Key Largo, Florida, is a Florida Keys town on the Jupiter-to-Key West coast. This guide covers 12 beaches, parks and attractions, 10 places to eat and 12 upcoming events, kept current from official sources. Top picks: Old Highway 5K Run/Walk and First State Bank Key Largo Bridge Run (15th annual). 2 of the activities are free. Nearest towns: Islamorada (16 mi) and Homestead (26 mi).

Last updated September 7, 2026. Events refresh daily; places are hand-picked and re-checked monthly.

Key Largo is the dive capital of the Keys, with John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park's glass-bottom boats and the Christ of the Abyss statue just offshore. It is the first key you reach, an hour from Miami, and the easiest for a day trip.

For the live version of everything below, open the Key Largo page: things to do · events · where to eat.

Beaches & Parks in Key Largo

  • Crandon Park & Bill Baggs Cape Florida (Key Biscayne) — Lagoon-calm beach, kite launch, then the lighthouse (free tours Thu–Mon 10 & 1) and a 1.5-mi bike path. Price: $7–8/car · Dogs: leashed (not beach). (in nearby Key Biscayne, 45 mi)
  • Virginia Key North Point trails (Rickenbacker Causeway) — 9+ mi of purpose-built MTB trails; Sunday morning scene. Price: ~$8/car · Dogs: leashed. (in nearby Key Biscayne, 45 mi)
  • Matheson Hammock Park (Coral Gables) — Man-made atoll pool flushed by the bay, mangrove trails, next to Fairchild Garden. Price: $5–7/car · Dogs: leashed. (in nearby Coral Gables, 45 mi)
  • Everglades NP — Shark Valley (Tamiami Trail, 25 mi west of Miami) — 15-mi paved loop to a 65-ft tower: tram $34, bike rental $27, or bring your own. Wait for mid/late Nov when the dry season concentrates gators along the canal. Price: $35/car (7 days) · Dogs: leashed (loop road only). (in nearby Homestead, 26 mi)
  • Big Cypress National Preserve (Tamiami Trail) — Kirby Storter boardwalk, Oasis Visitor Center gator canal, 24-mi Loop Road gravel scenic drive. Best in November. Price: Free · Dogs: leashed. (in nearby Homestead, 26 mi)
  • Everglades NP — Anhinga Trail (Royal Palm) (Homestead) — The best 0.8-mi wildlife boardwalk in the park; Flamingo has boat tours. Price: $35/car · Dogs: no. (in nearby Homestead, 26 mi)
  • Local spring substitutes (Coral Gables / FTL / Riviera Beach) — South Florida has no natural springs — they all sit north of Orlando. Local stand-ins: the spring-fed Venetian Pool in Coral Gables (1924 lagoon pool, $23, closed Mondays), the atoll pool at Matheson Hammock, the Snyder Park dog lake, and Peanut Island's snorkel lagoon. (in nearby Coral Gables, 45 mi)
  • Hobie Beach (Rickenbacker Causeway) — Unofficial: shallow calm bay water where dogs swim all day; also the windsurf/wing launch. No facilities. Price: Toll ~$2.25 · Dogs: yes. (in nearby Key Biscayne, 45 mi)
  • Off-beach dog swims (Various) — Snyder Park dog lake (FTL), Canine Cove at South County Regional Park (West Boca), Lake Ida Dog Park (Delray), Amelia Earhart Bark Park dog pools (Hialeah), Perrine Wayside (Palmetto Bay). Dogs: yes. (in nearby Coral Gables, 45 mi)
  • Other beaches worth knowing (Various) — Quietest natural beaches: Blowing Rocks / Hobe Sound NWR, MacArthur Beach, Mizell-Johnson, Cape Florida. Haulover's north section is Miami-Dade's legal clothing-optional beach. Closest everyday strand to Coral Ridge is Vista Park / NE 18th St with free street parking on the west side of A1A north of Sunrise. September heat rule: before 9 am or after 5 pm — sand and pavement burn paws midday. (in nearby Key Biscayne, 45 mi)

Attractions & Activities in Key Largo

  • Pompano / Fort Lauderdale wrecks (Hillsboro Inlet & Port Everglades) — 'Wreck capital of Florida': Lady Luck (324-ft tanker with underwater art), Captain Dan, Guy Harvey, Rodeo 25, Tenneco Towers, SS Copenhagen. South Florida Diving Headquarters (night dives, lobster trips, a Halloween dive), Pompano Dive Center, Scuba Monkey. Price: ~$85–100 two-tank. (in nearby Homestead, 26 mi)
  • Neptune Memorial Reef & Key Biscayne reefs (Miami / Key Biscayne) — Underwater 'Atlantis' cemetery-reef in 40 ft via Tarpoon Lagoon or Divers Paradise (Crandon Marina; also shallow snorkel trips). Price: ~$90–110. (in nearby Key Biscayne, 45 mi)

Free things to do in Key Largo

Nothing here charges admission (parking may).

