Long Key State Park

Located in the small town of Islamorada, Long Key State Park has a long and narrow beach situated at the center of the island city of Key West. The beach is in front of Long Key Bight Bay and is surrounded by coconut trees. Long Key State Park has beautiful beige-colored sand and has shallow waters making it a perfect destination for swimming.  Long Key State Park is very popular among kiteboarders, jet skiers, sailors, and paddleboarders. 

Although Anne’s Beach does not have lifeguards, the beach offers many amenities including restrooms, showers, picnic tables, a boardwalk, and a shallow swimming area. 

There are many fun activities at Long Key State Park including swimming, snorkeling, kiteboarding, sailing, picnicking, and paddleboarding. 

Getting to Long Key State Park is very easy – the park has a free parking lot at 67400 Overseas Highway and provides easy access to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Long Key State Park, you can drive 35 minutes to Key West Aquarium that is among the oldest aquariums in Florida and is home to exhibits on alligators, Atlantic shore fish, jellyfish, sharks, sea turtles, and a touch tank. The Hemingway Home and Museum is a very popular tourist attraction in Key West – it features the works from the life of American writer Ernest Hemingway and his large population of Hemingway cats. The incredible waterfront square Mallory Square is filled with tourists and is known for its restaurants, shops, and night festivals. Another great attraction near Long Key State Park is Duval Street’s Sunset Pier which is a part of the lively Duval Street and is a great spot for photography and picnicking. 

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 10-minute drive of Long Key State Park.  The upscale vegetarian-friendly fine dining restaurant Bel Mare serves scallops, pork belly, burritos, beets, shrimps, and wines. If you like French cuisine, Banana Café is known for its crepes, comfortable atmosphere, and artsy walls. Another good restaurant near Long Key State Park is the Latin American restaurant Paradise Restaurant featuring handmade cocktails and traditional dishes from various countries including Peru, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Long Key State Park, there are many hotels within a 15-minute drive. The 4-Star Marquesa Hotel is a Victorian-era hotel with two pools, a bar, and a restaurant. Opal Key Resort & Marine is a seaside 4-Star pet-friendly hotel offering a pool, poolside bar, open-air bar, spa, restaurant with water views, gym, diving, fishing, and snorkeling tours. The 3-Star Hampton Inn Key West has a pool, poolside bar, and an open-air restaurant. If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel near Long Key State Park, the 2-Star NYAH Key West features three pools and diving, fishing, snorkeling, and windsurfing tours.