Living in the Florida Keys: an island-by-island orientation

This guide is about beaches, but beaches are also a fair way to understand the Keys as a place to live. Each island’s shoreline is run by a different public body, with its own hours, fees and rules, and those details shape ordinary weekends far more than a postcard does. Below is an orientation to each stretch of the chain, built only from what the operators publish.

Who runs the shoreline

Monroe County Parks and Beaches is responsible for 22 properties covering more than 100 acres of the island chain, listed from Key Largo to Key West. The Village of Islamorada owns and maintains ten parks on about 105 acres. The City of Marathon and the City of Key West run their own beaches, and Florida State Parks runs the five state parks on our list. Knowing which one manages the beach nearest a home tells you whose rules apply there.

• Monroe County Parks and Beaches is responsible for 22 properties covering more than 100 acres of the island chain, listed by the county from Key Largo to Key West. Monroe County, FL: Parks & Beaches
• The Village of Islamorada owns and maintains ten parks on about 105 acres, including Founders Park, Library Beach Park, Sea Oats Beach and Anne's Beach. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Habitat

Key Largo and Tavernier

At the top of the chain, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, at 102601 Overseas Highway in Key Largo, has two human-made beaches: Cannon Beach for snorkeling and Far Beach for swimming under palm trees. Further down, Monroe County’s Harry Harris Park in Tavernier is a 21-acre oceanfront park with a protected beach and swimming area, a playground, ball fields, basketball courts and a deep-water double boat ramp. See the Key Largo beaches page.

• Pennekamp has two human-made beaches. Cannon Beach is the park's primary snorkeling beach, with artifacts from an early Spanish shipwreck placed about 100 feet offshore; Far Beach is a relaxing place to swim or sit under palm trees. Florida State Parks: John Pennekamp experiences & amenities
• Harry Harris Park is a 21-acre oceanfront Monroe County park in Tavernier with a boat ramp, pavilions, barbecue grills, picnic tables, a playground, a protected beach and a swimming area, plus two baseball fields and basketball courts. Monroe County, FL: Harry Harris Park

Islamorada

Islamorada is its own village, and its beach parks follow Village rules. Anne’s Beach on Lower Matecumbe Key was fully replaced after Hurricane Irma and reopened on August 23, 2019, with a 300-foot boardwalk and six pavilions. Library Beach Park on Windley Key has a small beach on a mangrove-lined creek, a playground and a pavilion with grills. Village Hall is at 86800 Overseas Highway, 305-664-6400. More on the Islamorada beaches page.

• Anne's Beach was fully replaced after being destroyed by Hurricane Irma and reopened on August 23, 2019, with 300 feet of boardwalk, six pavilions, and a restroom at the north parking lot. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Parks & Beaches
• Islamorada parks are maintained by the Village Public Works Department, 305-852-6933; Village Hall is at 86800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036, 305-664-6400. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Parks & Beaches

Long Key

Long Key State Park offers a natural Atlantic shoreline with swimming, kayaking, bird-watching, picnicking, flats fishing, snorkeling and two hiking trails, per Florida State Parks. Its current notices are worth reading as a would-be neighbor: since September 26, 2026 the park may close for portions of the day because of King Tide flooding. See the Long Key page.

• Long Key State Park offers swimming, kayaking (rentals available from the ranger station), bird-watching, picnicking, flats fishing and snorkeling along a natural Atlantic shoreline, with two hiking trails. Florida State Parks: Long Key State Park
• Effective September 26, 2026: Long Key State Park may be closed for portions of the day due to tidal surge flooding from King Tides. Florida State Parks: Long Key State Park Know Before You Go

Marathon

Marathon runs two city beaches. Sombrero Beach frames a shady park with pavilions, playgrounds, volleyball courts, restrooms and showers, and the City redeveloped it in 2001 for total handicap accessibility. Coco Plum Beach is the more natural option, beside a wetland. Both are sea turtle nesting beaches. Marathon’s city parks are dog friendly on a leash, except the Community Park soccer and baseball fields. Curry Hammock State Park, nearby on Crawl Key, is the largest undeveloped parcel of land between Key Largo and Big Pine Key. See the Marathon beaches page.

