3 Ways to Get to Key West: Which is Best For You?

When I was planning my own July trip to Key West, I spent way more time than expected just debating how to actually get there. My friends were driving down in their RV and figured I’d carpool with them from Miami — but it was a holiday weekend and they warned me the traffic on the Overseas Highway could get brutal.

With limited PTO to spend on this trip, I decided I’d rather spend it in Key West than stuck in a car, so I splurged on a direct flight into EYW instead.

It wasn’t until I was actually on the island — chatting with some fellow travelers on a snorkel tour — that I found out there’s a third way to get down here entirely: a very from Fort Myers I hadn’t even considered.

So if you’re stuck deciding how to get to Key West, this post breaks down all the three routes — flying directly into EYW, flying into Miami and driving down the Overseas Highway, or flying into Fort Myers and taking the ferry — along with the real trade-offs of each, so you can figure out which one actually makes sense for your trip.

Fly Directly Into Key West

The first way we’ll cover for how to get to Key West is flying directly into EYW, Key West’s international airport.

At first glance, this seems like the most simple option — and if you have a direct flight from your home airport, it very well may be. But because the Key West airport is relatively small with limited daily flights, it can be pricey to fly directly to the island.

Not to mention, if you don’t have a direct flight from your home airport, you’ll need to connect through another city — which can make flying into Key West take as long, or even longer, than the other two options we’ll cover.

The limited flights are also an important factor to consider in cases of bad weather or other flight delays and cancellations.

I travelled to Key West in July, when late afternoon storms are common on the island… I had no problem flying in and out, but I overheard several people at nearby gates dealing with flight delays and cancellations that wouldn’t be rescheduled for at least 24 hours.

All that being said, if you have a direct flight into Key West, a limited amount of travel time, or you’re planning to stay only on Key West without exploring the other Keys, I do think flying into EYW is your best bet.

It’s exactly why I chose it myself — I’d rather pay a little more and spend my limited PTO in Key West than in transit.

Fly Into Miami International and Drive the Overseas Highway

But what if you don’t have a direct flight into Key West?

That’s the point when I’d at least look at some other options to see if something works better for your trip.

The first option that’s pretty common is flying into Miami International (airport code: MIA), renting a car, and driving the Overseas Highway to Key West. You could even fly into Fort Lauderdale (airport code: FLL) if you’re able to find a better flight and are willing to drive an extra 30 minutes.

MIA is a massive airport, with direct flights from all over the USA and the world, which makes it pretty easy to fly into.

Because it’s such a large airport, you’ll likely find cheaper flights into MIA than you would into EYW.

If you are planning a road trip throughout the Keys, this is an especially great option, since you can drive from Miami onto the Overseas Highway which winds through the archipelago and ends in Key West.

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Even if you aren’t planning a full road trip, the drive from MIA to Key West is about a three and a half hours… yes, that’s a bit of a long drive to bookend your trip, but the Overseas Highway itself is very scenic. And if a direct flight ins’t an option, the time you’d spend connecting between flights may end up being just as long as the drive from MIA anyway.

One thing worth knowing if you’re traveling over a holiday weekend: my friends drove down from Miami in their TV over the same holiday I visited, and warned me the traffic on the Overseas Highway was rough — worse than a typical weekend.

If your trip lands on a holiday, build in extra time (or try to avoid peak travel hours).

Another thing to consider if you’re driving in from MIA: parking is limited in Key West since the island is so small. If you’re renting a car, pick an accommodation option with parking available so you’re not fighting for street parking every day. (More on that soon — my Key West accommodation guide includes a few stays with free parking.)

Fly Into Fort Myers and Take the Ferry

The final option for getting to Key West is one I actually only learned about during my own trip — from a couple of fellow travelers on a snorkel tour, who mentioned this is how they’d gotten to the island. I hadn’t even thought to look into it as an option!

You can fly into Fort Myers (airport code: RSW) and take the Key West Express over the Gulf of Mexico to the island. I haven’t personally taken this route, but here’s what I’d want to know before booking it myself:

RSW definitely isn’t as big of an airport as MIA, but this option is nice for two specific reasons:

1. Fort Myers has several budget carrier options — like Avelo, Allegiant, Breeze, and Southwest — which means cheaper flights and direct options from some smaller airport around the US.
   
2. Rather than needing to rent a car and dealing with parking in Key West, you can just hop on the ferry to get to and from the island. If you stay in Old Town Key West, this can mean a fully walkable trip — no rental car needed at all!

Wondering where to stay in Key West and looking for a walkable, car-free home base? I’ve got a full Key West accommodation guide (coming soon) — read it next!

The ferry itself takes three and a half to four hours depending on weather, so it’s pretty similar timing to the Miami drive.

As of this writing, there’s only one departure per direction, per day, so you’ll want to make sure your flight times line up with the ferry schedule. You can check current ferry fares and schedules here before booking your flights.

Also, if you tend to get motion sick, this may not be the best option for you. From what I’ve read digging into other travelers’ experiences with this route, the waters in the Gulf are typically pretty smooth, but that can change quickly with bad weather.

So, Which Way Is Best Way For Your Trip?

Overall, I think each of these options has its pros and cons, so it comes down to what matters most for your trip.

If you have a direct flight available into EYW, that’s probably the best way to go — just know you may pay a bit more for the flight, and the small airport can mean more delays and cancellations.

If you’re planning to road trip through the Keys, flying into MIA or even FLL can mean a cheaper flight and a scenic drive.

Finally, if your home airport has budget flights from Avelo, Allegiant, Breeze, or Southwest, and you are planning to stay in Old Town Key West, flying into RSW and taking the Key West Express is likely your best bet!

Once you’ve decided which route is best for you, check out my 3 day Key West itinerary to start planning the perfect long weekend on the island — or my Key Wes accommodation guide (coming soon) if you want to lock in where to stay first.

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