Overview
Islamorada is a group of islands in the Florida Keys strung along US Highway 1. The first group you reach driving out from the mainland is Key Largo, then second is Islamorada consisting of Plantation Key, Windley Key, and Upper then Lower Matecumbe Key. The highway then takes a long jump to the Marathon island group heading towards Key West.
8 sights · 5 things to do · 10 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Islamorada
Anne's beach
Public beach, great to relax, water is shallow so great to walk around in, public restrooms, parking, you have to bring your own chairs, snorkel gear, kayak. great to visit or lie around all day and tan!
Bass Pro Shop
Huge sports store, endless fishing supplies, women's/men's/children clothing, great souvenirs, shoes, sun tan lotion, indoor fish tank.
The Florida Keys Memorial
Built to commemorate those who died in the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Indian Key Historic State Park
Only accessible by boat or ferry.
Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
Only accessible by boat or ferry.
Long Key State Park
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Nov–Apr. Summer highs reach about 93°F; winter lows dip to about 55°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Sep. (climate data from nearby Everglades National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MIA Miami International Airport, Miami — 63 mi away (major hub). Directions
- OPF Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, Miami — 70 mi away. Directions
Hop in a car and drive from Miami on US 1. It will take you about an hour and a half.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $69–$219 a night (typical $159), from 4 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$110, mid-range ~$230, comfortable ~$380.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Florida Keys Memorial, San Pedro Underwater Archaelogical Preserve State Park, Indian Key Historic State Park
- Lunch Green Turtle
- Afternoon Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, First Choice Charters
- Dinner Islamorada Fish Company
- Evening Oceanview Inn & Sports Bar
Day 2
- Morning Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, Anne's beach
- Lunch Island Grill
- Afternoon Robbies Marina, Theater of the sea
- Dinner Kaiyo Grill
- Evening Hog Heaven Sports Bar & Grill
Day 3
- Morning Long Key State Park, Bass Pro Shop
- Lunch Lazy Days
- Afternoon Bud and Mary's
- Dinner Mangrove Mike's Cafe
- Evening Tiki Bar
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Hop in a car and drive from Miami on US 1. It will take you about an hour and a half.
Fly into Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach/Miami and drive south for two hours.
Fly into Miami and drive south for one hour and forty-five minutes.
Short cut: If driving from FLL: make left onto Card Sound Road ($1 toll), it will bring you back to Key Largo on Route 1, a nice scenic road with a waterfront casual restaurant- Alabama Jack's very popular for bikers traveling to Key West offers great fresh food. (This route is a few miles longer than traveling the "18 mile stretch" on US1, but it's often possible to make better time due to less traffic.
The Greyhound/Flixbus stop is at (Wendy's formerly Burger King) 82201 Overseas Highway (US 1). The bus stops for both directions are in the Wendy's parking lot, in front of the building.
The stops for Metrobus #301 is at on MM 74 of US HWy 1. The bus stops are at opposite sides of the road from each other.
Get around
A car is a must! If you are coming from any major airport you are able to directly rent a car.
See
- The sunset! Many of the restaurants are catered especially to see the beautiful sunset. The Islamorada fish company has Tarpon/shark feeding every night at sunset. You can watch right from your seats or from the bar.
See Anne's beach
Public beach, great to relax, water is shallow so great to walk around in, public restrooms, parking, you have to bring your own chairs, snorkel gear, kayak. great to visit or lie around all day and tan!
See The Florida Keys Memorial (Hurricane Monument)
Built to commemorate those who died in the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Do
Scuba or snorkel!
Islamorada, long recognized as the "Sport Fishing Capital of the World," is now an icon among sport divers for a similar reason: a massive population of tropical marine life. High profile coral heads and broad ledges shelter huge congregates of French grunt and goatfish, while regal queen angelfish casually graze amid the reef recesses. Friendly green moray eels swim freely along the spur-and-groove channels, and reclusive nurse sharks lurk beneath the overhangs. Islamorada offers a wide variety of shallow coral reefs, mini walls, shipwrecks, and even an underwater habitat for scientific research, the Aquarius. To learn more about Islamorada or any other manner of local lore, stop by the Chamber of Commerce at mile marker 82.5 or +1-800-322-5397.
- The Eagle - This 287-foot ship was intentionally sunk in 110 feet of water as a dive attraction and rests on her starboard side cloaked in a colorful patina of encrusting sponge and coral, populated by huge schools of grunt, tarpon, and jack.
- Davis Reef - This reef is revered for its incredible concentration of grunts and schoolmaster snapper, as well as several amiable resident green morays, long accustomed to benign interaction with the dive masters.
- Alligator Reef - Now marked by a 136-foot-tall lighthouse, on this spot in 1822 the USS Alligator grounded and sank while protecting a convoy from pirates. Now all that remains of the wreck are the twin piles of ballast stones, but the coral reef - in just 25 feet of water - is vibrant and alive.
