Fun Things to Do on Key Largo in the Beautiful Florida Keys

Key Largo is the first island you hit when you start your Florida Keys road trip and the drive to Key West. It’s the largest of the Keys and has a ton of green space. I love Key Largo because it feels like the most chill and quiet of the island chain. If you’re aching to get down to the Keys but are pressed for time, Key Largo has lots of great things to do and is the easiest to visit on short notice.

The wonderful thing about Key Largo is that despite all the green space and State Parks, there are also lots of restaurants hidden among the marinas and neighborhoods. Good food and relaxing fun are everywhere. This is one of our favorite towns in the Florida Keys. You’ll never be at a loss for things to do on Key Largo. If you have any questions about our top picks for activities here or want to suggest your own, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!

What Type of Things to Do are on Key Largo?

I always think of things to do on Key Largo as being nature-forward and all about the outdoors. When you get to the Lower Keys and Key West, there is a lot of history that tends to pull you in, but up here on Key Largo it’s the chance to just enjoy the natural world of the Florida Keys. Each time we’re here we go kayaking, snorkeling and hammock walking. We choose to make this part of our trips all about the low-key experiences (except for some epic snorkeling opportunities).

If you’re coming to Key Largo with your own kayaks or boat, you’ll have a whole world open up to you, but if you’re visiting like most people do, you’ll need to find things to do that you can drive to or that you can get a tour to experience. There are lots of tours to the different reefs and shipwrecks, but we’ve included just two options in our list of things to do in Key Largo to not overwhelm you.

We love murals and Wyland is my favorite mural artist. His works can be found all around the world, including Victoria BC, Anchorage AK, and Seattle WA. Stopping at the Wyland Whaling Walls in the Florida Keys is one of the best things to do, both for photos and to appreciate amazing art.

Explore John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is famous for its Chris of the Abyss feature, a sunken sculpture which can be visited by divers and snorkelers, but there’s much more! Pennekamp is one of our favorite places to kayak in the Florida Keys, with a wonderful paddling trail and crystal clear water. This is one of the best places for kayaking in South Florida.

When it comes to snorkeling, you can either snorkel just off the main beach (great with kids) or you can do one of the tours out to the reef. The tour is several hours and should be booked in advance to ensure a spot. This is where you’ll find both the amazing reef and the famous Chris of the Deep statue that people dive to.

Note: tours can be booked within the State Park or through external vendors. Depending on the tour type you want, you can book private or group expeditions to the reef. THIS TOUR is our top pick for snorkeling out on the reef at Pennekamp.

There are lots of picnic areas and shady places to relax at John Pennekamp State Park, so bring a lunch and enjoy yourself. Be sure to also check out the visitor center, as it has great exhibits and even aquariums to get a preview of life out on the reef. An afternoon here is one of the best things to do in the Florida Keys and a must-stop along your Florida Keys road trip.

For a list of tours that can take you out to the famous Christ of the Deep and the reef, check out these vetted snorkeling tour vendors on Key Largo.

Go Snorkeling or Diving with Horizon Divers

Hands down, this is my favorite of all the things to do on Key Largo. I love snorkeling and enjoyed the experience with Horizon Divers on Key Largo so much. If you’re looking to explore the many shipwrecks and reefs around the Upper Keys, primarily Key Largo, Horizon Divers is a great option. We went out on a two tank dive to French’s Reef and the Benwood Shipwreck and it was fantastic. Sea turtles, huge fish, and such unique, different sites.

You don’t have to be a diver for to go out with Horizon, but that is their primary focus. It’s definitely an advanced snorkeling and free diving trip, but it’s great if that’s your thing. The wildlife they take you out to is amazing, the reefs and shipwrecks are incredible. You won’t be disappointed.

Historic Boat Tour on the African Queen

When I was a kid I saw the movie African Queen for the first time. I always thought it was so cool and I wanted to get to explore in this same way, but with fewer mishaps. The actual boat from that famous Humphry Bogart film now resides in Key Largo and you can do tours on it. This is a great tour for history buffs as the boat still runs on the clunky motor from the film and from the time you board until you disembark it’s a movie history quiz show.

