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Major city · United States

Big Pine Key

Base here 2 nights for Key deer, the Blue Hole and Looe Key reef; skip it if you want beaches or nightlife — Key West is 40 min south.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry, 24–27 °C)
avoid Jun–Nov (hurricane season, humid, 31–33 °C)
Airports
EYW · MTH · MIA
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Big Pine Key is a low-rise residential island at mile markers 30–33 of the Overseas Highway, halfway between Marathon and Key West. There is no airport and no sand beach: people come for the National Key Deer Refuge, the Blue Hole, backcountry kayaking and dive trips to Looe Key reef. Two nights covers it; one night works if you are driving through.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Big Pine Key, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–5
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner main$18–32
  • Street or quick mealGrocery sandwich or deli lunch$10–16
  • BeerDraft beer at a tavern$6–9
  • Budget bedTent or RV site, a night, per personUS$50
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$200
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$350

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$300

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Key deerBlue HoleLooe Key reef divingNo Name PubBackcountry kayaking
Airports
EYW Key West International (About 45 min south on US 1; the usual arrival airport for the lower Keys.) · MTH Florida Keys Marathon International (About 30 min north; small field, limited scheduled service.) · MIA Miami International (About 3 h 30 min to Big Pine by car on US 1.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Big Pine Key: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

24°C

18°C

6 rd

Feb

25°C

19°C

5 rd

Mar

26°C

20°C

5 rd

Apr

28°C

22°C

5 rd

May

30°C

24°C

8 rd

Jun

31°C

26°C

12 rd

Jul

32°C

26°C

12 rd

Aug

32°C

26°C

14 rd

Sep

31°C

26°C

15 rd

Oct

29°C

24°C

11 rd

Nov

27°C

22°C

7 rd

Dec

25°C

19°C

6 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is effectively required: US 1 is the only road in and out, and the refuge trails, boat ramps and restaurants sit 2–5 miles apart. Bicycles work on Key Deer Boulevard in daylight but there is no shoulder on parts of US 1. No public bus on Big Pine; Key West transit does not reach here.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bahia Honda State Park

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Drive US 1 east about 3 miles to mile marker 37

The Keys' best sand beach and snorkel trips; entry fee per vehicle, arrive before 10:00 for parking.

Key West

go

Door to door: About 40–50 min

Drive US 1 south about 30 miles

Full day or evening; parking is scarce and expensive in the old town.

Marathon

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive US 1 north about 25 miles

Airport, Turtle Hospital and more restaurants; useful on a rainy day.

Looe Key reef

go

Door to door: Half day

Dive or snorkel boat from Big Pine or Ramrod Key marinas

Shallow spur-and-groove reef; book a morning trip, seas build in the afternoon.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Overseas Highway (MM 30–33)

Motels, the fishing lodge and the main shopping plaza; walkable to food, but traffic noise on US 1.

Long Beach Drive / south shore

Waterfront B&Bs and campgrounds about 2 miles off US 1; quiet, needs a car for everything.

Little Torch and Ramrod Key

Next islands west; resort cottages and the Looe Key tiki bars, 5–10 min by car.

No Name Key

Sparsely populated island across the bridge; a few rentals, no services.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–230 excl. bed
High
$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 2 nights × US$200US$400
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$160US$640
Bahia Honda State Park entry, one vehicle1 × US$8 · $8 per 2–8 person vehicle, $4 single-occupant, $2 pedestrian or cyclist, plus $0.50 per personUS$8
Snorkel or dive trip to Looe Key2 × US$90US$180
Kayak rental, half day2 × US$55US$110
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$138
Trip total≈ US$379 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,516

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–5
Grocery sandwich or deli lunch$10–16
Sit-down dinner main$18–32
Draft beer at a tavern$6–9
Gallon of petrol$3.20–3.80
Snorkel or dive trip to Looe Key$80–130
Kayak rental, half day$45–70

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for tourists; the real risks are deer on the road at night, summer heat, strong currents on the Atlantic side and hurricane-season storms. Lock the car and keep valuables out of sight at trailheads.
  • Key deer are knee-high and cross at dusk and dawn: drive 30–35 mph on US 1 and Key Deer Boulevard, especially at night.
  • No sand beach on Big Pine; the nearest swimming beach is Bahia Honda State Park, 3 miles east.
  • Blue Hole has resident alligators — view from the bank, do not swim.
  • Hurricane season runs Jun–Nov; know your evacuation route north on US 1.
  • Summer heat and mosquitoes in the backcountry; carry water and repellent.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Monroe County Sheriff (non-emergency)
305-292-7000
Poison Control
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Big Pine KeyBig Pine Key

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Monroe County Sheriff (non-emergency)305-292-7000
  • Poison Control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No consulates in the Keys; nearest are in Miami. US visitors: 911 for anything urgent.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Miami → Big Pine Key by car: about 3 h 30 min on US 1, tolls on the turnpike
  • Key West → Big Pine Key by car: about 40–50 min, 30 miles
  • Bahia Honda State Park entry: $8 per 2–8 person vehicle, $4 single-occupant, $2 pedestrian or cyclist, plus $0.50 per person

Say or show

  • Where is the Key deer viewing area? — Where is the Key deer viewing area?
  • Two adults, please — Two adults, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there a boat trip today? — Is there a boat trip today?
  • Where is the nearest petrol station? — Where is the nearest petrol station?
  • Thank you — Thank you

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Big Pine Key. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (dry, 24–27 °C) · avoid Jun–Nov (hurricane season, humid, 31–33 °C) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for EYW and MIA with last-departure checks and a Marathon fallback.
  2. Four walking and driving clusters with rescue anchors: US 1 plaza, Key Deer Boulevard, Long Beach Drive, No Name Key.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (refuge trails, Blue Hole, nature center) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Storm and heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources