Skip to content
What's in season?
Wide sheet of clear, bright turquoise-green water over a pale sandy bottom, opening between two low dark-green mangrove islands under a deep-blue sky with streaky white cloud. A small flats skiff sits at left: one person stands on the raised poling platform holding a long push-pole and a second person casts a fishing rod from the bow; both are distant and too small to identify.

Village of Islands · Florida Keys

Things to do in Islamorada The flats, the reef, the sandbar and the islands, every season and fee checked at the source

Islamorada runs from Mile Marker 90.0 to 72.6 on US 1 in the Florida Keys. The things to do here are on the water: flats and offshore fishing in FWC's seasons, Alligator Reef, beaches and kayak launches, Lignumvitae Key, the 1935 Hurricane Monument and the diving museum. Indian Key is closed while its dock is rebuilt.

Plan my day What's in season?

A community guide by LPE Realty LLC (561) 652-6917

Turquoise flats near Islamorada. A film cut from 9 real photographs of Islamorada, Florida Keys. Credits

Next in Islamorada

What is on in Islamorada

Dates from the Village, the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce and each organiser, checked October 21, 2026. Every card adds to your calendar in one tap.

All events
Dec5Sat

63rd Annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament

Organiser date for 2026
  • Dec 5 – Dec 6
  • Fishing December 5 and 6; festivities begin Friday, December 4
  • Offshore Islamorada (tournament headquarters not stated on the organizer page)

Two-day pro and non-pro sailfish tournament; first leg of the 2027 Florida Keys Gold Cup.

Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)

Decision tool · day planner

Plan your day in Islamorada

Pick how long you have and what you like. The planner chooses sourced stops along US 1 in Islamorada and puts them in order from the Hurricane Monument at MM 81.5, so you are not driving back and forth between the keys.

Coming back to Islamorada more often than you planned? LPE Realty LLC, a licensed Florida real estate brokerage, will talk you through the questions to ask before you look at a place of your own.

Ask LPE Realty LLC Call LPE Realty LLC (561) 652-6917

Or start from one of three ready-made plans:

A morning on the water

Breakfast, the tarpon at Robbie's, then Anne's Beach and lunch on the dock.

  1. Midway Cafe (80499 Overseas Hwy): An espresso bar with breakfast, pastries and lunch, open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  2. Robbie's of Islamorada (77522 Overseas Hwy): Hand-feed tarpon from the dock at MM 77.5 on Lower Matecumbe Key, with kayak and paddleboard rentals on site.
  3. Anne's Beach (MM 73.5, Oceanside, Islamorada): The Village's oceanside beach at MM 73.5, open sunrise to sunset, with 300 feet of boardwalk and six pavilions.
  4. Hungry Tarpon Restaurant (at Robbie's) (77522 Overseas Hwy Islamorada, FL 33036): The waterfront restaurant at Robbie's, MM 77.5, open 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The islands' story on land

The 1935 memorial, the diving museum, the fossil reef quarry and the discovery center.

  1. Hurricane Monument (Florida Keys Memorial) (US 1 at Mile Marker 81.5): The 1937 Florida Keys Memorial at MM 81.5, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, for the people lost in the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.
  2. History of Diving Museum (82990 Overseas Hwy): A non-profit museum of the history of diving on Upper Matecumbe Key; its site lists it open 10 to 5 daily.
  3. Florida Keys History & Discovery Center (82100 Overseas Hwy): Aquariums, fishing and historical exhibits on the Islander Resort property, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  4. Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park (84900 Overseas Highway): A former Flagler railroad quarry where you walk beside 8-foot quarry walls cut through ancient coral; open Thursday to Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Paddle, then a bayside evening

A mangrove-tunnel paddle, a small beach on the creek, then dinner by the bay.

