If you want to experience tropical weather and a laid back, caribbean lifestyle without leaving the U.S. then Key West, Florida is exactly the place for you. Whether you are visiting Key West as a cruise stop or maybe taking a Miami to Key West road trip there is a lot you can do with only one day in Key West, Florida. This one day Key West itinerary will help you make the most of your limited time visiting!
Key West is the last island, or key, in a string of islands at the bottom tip of Florida. The island is covered in bright colored, cute beach houses and is really just a fun place to visit.
If you see chickens wandering around (which you will, they are all over the island) they’ll most likely leave you alone but remember, they are protected by law so you shouldn’t mess with them!
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Is One Day Enough for a Key West Trip?
Key West is a small island at only 2 miles wide and 4.5 miles long. Although it is small it really packs a punch and offers quite a lot of fun things to do in when you visit Key West.
You would ideally need a couple of days to see all that Key West has to offer, 2-3 days ought to do it. But if one day is all you have to spend in Key West you can still see quite a bit and come away having experienced a lot of what the island has to offer.
This Key West itinerary will help you make the most of your one day here.
How to Get Around Key West
Since the island is so small and because parking is very limited the best way to travel around Key West is to walk or rent a bike to ride around on.
Many hotels and inns offer bike rentals or even free use of bikes they have on hand so be sure to ask you accommodations.
If you don’t want to bike or walk then you can always use a taxi or car share service to get around as well and still not have to worry about parking.
Key West Itinerary – One Day
Eat Breakfast at Blue Heaven
Blue Heaven is arguably the most popular restaurant on Key West. They offer a delicious brunch menu with everything from lobster eggs benedict to classic key lime pie. It may seem odd to get key lime pie for breakfast but if you only have one day here then I suggest you fit in all the pie you can.
Because the restaurant is so popular, try to arrive before ten to beat the rush or be prepared to wait for a table.
Kayak Through the Mangroves
I love kayaking and this is such a fun place to try it. There are large mangrove islands that create channels which are perfect to kayak through. The water is calm and very easy to move through. We used Lazy Dog Adventures and loved our experience with them.
Whether you’re a first time kayaker or more advanced this is a great activity for everyone. Our guide showed us the Florida Keys wildlife including a live conch and a sea cucumber! Not to mention it was a great workout to work up an appetite for more key lime pie.
If kayaking isn’t your thing then there are plenty of other water sport activities to do like jet skis, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and diving!
Fun fact: The Florida Key’s are home to the only barrier reef in the U.S. which makes it a great destination for snorkeling or diving.
Go to the Beach
Although Key West is an island there aren’t actually that many nice beaches in Key West but there are some you can visit! So if you want to lounge on the beach under the bright sun and play in the blue water you definitely can.
Fort Zachary State Park beach and Higgs beach are both great options with nice white sand and clear water. Higgs beach is on the way to or from kayaking so it would be an easy place to stop for a quick dip in the water.
Head to Lunch for more Key Lime Pie
By now you are hungry again. We ate at Two Friends Patio Restaurant. If you like seafood I recommend trying conch fritters. It is crazy knowing they are the same animals you just saw while out kayaking. My husband ate conch several times on our cruise as well as here and loved it.
Definitely make sure you eat more key lime pie! It is delicious here, although I am sure it is good just about everywhere on the island. Key lime pie originates from here in Key West, Florida. The pie is made from unique, small limes with a strong tart flavor. I could’ve eaten a whole pie myself to be honest.
We also heard from several friends that the chocolate covered key lime pie, eaten on a stick like a popsicle, is absolutely amazing! I didn’t even come across it or I definitely would’ve tried it. So keep an eye out and try it for me.
In the Afternoon it’s time for sightseeing! Bike or walk to the sights that interest you.
Stand On the Southernmost Point of the U.S.
Key West, Florida is home to the southernmost point of the whole United States. You can visit and take a picture with the giant place marker. It is fun to see how far away the point is from other places like Cuba.
Fun fact: Cuba is less than 100 miles from Key West!
It is just a fun photo op though, there isn’t anything else to do here. But I felt like it was worth stopping by for a picture.
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Take a Picture with the Mile 0 Sign
Just down the street from the southern tip of the U.S. is the mile 0 sign. This marks the end of U.S. Route 1 which is the longest north to south road in the country!
Apparently the sign gets stolen a lot because it is so unique! Luckily the sign was there when we visited so we got to take a fun picture with it. Hopefully it will be there for you as well.
Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory
Stop by this cute butterfly and nature conservatory to see 50 to 60 different species of butterflies. The calm setting is a great place to enjoy these beautiful creatures. Along with the butterflies are several species of tropical birds including flamingos! Such a fun stop in an already fun day.
They are open from 9am – 4:30pm and everyone is sure to enjoy themselves if you decide to visit.
Ernest Hemingsway’s Home Museum
Alternatively, you can visit the old home of renowned writer, Ernest Hemmingsway. It is not my cup of tea but it is one of the most popular attractions on the island so I felt I should mention it as an option while you are visiting Key West for a day. The tour includes the home and grounds of the house Mr. Hemmingsway lived in during some of his best years as an author while married to his second wife who loved to spend money.
There are 40-50 six-toed cats wandering around the property that are descendants of Hemingsway’s own cat Snow White who also had six toes which is pretty fascinating.
Go Shopping in the Historic Seaport
There are plenty of cute shops and boutiques in the Historic Seaport that could keep anyone occupied for hours.
Whatever you’re looking for from key lime pie themed shops to clothes to souvenir shops they are all here. It is fun to walk around, I really liked trying some key lime pie flavored salt taffy we found too.
Dinner
Next, It is time to grab some dinner. We had to be back on the cruise ship before dinner time so my best recommendation is to try some seafood if you like it because it is so fresh here.
But the Florida Trippers have a great list of the best restaurants to try in Key West that looks amazing!
Watch the Sunset at Mallory Square
Last up on the Key West Itinerary is the nearby Mallory Square where each night there is a sunset celebration. The sunsets in Key West are spectacular and this is supposed to be the best place on the island to watch them. The streets become lined with vendors and street performers, the crowds come out to match and it is a real party!
Be sure you have your camera ready to catch the stunning colors of the sky as the sun sinks below the horizon.
Best Time to Visit Key West, Florida
Just like the rest of Florida the keys are hot and humid the majority of the year making it a popular year round destination.
One important factor to consider is that the dry season is from November to April. The wet season and also hurrican season is from May to October. So making Key West a winter getaway to escape the cold and snow is not a bad idea!
The summer is going to be very hot so I would recommend that late fall or early spring is the best time to visit Key West. Especially if you only have one day to visit you want the best chance for great weather. To avoid crowds youll want to try not to come during schools spring and fall breaks if you can.
One Day in Key West, Florida
There you go, a Key West itinerary for a fun packed one day trip to Key West, the southernmost part of the United States. I know you’ll all love your time in Key West, Florida. It is such a laid back, relaxing place to hang out. The streets are very cute with brightly painted beach houses everywhere so take your time to explore and enjoy it all.
You could definitely spend a couple days in Key West and have a fun, relaxing time but one day is still a great amount of time. We stopped in Key West on a cruise trip which is why we only had one day there. This Key West itinerary (minus some meals) makes for a great do it yourself Key West cruise excursion! If you’re visiting on a cruise like us, this cruise packing list will make sure you have everything you need for a great vacation by ship.
