Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · United States

Marathon, FloridaMarathon

Give Marathon 2–3 nights as a mid-Keys base with a car: Turtle Hospital, Sombrero Beach and the Dolphin Research Center, then drive on to Key West.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Dec–Apr (dry, cooler); May and Nov are good value
avoid Jun–Nov Atlantic hurricane season; Sep–Oct is the peak risk
Airports
MTH · EYW · MIA
Nights
2–3
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.

Marathon sits on Vaca Key at about mile marker 50, roughly two hours by road from Miami and one hour from Key West, with the Atlantic on one side and Florida Bay on the other. It has a hospital, grocery stores, marinas and more year-round residents than most Keys, so it works as a base rather than a stop. There is no scheduled commercial air service: you arrive by car, shuttle or boat, and you need a car once you are here.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Marathon, Florida, 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$3–6
  • Street or quick mealFish sandwich or seafood plate$14–28
  • Beerdraught at a bar / six-pack at a store$6–9$10–14
  • Museum or sight ticketDolphin Research Center entry$30–35 (check)
  • Budget bedHostel or budget motel bed, a night, per personUS$60
  • Mid-range bedMotel or resort double room, a night, per roomUS$260
  • High-end bedMotel or resort double room, a night, per roomUS$500

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$200 · High US$380

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.

Seven Mile BridgeTurtle HospitalDolphin Research CenterPigeon KeySnorkelling, diving and fishing charters
Airports
MTH Florida Keys Marathon International Airport (General aviation and FBO only; no scheduled commercial flights. Greyhound/FlixBus stops at the airport on the Miami–Key West route.) · EYW Key West International (About 1 h south on US 1; the nearest commercial airport.) · MIA Miami International (About 2–3 h north by road, traffic dependent; main gateway for most trips.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Marathon, Florida: 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

17°C

6 rd

Feb

25°C

18°C

5 rd

Mar

27°C

20°C

5 rd

Apr

29°C

22°C

5 rd

May

31°C

24°C

8 rd

Jun

32°C

26°C

12 rd

Jul

33°C

26°C

12 rd

Aug

33°C

26°C

14 rd

Sep

32°C

26°C

15 rd

Oct

30°C

24°C

11 rd

Nov

27°C

21°C

7 rd

Dec

25°C

18°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

Rent a car: the sights are spread along US 1 and public transport is thin. Metrobus #301 links Marathon to Florida City via Islamorada, Tavernier and Key Largo, and the Lower Keys Shuttle runs to Key West via Big Pine; both are slow for sightseeing. The island is flat and good for cycling, and marinas rent kayaks and run charters.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Key Westgo

Door to door: 1–1.5 h each way

Drive US 1 south, about 50 miles

A full day; leave early in winter when traffic builds.

Big Pine Key

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive US 1 south, about 30 min

National Key Deer Refuge; watch for deer on the road at dusk.

Islamorada

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive US 1 north, about 30 min

Half-day for the History of Diving Museum and Robbie's tarpon.

Key Largo

caution

Door to door: About 1.25 h

Drive US 1 north, about 1 h

Better as a stop on the drive in or out than a return day trip.

Duck Key

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Drive US 1 north to MM 61

Resort island; day access is limited, so check before you go.

Stock Island

caution

Door to door: About 1.25 h

Drive US 1 south past Key West

Pair it with Key West rather than a separate trip.

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 (US 1) corridor, MM 47–54

Motels, resorts and most restaurants; walkable only in patches, so a car is still needed.

Sombrero Beach area (Oceanside, MM 50)

Closest to the public beach and picnic area; quiet at night.

Key Colony Beach

Small incorporated city on its own key, with a marina and short-term rentals; a short drive from Marathon's shops.

Duck Key / Hawks Cay (MM 61)

Resort island about 15 min north; see the Duck Key page.

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
$90–150 excl. bed
Mid
$150–260 excl. bed
High
$260+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or resort double room1 × 2 nights × US$260US$520
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$200US$800
Rental car, one day1 × US$80US$80
Snorkel or dive charter, per person2 × US$110US$220
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$25US$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$167
Trip total≈ US$459 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,837

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Fish sandwich or seafood plate$14–28
Stone crab claws, in seasonFlorida season runs 15 Oct–1 May.$30–60 per lb
Key lime pie slice$6–10
Beer: draught at a bar / six-pack at a store$6–9 / $10–14
Turtle Hospital tour$30–35 (check)
Dolphin Research Center entry$30–35 (check)
Crane Point Museum and Nature Center entry$15–18 (check)
Pigeon Key ferry and island entry$15–22 (check)
Sombrero Beach parkingPaid by the hour (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Marathon is a low-crime small town; the real risks are storms, US 1 traffic and property theft from cars and boats. Check the National Weather Service before any boat trip, and leave early if an evacuation is advised.
  • Once you pass Knights Key Blvd at the south end you are on the Seven Mile Bridge with no turnaround for about 7 miles — a missed turn is a 14-mile detour.
  • Keep valuables out of sight in parked cars; outboard-motor theft is a known problem in the Keys.
  • In a storm warning, leave early: US 1 is the only road out and closes after accidents.
  • Do not buy fish or shrimp from roadside truck vendors if freshness is in doubt.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

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.

Marathon, FloridaMarathon

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Take me to this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in the Keys; consulates are in Miami. US travellers: 911 for emergencies.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Miami airport → Marathon, Keys Shuttle: door-to-door shuttle, about 2.5–3 h (check)
  • Greyhound/FlixBus Miami → Marathon: stops at the Marathon airport, about 3 h (check)
  • Metrobus #301 Marathon → Florida City: stops at the Publix on US 1, MM 50 (check)

Say or show

  • Where is Sombrero Beach? — Where is the beach?
  • Table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • Do you take cards? — Can I pay by card?
  • Any boats going out today? — Is there a charter today?
  • How much does it cost? — How much is it?
  • Where is the hospital? — Where is the nearest hospital?

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis. Prices are shown before Florida sales tax.

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 Marathon, Florida. 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: Dec–Apr (dry, cooler); May and Nov are good value · avoid Jun–Nov Atlantic hurricane season; Sep–Oct is the peak risk · 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. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MTH and EYW: last shuttle departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Sombrero Beach, the US 1 strip at MM 50, and the marina district.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Turtle Hospital tours, Dolphin Research Center, Crane Point, Pigeon Key ferry) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Storm and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources