Key Largo vs Key West: Which Florida Key Is Better?

Are you planning a trip to the Florida Keys and wondering if you should visit Key Largo vs Key West? Most people who want to visit this part of Florida don’t realize just how many Keys there are in the archipelago! Of course, Key West is the most famous Key, so most people plan a trip there.

But the Florida Keys are made up of over 200 islands! Not all of those are inhabitable of course, but there are still quite a few Keys to choose from. The most popular are Key Largo and Key West, which are located on two opposite ends of the island chain! And boy, are they different.

In this post, I’ll cover all your burning questions about Key Largo vs Key West, like which Key has the best beaches, the best nightlife, the best snorkeling, and more! With these answers, you’ll be able to decide which Key is the better choice for you!

I highly recommend you make the road trip from Key Largo to Key West to be able to experience it all. However, if you have to choose one, this post should help you decide!

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Key Largo vs Key West: A Breakdown Of Which Florida Key To Choose For Your Vacation (And Why!)

Before we get into the comparison between Key Largo and Key West, I wanted to give a quick overview of both Keys! Let’s start with Key Largo.

Key Largo Overview

Key Largo is the first Key in the island chain known as the Florida Keys. As you drive from Miami to Key Largo, you’ll drive across the “Stretch”, a portion of the Overseas Highway that connects Homestead to the Florida Keys!

Once you make your way over the Jewfish Creek Bridge, you’ll enter Key Largo! Called the Dive Capital of the World, Key Largo is known for all of its incredible water-based activities. It’s also home to the United States’ first undersea park – John Pennekamp. The natural beauty of Key Largo is sure to impress you!

Key Largo spans 33 miles, making it the largest Key in the Florida Keys. Although it’s long, Key Largo has a very sleepy and local vibe. There is a wide range of hotel options in Key Largo, from seaside cottages to luxurious resorts. And plenty of activities to keep you busy!

Key West Overview

Now let’s talk about Key West! A popular cruise ship stop and tourist town, Key West is sometimes the only Key people have heard of! Even though it’s only 4.2 square miles, there are tons of things to do in Key West, from sunset cruises to museums to the famous “Duval Crawl”.

Key West is a popular destination for couples, families, fishermen, locals, and international travelers! There’s something for everyone in this small Florida island city. You will find popular hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt, as well as boutique hotels and vacation rentals.

For more details on Key West, make sure to check out my 3 Day Key West Itinerary!

Which Key To Choose: Key Largo vs Key West

Now that you have an overview of both Key Largo and Key West, let’s dive into all the main differences between the two! I’ve broken this comparison down into many categories so you can determine the best Key for you!

Best Key for Beaches: Key West

It’s a common misconception that the Florida Keys are home to beautiful, sprawling beaches. Now don’t get me wrong, there are some beautiful beaches in the Keys! But there are not THAT many. In fact, most of the beaches in the Keys are man-made.

If one of your main goals for your Florida Keys vacation is to hit the beach, you’ll want to head to Key West. Smathers Beach, one of the top Key West beaches, stretches along the southern coast of the island right across from the airport.

This beach is man-made, but you wouldn’t know it! It’s got gorgeous, powdery white sand that was actually imported from the Bahamas in 1961! Visiting Smathers Beach is one of my favorite free things to do in Key West!

Another beach in Key West you can visit is the one at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Located right next to Old Town Key West, this is a great place to visit after a day of shopping or bar-hopping! You can also explore the fort, see Civil War cannons, and learn about the fort’s construction.

This beach has beautiful white sand and is great for swimming and snorkeling. However, you’ll have to pay the $6 per vehicle entry free to access it!

While Key Largo has some incredible snorkeling and scuba diving, there aren’t many beaches to write home about. You certainly won’t find any sprawling white-sand beaches in Key Largo.

The main beach in Key Largo that people visit is Cannon Beach at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. There is some pretty good snorkeling right off the beach here, including remnants of an old Spanish shipwreck about 100 feet offshore.

There are other small beaches along the mangroves in Key Largo, but I would focus on other activities instead!

Best Key for Foodies: Key West

While both Key Largo and Key West have some incredible restaurants, Key West wins this category! There are a ton of different places to eat in Key West, ranging from local fish shacks to five-star dining. You could stay in Key West for a week and still not be able to try all the top spots.

In terms of recommendations, Blue Heaven is one of the most popular restaurants in Key West, specifically for brunch. You have to try their lobster benedict and massive Key Lime Pie! Make sure to get there early.

For dinner, you can check out Hot Tin Roof at the Ocean Key Hotel for great sunset views and Blackfin Bistro for mouthwatering bites in a little backyard garden setting. In addition, Latitudes is a fine dining experience located on the dreamy Sunset Key! You’ll need a reservation and have to take a short ferry to get there!

On the other hand, Key Largo offers some fabulous restaurants as well, but there are definitely not as many choices as Key West. Most of the restaurants in Key Largo are very similar: fresh seafood, outdoor seating, and sandy floors. Still sounds pretty great to me!

One of my favorite places to visit is Sol by the Sea at Playa Largo Resort. If you are staying there, you can even arrange for a table with your feet in the water!

Another top spot for amazing sunset views and delicious seafood food in Key Largo is Snook’s Bayside Restaurant.

Make sure to check out my complete list of Key Largo restaurants on the water if you’re looking to eat with a view!

Best Key for Nightlife: Key West

This is an easy one! If you are looking for nightlife, Key West is the move! Key Largo has a handful of tiki bars and local dives, but that’s about it! Most restaurants double as local bars and often have live music.

Key West, on the other hand, is literally known for its nightlife. When the sun goes down, Duval Street in Old Town Key West turns into party central! Bar hopping along this road is known as the “Duval Crawl” since you’re sure to be crawling by the end of it!

You’ll need to be 21 to visit most bars after dark on Duval Street. Some of the most popular bars to check out are Hog’s Breath Saloon, Sloppy Joe’s, the Bull and Whistle Bar, and the Smokin’ Tuna Saloon.

For a more low-key spot with beautiful sunset views, head to Sunset Pier! There is also the famous Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, which is very family-friendly!

You can even experience cabaret and drag shows in Key West, at places like La Te Da and Aqua Nightclub!

Best Key for Snorkelers & Scuba Divers: Key Largo

If you are a snorkeler or scuba diver, the Florida Keys are the perfect place for you. Luckily, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary stretches all the way from Key Largo to Key West. However, I have found the snorkeling and scuba diving to be much better in Key Largo.

While there are certainly places to snorkel and scuba dive in Key West, they are much less impressive than the waters of Key Largo. Places like Sand Key Lighthouse Reef and Western Sambo Reef are common spots to visit when snorkeling and scuba diving in Key West.

However, once you go snorkeling in Key Largo, you might never want to go snorkeling in Key West again! The coral reefs and underwater worlds of Key Largo are truly breathtaking. Just outside the borders of John Pennekamp State Park, you’ll find tons of incredible snorkel spots like Grecian Rocks and Molasses Reef.

The most famous snorkel spot in Key Largo, however, is the Christ of the Abyss Statue. Located in about 30 feet of water, this is a very famous dive and snorkel spot in Key Largo. Once you visit here, you’ll see why!

You can read more about all the best places to check out in my Key Largo Snorkeling Guide!

Best Key For Families: Key West

For those traveling with children, you can’t go wrong with choosing between Key Largo vs Key West. Both spots are great for kids, with plenty of family-friendly activities to choose from. However, Key West might have a few more!

When visiting Key West, some popular things to do with kids are visit the Key West Butterfly Conservatory, explore the Key West Aquarium, wander through the Key West Shipwreck Museum, ride the Conch Train, and more!

Another awesome and adventurous thing to do in Key West with older children is to make the journey to Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park. To get here, you can either go by seaplane (a bit pricey) or take the Yankee Freedom ferry. Upon arrival, you’ll be treated to some of the clearest, bluest water, and an incredible piece of history!

On the other hand, Key Largo doesn’t have as many typical “attractions” as Key West. There are still plenty of family-friendly activities to do, however. For example, you can visit Dolphins Plus, a research facility where you can ethically swim with dolphins.

There are also tons of exciting tours, like snorkeling in the ocean or kayaking through the mangroves. One of the most popular activities to do with kids, which is actually in nearby Islamorada, is feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s.

Best Key For Couples: Tie

For couples visiting the Florida Keys, you can’t go wrong with Key Largo or Key West! It really depends on your preference. There are luxurious resorts in both locations, like the Bungalows and Playa Largo in Key Largo and the Casa Marina in Key West.

You can go on romantic sunset cruises in both locations, though Key Largo might have a slight edge here in terms of romance. There are tons of Key West sunset cruises to choose from, including dinner cruises and all-you-can-drink party boats. Key Largo sunset cruises are a bit more low-key, and there are more private options!

Also, as previously mentioned, if you are looking for nightlife, Key West is the clear winner. But if you are looking for a private, quiet getaway, Key Largo is better!

