key West is Smathers Beach, which is man-made but looks like it was imported from the Bahamas in 1961. It is located directly across from the airport on the island’s southern coast.

One of my favorite free things to do in Key West is to visit Smathers Beach!

A great place to visit after a day of shopping or bar hopping in Key West is the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, which is right next to Old Town Key West. You can explore the fort, see Civil War cannons, and learn about the construction of the fort.

The lovely white sand beach here is perfect for swimming and snorkeling, but getting to it will cost you $6 per vehicle admission fee!

There are some amazing snorkeling and scuba diving spots in Key Largo, but the island doesn’t have many noteworthy beaches. In particular, there aren’t many expansive white sand beaches.

Visit Cannon Beach at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the most popular beach in Key Largo, for some excellent snorkeling directly off the beach, including the remains of an old Spanish shipwreck approximately 100 feet offshore.

Other smaller beaches can be found in Key Largo along the mangroves, but I would suggest pursuing other things!

Key West Is The Best Key For Foodies

While Key Largo and Key West both have some amazing restaurants, Key West takes the cake in this area because there are so many different places to eat—from five-star restaurants to neighborhood fish shacks—that you could spend a week there and still not be able to sample them all.

Recommendations: Blue Heaven is one of the most well-known eateries in Key West, especially for brunch; don’t miss their enormous Key Lime Pie and lobster benedict, but get there early.

For dinner, try the Ocean Key Hotel’s Hot Tin Roof for stunning sunset views and Blackfin Bistro for delectable bites in a little backyard garden setting. Latitudes is a fine dining experience on the idyllic Sunset Key, but reservations are required and you’ll need to take a quick ferry to get there!

Nonetheless, I think it’s still fairly nice that Key Largo has some amazing restaurants, even though there aren’t as many options as there are in Key West. Most of the eateries in Key Largo have the same features, such fresh seafood, outdoor seating, and sandy floors.

Sol by the Sea at Playa Largo Resort is one of my favorite spots to visit; if you’re staying there, you can even get a table so that your feet are in the ocean!

Snook’s Bayside Restaurant is another excellent location in Key Largo for mouthwatering seafood dishes and breathtaking sunset views.

Key West is the best key for nightlife.

This is simple: Key West is the place to go if you want to go out at night. Key Largo has a few dive bars and tiki bars, but that’s about it. Most restaurants double as neighborhood bars and frequently feature live music.

Key West, on the other hand, is renowned for its vibrant nightlife. Old Town Key West’s Duval Street transforms into a party hotspot after dark, and bar hopping along it is dubbed the “Duval Crawl” because you’ll definitely be exhausted by the end of it!

Most bars on Duval Street after dark require you to be 21 years old. A few of the most well-liked spots to check out are the Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, Sloppy Joe’s, Hog’s Breath Saloon, and the Bull and Whistle Bar.

Head to Sunset Pier for a more laid-back location with stunning sunset views. Mallory Square is home to the well-known Sunset Celebration, which is great for families!

In Key West, you can even catch cabaret and drag performances at venues like La Te Da and Aqua Nightclub!

Key Largo is the best key for scuba divers and snorkelers.

The Florida Keys are an ideal destination for snorkelers and scuba divers. Although the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary extends from Key Largo to Key West, I have discovered that the snorkeling and scuba diving in Key Largo is superior.

There are plenty of sites to snorkel and scuba dive in Key West, but they are not quite as spectacular as the waters of Key Largo. Popular locations for snorkeling and scuba diving in Key West include Sand Key Lighthouse Reef and Western Sambo Reef.

The coral reefs and underwater worlds of Key Largo are truly breathtaking, and once you go snorkeling there, you might never want to go snorkeling in Key West again! Grecian Rocks and Molasses Reef are just a couple of the amazing snorkel spots that are located just outside the borders of John Pennekamp State Park.

The Christ of the Abyss Statue, which is situated in roughly 30 feet of water, is the most well-known snorkeling and diving location in Key Largo. Come discover why once you visit!

Key West Is The Best Key For Families

You can’t go wrong when picking between Key Largo and Key West for families traveling with kids. Both locations provide a plethora of family-friendly activities, however Key West may offer a few more!

Popular activities for families in Key West include taking a trip on the Conch Train, exploring the Key West Aquarium, touring the Key West Shipwreck Museum, and visiting the Key West Butterfly Conservatory.

Making the trip to Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park is another fantastic and daring thing to do in Key West with older kids. You can get there by Yankee Freedom ferry or by seaplane, which can be a little expensive. When you get there, you’ll be rewarded with some of the clearest, bluest water and an amazing piece of history!

However, Key Largo lacks many of the standard “attractions” of Key West; that being said, there are still lots of family-friendly things to do, like visiting Dolphins Plus, a research center where you may swim with dolphins in an ethical manner.

In addition, there are plenty of thrilling trips available, such as kayaking through the mangroves or snorkeling in the water. One of the most well-liked family-friendly activities is feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s, which is really in neighboring Islamorada.