The captain is fantastic and has tons of information to share, including photos of the boat and from the African Queen film. During the 90 minute sailing you’ll get to see the canals of Key Largo, watch for dolphins and birds (great birdwatching!), enjoy being on the water AND ACTUALLY DRIVE THE BOAT. Be sure to bring sunblock and a brimmed hat, as there’s very little shade on the African Queen. Booking your tour can only be done directly through them.

Visit Whaling Wall #95: Keys to the Seas

This first set of murals is in the center of the Overseas Highway on Key Largo. The HUGE piece of art surrounds all four sides of the building (a dive shop and yoga studio) and showcases manatees, rays, sharks, sea birds, fish and divers. It’s my favorite of the murals in the Florida Keys. The murals in the Florida Keys have been inspiring to our family for creating our own art at home, and Whaling Wall #95 is really an exceptional example.

Whether you’re sticking to Key Largo or heading all the way to Key West, stopping to appreciate the many murals is one of the best things to do as you drive. They’re easy stops and you’ll be impressed by the work.

Visit the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center

We discovered the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center randomly. We had to pull over really quick for something and BOOM! There it was! I’m so glad we did. We visited the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center and Sanctuary on our first afternoon in the Keys and have been back several times since. This is one of the best things to do on Key Largo that has a direct impact on the wildlife of the Keys.

We were able to learn about the many birds we’d be seeing on our Florida Keys road trip, including the masked boobie, which became a favorite to spot out on the water. The staff onsite are busy attending to the animals, many of which who’ve come here due to injuries, so that experience is self guided.

In addition to the animals, there’s also a short hammock trail if you’d like to just take a moment to enjoy the quiet of the Gulf of Mexico side of Key Largo.

Note: the Wild Bird Center on Key Largo operates off donations, so feel free to donate and share your stop on social media to support their efforts!

Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

What a beautiful walk in the woods! Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is very different from other Florida State Parks in that it’s a trail system with exhibit placards talking about the many plant types throughout the hammock (coastal forest). The 2.4 mile trail is shady and full of birds and butterflies.

When I say that Key Largo has lots of green space to explore, this is a perfect example. One of the best things to do on a day when you want to be away from other humans, Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is a lovely break from the bustle of the marinas and boat tours.

Note: pay for admission in advance through the website or bring cash. This is one of the only places in the Florida Keys with poor cell service, so if you don’t have cash and didn’t pay the State Park fee in advance, you could get into trouble (even if it’s unlikely).

More Things to do in Key Largo

In addition to our recommendations for things to do in Key Largo, you can also always enjoy biking and fishing. There are lots of charters for fishing that go out of the marinas of Key Largo, so whether you want to go sport fishing or catch your dinner, you’ll have plenty of options.

For biking, there are bike lanes separate of the Overseas Highway for much of Key Largo. Between the bike paths and the unique neighborhoods, there are plenty of places to ride to.

We recommended kayaking in John Pennekamp State Park, but there are other paddling spots to visit on Key Largo in addition to the state park. Kayaking from Pennekamp down to Rock Harbor (launch address: 80 E 2nd St, Key Largo, FL 33037) is a big paddling adventure that’ll take several hours, but it’ll be fun! Sunset Point Park and Mangrove Marina are two other launch points to consider for a fun day on the water.

Tip: confirm with Mangrove Marina (305-852-8380) that they have space for launching before planning to bring your own kayaks to put in there.

Where to Stay on Key Largo

We’ve stayed on Key Largo many times, and it’s usually always somewhere different. One place that we’ve stayed multiple times because it’s easy and in a great location is actually the Holiday Inn Key Largo. We prefer to stay in unique hotels and resorts, but using IHG points or finding last minute deals has landed us here many times and it’s always a pleasant stay.

The Ocean Point Suites is another great place to stay, especially with kids, as there is plenty of room and a beautiful property to wander. For more ideas or to price our options for you own visit, check out the map below.