Your journey
Private jet to Key West
Key West suits travellers who want a compact island city rather than another large mainland resort. The Historic Seaport and lower Duval Street provide a lively walking base, while the southern shoreline offers a different hotel setting. An arrival at Key West International avoids the long road journey through the Keys, but aircraft suitability and private handling still need flight-specific assessment. Build a stay around an Old Town day, a water-based outing and time to enjoy the hotel. Dry Tortugas is a remote excursion, not a nearby beach reached by road, and dinner on Sunset Key needs a restaurant reservation and boat connection of its own.
Key West at a glance
- Country / location
- Florida, United States
- Time zone
- Eastern Time: UTC−5; daylight time UTC−4
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Suggested stay
- Four nights; allow a separate day for Dry Tortugas
- Best suited to
- Literary history, island dining, boating and smaller-scale coastal stays
- Airport options
- Key West International
Where to land for Key West
Key West International is on the island and has a relatively short runway. Aircraft performance and the flight's load require particular attention, while the final transfer should be arranged around your Old Town or resort address.
| Airport | Location and access | Private aviation planning |
|---|---|---|
| Key West InternationalEYW / KEYW | Eastern side of Key West. | The local gateway publishes general-aviation handling through Signature. The flight operator must assess the actual aircraft and current airport requirements, including any applicable oversized-aircraft procedures. |
Private terminals and arrival experience
A fixed-base operator (FBO) provides ground services for private aircraft and their passengers. The handling team coordinates your arrival; airport opening hours alone do not establish terminal or border-service availability.
Private handling at Key West International
Signature at EYW
The airport publishes a 07:00–21:00 service window with call-out on request. Confirm current local-time arrangements directly, especially for an evening arrival, and arrange passenger pickup at the FBO rather than the commercial baggage area.
Bags, onward boats and border processing
Arrival coordination
Tell the handler about bulky equipment or a time-sensitive marina connection. An overseas flight also needs the operator’s CBP arrangements; keep the first boat departure flexible until the arrival plan is confirmed.
Airport transfers and getting around
Southern shore or Historic Seaport
Airport to the chosen hotel
Casa Marina publishes a 2.7-mile distance from EYW. The Marker provides a different road route to its William Street address by the Historic Seaport. Arrange a taxi or car with the exact FBO and hotel entrance, asking for a current journey estimate rather than applying one island-wide timing.
Duval Street and the harbour
Old Town without a daily car
Ocean Key recommends taxis and other local transport instead of relying on a car throughout the stay. Walk shorter Old Town circuits at a comfortable pace, with a taxi for a Stock Island meal or a hot afternoon return.
Boat from Opal Key
Dinner on Sunset Key
Latitudes requires a dining reservation, and the hotel group publishes a boat connection from Opal Key. Confirm the sailing linked to the reservation and the return arrangement; the restaurant is on a separate island.
Ask the operating carrier to confirm aircraft suitability, handling and permissions for the actual itinerary. For budgeting, see our private jet charter cost guide.
Where to stay in Key West
Reynolds Street, southern shoreline
Casa Marina Key West
A historic resort with its own beach setting and water-based activities. Choose it for more time at the property, while allowing a separate trip to the Historic Seaport and lower Duval area.
William Street, Historic Seaport
The Marker Key West Harbor Resort
A harbour-area base with tropical gardens and three pools, a few blocks from Duval Street. It fits travellers who want Old Town dining and boat departures nearby rather than a beach-front holiday.
Zero Duval Street, by Mallory Square
Ocean Key Resort & Spa
A waterfront hotel at the lively end of Duval Street. Consider it for sunset atmosphere and central evening access; the immediate surroundings have a different energy from a secluded resort beach.
Where to eat
Sunset Key
Latitudes
An island dining excursion with seafood and steak in a Gulf-facing setting. Reserve the meal and confirm the boat departure together, leaving time to reach the mainland dock.
Waddell Avenue, Atlantic shoreline
Louie’s Backyard
Island-influenced dining with indoor and outdoor seating. The main restaurant takes reservations, while the upstairs café and Afterdeck Bar have different service arrangements; specify which experience you want.