  1. Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve (MM 81.2, Bayside, Islamorada): Flat nature trails and a floating kayak launch through a mangrove tunnel at MM 81.2; open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., free.
  2. Library Beach Park (MM 81.5, Bayside, Islamorada): A small beach on a mangrove-lined creek at MM 81.5, open 8 a.m. to sunset.
  3. Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar (Mile Marker 82, Bayside): Look for the mermaid at MM 82, bayside: breakfast, lunch and dinner daily with views of Florida Bay, in its own words.

Every stop comes from our sourced list of places in Islamorada (checked October 21, 2026). Distances are straight-line estimates from OpenStreetMap coordinates, not driving routes along US 1. Time per stop is your chosen time split evenly, not an official duration. Check each place's hours before you go; Indian Key is left out while its dock is rebuilt.

Planning your next trip before this one ends? See what living in Islamorada is like.

Living in Islamorada

Since 1513

From Indian Key to the Village of Islands

From Ponce de Leon's passage to a county seat on a tiny island, the railroad, the 1935 hurricane and a village incorporated in 1997, each step as the Village, Florida State Parks and NOAA record it.

  1. 1513

    Ponce de Leon passes through the Keys

    The Village says archaeological evidence shows Native American populations lived on the islands two to three thousand years ago, and the first historical record dates to 1513, when Ponce de Leon passed through the Keys.

    Source: Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters, checked 2026-10-21

  2. 1836

    Indian Key becomes a county seat

    Florida State Parks says Jacob Housman bought Indian Key in 1831 and in 1836 had it made the first county seat of Dade County.

    Source: Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park, History, checked 2026-10-21

  3. 1912

    Flagler's railroad reaches Key West

    The Village says early settlers from the Bahamas and New England shipped pineapples, sponges and shipwreck goods to northern markets, and population grew after Henry Flagler's railroad to Key West opened in 1912.

    Source: Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters, checked 2026-10-21

  4. 1919

    Matheson buys Lignumvitae Key

    Florida State Parks says William J. Matheson, a Miami chemist, bought the island in 1919 and built a caretaker's home with a windmill and cistern; it is now the visitor center.

    Source: Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, checked 2026-10-21

  5. 1935

    The Labor Day hurricane

    NOAA's AOML says that on the evening of September 2, 1935, the most intense hurricane to strike the United States on record roared through the Florida Keys, taking hundreds of lives.

    Source: NOAA AOML: 80th Anniversary of the Labor Day Hurricane and first hurricane reconnaissance, checked 2026-10-21

  6. 1997

    Islamorada becomes a village

    The Village says Islamorada was incorporated as a municipality on December 31, 1997.

    Source: Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters, checked 2026-10-21

Read the history

The pale keystone hurricane monument stands on a raised stepped plaza: a stepped-top pillar carved in relief with palms bending in the wind above waves, with a dark bronze plaque below. Four coconut palms and leafy trees frame it under a clear blue sky, and a shopping strip and a communications tower show at far left.
The Florida Keys Memorial to the victims of the 1935 hurricane, June 2020. Photo: Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

A run down US 1

Four stops by mile marker, north to south

The Village says Islamorada runs from Mile Marker 90.0 to Mile Marker 72.6 on US 1. These four stops are in the order you reach them driving south; the day planner above orders any mix of stops for you.

Things to do in Islamorada
  1. Wide view across the floor of an old quarry: flat, pale grey coral-rock ground with patches of grass and a few squared stone blocks. The long, straight, vertical cut wall of the quarry runs across the back, topped by trees, under a grey-blue sky.
    Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0

    MM 84.9 · Windley Key

    The fossil reef quarry

    Walk beside 8-foot quarry walls cut through ancient coral, where the stone for Flagler's railroad came from. Open Thursday to Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Islamorada history

  2. The pale keystone hurricane monument stands on a raised stepped plaza: a stepped-top pillar carved in relief with palms bending in the wind above waves, with a dark bronze plaque below. Four coconut palms and leafy trees frame it under a clear blue sky, and a shopping strip and a communications tower show at far left.
    Photo: Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

    MM 81.5 · Upper Matecumbe Key

    The Hurricane Monument

    The 1937 Florida Keys Memorial to the people lost in the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, on the National Register of Historic Places.

