Key Largo, FL Area Guide

Long before the tourism economy arrived, Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad passed through Key Largo, stitching the island into a rail corridor that once linked Miami to Key West. That line is long gone, but the island's role as a gateway to the Keys chain has never faded.

Cultural history took a different turn in 1948, when the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall film 'Key Largo' put the island's name on screens worldwide. The Caribbean Club bar, featured in that film, still stands and operates today as one of the most storied watering holes in South Florida. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, established as the first undersea park in the United States, contains the Christ of the Abyss (a bronze underwater statue and a replica of the Italian original) drawing divers from around the world.

Waterfront dining defines eating out in Key Largo. Most spots sit on the beach, along inlets, or offer dockside seating right on the water, and seafood anchors almost every menu, with Caribbean-influenced preparations showing up across the island.

The Fish House, a seafood-focused restaurant with roughly 40 years of operation, has become a local staple. Key Largo Fisheries doubles as both a working seafood market and a casual cafe with a bar, while Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill draws crowds with its dockside setting and full bar. The Caribbean Club, made famous by the 1948 Bogart film, remains a beachfront bar and late-night destination with deep roots in island culture.

Cars a a must-have in Key Largo. US Highway 1, the Overseas Highway, is the sole road connecting Key Largo to the mainland and to the rest of the Keys; one way in and one way out. Holiday weekends routinely produce heavy congestion along the 18-mile stretch between the island and the mainland.

Miami-Dade Express Bus service runs between Key Largo and the mainland, providing a transit option for those commuting toward Miami. Bicycles are a practical and widely used way to cover shorter distances around the island. Miami International Airport is roughly 65 miles north, making it the closest major airport for travelers.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park anchors outdoor life on the island, offering snorkeling, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat tours, boat ramps, beaches, and campgrounds. The park holds the Christ of the Abyss statue, a bronze figure resting on the ocean floor, and is recognized as the first undersea park in the United States.

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park adds a land-based counterpart, with trails winding through one of the largest remaining tracts of West Indian tropical hardwood hammock in North America. Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, about 12 minutes away, provides protected habitat for the endangered American crocodile. Together, these three spaces cover a remarkable range of ecosystems within a short drive of most residential areas.

One-bedroom apartments in Key Largo average around $2,431 per month and two-bedroom units around $2,294 per month, both well above the statewide one-bedroom average of approximately $1,695. Three-bedroom rentals run around $2,763 per month on average. The island's geography, coastal demand, and limited rental inventory all influence the pricing.

Most day-to-day retail runs along the Overseas Highway, where shopping centers, small businesses, and service providers cluster in a linear strip that mirrors the island's geography. Tradewinds Shopping Center, under a mile from the heart of Key Largo, anchors everyday grocery needs with a Publix supermarket. Port Largo Plaza, about three miles along the highway, adds additional retail options.

Key Largo Fisheries operates as a retail seafood market as well as a dining spot, making it a practical stop for fresh catch. For larger purchases or chain retail not found on the island, the mainland Homestead area is accessible via US-1, though the drive takes the better part of an hour on a typical day.

Few places in the country pack this much into 30 miles. Key Largo pairs the nation's first undersea state park with an active underwater ocean laboratory and some of the most accessible coral reef diving anywhere. Add the Caribbean Club, a film-era landmark still pouring drinks on the beach, the tropical hammock trails of Dagny Johnson park, and a waterfront dining scene built around fresh local catch, and it's clear why this island stands out as a place to actually live.