• Sombrero Beach is a sandy beach on the Atlantic framing a shady park with picnic pavilions, playgrounds, volleyball courts, restrooms and showers; the City redeveloped it in 2001 for total handicap accessibility. City of Marathon: Sombrero Beach
• All City of Marathon parks are dog friendly except the Community Park soccer and baseball fields; dogs must be leashed and owners must pick up after them. City of Marathon: City Parks and Beaches
• Curry Hammock is the largest undeveloped parcel of land between Key Largo and Big Pine Key; on calm days paddlers find quiet water, and on windy days the park fills with kiteboarders. It hosts record numbers of peregrine falcons every fall. Florida State Parks: Curry Hammock State Park

Bahia Honda and the Big Pine Key area

Bahia Honda State Park, at 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, is the beach Florida State Parks describes with palm-lined sandy beaches, clear water and sunsets, known for wading and shorebird observation. The park may close when its day-use areas reach maximum capacity. See the Bahia Honda page.

• Florida State Parks describes Bahia Honda as iconic Florida Keys scenery with palm-lined sandy beaches, gin-clear waters and sunsets, known for wading and shorebird observation, with kayak and snorkel gear rentals and boat trips to the reef. Florida State Parks: Bahia Honda State Park
• Bahia Honda may close when its day-use areas reach maximum capacity; arriving visitors are asked to return later, and the park recommends arriving early on weekends and holidays. Shade is limited on the sandy beaches. Florida State Parks: Bahia Honda State Park Know Before You Go

Key West

Six of the 16 entries in our dataset are in Key West. The City of Key West runs Smathers Beach, Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, South Beach, Rest Beach / C.B. Harvey Park and the small Simonton Street Beach with its boat ramp, and Florida State Parks runs the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Higgs Beach stays open until 11:00 p.m. and includes a dog park, playgrounds and tennis courts. See the Key West beaches page.

• Higgs Beach offers more than 16 acres of oceanfront beside the historic Casa Marina at the end of Reynolds Street: a wide sandy beach, calm shallow waters, a newly renovated wooden pier, two children's playgrounds, a dog park, restrooms, tennis and volleyball courts, 14 picnic tables, 17 barbecues, six tiki huts, showers, beach chair/umbrella and sailboat concessions and a restaurant. City of Key West: Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach
• The park's southern end holds what Florida State Parks calls Key West's favorite beach, with picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, paddling and fishing, plus a concession and restaurant, restroom facilities and a shower station. Florida State Parks: Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Resident rules worth knowing

A few posted rules treat residents differently from visitors. At Harry Harris Park, Monroe County charges admission only to non-Monroe-County residents, on holidays and weekends, as posted October 24, 2026. At Smathers Beach, the City of Key West says residential parking permits are valid for four hours once per day. County-wide, all county-owned parks and beaches are no-smoking except for an unfiltered cigar, and no commercial activity of any type can be conducted on a county beach or park without a county lease or license.

• Harry Harris admission is charged to non-Monroe-County residents only, on holidays and weekends: $15 per vehicle. Boat ramp (in addition): $40 on non-holiday weekends, $60 on Monroe County holidays (which include contiguous weekend days and the two-day July lobster mini-season). Active military, disabled veterans and immediate family are waived with proper ID. Monroe County, FL: Parks & Beaches FAQ (Harry Harris Park)
• Smathers Beach amenities: beach volleyball nets, restrooms, shower facilities. Parking is $5 per hour Monday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. to midnight and Sunday noon to midnight; residential permits are valid 4 hours once per day; no overnight parking. City of Key West: Smathers Beach
• All county-owned parks and beaches are no-smoking, except for an unfiltered cigar; leashed pets are allowed at Monroe County parks and owners are responsible for cleaning up after them. Monroe County, FL: Parks & Beaches
• No commercial activity of any type can be conducted on any county beach or park without a lease or license from Monroe County. Monroe County, FL: Parks & Beaches

Questions to ask before you choose an island

• Which operator manages the beach you would use most, and what are its posted hours?
• Does that operator post a dog rule, and does it cover the sand or only the park?
• Is there a resident rate or permit, and how do you qualify for it?
• Which live notices, such as tidal-flooding or construction closures, has that operator posted in the last year?

Talk to LPE Realty

Florida Keys Beaches is published as a community guide by LPE Realty (LPE Realty LLC, a licensed Florida real estate brokerage, CQ1075686). This guide does not publish listings, prices or market figures. If you are weighing a move to the Keys or thinking about selling a home here, a consultation is the next step: email info@lperealty.com or call (561) 652-6917 (voice only).

LPE Realty LLC follows federal and Florida fair housing law. We describe places, parks and posted rules, never who lives in a community, and we do not steer anyone toward or away from any area. Read our fair housing statement.

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: Florida State Parks (official site)