Where to Stay in Key Largo

This is the busiest stretch of the Overseas Highway, anchored around MM 100 where the Caribbean Club, Key Largo Fisheries, and the John Pennekamp State Park entrance all sit within a short drive. Most dive shops cluster here, including Rainbow Reef and Conch Republic Divers off Ocean Bay Drive. Restaurants like Mrs. Mac's Kitchen and Snapper's on Seaside Avenue stay packed. The downside: US-1 traffic is loud, and oceanfront access is split between resorts. Pick this strip if you want to walk to dinner and roll out to a 7am dive boat without a long drive.

Best for

Diverssnorkelersfirst-time visitors who want easy access to restaurants and tour boats

Walk times

John Pennekamp State Park 5 min
Mrs. Mac's Kitchen 3 min
Key Largo Fisheries 4 min

Skip if: You want quiet. US-1 noise carries, and the strip gets congested on weekends.

Local tip: Book dive trips with shops at MM 100 directly, not through hotel concierges. You save 15 to 20 percent and get the same boats.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$202per night

Tavernier (MM 92 to 95)

Cheaper, slower, still close to the reef

Mid-range $110-$210/night

Tavernier sits at the south end of Key Largo and feels closer to the old Keys. Hotels and motels here run 30 to 40 percent less than central Key Largo for the same square footage. The Hungry Tarpon at Robbie's is 15 minutes south, and Harry Harris County Park has a free swimming lagoon and boat ramp on Burton Drive. You are still 10 to 15 minutes from Pennekamp by car. Trade-off: fewer dinner options on foot, and most of the lodging is older Florida motel stock rather than resorts.

Best for

Budget travelersfamilies with a rental caranglers heading to the bay side

Walk times

Harry Harris Park 5 min
Mangrove Mike's Cafe 3 min
Pennekamp State Park 12 min

Skip if: You want resort amenities or walkable nightlife. Tavernier is residential by 9pm.

Local tip: Harry Harris Park has the calmest swimming for kids in the upper Keys. Locals go on Sundays. Get there before 10am for a parking spot.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$123per night

Ocean Reef Club Area (North Key Largo)

Gated luxury at the top of the island

Luxury $400-$1200/night

Ocean Reef itself is a private members-only community, but the area around the Card Sound Road turnoff has a handful of high-end rentals and the Ocean Reef-adjacent vacation homes on County Road 905. Expect quiet streets, custom homes on canals, and zero walkable restaurants. Alabama Jack's on Card Sound Road is the one institution worth driving to for stone crab and Sunday afternoon bands. This area suits people who want privacy, a private dock, and do not mind a 25-minute drive to most Key Largo activities.

Best for

Couplesanniversary tripsanyone with a boat who wants a private slip

Walk times

Alabama Jack's 8 min
Pennekamp State Park 25 min
Card Sound Bridge 6 min

Skip if: You do not have a car or you want to be in the middle of the action.

Local tip: Take Card Sound Road in or out of the Keys instead of US-1. The toll is $1 and you skip the Florida City traffic jam. The view from the bridge is the best in the upper Keys.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$448per night

Key Largo Bayside (MM 103 to 106)

Sunset side with calmer water and fewer crowds

Mid-range $150-$300/night

The bay side of upper Key Largo, around the Sundowners restaurant and Caribbean Club, faces west into Florida Bay. Water is shallower and calmer than the ocean side, which makes it better for paddleboards and kids. Hotels here cost about 15 percent less than equivalent oceanfront properties at MM 100. Sunset is the main event: Sundowners on US-1 fills up by 6pm in winter. You are still close to dive shops, but the vibe is mellower and the parking lots are smaller.

Best for

Sunset chaserspaddleboarderstravelers who want lower prices without sacrificing location

Walk times

Sundowners restaurant 4 min
Caribbean Club 6 min
Pennekamp State Park 8 min

Skip if: You came to swim in clear ocean water. The bay side is shallow and grassy in spots.

Local tip: The Caribbean Club at MM 104 is where they filmed scenes from the 1948 Bogart movie. Beer is $4 at happy hour and the sunset deck has no cover charge.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$168per night