Day trips from Naples, Florida don’t require packing up the family for a long car ride. The Key West Express can take you for a day at the Southernmost Point with less stress, and in less time than it would take to drive!
Ferry Boat to Key West
The Key West Express is a jet-powered modern catamaran that travels from Marco Island and Fort Myers Beach to Key West and back again daily. This fast and fun option offers smooth and fast travel to the jewel of the Florida Keys. Leave in the morning and make it to Key West just in time for lunch. Stay for the day to explore Old Town or extend the trip.
Photo courtesy Key West Express
The ferry offers many comfortable amenities, making the 3 1/2-hour trip comfortable and even enjoyable! Relax indoors while enjoying the flat-screen TVs, enjoy a snack, or even a few drinks at one of the bars. For a Gulf Coast view, head up to the sundeck to enjoy the weather, the seas, and the salty air.
The Key West Express ferry docks in Key West at the City Bight Ferry Terminal in the Historic Seaport of Key West, FL. It’s a short walk to downtown or transportation is available. The Historic Seaport offers many options for dining, shopping, and sightseeing. Take a trolley or tour train for a quick overview of the island. The well-known bars and restaurants are a short walk from the docking area.
Tips to Make Your Afternoon in Key West a Pleasure
The island is very small. The streets in the older sections of town are narrow, and parking is limited. The best way to get around is on foot or by bicycle.
If you’re going to spend the day on foot, be sure to bring comfortable shoes, and pack only a light bag. Think of it like walking a big theme park like Disney World. You’ll do far more walking than you will sitting, and you will be carrying anything you brought with you all day.
Make sure you have a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The topical sun at this latitude can be very intense in the early afternoons.
Keep your camera handy, there are lots of interesting sites and people that you will want to share with friends and family. For those of you that like to post to social media instantly, your ability to do so will depend on your cellular carrier and where you are at the moment. You might want to shoot lots of pictures and upload later.
Photo courtesy Key West Express
Tip from the conchs that know, there is a Walgreens on Duval and Southard just a few steps down from Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Any essentials from film to bottled water can be picked up easily there, and if you have a discount card, they’ll honor it just like any other Walgreens in the country.
If you’d rather not do so much walking, try a bicycle. There are several bicycle rental shops all over Key West. Or if you have your bike with you in Florida, the Key West Express will let you take it along on the ferry.
If you’re taking the Key West Express back to Marco Island, the ship begins boarding at 4:00 p.m. The return trip to Ft. Myers boards at 5:00 p.m.
Contact the Key West Express for additional information and to make a reservation 239.463.5733.
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