There are two airports with commercial flights located in the Keys, one on Marathon near mile marker 50 and the other in Key West.

Area Code

The area code for all of the Florida Keys is 305.

Artificial Reefs

From 1981 to present, the waters off of the Florida Keys have established some 23 artificial reefs. These range from a 2600-ton United States Coast Guard Cutter to the 80-ton wood shrimp boat the "Papa Joe". These man made reefs become home to many hard and soft corals, tropical fish and other marine life.

Boca Chica Naval Air Station

Since 1941 the Naval Air Station has taken up most of this Key. The Navy selected this location because the weather conditions for flying are better in the Keys than in any other part of the Nation.

Bridges

There are 42 bridges connecting the chain of Florida Keys. The longest is the famous 7-mile bridge, which is 35,716 feet long. The shortest is Harris Gap at only 37 feet long. 15% of travel time in the Keys is spent on bridges.

Highest Elevation in the Keys

Windley Key, 18 feet above sea level, is the highest elevation in the Florida Keys.

Population

Monroe County, Florida Keys Population from Key Largo to Key West is approximately 79,978

Queen Conch

The capture of a Queen Conch within the Florida Keys waters is prohibited. Although the conch shell use to be used as a means of communication and conch meat harvested locally, our conch now comes from the waters off of the Bahamas.

Reefs

North America’s only living coral reef ecosystem is located just a few miles offshore the Florida Keys.

Sea Turtles

Loggerhead turtles are the most common sea turtle found in Florida Keys waters. Most of the sea turtle nesting within the Continental United States occurs in Florida.

U.S. highway 1

Also known as the Overseas highway, was completed in 1938 from Key Largo to Key West. Today U.S. highway 1 runs from Fort Kent, Maine to Key West, Florida.

Weather

The average Florida Keys Temperatures are January – 70, February – 71, March – 73, April – 77, May – 80, June – 82, July – 84, August – 84, September – 83, October – 79, November 74, December – 71.

GETTING TO THE KEYS FROM MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

If you fly into Miami and rent a car to travel to the Florida Keys, when you exit the airport, you should take 836 West to the Florida Turnpike. Take the Florida Turnpike south until it ends in Florida City where it merges into southbound U.S. Highway 1. Continue south on U.S. 1 until you reach Key Largo. The distance from Miami Airport to Upper Key Largo is approximately 56 miles and will take you about an hour and a half.

NAVAGATING THE KEYS ONCE YOU ARE HERE

Good news! Once you're in the Keys it is almost impossible to get lost. U.S. 1 is the only road that travels continuously from island to island. All roads that intersect with U.S. 1 either come to a dead end or end up back on U.S. 1. When traveling on U.S. 1 you will see small green signs with numbers on them that are mounted on steel posts about three feet high. These are called mile markers, often referred to as "M.M.". The Keys begin at M.M.113 and M.M. 0 is in Key West. While you're visiting you will also hear people say "oceanside" and "bayside". If you're headed south (toward Key West from Miami), the Atlantic Ocean is on the left and Florida Bay is on your right. Obviously it is the opposite if you are headed north. Mile markers and the references to oceanside and bayside are used instead of addresses to describe locations. For example you may be told "Holiday Isle is at at mm 84, oceanside". Keep in mind there are no partial mile markers, so if you are told that a restaurant is located at m.m. 87.5, this means it is about half way between m.m. 87 and m.m. 88. You may also hear reference to the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys, don't worry though, these are references to general areas and are not used in giving directions.