Each kit is a short list of real listings for one island day, like a park or dock check-in, a meal stop and groceries where they exist. Add it to your planner and change it from there. For a multi-day skeleton, start from a week trip template. Not sure which day or week fits? Use the trip starter.
How to use a kit
A useful day is short.
Pick the island that matches tomorrow’s scarce constraint: a reef boat, a charter dock, a park gate, a hub restock or an Old Town walk. The kit copies those directory listings into the trip planner on this device and assigns them to the next empty day.
Re-open each listing’s source the morning you go. Hours, ferry check-in, ramp fees and park parking still belong to the operator. Organic directory order is not sold on KeysCompass.
How to use this index
Read the kit that matches the island you will actually sleep on or drive to that day.
Add the day to your trip, then drop or swap stops on the planner.
Confirm each source link before you treat a listing as a reservation.
North to south
Available day kits
14 starter days, ordered like the Overseas Highway.
Day kit · Key Largo · MM 97–107
Key Largo snorkeling day
A starter skeleton for a Pennekamp or reef-boat morning on MM 97–107. Cluster the park, an operator example, groceries and a meal on the same Upper Keys stretch. This is not a reservation, a ranking or live park data.
Park / day-use check-inJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State ParkMapped state park. Confirm hours, parking and current access on Florida State Parks the morning you go.
Reef-boat operator exampleRainbow Reef Dive CenterOne directory operator for a snorkel or dive check-in—not a ranking. Confirm the boat, meeting point and weather policy on the source.
Grocery restockPublixMapped Key Largo supermarket. Confirm hours on the store listing; this is not a stock or opening-time promise.
Meal clusterMrs. Mac's Kitchen IICurated Key Largo kitchen near the highway. Confirm hours and waits on the listing source.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for a village marina morning around MM 72–90. Decide charter vs self-launch first; this list does not book a captain or invent bait hours.
Marina / charter staging exampleBud N’ Mary’s Fishing MarinaOfficial marina listing for a dock check-in example—not an endorsement. Confirm slip, charter and parking rules with the operator.
Bait and tackleTackle Center of IslamoradaVillage bait shop listing. Live bait and hours change; re-check the source before you hitch or meet a boat.
Meal clusterIslamorada Fish CompanyBayside restaurant with waterside seating on Florida Bay at MM 81.5 (81532 Overseas Hwy), next to World Wide Sportsman, per the operator site. Open days vary—confirm hours on the source, not this kit.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for a practical MM 47–60 day: a timed attraction, a grocery stop, one shoreline (Sombrero or a listed alternate) and a marina stop. Marathon is the hinge, not a same-day Key West add-on.
Timed attraction check-inThe Turtle HospitalOfficial Turtle Hospital listing. Tours are a scarce timed seat—confirm current tickets and hours on the source.
Grocery restockPublixMapped Marathon supermarket before Seven Mile Bridge. Confirm hours on the store listing.
City beachSombrero BeachMapped Marathon city beach off the highway. Confirm access, parking and any closures on the listing source. One shoreline per day: swap in an alternate below and drop the rest in the planner.
Shoreline alternate (pick one)Sunset Bay Park on Grassy KeyCity of Marathon gulfside nature and sunset park on Grassy Key—not a Sombrero-style swim day. Confirm access on the City source.
Shoreline alternate (pick one)Curry Hammock State ParkFlorida State Parks shoreline and trails at the east/Crawl Key end of Marathon. Gate, day-use and pet rules are on the park source.
Shoreline alternate (pick one)Coco Plum BeachCity of Marathon natural Atlantic beach—not a second Sombrero. Confirm facilities and access on the City source.
Shoreline alternate (pick one)Little Duck Key Veterans' Memorial BeachMonroe County beach at the west end of Seven Mile Bridge (MM 40)—only if the day already heads south. This is the beach listing, not the Little Duck boat ramp. Confirm access on the County source.
Marina stopMarina Marathon at Tarpon CreekOfficial marina listing as a Mid-Keys dock example—not a ranking. Confirm fuel, dockage and guest rules with the operator.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for a Mid-Keys fishing morning: a charter dock check-in or a City ramp, a bait stop by Boot Key Harbor, a bridge walk as the weather backup and a meal by the water. It does not book a captain, rank charters or promise bait, seats or opening hours.