Best Key For Convenience: Key West

One thing to know about the Florida Keys is they aren’t very convenient to get to! If you plan to visit Key Largo from out of state, you will need to fly into either Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) or Miami Airport (MIA) and then make the 1 hour+ drive into the Keys!

Key West, however, has its own international airport (EWY) with direct flights from major US cities like Atlanta, Boston, Asheville, New York City, and more! This makes it much easier to travel directly to Key West – no rental car required.

In fact, if you plan to stay in Key West, you don’t need a rental car at all! Key West is extremely bike and pedestrian-friendly. Parking in Old Town Key West can be a nightmare and extremely pricey! Even if you aren’t staying in Old Town, most hotels have free shuttles that run every hour.

When visiting Key Largo, unless you plan on staying at your hotel the whole trip, you’ll definitely want to get a rental car. Key Largo is over 33 miles long, so the main things to do are pretty spread out! You’ll need a car to get to restaurants, shops, and tours unless you want to Uber everywhere!

Best Key for Fishing: Tie

It’s no surprise that there is world-class fishing in the Florida Keys. When choosing between fishing in Key Largo vs Key West, there are a few things to consider.

Key West offers a variety of fishing, including deep-sea fishing and flats fishing. You can catch bonefish and permit along the flats in Key West or make your way out into the sea and try to hook a marlin!

Key Largo offers similar deep-sea fishing opportunities, maybe even more so. Neighboring Islamorada is actually known as the sports-fishing capital of the world, so there are plenty of charter boats available in the area.

Key Largo also offers tons of reef and wreck fishing; however, you need to be careful not to fish in the protected areas of the National Marine Sanctuary!

Best Key For Avoiding Tourists: Key Largo

As you can probably guess, Key West is a bit touristy. With cruise ship guests coming in by the boatload, Key West can often feel crowded and overwhelming. There are tons of souvenir and tourist shops, and people trying to make a quick buck off you!

If you are looking for more of a local vibe, Key Largo is the way to go. While there are plenty of tourists in Key Largo, the town is much more spread out. Key Largo definitely has a “sleepy” feel, with lots of local spots dotted along the main road. There’s only one Starbucks, no Target, and no Walmart!

Best Key for Budget Travelers: Tie

If you’re a budget traveler, you might be wondering if you should visit Key West versus Key Largo. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t consider either of these destinations “budget destinations”. The Florida Keys can be pretty pricey, especially when it comes to lodging and activities.

In Key Largo, you can typically find hotels in the off-season for $200 or less per night. Your best options are Gilbert’s Resort, Waterside Suites and Marina, Atlantic Bay Resort, and the Pelican Key Cottages. There are also campgrounds in Key Largo like Sun Outdoors and Key Largo Kampground & Marina.

In Key West, you can check out Blue Marlin Motel, the Gates Hotel, or the Palms Hotel. In general, Key West is going to be a bit more pricey than Key Largo, especially if you want to stay in Old Town.

In terms of activities, both Key Largo and Key West have cheap and free things to do. Some free things to do in Key Largo include watching the sunset, swimming off the beach, and shopping at Shell World. In general, you’ll have to spend some money in order to take advantage of the best parts of Key Largo, like booking a snorkel tour.

It’s a similar story for Key West. There are slightly more free things to do in Key West, like relaxing on Smathers Beach, walking along Duval Street, and watching the sunset. But again, you’ll have to get out on the water to experience the best of Key West.

In summary, it’s a tie between Key Largo vs Key West for budget travelers. While you might find cheaper lodging in Key Largo, there are more free things to do in Key West!

Best Key for History Buffs: Key West

Last but not least, if you are a history nerd, you should head to Key West vs Key Largo. Key West is riddled with incredible Florida and United States history!

You can visit Ernest Hemingway’s Home, which has also been converted into a museum, and learn about his iconic life in Key West and beyond.

There is also the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential library! President Truman spent many vacations in Key West, which you can learn more about on guided tours of the home!

Aside from these famous homes, there’s plenty of other Key West history to learn about! The best way to do this is on a guided tour, which there are many of! Taking a ride on the Conch Train around town is a fun way to learn some quick facts.

Final Thoughts

That wraps up my guide comparing Key Largo vs Key West. I love both of these Keys and personally recommend road tripping the Florida Keys so you can experience all they have to offer.

However, if you have to decide between the two, I hope this guide helps you make your decision! No matter which Key you choose, you will have an incredible time exploring this part of Florida!

Make sure to check out my other Florida Keys blog posts to help plan your trip:
Ultimate Florida Keys Travel Guide with Map
Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys by Month
25 Epic Things to Do in Key West

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