The Best Key West Day Trip Itinerary (2024)
Want to know the best Key West day trip itinerary? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
If you’ve never been to Key West before, this is the best Key West day trip itinerary.
You’ll want to take advantage of the entire day because there is so much to see and do here.
During our visit, we woke up bright and early to catch the first shuttle from our hotel into Key West at 9 am.
You can watch our full itinerary in this video on our YouTube Channel.
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The Best Key West Day Trip Itinerary
When you visit Key West, you really should plan to spend at least 2 full days here, but if you’re like us, some vacations can only fit a certain amount of activities.
So if you just have 1 full day to explore Key West, here’s what you’ll want to do.
1. Duval Street
Duval Street is the main street going through Key West.
There’s shops, restaurants, people watching, and just the general atmosphere of what makes Key West, Key West.
2. Southernmost Point
Southernmost Point is a great place to get a photo of yourself standing at the southernmost point in the continental United States.
Across the street is the “Southernmost” bar that also has it’s own buoy.
3. Sloppy Joe’s Bar
Sloppy Joe’s Bar is a historic bar that is known for being a place where Ernest Hemingway would hang out when he was living in Key West.
4. Conch Tour Train
The best way to see the best of Key West in a short amount of time is the Conch Train.
It takes about 75 minutes to complete the entire tour.
They make 3 stops along the way, including the intersection of Front St and Duval St, Truval Village, and the Sails To Rails Museum.
The tour starts and ends at the Front Street Depot by Mallory Square.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Conch Tour Train In Key West Today!
5. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
The perfect lunch spot is Margaritaville.
You’ll want to try all of the iconic menu items like a margarita, a Cheeseburger in Paradise, and a Key Lime Pie.
6. Ernest Hemingway Home And Museum
The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is a great place to learn about the life and work of one of America’s most famous authors.
It’s also a beautiful house with a lot of history.
When you visit this house/museum, you’ll see the house where he lived and wrote, meet some of the polydactyl cats that are said to be descendants of Hemingway’s own cats, and take a tour of the gardens.
7. Harry S. Truman Little White House
The Harry S. Truman Little White House is a historic site that was once the winter home for President Harry S. Truman.
I visited when I went with my grandparents years before I started blogging, so I couldn’t find any photos from that trip unfortunately.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Harry S. Truman Little White House Admission Today!
8. Enjoy The Classic Architecture Around Key West
Key West is known for its unique architecture, which is a blend of influences from the Caribbean, Cuba, and the American South.
The most common architectural styles in Key West are:
Conch houses: These are one-story, wood-frame houses with brightly colored exteriors and wraparound porches.
They were originally built by Bahamian immigrants in the 19th century.
Queen Anne style: These houses are characterized by their elaborate gingerbread trim, turrets, and towers.
They were popular in the late 19th century.
Colonial Revival style: These houses are inspired by the architecture of the American colonies.
They were popular in the early 20th century.
Art Deco style: This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s.
It is characterized by its geometric shapes, bold colors, and stylized ornamentation.
9. Mallory Square At Sunset
Mallory Square is the center of all the action.
It’s where the keys meet the water.
There is a cruise port here, popular resorts, tons of seafood restaurants, and street entertainment.
10. Dinner At Conch Republic Seafood Company
The best place for dinner on the water is Conch Republic Seafood Company.
They are known for their famous conch chowder, which is more like a chili than a clam chowder.
You can also get pretty much any type of shrimp and cocktails.
For dessert, they have a fantastic Hot Pineapple Upside-Down Rum Cake.
Where To Stay In Key West
There are a variety of resorts, hotels, inns, and timeshares all throughout Key West in just about every neighborhood with varying price ranges.
These are the ones we most recommend.
✅ Hyatt Centric Key West Resort And Spa
If you want to stay in the best location, treat yourself to ocean views, and have all the amenities of resorts, then Hyatt Centric Key West is for you.
Due to it’s location and amenities it’s one of the pricier resorts in Key West, but it really can’t be beat.
It’s right next to the Conch Republic Seafood Company in Mallory Square.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Stay At Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa Today!
✅ Doubletree Resort By Hilton Grand Key – Key West
If you’re on a budget, then there are still some great hotels and resorts to stay in.
The Doubletree is over near the airport, so about 10-15 minutes from the center of town, but they have a free shuttle that will take you into town all throughout the day and night.
We stayed here on our visit since we are Hilton Honors Diamond Members and tend to stay at Hilton owned properties as much as possible.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Stay At Doubletree Resort By Hilton Grand Key – Key West Today!
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Key West
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get about making the best Key West day trip itinerary.
✔️ Is It Worth A Day Trip To Key West?
Absolutely!
JP has only spent barely 24 hours in Key West and has seen a lot more than many visitors do on a long weekend.
The above attractions can all be visited in a single day and it’ll give you a great overview of almost everything you can do in Key West.
✔️ Can You Drive To Key West For One Day?
Depending on where you’re driving from, yes.
I personally would want more time than that, but if you’re trying to squeeze in everything you can into your trip, then it’s definitely doable.
From the Miami area it’s about a 3 1/2 hour drive each way.
When I took JP for the first time, we drove down in the afternoon, stayed the night, then left the following afternoon.
✔️ Is Key West A Day Trip From Miami?
Key West can be a day trip from Miami since it’s about a 3 1/2 hour drive each way.
We tend to keep our day trips to about 2 1/2 hours each way, but it’s a scenic drive and there’s places you can stop along the way to break up the drive.
✔️ Is The Drive From Miami To Key West Worth It?
Yes!
This drive is one of the most scenic drives in the world.
You’re surrounded by the bluest, clearest water the entire time.
There are many bridges you cross over as you drive from key to key.
I highly recommend driving to Key West at least once in your lifetime.
More Great Places To Visit Around Florida
Florida is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the US.
There are so many places to go all over Florida that it can be hard to narrow down.
☑️ The Ultimate One Week Florida Road Trip Itinerary
In just one week you can hit a ton of Florida’s highlights like St. Augustine, Kennedy Space Center, Miami, Key West, The Everglades, Tampa, Orlando, and more.
☑️ Best Things To Do In St. Augustine For Couples
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the US.
This historic town is the perfect place for couples to spend a day or weekend getaway.
From romantic carriage rides to haunted cemeteries, there’s something for everybody.
☑️ Best Things To Do At Kennedy Space Center + Tips For Visiting
The Kennedy Space Center is an experience everyone should have at least once.
It’s on Florida’s Space Coast near Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach.
There are outdoor and indoor exhibits, interactive exhibits, and you can even meet real astronauts.
☑️ Florida’s Treasure Coast
Florida’s Treasure Coast is made up of towns like Vero Beach, Port St Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Jensen Beach.
It’s a quieter and less visited area, but equally as exciting to visit.
☑️ Florida’s A1A Road Trip
Florida’s A1A runs from Miami all the way up to Fernandina Beach.
This road trip route, in either direction, takes you to some of Florida’s best destinations.
☑️ How To Visit Biscayne National Park: The Best One Day Itinerary
Biscayne National Park is just outside of Miami and is almost entirely under water.
A day trip here consists of snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, picnic lunches on an island, and more.
☑️ The Best Everglades National Park One Day Itinerary
Everglades National Park is a great park to visit when you just have one day.
You can take airboat tours around the park and walk a variety of boardwalk and paved trails to see the local wildlife.
Conclusion: The Best Key West Day Trip Itinerary
This is the best Key West day trip itinerary whether it’s your first visit or you’ve been a dozen times.
It has things to do for all interests and age groups.