Safe Harbor Marina, Stock Island
Hogfish Bar & Grill
A casual working-waterfront alternative, with local seafood and a looser mood than the two special-occasion choices. Include the Stock Island transfer and check the live-music programme if a quiet meal is the priority.
What to do in Key West
Old Town
Hemingway and Whitehead Street
Allow a half-day for the Hemingway Home & Museum and a manageable walking circuit. The lighthouse opposite offers a different perspective, but its stairs need to suit the group’s mobility and energy.
Front Street
Truman Little White House
Set aside a couple of hours for the presidential-history visit and nearby Old Town streets. Check the current tour arrangements instead of treating the building as an unrestricted walk-through attraction.
About 70 miles west of Key West
Dry Tortugas National Park
Reserve a dedicated excursion by an authorised boat or seaplane option. There is no road connection. Review the National Park Service’s current conditions and limited-service guidance, and keep a return buffer before any onward flight.
Best time to visit Key West
December–April generally offers milder, drier conditions. Summer and early autumn are humid and require attention to tropical-storm forecasts.
| When | Conditions and activities | Planning considerations |
|---|---|---|
| November–April | Generally the most comfortable window for walking and a winter island escape. | Reserve preferred rooms and excursions early; marine weather still determines whether a particular sailing is suitable. |
| May–September | Hotter, humid weather with rain and tropical-storm considerations. | Choose earlier walking visits and allow boat plans to change with conditions. |
| October | Warm conditions and a major Old Town festival period. | Check Fantasy Fest dates before choosing a hotel if either joining the celebration or seeking a quieter stay. |
Major events and advance planning
Old Town streets and participating venues
Fantasy Fest
The October festival brings parades, costumes and parties across Old Town. Review the current programme, accommodation terms and road access; its atmosphere may not fit a quiet family or business itinerary.
Plan your stay
Before you travel
Waterfront dining
Reservations are venue-specific
Louie’s main restaurant takes reservations while its bar and café operate differently. At Latitudes, a booking is also the basis for the island boat connection, so do not arrive at the dock expecting a casual walk-in meal.
Dry Tortugas or an overseas arrival
Remote excursions and entry
Carry what the selected park trip requires and consult NPS conditions before leaving Key West. For an international flight, complete the operator’s separate passenger and CBP arrangements.
Suggested itinerary
An editorial starting point. Suggested visit lengths and transfer allowances are planning estimates, not service guarantees.
Hotel and a short waterfront walk
Arrival
Settle in and eat locally, keeping any island-restaurant reservation for a later evening. Confirm the next day’s museum and boat arrangements.
Old Town
First full day
Visit Hemingway’s home and a selected Whitehead Street stop, take a long lunch break, then explore the seaport or Truman history at a comfortable pace.
Offshore excursion and island leisure
Second and third days
Give Dry Tortugas its own day if booked and conditions permit. Keep another day flexible for hotel time and a reserved Latitudes dinner, with onward departure scheduled separately from the remote excursion.
Nearby destinations and onward journeys
Miami
Pair the island’s small-scale history with a mainland and Miami Beach art-and-dining stay.
Fort Lauderdale
Connect a Keys holiday with an Atlantic resort or a separately planned cruise departure.
Questions about visiting Key West
Can I drive from Key West to Dry Tortugas?
No. The National Park Service lists boat and seaplane access; the park is about 70 miles west of Key West.
Can I walk into Latitudes from Duval Street?
It is on Sunset Key and needs a boat connection. Dining reservations are required.
Is The Marker a beach-front resort?
It is a Historic Seaport hotel with gardens and pools. Choose a southern-shore beach property if direct beach time is the main priority.
Is Hogfish Bar & Grill in Old Town?
It is at Safe Harbor Marina on Stock Island, so include the transfer.
Can a late private flight assume the FBO is fully staffed all night?
The airport publishes a service window with call-out by request. Confirm current arrangements with the handler.