    The 1935 hurricane

  3. On a wooden dock over green water crowded with dark tarpon, a man in a cap kneels and holds a small fish down to a big silver tarpon breaking the surface with a splash. Other visitors stand or crouch along the dock, and the bow of a red boat lettered 'Robbie's ... Marina' shows at upper left.
    Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0

    MM 77.5 · Lower Matecumbe Key

    Tarpon at Robbie's

    Robbie's says it has been feeding tarpon from its dock since 1976. Dock admission and a bucket of fish are priced on its own site.

    Things to do

  4. Clear, pale-green shallow water over a pale bottom, with a row of weathered wooden posts standing in the water and a mangrove tree growing out in the shallows. A rocky limestone edge and a mangrove shore are at right, under a sky of scattered white cloud.
    Photo: Abujoy, CC BY 3.0

    MM 73.5 · Lower Matecumbe Key

    Anne's Beach

    The Village's oceanside beach, open sunrise to sunset, with 300 feet of boardwalk, six pavilions and leashed dogs allowed.

    Beaches and parks

Decision tool · what's in season?

What's open, in season or on in Islamorada on this date?

Pick a date. We check it against the published rules and schedules: FWC's recreational seasons for the fish and shellfish people come here for, the lobster and stone crab seasons, dated events from their organisers, and hurricane season.

Planning your trips around the seasons and starting to think about a second home here? LPE Realty LLC, a licensed Florida real estate brokerage, will answer your questions by phone or through the contact form.

