Find the best Key West boat rentals for 2022

Key West's Most Popular Boating Experiences

Key West, Florida, provides a world of opportunity for boaters to go out and enjoy the bright crystal clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Your boating excursion can take you anywhere you wish, including beautiful beaches, secluded sandbars, and historical points of interest. But, of course, spending the day out on the boat is an exciting adventure; docking and heading to the shore can offer many more activities. These activities include shopping, visiting museums, dining, and enjoying the Florida nightlife.

When you head to Key West and rent a boat, make sure to visit one, or more, of these top boating destinations.

• Downtown Key West (24.5519, -81.8007)

Dock your boat and head to downtown Key West. Downtown Key West is the place to go when looking for unique attractions, delicious dining opportunities, fabulous shopping spots, and exciting bars to grab cold libations. Take a moment to relax and grab a seat on a bench because downtown Key West provides many opportunities for people watching. Downtown Key West is home to historical sites, such as The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West Lighthouse, and the West Monticello Tower.

• Dry Tortugas National Park (24.6285, -82.8734)

The Dry Tortugas National Park, a 100-square mile park, is about 70 miles from Key West. This park is home to Fort Jefferson, breathtaking coral reefs, crystal turquoise waters, and an abundance of marine life. Fun activities include camping, boating, swimming, snorkeling, and diving.

• Key West Coral Reef (24.5618, -81.8024)

Key West is a small island and home to the Key West Coral Reef, part of a more extensive coral reef system, extending from Stuart, Florida, down to the Dry Tortugas. The Key West Coral Reef is the only living coral reef located off the shorts of the continental United States. This coral reef is located in calm, clear, warm waters, which is why Key West is a snorkeler's dream destination. Make sure to pack your underwater camera because you will encounter colorful fish and breathtaking underwater landscapes while snorkeling the reef.

• Key West Beaches (24.5466, -81.7896)

A visit to Key West is not complete without spending time swimming, snorkeling, or sunbathing on one of the many sandy beaches. Many beaches are found throughout the Keys, many of which have amenities and plenty of things to do.

• Dog Beach (24.5478, -81.7931)

When visiting Key West with man's best friend, you want to visit Dog Beach. This beach is a canine-friendly beach and a favorite of many who visit. Unfortunately, there are no amenities at this beach, but it is still worth a visit.

• Fort Zachary Taylor Beach (24.5457, -81.8121)

Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, a state park with a pre-Civil War fort, is one of Key West's best beaches. This beach provides visitors with chair rentals, picnic areas, and a food kiosk.

• Higg's Beach (24.5471, -81.7869)

Located at the end of Reynold's Street in Key West, Higg's Beach offers boaters and beachgoers picnic areas, a full-service restaurant, chair rentals, playground, and water sports rentals.

• Rest Beach (24.5489, -81.7836)

Home of White Street Pier, Rest Beach has soft beaches where you can enjoy relaxing or fishing. This beach is wheelchair accessible and has a few amenities, including restrooms and picnic tables.

• Smathers Beach (24.5521, -81.7686)

The artificial beach, Smathers Beach, is only a half-mile long but provides many opportunities for swimming, picnicking, land sports, and water sports. While there, rent a jet ski or go parasailing.

• South Beach 

South Beach is a bit more secluded, with a beach acceding shallow waters. This beach has no amenities, but if you are looking for a quiet spot to sunbathe and relax, this is the beach to visit.

• Key West Wildlife Center (24.5495, -81.7849)

The Key West Wildlife Center is home to rare animals and plant life. Open year round, this wildlife center provides access to seven acres of land to explore, including hiking, visiting a wildlife rehabilitation center, and seeing a diverse collection of native wildlife.

Sandbars

The waters surrounding Key West provide plenty of opportunities for snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, surfing, fishing, and relaxing on a secluded sandbar. Your time on a sandbar puts you in the center of the sparkling blue waters, where you can feel gentle breezes. There are many sandbars located just off the shores of Key West, where you can take your boat, drop anchor, and enjoy time away from the hustle and bustle of Duval Street.

• Boca Grande Sandbar (26.8154, -82.2717)

Nestled in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge is Boca Grande Sandbar, which gets exposed during low tide and provides privacy for boaters. In addition, this sandbar is the perfect place to visit if you love fishing because the surrounding waters are deep and home to many fish species.

• Marvin Key Sandbar (24.7320, -81.6074)

Northeast of Key West is Marvin Key Sandbar, which will take you some time to get there, but well worth the trip. Be careful heading to this sandbar because shifting tides make it difficult to get near and anchor. It might be best to hire a charter if you want to head to this secluded spot.

• Snipe Key Sandbar (24.7009, -81.6684)

Snipe Key Sandbar Is by far the most popular sandbar off the coast of Key West. This sandbar is more extensive than most, providing plenty of space to take a stroll, sunbathe, or swim after anchoring nearby. Snipe Key Sandbar is a beautiful spot to visit; however, you may want to skip this one and see another one if you are looking for a more secluded sandbar.

• Woman Key Sandbar (24.5316, -81.9713)

Also located in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, approximately nine miles west of Key West, is the Woman Key Sandbar. The waters surrounding this sandbar are filled with wildlife, mangrove islands, and if open to boaters. Just pay attention to restrictions because to protect bird nesting areas, some refuge areas are off-limits. When it's low tide, you will see the long stretch of Women Key Sandbar, where you can anchor your boat and explore the sandbar.

• Southernmost Point (24.54869902060377, -81.8201308289698)

Chances are you have seen photos online of a large cement buoy located in Key West. This buoy is the marker, signifying the southernmost point in the continental United States. This marker is the most photographed and visited spot in Key West. Fun fact: Standing at the Southernmost Point puts you only 90 miles from Cuba.

• Sunset Sailing

Sunsets in Key West are beautiful no matter where you are boating in the surrounding waters. You will be mesmerized as the glow of the sun sparkles off the shimmering waters. A fun activity is to anchor your boat just offshore, go for an evening snorkeling session, and watch the sunset from the water.

Are you a morning person? Then, take a boat out before sunrise, which is just as fabulous of a sight as the sunsets.

• The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory (24.5478, -81.7967)

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is the place to go if you love butterflies and want a unique and educational Key West experience. This location is home to more than 50 species of colorful butterflies in a glass-domed aviary. This nature conservatory is a fun and exciting place to visit and is one of Key West's most popular destinations.