Charter dock check-in exampleKey Colony Beach MarinaMarina hub on the Sadowski Causeway with charter departures and boat rentals run by separate operators—not a ranking. Confirm which company you booked, the slip and parking with the operator.
Self-launch alternate33rd St Gulf Boat Ramp (City of Marathon)City of Marathon public ramp at 33rd St Gulf, MM 49, open around the clock, if you tow your own boat instead of booking a charter. No overnight parking, and visitors pay to launch and park a trailer; check current fees on the City's public boat ramps page.
Bait and tackleKeys Maritime Bait Shop & Seafood MarketDockside shop at 890 15th Street Ocean, reached from Sister Creek Channel, with live and frozen bait and tackle. Live bait changes daily, so call before you count on it. Skip this stop if the charter includes bait.
Weather backup: bridge walkOld Seven Mile Bridge (Knights Key Trailhead)Knights Key Trailhead at about MM 47 for the restored span toward Pigeon Key. There are no restrooms at the trailhead. Follow the rules posted at the bridge, and check posted roadwork detours near Knights Key.
Meal by the waterSparky's Landing Fish and Cocktails Bar & GrillWaterfront restaurant and bar at 13205 Overseas Highway, behind the Fairfield Inn & Suites. Ask the restaurant whether it will cook a catch you bring in, and confirm hours on its source.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for one Middle Keys paddle between MM 50 and MM 67.5: a state-park mangrove loop at Curry Hammock or Long Key, a guided Boot Key or Grassy Key mangrove tour, or the self-guided Sister Creek launch. Pick one paddle and keep the others as backups. It does not book a tour, rank operators or promise tides, seats or opening hours.
State-park paddle (pick one park)Curry Hammock State ParkFlorida State Parks publishes two kayak routes from the launch: a 1.5-mile path around Little Crawl Key with a mangrove tunnel, lagoon, flats and sandbars, and a 5-mile route along mangroves and around another island. At the lowest tides the tunnel may be difficult to impossible; the park points to a sandbar just east of the launch instead. Rentals at the launch are provided by Whenever Water Sports, per the park. Its ranger-led tour, Whispers of a Mangrove, alternates with Long Key on Fridays; space is limited, so ask the ranger station. Check https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/curry-hammock-state-park/paddling-adventures-curry-hammock.
State-park paddle (pick one park)Long Key State ParkFlorida State Parks says you can bring your own kayak or rent one from the ranger station for a paddle along a natural shoreline. Its ranger-led tour, Beyond the Mangroves, covers open water and seagrass beds. Effective Sept. 26, 2026, the park says it may close for portions of the day because of King Tide flooding, so check https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/long-key-state-park and https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/ranger-led-kayak-tours before you drive.
Guided Boot Key mangrove tour (pick one)SpongeBob Kayak Eco ToursGuided kayak eco tours through the mangroves of Boot Key Harbor, plus sunset paddles. The operator says tours include the kayak, paddle, safety gear, guide and parking. Book and confirm the meeting point on its site.
Guided mangrove tour (pick one)Florida Keys Kayak & PaddleboardMarathon outfitter running guided mangrove eco tours, including a night tour, and kayak and paddleboard rentals it delivers to your lodging. Delivery terms and tour times are on the operator site.
Guided Grassy Key mangrove tour (pick one)Kayaking The KeysGuided mangrove and marine-wildlife eco tours, plus a night eco tour, led by the authors of the Kayaking the Keys guidebook. The listing puts the launch at Grassy Key Marina, near the Curry Hammock end of this stretch. Book and confirm the meeting point on https://kayakingthekeys.com/.
Self-guided alternate: Sister CreekSombrero BeachThe state paddling trail maps put a kayak launch on the west side of the swimming beach, at Sister Creek, which leads into unmarked mangrove trails through Boot Key. Carry a map and expect to backtrack. Confirm beach access and parking on the City source.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for the MM 29–38 stretch: Bahia Honda as the park day, Big Pine as the grocery, meal and Key deer stop. Gate hours, parking and wildlife driving rules belong to the sources.