Contact LPE Realty LLC Call LPE Realty LLC (561) 652-6917

Dated events coming up

  1. WedNov 18

    History of Diving Museum "Immerse Yourself!" talk, 3rd Wednesday 7pm · 7 pm

    Add to Google Calendar

  2. ThuNov 19

    Morada Way Art Walk, third Thursday 6 to 9pm · 6 to 9pm

    Add to Google Calendar

  3. WedDec 16

    History of Diving Museum "Immerse Yourself!" talk, 3rd Wednesday 7pm · 7 pm

    Add to Google Calendar

  4. ThuDec 17

    Morada Way Art Walk, third Thursday 6 to 9pm · 6 to 9pm

    Add to Google Calendar

  5. WedJan 20

    History of Diving Museum "Immerse Yourself!" talk, 3rd Wednesday 7pm · 7 pm

    Add to Google Calendar

  6. ThuJan 21

    Morada Way Art Walk, third Thursday 6 to 9pm · 6 to 9pm

    Add to Google Calendar

The published seasons and schedules this checker uses

  • Spiny lobster regular season OPEN: FWC's regular spiny lobster season runs August 6 to March 31, with a daily bag limit of 6 per person. Outside it, lobster is closed except during the two-day sport season. FWC: Spiny Lobster recreational regulations
  • Spiny lobster sport season (mini season) 2027: FWC lists the 2027 sport season as Wednesday and Thursday, July 28 and 29, 2027, for residents and non-residents. FWC: Spiny Lobster recreational regulations
  • Stone crab claws OPEN: FWC's state-waters season is open October 15 to May 1 and closed from May 2. Claw minimum 2 7/8 inches; 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel a day, whichever is less. FWC: Stone Crab recreational regulations
  • Snook harvest CLOSED, Southwest region incl. the Keys: FWC's Southwest region, which takes in the Keys, closes snook harvest December 1 to the end of February and May 1 to September 30. When open: a 28 to 33 inch slot and 1 fish per person per day. FWC: Snook recreational regulations
  • Atlantic shallow-water grouper OPEN (black, red, scamp, yellowfin, yellowmouth, hinds, coney, graysby): Under FWC's Atlantic rules (black, red, scamp, yellowfin and yellowmouth grouper, hinds, coney and graysby) the season is May 1 to December 31, so these grouper are closed January 1 to April 30. FWC: Groupers recreational regulations
  • Atlantic gag grouper OPEN: FWC lists the Atlantic gag grouper season as May 1 to August 1 and closed Atlantic state waters to recreational gag from August 2 by executive order. FWC: Groupers recreational regulations
  • Hogfish OPEN (Atlantic rules, incl. Florida Keys): FWC's Atlantic hogfish rules include the Florida Keys: open May 1 to October 31, 16 inch fork length minimum, 1 per harvester. FWC: Hogfish recreational regulations
  • Mutton snapper OPEN year-round (Atlantic): FWC lists Atlantic mutton snapper as open year-round: 18 inch total length minimum, 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate. FWC: Snappers recreational regulations
  • Tarpon: catch-and-release only, all year: Catch and release all year. FWC says a tarpon over 40 inches must stay in the water unless the angler is pursuing a record with a tarpon tag ($51.50 a year). FWC: Tarpon recreational regulations
  • Bonefish: catch-and-release only, all year (peak March to October): Catch and release only since September 1, 2013 (FWC). FWC says bonefish can be caught year-round in the Keys, with peak season generally March through October. FWC: Bonefish
  • Atlantic hurricane season: June 1 to November 30 every year (NOAA National Hurricane Center). Trips, tournaments and events can be called off at short notice. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Climatology
  • Morada Way Art Walk, third Thursday 6 to 9pm: Every third Thursday of the month, 6 to 9 PM, on Morada Way (Morada Way Arts and Cultural District). Morada Way Arts & Cultural District: Art Walk Information
  • History of Diving Museum "Immerse Yourself!" talk, 3rd Wednesday 7pm: "Immerse Yourself!" talks on the third Wednesday of every month at 7 PM, free, at 82990 Overseas Highway (History of Diving Museum). History of Diving Museum: home page
  • 22nd Annual Islamorada Holiday Fest: Friday, December 4, 2026, 4 to 10 PM on the Great Lawn at Founders Park, with the parade at 7:30 PM (Islamorada Chamber of Commerce). Islamorada Chamber of Commerce: Holiday Fest 2026
  • 63rd Islamorada Sailfish Tournament: Fishing days Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, 2026; festivities begin Friday, December 4 (the tournament). Islamorada Sailfish Tournament: home page
  • 9th Fish for Holly Sailfish Tournament: January 8 and 9, 2027, based at the Islander Resort (the tournament). Times were not posted when we checked. Fish for Holly Sailfish Tournament: Tournament page
  • 35th Annual Island Fest: Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11, 2027, 10 AM to 5 PM at Founders Park (Islamorada Chamber of Commerce). Islamorada Chamber of Commerce: Island Fest
  • 8th Annual Trunk or Treat: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 6 to 8:30 PM at Founders Park; the Village lists a $15 parking fee. Islamorada, Village of Islands: 8th Annual Trunk or Treat (News Flash, Oct. 1, 2026)

Worked out from rules and schedules checked October 21, 2026, on each agency's or organiser's own page. Fishing rules change, sometimes at short notice: check FWC's current regulations (and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary rules on the water) before every trip. This checker is a planning aid, not a legal statement of the rules.

Coming back every season? See what living in Islamorada is like.

Plan the rest of your day

Tall portrait view of a white iron skeleton lighthouse with a black lantern on top, standing on open-frame legs in vivid turquoise water under a blue sky with a few small clouds near the horizon.

The reef

Alligator Reef and the flats

The Village describes the Keys as protected by the only living coral reef in the continental U.S. NOAA calls Alligator Reef Lighthouse the most readily visible lighthouse from the Overseas Highway, and says anchoring of any kind will be banned in most Sanctuary Preservation Areas in 2027.

Snorkeling and diving Where can I get in the water?

Photo: Peter Pryharski, CC0 (cropped)

Eat and drink

Islamorada tables

From each restaurant's own website, checked October 21, 2026. We list places with an Islamorada address and published hours. Hours change; check before you go.