- Conch Wall - Offering an exciting change of pace from the normal spur-and-groove profiles of most keys' reefs, Conch Wall presents a precipitous sloping wall and captivating concentrations of barrel sponge and gorgonia punctuating the seafloor.
- Crocker Wall - An over 450-foot-long wall in 50 feet of water. The wall has a thirty-foot decline and features grunts, yellowtail and grouper with spur-and-groove coral and block coral on the wall.
- Pickles Reef - For macro photo enthusiasts, Pickles provides a wonderful opportunity to encounter the reef's minutia, from flamingo tongue cowries to banded coral shrimp, all amid a dynamic coral reef in only 15 to 25 feet of water.
Do Bud and Mary's
Marina featured on many fishing shows. Boat rentals, chartered fishing trips, pontoon boats, tackle shops with coffee and deli. Miss Islamorada docks there which is a party boats $60 for full day of fishing includes rods, tackle, and bait. Bring your own lunch and drinks.
Do Holiday Isle
Great place for families whether or not staying at the hotel or just visiting for the day, popular with spring break students, parking pool, private beach, swimming, lounge chairs provided for a small fee, tiki bar, snack bar with picnic tables with waterfront view, live entertainment, jet ski & kayak rentals, snorkeling, great for night life.
Buy
Shop Robbie's Marina
A variety of independent vendors set up tents selling paintings, clothing, and jewelery. Along Route 1 there are many places to stop for ceramic lizards, copper suns, palm tree plants, pots, souvenirs.
Eat
Eat Green Turtle
Great place for breakfast, must try their huge sticky buns. Large portions, island casual dress, friendly staff, well stocked bar. Also attached to a fly fishing shop.
Eat Islamorada Fish Company
Great for sunset, food for all, also will cook your fresh catch, no reservations taken, tarpon feeding at sunset, entertainment, island casual dress, two bars, great for family pictures.
Eat Island Grill
Very 'islandy' feeling, pull up boat access, live entertainment, well stocked bar, great fresh food, island casual, indoor and outdoor seating, on the water, bugs might be bad; bring bug spray!
Eat Kaiyo Grill
Sushi, indoor and outdoor seating, take-out also available,well stocked bar, island casual dress, great atmosphere.
Eat Lazy Days
Reservations suggested or very long wait, terrace and indoor seating overlooking water, island casual dress, large portions, bar, very fresh local food. You can bring in your catch of the day to be prepared.
Eat Mangrove Mike's Cafe
A good breakfast and lunch place with friendly service. Environmentally conscious establishment that does not use plastic straws (uses bamboo ones instead).
Eat Mile Marker 88
Gourmet dining, indoor and outdoor seating, inside lighting is dim, great for sunset view, reservations suggested, large wine list, friendly service.
Eat Morada Bay
Perfect for the sunset! Chairs are set up to view the sunset, reservations taken, island casual dress, live band, indoor/outdoor seating, tables and chairs on the sand, must try: Wagyu Burger.
Eat Wahoo's
Great for casual dining during the day, on the water, overlooks ocean, great view for passing boats, bring in your own catch for them to cook, lobsters, stone crabs, snapper, grouper comes right from their own dock, indoor seating also available.
Eat Wendy's
Serves as the Greyhound bus stop, a place to get something to eat while waiting for the bus.
Drink
Drink Oceanview Inn & Sports Bar
Nice local dive bar! The backyard patio has plenty of fun bar games, including ring toss, a swimming pool, pool, darts, and plenty of lounge chairs. Accessible by boat. Tourists may want to spend their time out back as the inside is populated by seedy locals most of the time.
Drink Hog Heaven Sports Bar & Grill
Local dive bar/club caters to tourists and locals. Clientele is generally slightly more wild than the Oceanview crowd. Frequented by tourists from Miami. The back deck overlooking their private marina is a nice place to go for a drink.
Drink Tiki Bar
Great for grabbing a cocktail after a long day at the beach, on the water, great for no shower happy hour.
Sleep
Go next
You've come all this way, you might as well continue to the end of Highway 1. That would be Fort Kent, Maine, about 2300 miles away north on the Canadian border.
Nearby
Key Largo
City / town · 25 listings · 15 mi away
Duck Key
City / town · 1 listings · 22 mi away
Marathon
City / town · 14 listings · 31 mi away
Florida City
City / town · 16 listings · 37 mi away
Everglades National Park
Park · 25 listings · 38 mi away
Big Pine Key
City / town · 11 listings · 50 mi away
Palmetto Bay
City / town · 6 listings · 51 mi away
Coral Gables
City / town · 29 listings · 58 mi away
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