State-park check-inBahia Honda State ParkOfficial Florida State Parks listing. Peak days fill; confirm entrance, beach and parking guidance the morning you go.
Park lodging / campBahia Honda State Park CampgroundsOfficial campground listing if you overnight in the park. Loop, rig-length and pet rules are on the park source—not this kit.
Lower Keys groceryWinn-DixieBig Pine supermarket at 251 Key Deer Boulevard. Provision here rather than expecting a town inside the park; confirm hours on the store listing.
Meal clusterNo Name PubOfficial Big Pine kitchen listing. Confirm hours on the source; this stretch is not a Key West dining strip.
Wildlife stopNational Key Deer Refuge Nature CenterOfficial refuge visitor-center listing. Never feed Key deer. Confirm open days on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service source.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for a Looe Key Reef boat trip: pick one departure from Bahia Honda, Big Pine Key or the Ramrod and Little Torch stretch, then plan the rest of the day near that dock. NOAA puts the reef about 6.3 miles south of Ramrod Key and a little more than 9 miles southwest of Bahia Honda State Park. It is a Sanctuary Preservation Area, so no fishing or collecting, and no touching or standing on coral. This kit does not book seats or list trip times or prices.
Bahia Honda departure (pick one boat)Bahia Honda Looe Key Snorkeling ToursThe state park's concession runs scheduled Looe Key snorkel trips from inside Bahia Honda State Park, plus a private snorkel option. Its site says every tour has a minimum number of passengers, so ask what happens if yours doesn't fill.
Park time before or after the boatBahia Honda State ParkFlorida State Parks says you can also snorkel close to shore off the park beach, over seagrass and rocky hard bottom, with your own gear or rentals. Entry and parking rules are on the park source.
Big Pine dive-shop departure (pick one boat)Captain Hook’s Looe Key Reef Adventures & Strike Zone ChartersDive center at 29675 Overseas Highway running scheduled snorkel and dive trips to Looe Key. NOAA lists its Big Pine Key shop as a Blue Star dive operator. Confirm the boat and check-in on the operator source.
Big Pine private boat (pick one boat)Saltwater SeafariPrivate, captain-guided trips from 29740 Overseas Highway on Big Pine Key. The operator says one boat takes up to six guests and snorkels several Looe Key spots chosen around the day's conditions.
Big Pine family boat tour (pick one boat)Keys Boat ToursCaptain-run tours from Big Pine Key RV, 33000 Overseas Highway. The operator says its Looe Key snorkel runs in fair weather only, takes up to six people on one boat, includes snorkel gear, and uses a patch reef as a backup when the outer reef is too choppy. Snorkelers must be able to swim and climb a boat ladder; confirm on the operator source.
Ramrod dive-resort departure (pick one boat)Looe Key Reef Dive CenterCanal-front dive shop at Looe Key Reef Resort, 27340 Overseas Highway, Ramrod Key, running snorkel and two-tank dive trips to the reef. NOAA lists it as a Blue Star dive operator. Confirm the trip and check-in on the operator source.
Little Torch private charter (pick one boat)Livin’ the Dream ChartersCaptain-run charter based at Parmer's Resort, 565 Barry Avenue, Little Torch Key, with a guided Looe Key snorkel among its trips. It says it can often pick guests up from a waterfront dock in the Lower Keys. Ask when you book.
Meal after the reefLooe Key Tiki Bar & GrillCanal-side tiki bar and grill at Looe Key Reef Resort on Ramrod Key, next to the dive shop. Confirm hours on the operator source.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for a walkable MM 0–4 day: one ticketed house museum, a grocery stop, a meal and the historic seaport. Park once. This is not a cruise-crowd forecast or a ticket inventory.
Ticketed museum exampleThe Ernest Hemingway Home & MuseumOfficial museum listing as one Old Town timed stop—not a must-do ranking. Confirm tickets and hours on the source.
Grocery stopFausto's Food PalaceMapped Old Town grocery. Confirm hours on the listing; it is not a full warehouse run.
Meal clusterBlue HeavenOfficial Bahama Village kitchen listing. Its 2026 slow-season break ended Oct 16 per keywestfoodguide.com/key-west-slow-season/, and blueheavenkw.com shows its regular schedule—confirm on the operator source before you go.
