Florida Keys With Kids Where to Stay and What to Do by Key
Some family vacations are about seeing everything. The best ones still leave time for a long afternoon in the pool.
A Florida Keys vacation with kids at Hawks Cay Resort gives you both. Set on Duck Key at Mile Marker 61, Hawks Cay sits right in the middle of the Keys, with shallow beaches and sea turtles within about 15 miles, Key West roughly 60 miles to the southwest and the reefs of Key Largo about 40 miles to the northeast.
Here’s how to plan the Florida Keys with kids, from choosing the right room to the day trips that are worth the drive.
Which Florida Key Is Best for Families?
The short answer? The one that keeps the driving short.
The Keys stretch for more than 100 miles along the Overseas Highway, and mile markers count down to 0 in Key West. The difference between two mile markers is roughly the miles between them, which makes planning a lot easier.
| Area | Approx. mile markers | Best for families who want |
| Upper Keys (Key Largo, Islamorada) | MM 106 to MM 70 | Glass-bottom boats over the reef and tarpon feeding |
| Middle Keys (Duck Key, Marathon) | MM 70 to MM 40 | A central base, sea turtles, gentle beaches and the Old Seven Mile Bridge |
| Lower Keys (Bahia Honda, Big Pine Key) | MM 40 to MM 5 | Shallow swimming and Key deer |
| Key West | MM 5 to MM 0 | Butterflies, a historic fort and the ferry to Dry Tortugas |
For most families, the Middle Keys are the easiest base. Day trips run in both directions, and the pool is never far away when little legs need a break.
Less time in the car. More time in the water.
For help planning the drive itself, see our guide to Florida Keys routes and itineraries.
Choose the Right Room for Your Family
The right room makes everything else easier.
The Family Oasis pairs a king bed with bunk beds and sleeps up to five, giving kids their own spot to sleep without moving into a villa.
Traveling with grandparents, cousins or a bigger crew? Hawks Cay villas range from two to four bedrooms, with kitchens and living and dining areas that make early breakfasts and nap schedules simpler. Layouts and views vary by villa, so compare the options before you book.
Bringing a little one? Pack-and-play cribs are available on request, based on availability.
Make Time for the Pool and Lagoon
Some of the best Florida Keys family activities never leave Duck Key.
The Resort Pool, just past the lobby, keeps things easy with games, music and Tiki Grill close by for lunch. Kids can keep swimming while parents grab something cold.
The ocean-fed Saltwater Lagoon is an enclosed swimming area that flows with the tide, reached by a sand path with a gentle slope on its southeast side. Bikes, kayaks and paddleboards are included in the daily resort fee, so a morning paddle doesn’t need a booking.
No itinerary required. Just sunscreen.
Get Out on the Water
Ready for a little adventure?
The Snorkel & Sandbar Experience adds a guided snorkel and a stop at the sandbar, and fishing charters leave right from Hawks Cay Marina. First time out with the kids? Our beginner’s guide to Florida Keys fishing explains what to expect on board.
Check age requirements when you book.
Coming December 1, 2026: Coral Cay Adventure and Waterpark
Big slides are on the way.
Coral Cay Adventure and Waterpark is scheduled to open at Hawks Cay on December 1, 2026. Plans include three large waterslides for riders 48 inches and taller, three smaller slides and a coral reef splash zone for all ages, an air-conditioned arcade, a sports lawn, shaded cabanas and Coral Grill for poolside meals.
Access will be included with your stay, with wristbands issued at check-in. The Play & Stay Package bundles accommodations with park admission, a $50 Coral Grill dining credit and a $20 arcade credit. Check the latest opening information and package terms before planning your dates.
Things to Do in the Florida Keys With Kids, Key by Key
You don’t have to leave Duck Key to fill a vacation. But when the kids are ready for something new, the rest of the Keys is an easy drive away.
Before you go: most beaches in the Keys, including every state park beach below, have no lifeguards, and many have coral and shells underfoot. Pack water shoes and check each park’s swimming notes.
Middle Keys: Within About 15 Miles
Curry Hammock State Park, about five miles from Duck Key, has a 1,200-foot Atlantic beach where the park describes the water as generally shallow with gentle waves.
In Marathon, Sombrero Beach adds playgrounds, picnic pavilions and restrooms, and The Turtle Hospital runs guided 90-minute tours showing how injured sea turtles are treated and released. Reservations are highly recommended.
Older kids can walk or bike the car-free Old Seven Mile Bridge for about 2.2 miles out to Pigeon Key, or ride the Pigeon Key train from the visitor center at Mile Marker 47.5.
Upper Keys: Reefs and Tarpon
At John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, glass-bottom boat tours spend roughly 90 minutes over the reef, and the visitor center has a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. The park can close temporarily when parking fills, so get there early.
On the way back, kids can feed the tarpon at Robbie’s of Islamorada for a few dollars.
Lower Keys: Beaches and Wildlife
Bahia Honda State Park, about 24 miles from Duck Key, has shallow water at Loggerhead Beach and snorkel tours open to all ages. Currents near the Bahia Honda Channel can be very swift, so stay in the calmer areas with young swimmers.
Farther south, the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key has short trails and the Blue Hole observation platform.
Key West: A Day Trip for All Ages
The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory suits toddlers, with 50 to 60 varieties of butterflies and same-day re-entry. Fort Zachary Taylor pairs a historic fort with a swimming beach, where water shoes are recommended because of the rocky bottom.
For teens, the Yankee Freedom ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park makes a full day, at about two hours and 15 minutes each way.
A Simple Florida Keys Itinerary With Kids
You don’t need a packed schedule to make the most of a few days on Duck Key.
Day One: Arrive and Settle In
Check in, unpack and head straight for the water.
Spend the afternoon between the Resort Pool and the lagoon, then keep dinner easy at one of the restaurants and bars on the island.
Day Two: Explore the Middle Keys
Start with a morning tour at The Turtle Hospital, then let the kids run around Sombrero Beach before lunch.
Back on Duck Key, grab a kayak or paddleboard and spend the rest of the afternoon on the lagoon.
Day Three: Pick Your Adventure
Drive north for the glass-bottom boat at John Pennekamp, head south for butterflies in Key West, or stay close to home with the Snorkel & Sandbar Experience.
Staying after December 1? Save a full day for Coral Cay.
Florida Keys With Toddlers and Teens: Can You Plan for Both?
Absolutely.
Little ones can splash in shallow water at Curry Hammock in the morning and nap through the hottest part of the day. Teens can bike the Old Seven Mile Bridge, head out on a fishing charter or book time on the tennis and pickleball courts.
Then everyone meets back at the pool before dinner. For more ideas, see our guide to family experiences at Hawks Cay.
Plan Your Florida Keys Family Vacation
A good family trip to the Keys doesn’t need much: the right room, a pool nearby and a few adventures worth getting out of the water for.
At Hawks Cay, Duck Key takes care of the setting. Add family rooms and villas, an ocean-fed lagoon, easy day trips in both directions and Coral Cay on the way, and planning the Florida Keys for kids gets a lot easier. Before you book, check the latest offers, including savings for Florida residents.
Pack the sunscreen. Leave the schedule loose. Your family vacation starts here.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Coral Cay will be exclusive to Hawks Cay Resort guests and eligible villa owners in the Resort Rental Management Program. Access is included with your stay, and day passes are not available.
Riders must be 48 inches or taller for the three large slides. The three smaller slides and the coral reef splash zone are suitable for all ages.
Kids can swim in the Resort Pool and the Saltwater Lagoon, an enclosed swimming area fed by the Atlantic Ocean. Towels are provided at the pools and the lagoon. Oasis Cay Pool is reserved for guests 21 and over.
Yes. Key West is roughly 60 miles from Hawks Cay along the Overseas Highway, about an hour to an hour and a half by car depending on traffic, so it fits into a day with time for lunch and one or two attractions.