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.
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.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- 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
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Marathon, Florida911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
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.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyMarathon is a low-crime small town; the real risks are storms, US 1 traffic and property theft from cars and boats.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMTH Florida Keys Marathon International Airport (General aviation and FBO only; no scheduled commercial flights.
- Getting aroundRent a car: the sights are spread along US 1 and public transport is thin.
Cost cheat-sheet
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 →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
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.
- 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.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Feb
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Mar
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Apr
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
May
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Nov
Care
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Dec
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Best: Dec–May. Mixed: Nov. Avoid: Jun–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C) low), wettest Sep (15 rain days), driest Feb (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
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 (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6 rd
Feb
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
5 rd
Mar
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
5 rd
Apr
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
5 rd
May
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15 rd
Oct
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11 rd
Nov
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
7 rd
Dec
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
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.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
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
goDoor 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
goDoor 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
cautionDoor 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
goDoor 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
cautionDoor to door: About 1.25 h
Drive US 1 south past Key West
Pair it with Key West rather than a separate trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
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.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $90–150 excl. bed
- Mid
- $150–260 excl. bed
- High
- $260+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or resort double room1 × 2 nights × US$260 | US$520 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$200 | US$800 |
| Rental car, one day1 × US$80 | US$80 |
| Snorkel or dive charter, per person2 × US$110 | US$220 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$25 | US$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$167 |
| Trip total≈ US$459 per person per day, bed included | US$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 parking | Paid by the hour (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 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
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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 diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
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
- 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 →
- 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MTH and EYW: last shuttle departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Sombrero Beach, the US 1 strip at MM 50, and the marina district.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Turtle Hospital tours, Dolphin Research Center, Crane Point, Pigeon Key ferry) and eat pages with last orders.
- Storm and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.