Meal alternate (if Blue Heaven is on break)El Siboney Restaurant — DowntownOfficial Old Town Cuban kitchen listing as a walkable meal alternate while Blue Heaven is on break—not a ranking. Confirm hours on the source.
A starter skeleton for a slower Key West day in the city's green spaces: a wildlife center, a hammock park, a salt-pond walking path and a beach-side preserve. Access and entry rules are on each source. This kit does not promise free entry, hours or wildlife sightings.
Wildlife centerKey West Wildlife CenterWildlife rescue and nature center inside Sonny McCoy Indigenous Park on White Street. Check the center website before you go.
City parkSonny McCoy Indigenous ParkCity of Key West park at 1801 White Street that surrounds the wildlife center. Check the City source before you go.
Walking pathRiggs Wildlife Refuge / Bridle PathCity preserve and Bridle Path along S Roosevelt Boulevard. The City lists it by the street, not a house number. Check before you go.
Hammock parkLittle Hamaca ParkCity of Key West park. Confirm access and any trail rules on the City source before you go.
Beach-side preserveThe Key West Nature PreserveMapped preserve. The listing carries no operator source yet, so check before you go.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for ending a Key West day on the water: pick one boat, whether a classic schooner, a catamaran cruise, a wildlife sail or a backcountry trip that sails home at sunset. Sunset time shifts through the year, so check it and the boarding point with the operator. This kit does not book seats or list departure times or prices.
Classic schooner sail (pick one boat)Schooner America 2.0 (Classic Harbor Line)Classic Harbor Line sunset sails on the 105-foot Schooner America 2.0 from 202R William Street at the Historic Seaport. Confirm the boarding time and dock on the operator source.
Catamaran cruise (pick one boat)Sunset WatersportsWatersports base at 201 William Street whose menu includes sunset cruises, among them a dinner-and-dance catamaran. Confirm which boat and where to check in on the operator source.
Wildlife sail (pick one boat)Honest Eco ToursEco-tour operator listed at 231 Margaret Street. Its sunset dolphin-watch catamaran sail is listed Nov–Apr with no snorkeling, and a summer sunset sail adds reef snorkeling and a sandbar. Confirm the season and boarding rules on the operator source.
Backcountry sail home at sunset (pick one boat)Danger ChartersSmall-group schooner trips into the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. The operator says its afternoon sail, snorkel and kayak tour sails back to port at sunset. It leaves from Opal Key Resort & Marina, 255 Front Street. Confirm the check-in point on the operator source.
Dock and harbor walkKey West Bight Marina at the Historic SeaportCity-run marina at the Historic Seaport, where several sunset boats board along the Harborwalk. Use it to find your dock early; each operator confirms its own slip.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for a Key West beach day: pick one main beach, either the state-park beach at Fort Zachary Taylor on the Old Town end or a City beach on the Atlantic side, then add a shade break and a meal close by. Fort Zach is a Florida State Parks park with an entry fee, and each City beach has its own parking and rules, so confirm fees, hours and water conditions on each source the morning you go. This kit does not book anything or list fees or hours.
State-park beach (pick one main beach)Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State ParkFlorida State Parks says the park's beach, at its southern end, is used for swimming, snorkeling, picnicking, paddling and fishing, and that chairs, umbrellas, snorkel gear and bikes are rented at the chickee hut. It is a state park with an entry fee, confirm with the park on the official Florida State Parks page, https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fort-zachary-taylor-historic-state-park, which also covers gate hours and conditions.
City beach park (pick one main beach)Higgs BeachClarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, a City of Key West beach park on Atlantic Boulevard with a wide sandy beach, calm shallow water, a wooden pier, playgrounds, covered picnic tables and a dog park. Check parking and any rules on the City source.
Long City beach (pick one main beach)Smathers BeachThe largest public beach in Key West, about half a mile of sand on the Atlantic side along South Roosevelt Boulevard. The City lists volleyball nets, restrooms, showers and parking. Check parking rules on the City source.
