How Many Keys Are In The Florida Keys? + Other Fun Facts!

As a born and raised Floridian, I grew up visiting the Florida Keys and love answering questions about them! One question people often ask me (after I tell them there are other Keys besides Key West), is:

“Well then, how many keys are there in the Florida Keys?!”

Over the last few years, I’ve realized that the Florida Keys are very misunderstood! So, in this post, I’m answering ALL your top questions about the Florida Keys, like how many keys there are, where the Florida Keys are, how to get to the Florida Keys, and more!

So keep reading if you’re planning a trip to the Florida Keys and have questions about visiting!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link or book through an affiliate program, I receive a small commission at no cost to you! 

How Many Keys Are In The Florida Keys?

Let’s start with the main question: how many keys are there in the Florida Keys?!

To answer this, we have to define what a “key” is and how the Florida Keys got their name. This means taking a little trip through Florida history!

History of the Florida Keys

The term “Key” is actually derived from the Spanish word “cayo“, which means “little island“.

The Native American Calusa and Tequesta tribes were the ones who originally inhabited the Florida Keys. However, in the 16th century, Ponce de Leon went searching for the Fountain of Youth and happened upon Florida. During this time, the Spaniards charted the Florida Keys and referred to them as “los cayos”.

A few centuries later, Key West was officially referred to as “Cayo Huesso”, meaning Bone Island. This is because the Spaniards found the island covered in bones!

To the English sailors’ ears, Cayo Huesso sounded like “Kay Way-so”, which eventually morphed into “Key West“!

So, a Key is just a “little island”, and there are plenty of those in the Keys!! Let’s take a look.

How Many Total Keys Are There?

There are over 800 keys in the Florida Keys archipelago! These 800 keys stretch over 120 miles from Key Largo to Key West! Plus, they are ALL named! How cool is that?

How Many Inhabited Keys Are There?

While there are over 800 named Keys in the Florida Keys, not all of those are inhabited or reachable by car! About 30 of these Keys are inhabited, and even less than that are popular for tourists to stay on. We will cover the major Keys in the next section!

List of Major Keys

While around 30 of the Florida Keys are inhabited, there are a handful that most people stay on when visiting the Florida Keys. Here is a quick breakdown of the 10 major Keys in the Florida Keys, from north to south!

1. Key Largo
2. Tavernier
3. Islamorada (technically is a town made up of 6 different Keys!)
4. Long Key
5. Duck Key
6. Marathon (also a town, made up of 10 Keys!)
7. Bahia Honda Key
8. Big Pine Key
9. No Name Key
10. Key West

P.S. You can read more about the different Florida Keys and what to do in each one in my Ultimate Florida Keys Travel Guide!

Where are the Florida Keys?

Now that you understand how many Florida Keys there are, and which are most popular to visit, let’s talk about where the heck the Florida Keys are!

The Florida Keys archipelago is just south of the Florida peninsula, as you can see on the map below!

The last major town before making your way into the Florida Keys is Florida City. Florida City is just south of Homestead and is a common place to stop for gas and snacks before starting your drive into the Keys!

From Florida City, you’ll drive across “The Stretch”, a local term for the 18-mile section of Highway US1 that connects Florida City to Key Largo!

Once you enter Key Largo, you will officially be on the “Overseas Highway”, which goes all the way to Key West!

More Facts about the Florida Keys

How far are the Florida Keys from Orlando?

The distance from Orlando to Key West is just under 400 miles, and it will take around 6.5 hours to drive from Orlando to Key West.

However, the distance from Orlando to Key Largo is only 300 miles and takes about 4.5 hours! So, if you are planning a longer trip to Florida, you can definitely cover both areas!

What is the largest Florida Key?

The largest Key in the Florida Keys is Key Largo!

Key Largo spans over 33 miles (long). This is pretty impressive when you compare it to somewhere like Key West, which is only 4 miles long.

For this reason, if you are planning a trip to the Keys, I highly recommend renting a car, unless you are only visiting Key West.

If you stay in the Upper Keys, the main attractions are fairly spread out. Most people will make the 30-minute drive from Key Largo to Islamorada at least once during their stay to ensure they hit all the popular spots throughout the Upper Keys.

What is the population of the Florida Keys?

According to the 2000 United States census, the population of the Florida Keys was just under 80,000 people. At the time, around 30% of the population was living in Key West!

If you visit the Keys, you will notice how spread out the rest of the Keys are compared to Key West. As I mentioned, Key West is only 4 miles long (and 2 miles wide), and there are over 25,000 people living there!

The rest of the Keys are much less populated and have more of a local vibe!

How many bridges are in the Florida Keys?

The Florida Keys has 42 total bridges connecting all of the islands!

The most famous bridge is the Seven Mile Bridge, which connects Knight’s Key to Little Duck in the Middle Keys! You’ll cross over this bridge as you head from Marathon to Key West.

When you do, you’ll actually see two bridges!