  • Big Cypress National Preserve — Kirby Storter boardwalk, Oasis Visitor Center gator canal, 24-mi Loop Road gravel scenic drive. (in nearby Homestead, 26 mi)
  • Other beaches worth knowing — Quietest natural beaches: Blowing Rocks / Hobe Sound NWR, MacArthur Beach, Mizell-Johnson, Cape Florida. (in nearby Key Biscayne, 45 mi)

Where to eat in Key Largo

Waterfront

  • Rusty Pelican (Key Biscayne) — Skyline views. Best Miami skyline sunset; time dinner for it. $$$. (in nearby Key Biscayne, 45 mi)
  • Monty's (Coconut Grove) — Raw bar + tiki. Marina happy hour, reggae, pitchers. $$ · dog-friendly patio. (in nearby Coconut Grove, 45 mi)
  • Glass & Vine (Peacock Park, Coconut Grove) — Garden restaurant in the park. On the guide's dog-friendly waterfront list. $$$ · dog-friendly patio. (in nearby Coconut Grove, 45 mi)

Casual & Family

  • Knaus Berry Farm & Robert Is Here (Homestead) — Cinnamon rolls, strawberry shakes, tropical milkshakes. Knaus reopens ~Oct 13 (new location); Robert Is Here (since 1959) for key-lime and tropical milkshakes with emus out back. Pair with the Redland day. $. (in nearby Homestead, 26 mi)

Date Night

  • Ariete ★ (Coconut Grove) — Cuban-American. Foie and plantain, canelones — "Miami on a plate". $$$$. (in nearby Coconut Grove, 45 mi)
  • Los Félix ★ (Coconut Grove) — Mexican, heirloom masa. Casual and starred; also a Green Star. $$$. (in nearby Coconut Grove, 45 mi)
  • Shingo ★ (Coral Gables) — Omakase, 14 seats. Serene counter. $$$$$ · book ahead. (in nearby Coral Gables, 45 mi)
  • Zitz Sum (Coral Gables) — Modern dim sum. (in nearby Coral Gables, 45 mi)
  • Chug's Diner (Coconut Grove) — Cuban diner. (in nearby Coconut Grove, 45 mi)
  • Bachour (Coral Gables) — Pastry. (in nearby Coral Gables, 45 mi)

What's on in Key Largo

The next 10 events on the Key Largo calendar (dates are America/New_York; confirm with the organizer before you go):

  • Old Highway 5K Run/Walk — Sat, Oct 3 · Coral Shores High School, Old Highway; 7:30 AM · Races & Runs. 5K Confirmed 2026. Flat, shaded out-and-back; shirts and medals to first 200.
  • First State Bank Key Largo Bridge Run (15th annual) — Sat, Dec 5 · Jewfish Creek Bridge (18-Mile Stretch); 7:30 AM · Races & Runs. 5K, 10K Confirmed 2026. 10K nearly sold out as of Sept 6; shirts to first 500.
  • Islander Resort Coastline Cleanup — Mon, Sep 7, 3:00 PM · Islander Resort · Community. Help clean up the beautiful shores of Islamorada.
  • Swim for Alligator Lighthouse — Thu, Sep 10 – Sat, Sep 12 · Florida Keys · Festivals & Markets. Dive into an unforgettable adventure surrounded by the beauty of the Florida Keys.
  • Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony — Fri, Sep 11 · Community. Coral Gables Fire and Police Departments will gather to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy.
  • Unthreaded Stories — Fri, Sep 11 · Festivals & Markets. Explore “Unthreaded Stories,” a group exhibition of artists’ books, and meet local artists during Red Thread Art Studio’s September Open Studios.
  • Country Line Dancing Miami — Sat, Sep 12 · Fairchild Garden · Festivals & Markets. A Night of Country Music and Good Old-Fashioned Line Dancing, featuring the Back Country Boys Live. Price: Regular admission applies
  • Fairchild Boots & Blooms — Sat, Sep 12 · Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden · Festivals & Markets. Country music and line dancing.
  • National Chocolate Day Run (The Best Races series) — Sat, Sep 12 · Playita on the Rickenbacker Causeway (Key Biscayne) or Pirate Park (North Beach, Miami Beach) · Races & Runs. 1 mi, 5K, 10K, half Very small wave-started group run with finisher medals, not a closed-course road race.
  • National Chocolate Day: Run for Chocolates 5K/10K/13.1 MIAMI — Sat, Sep 12, 7:30 AM · Playita (Course Map will be emailed) · Races & Runs. 13.1 mi, 1 mi, 5K, 10K 🍫🏃‍♀️ Ready, Set, Chocolate! 🏃‍♂️🍫 Join Us for the Sweetest Run of the Year – The Chocolate Run! Lace up your running shoes and bring your sweet tooth—because this isn’t your average race. It’s… Price: $30

See the full list, refreshed daily: Key Largo.

Getting there and planning your day

Key Largo sits at 25.087, -80.447 in the Florida Keys. Parking rules, beach access and permits are on the Village of Islamorada site; the Florida Keys & Key West official tourism council calendar lists county-wide festivals; check the National Weather Service Key West forecast before a beach or boat day (summer storms build after 2 pm); snorkelers and anglers should read the NOAA tides: Vaca Key, Marathon; the nearest airport is Key West International Airport (EYW); the official John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park page has hours and entry fees.

Nearby towns

Each has its own page in this guide:

Official sources and further reading

We link to primary sources so you can verify hours, fees and dates:

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