Shady City beach (pick one main beach)CB Harvey Rest Beach ParkRest Beach at C.B. Harvey Park, a City of Key West beachfront park on Atlantic Boulevard at White Street, with soft sand for shell searching, picnic tables and plenty of shade. Check the City source before you go.
Short Gulf-side stopSimonton Street BeachSmall City beach at the end of Simonton Street on the Gulf side of Old Town, with restrooms and a boat ramp for recreational boats, so expect launch traffic. A short stop, not a second Fort Zach.
Shade and splash breakTruman Waterfront ParkCity of Key West park at the end of Southard Street on the Old Town waterfront, with a playground, splash pad, picnic tables, restrooms and parking. Useful with kids before or after Fort Zach; check the City source.
Meal by the beachSalute! On The BeachOceanfront restaurant on Atlantic Boulevard at Higgs Beach, serving seafood and Italian-influenced Keys food. Check hours on the operator source.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for a wet Key West day spent mostly indoors: choose one or two museums at the harbor end of Old Town, add a guided house tour, and end under the glass dome at the Atlantic end of Duval Street. Group stops by area so you are not crossing town between showers. This kit does not book tickets or list hours or prices, so check each operator's site the day you go.
Harbor museum (pick one or two)Key West Museum of Art and History at the Custom HouseThe Key West Art & Historical Society's main museum, in the restored 1891 Custom House on Front Street, with two floors of art and history exhibits. The Society says the building is fully air-conditioned. See what is on view on the KWAHS site.
Harbor museum (pick one or two)Key West AquariumAquarium at 1 Whitehead Street, open since 1946, with a touch tank, a jellyfish exhibit and sharks, plus conservation talks and animal feedings. Check the talk and feeding schedule on the operator source.
Harbor museum (pick one or two)Key West Shipwreck MuseumWrecking-era museum at 1 Whitehead Street that mixes actors, films and artifacts from the Isaac Allerton, lost on the reef in 1856. Its 65-foot lookout tower is a climb, so save it for a dry spell.
Harbor museum (pick one or two)Mel Fisher Maritime MuseumMaritime museum at 200 Greene Street with exhibits on the 1622 Spanish fleet and the slave ship Henrietta Marie, and behind-the-scenes tours of its conservation lab. Ask about lab tours on the museum site.
Guided house tour (pick one)Harry S. Truman Little White HousePresident Harry S. Truman's former home at 111 Front Street, shown on a guided tour. It describes itself as Florida's only presidential museum. Check its tour-change notice before you go.
Guided house tour (pick one)The Ernest Hemingway Home & MuseumErnest Hemingway's house at 907 Whitehead Street. Some of the cats on the grounds descend from a six-toed cat a ship's captain gave him. The estate includes gardens as well as the house, so bring a rain layer.
Glass-dome finishKey West Butterfly & Nature ConservatoryGlass-domed habitat at 1316 Duval Street with hundreds of free-flying butterflies, exotic birds and two flamingos, plus a gallery and educational displays on butterflies.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for a Garden Key day from Key West. Transportation is the scarce piece. This list does not sell seats, pack your water or promise weather.
Ferry check-inYankee Freedom Ferry to Dry TortugasOfficial NPS concession ferry listing. Reservations are essential; confirm check-in, baggage and cancellations on the source.
National parkDry Tortugas National Park & Fort JeffersonOfficial NPS park listing for Fort Jefferson and Garden Key. There is no road, lodging or general store in the park.
Pack-from-Key-West groceryFausto's Food PalaceMapped Key West grocery for food and water before the boat. The park does not sell what you forgot.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
A starter skeleton for MM 4–5: marina, seafood and a pillow immediately east of Key West. It is not a substitute for Old Town walking time, and marina restaurants are not automatically public to every dock.
Working marinaStock Island Marina VillageOfficial marina listing. Confirm dockage, guest access and parking with the operator.
Meal clusterHogfish Bar & GrillOfficial waterfront kitchen listing. Confirm hours on the source.
Lodging exampleThe Perry Hotel & Marina Key WestOfficial hotel-and-marina listing as a Stock Island pillow example—not a ranking. Confirm rates and pet rules with the property.
Starter skeleton from directory listings—not a booking, live ops feed or sold ranking. Re-check each source the morning you go.