Ideal Key for Couples: A Tie

Either Key Largo or Key West are great choices for couples traveling to the Florida Keys; it just comes down to personal preference. Both have opulent resorts such as the Casa Marina in Key West and the Bungalows and Playa Largo in Key Largo.

Both places offer romantic sunset cruises; however, Key Largo may have the slight advantage in terms of romance. There are many options for Key West sunset cruises, such as dinner cruises and party boats with unlimited drinks, while Key Largo sunset cruises are more intimate and offer more private options!

Additionally, as was already noted, Key West is undoubtedly the best option for nightlife; nevertheless, Key Largo is a superior option for a calm, private retreat!

Key West Is The Most Convenient Key

The Florida Keys can be difficult to travel to from outside of the state; if you want to visit Key Largo, you will need to fly into Miami Airport (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) and then drive for more than an hour to get to the Keys!

But now that Key West has its own international airport (EWY), direct flights are available from major US cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Asheville, New York City, and more, making direct travel to Key West more easier and eliminating the need for a rental car.

Even if you aren’t staying in Old Town, most hotels offer free shuttles that operate every hour. If you want to stay in Key West, you really don’t need a rental car at all because the town is very bike and pedestrian friendly. Parking in Old Town Key West can be a headache and very expensive.

Key Largo is approximately 33 miles long, so the main attractions are rather spread out. If you want to Uber everywhere, you’ll need a car to travel to restaurants, shopping, and excursions. If you don’t want to stay at your hotel the entire time, you should absolutely hire a car when visiting!

Best Fishing Key: Tie

It should come as no surprise that the Florida Keys provide world-class fishing, but there are a few things to take into account while deciding between fishing in Key Largo and Key West.

Fishing at Key West is varied and includes both flats and deep-sea fishing. You can catch permit and bonefish on the flats or venture out into the sea to try your luck at catching a marlin!

Neighboring Islamorada is actually recognized as the sports-fishing center of the world, so there are lots of charter boats available in the vicinity; Key Largo offers comparable, if not greater, deep-sea fishing chances.

There is fantastic reef and wreck fishing in Key Largo as well, but be cautious not to fish in the National Marine Sanctuary’s protected zones!

Key Largo is the best key for avoiding tourists.

As you may probably expect, Key West is a tourist destination. With cruise ship visitors arriving by the boatload, Key West can feel overwhelming and crowded at times, with a plethora of souvenir and tourist stores and a bevy of hustlers looking to take advantage of visitors.

Key Largo is the place to go if you want a more local experience. The town is much more dispersed than most tourist destinations, and it has a very “sleepy” vibe with lots of local establishments scattered along the main road. There’s only one Starbucks, no Target, and no Walmart!

Top Pick For Travelers On A Budget: Tie

If you’re on a tight budget, you may be thinking which place is better to visit—Key West or Key Largo. Sadly, none of these places would be considered “budget destinations” because hotels and activities in the Florida Keys can be somewhat expensive.

The best places to stay in Key Largo during the off-season are Gilbert’s Resort, Waterside Suites and Marina, Atlantic Bay Resort, and the Pelican Key Cottages. Sun Outdoors and Key Largo Kampground & Marina are two of the city’s campgrounds.

Key West is generally going to be a bit more expensive than Key Largo, especially if you want to stay in Old Town. Some good places to stay in Key West are the Blue Marlin Motel, the Gates Hotel, or the Palms Hotel.

Both Key Largo and Key West offer inexpensive and free activities. In Key Largo, free activities include swimming off the beach, shopping at Shell World, and watching the sunset. In general, however, you’ll need to pay for some of the best activities, like snorkeling tours.

Similar things apply to Key West, where you’ll need to get out on the water to truly experience the best of the city despite the fact that there are a few more free activities there, such as lounging on Smathers Beach, strolling down Duval Street, and taking in the sunset.

In conclusion, for travelers on a tight budget, Key Largo and Key West are tied. While housing may be less expensive in Key Largo, Key West offers a greater variety of free activities!

Key West is the best key for history buffs

Last but not least, Key West vs. Key Largo is a must-visit location for history buffs. Key West is replete with amazing stories from Florida and the United States!

Discover more about Ernest Hemingway’s legendary life in Key West and beyond by going to his home, which has been turned into a museum.

Additionally, there’s the Harry S. Truman Little White House, which houses Florida’s sole presidential library and offers guided tours that teach visitors about the president’s many trips to Key West!

Aside from these well-known residences, there’s a tonne of more history to discover about Key West! The best way to do this is by taking one of the numerous available guided tours! Taking a ride on the Conch Train around town is an entertaining way to pick up some brief facts.

Final Thoughts

This concludes my comparison of Key Largo and Key West. I adore both of these Keys, and I strongly suggest exploring the Florida Keys via road trip so you can take advantage of everything they have to offer.

Whichever Key you select, you’re going to have a blast exploring this region of Florida, so perhaps this guide will help you make up your mind if you have to pick between the two!

Like what you see? Click here for more stories about everything Florida. Florida Insider is dedicated to educating, entertaining, and informing its readers about everything in Florida. Easy to read content at the palm of your hands and covering the stories that matter.