This is not a solo travel destination.
Once your there your stuck there – travel at your own risk!
Key West is located on the southernmost landmass of the continental United States, with its own airport to shuttle people to the main island. If you’re set on going to Key West, I do not recommend flying there. I suggest driving, because in all likelihood, renting a car and paying for gas would be significantly cheaper than flying into Key West airport. Also the drive is more interesting than the island in my opinion.
Alternatively, you could fly directly to the airport from Miami International.
DISTANCE
159.2 miles driving/flying
Driving Estimated Time
3 hr 26 min
Flying Estimated Time
1 hr
DIFFICULTY
HARD
There is no easy way to describe getting to Key West. It is far out of the way and will require a lot of time, energy, and planning to get there effectively. I would recommend against it. When I arrived, I asked many of the locals, ‘What is there to do around here?’ The response I got was the 3 D’s: Drink, Drink, and Drink.
What you can expect to do.
I tend not to drink when I travel because I like to be aware of my surroundings. Plus, drinking can be quite expensive when you’re traveling. Financial conservation is my top priority when visiting new places, so unless I’m sure of my surroundings and what I’m paying for, I tend to avoid it.
If you arrive with minimal planning for what to do, you’re most likely not going to find much. The area itself is designed for large groups of retired people and families who want a laid-back, safe environment to see old houses and furniture. During my visit, the main activities I found involved paying fees to enter exhibits of old houses, museums, etc.—all of which are in the upper range of $15 or more.
It’s close to the water, which is a plus, but all of Florida is on the coastline. There are other places where you can enjoy the water. From an adventure standpoint, unless you’re very interested in what a museum offers (for example, the Hemingway House), it’s not the smartest use of limited resources, in my travel opinion.
You can get most of the feel of Key West in places like the Bahamas or even West Palm Beach. These destinations are hubs of activity, while Key West, in my opinion, is more of a hub for older people.
In that sense, I would not recommend it, even if you’re traveling in a group, because things are very expensive. There are no hostels, so cheap accommodations are almost non-existent—every hotel costs $100 or more. I ended up paying $170 for one night and was very glad to get out of that environment.
The three D’s: Drink, Drink, and Drink
Key West Shuttle Bus Driver
My favorite part of the whole trip was leaving Key West because I came up with an idea. People have said before that ‘whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.’ Well, I say, whatever you bring to Key West—the demons, the addiction, the lack of self-confidence—leave it in Key West and never return.
Where to Take Photos
There are some churches that offer free tours, and the architecture inside is stunning. You might even feel a deeper connection to the Creator in a different way. Other than that, one of the only free things you can do in Key West is visit the location they claim to be the southernmost point of the continental U.S. There are long lines throughout most of the day. When I first went, the line was too long, so I ended up coming back the next morning before leaving to get a photo.
- Southernmost Point of Continental US Statue.
- Churches
I enjoy doing things like this, and the fact that I struggled to find anything worth doing in Key West says a lot.
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.
Martin Buber
Location of the Southern most statue
This was cool. I kind of wish they had boats that went to Cuba from Key West, because I know for a fact there’s a lot more to do in Cuba than in Key West.
At the end of the day, if you’re planning to visit, keep the trip minimal. I spent more on just the hotel than on most round-trip flights I take to foreign countries.