The more modern (and completed) bridge is the one you will drive over. Right next to it is a second bridge with a very interesting history.

In the early 1900s, Henry Flagler sought to expand his Florida East Coast Railway into the Keys, all the way to Key West. However, the bridge was destroyed in 1935 by the strongest hurricane to ever hit the United States.

After this, the railway was converted into a roadway: the Overseas Highway! And in 1982, this bridge was replaced by a new bridge right next to it! However, portions of the old bridge still stand today.

In fact, the Old Seven Mile Bridge is a very popular place to bike, walk, and fish in the Middle Keys! Or you can ride on the newly opened Pidgeon Key Express, a tram ride that takes you to the historic Pidgeon Key!

Other Frequently Asked Questions about the Florida Keys

Are the Florida Keys safe?

Absolutely! The Florida Keys are generally very safe to visit. However, petty crime is more common in Key West. If you are visiting Key West at night, be aware of your surroundings like you would in any city!

What is the best way to visit the Florida Keys?

My personal favorite way to visit the Florida Keys is to take a road trip from Key Largo to Key West. You can fly into Key West and make your way north, or fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale and make your way south!

Either way, I recommend driving from one end to the other in order to experience all the Keys have to offer. Visiting only Key West is like visiting New York City and never leaving Times Square!

There are so many different things to do in the Florida Keys, from feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s in Islamorada to going on a sunset cruise in Key West!

P.S. You can read more about all the different things to do throughout the Florida Keys in my road trip guide for Miami to Key West!

What is the most popular Florida Key?

It’s probably no surprise that the most popular Florida Key is Key West!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told people I am going to the Keys and they say, “So you’re going to Key West!”.

While Key West definitely isn’t the only Key in the Florida Keys (remember there’s over 800!), it’s certainly the most popular.

This is because many people have visited Key West on a cruise! While this is a great way to experience Key West, I don’t think it does it justice! You need more than a few hours to get a feel for this incredible town.

Key West also has an international airport (EWY), so it’s much easier to get to than the other Keys!

What is the difference between Key West and Key Largo?

Key West and Key Largo are pretty much polar opposites of each other! In fact, I have a whole blog post comparing Key Largo vs Key West to help you choose which to visit. However, here is a quick summary!

Key West is the most populous city in the Florida Keys. In fact, it’s really the only “city”! With over 25,000 people, there are tons of things to do in Key West, from bars to restaurants to tours to attractions. Plus, Key West is very tiny, so you don’t need a car to explore this Key!

Key Largo, on the other hand, is a very sleepy town. The majority of things to do in Key Largo revolve around the water. In fact, Key Largo is home to the United States’ first undersea park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

This park has some of the best snorkeling in Key Largo, including the famous Christ of the Abyss Statue. If you are visiting Key Largo, you need to book a snorkel tour to experience all it has to offer!

How many days do you need in the Florida Keys?

It depends! If you really want to experience the Florida Keys and plan on exploring from Key Largo to Key West, I recommend 5-7 days.

For those who have less time, you could do them all in 3-4 days, but you may feel a little rushed! In fact, there’s enough to do in Key West to fill 3 days on its own!

So, it totally depends on your travel style and preferences. I wouldn’t visit the Florida Keys for less than 3 days!

What is the best time of year to visit the Florida Keys?

Again, this is totally subjective. The most popular time to visit the Florida Keys is in the wintertime between December and January.

As a Florida local, I almost never visit during this time due to high hotel prices, long waits at restaurants, etc.

My personal favorite time of year to visit the Keys is between April and May. The weather is very mild during this time, and the ocean is warm!

You will also avoid rainy summer afternoons and hurricane season during these months. November sees a similar climate to the springtime (maybe a little colder), if that works better for you!

The summer months (June – September) are off-season in the Keys thanks to the heat and humidity, as well as the Atlantic Hurricane season.

As a local, I don’t mind visiting during this time. In fact, if you can handle the temperatures, I recommend it! Just make sure to plan for the worst and make sure everything is refundable, as hurricanes can pop up out of nowhere.

Make sure to check out my guide on the Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys for more information on weather patterns, events, and more!

What should I pack for the Florida Keys?

Like most tropical destinations, there are a few essentials you need to pack for the Florida Keys!

First, of course, is sunscreen!

And not just any sunscreen but reef-safe sunscreen. One of the best parts about visiting the Florida Keys is experiencing the beautiful underwater landscapes. However, most sunscreen brands contain chemicals that damage coral reefs (did you know they are living things?!).

So, it’s crucial that the sunscreen you buy is reef-safe, which you can read more about here!

In addition to sunscreen, don’t forget your other beach essentials like sunglasses, after-sun lotion, and a beach towel!

If you have your own snorkel gear, you should absolutely bring it! However, if you don’t, no worries! Most snorkel tours include gear in the cost.

Lastly, if you are prone to seasickness, I highly recommend Non-Drowsy Dramamine pills. These have saved my butt on many occasions!

Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!!