All places to eat

  • Islamorada Fish Company

    Seafood restaurant (Bass Pro Shops restaurant group)

    81532 Overseas Hwy (Mile Marker 81.5) Islamorada, FL 33036

    The Islamorada location of the Bass Pro Shops restaurant brand, next to the World Wide Sportsman store; its page says it is home to 'the most sought after landmark location, overlooking the amazing bayside' with 'legendary sunsets and soft bay breezes'. Breakfast is served Friday through Sunday.

    Sunday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm; Monday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm; Tuesday and Wednesday closed; Thursday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm; Friday and Saturday 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Breakfast Friday through Sunday 8:00 am to 11:00 am.

    Source: Islamorada Fish Company: Contact, checked 2026-10-21

  • Marker 88

    Waterfront restaurant

    88000 Overseas Highway Islamorada, FL 33036

    'Located in Plantation Key, in the Village of Islamorada, Florida, Marker 88 has been serving guests since 1967.' The site also runs an on-site boutique (The 88 Boutique).

    Monday to Thursday 11AM to 9PM; Friday 11AM to 10PM; Saturday 11AM to 10PM; Sunday 11AM to 9PM.

    Source: Marker 88, checked 2026-10-21

  • Midway Cafe

    Cafe, espresso bar, breakfast and lunch

    80499 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036

    'In the heart of Islamorada Florida, Midway Cafe offers a full Espresso Bar, Breakfast, Pastries, Coffee and Lunch.' The home page says it is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

    Monday to Sunday 7:00am to 2:00pm (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day).

    Source: Midway Cafe: Location, checked 2026-10-21

  • Hog Heaven Sports Bar and Grill

    Sports bar and grill

    85361 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036

    'Our oceanfront restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily'; the site also says 'Catch all the action with 27 TVs showcasing your favorite sporting events'.

    Bar: Sunday to Thursday 11am to 2am, Friday and Saturday 11am to 4am. Kitchen: Sunday to Thursday 11am to 1am, Friday and Saturday 11am to 2am.

    Source: Hog Heaven Sports Bar and Grill, checked 2026-10-21

  • Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar

    Bayfront restaurant and cabana bar

    Mile Marker 82, Bayside, Islamorada, FL 33036

    The site says to 'Look for the mermaid at MM 82, bayside' and to 'come by land or sea!' It says it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily with views of Florida Bay. The site gives no street number; OpenStreetMap files it at 96 Madeira Road.

    Open every day 7 am to 10 pm. Breakfast 7 am to 10:30 am; lunch and dinner 11 am to 10 pm; happy hour daily 4 pm to 6 pm.

    Source: Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar, checked 2026-10-21

  • Lazy Days Restaurant

    Oceanfront seafood restaurant

    79867 Overseas Highway Islamorada, FL 33036

    'Enjoy Relaxing Oceanfront Dining While Feasting On Exquisite Keys Style Dishes.' The upstairs patio is described as 'Overlooking The Beautiful Waters Of The Atlantic.'

    Open every day 11 am to 10 pm. Lunch 11 am to 4 pm; dinner 4 pm to 10 pm.

    Source: Lazy Days Restaurant, checked 2026-10-21

  • Wahoo's Bar and Grill

    Waterfront bar and grill

    83413 Overseas Highway, Islamorada FL 33036

    Waterfront bar and grill at Whale Harbor; the site says 'This is the Keys at it's Best' and that outside food and beverages, including cakes, are not allowed.

    Open 7 days per week: Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 9:00; Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 10:00. Happy hour Monday through Friday 4:00 to 7:00.

    Source: Wahoo's Bar and Grill, checked 2026-10-21

  • Kindler Wood-Fired Fare (Three Waters Resort)

    Wood-fired restaurant at a resort (open to the public)

    84001 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036

    'A crackling wood-fired hearth welcomes you to our signature Islamorada upscale restaurant.' The page says locals get 15% off with a Monroe County ID and asks diners to park in the Marina parking lot.

    Breakfast Monday to Friday 7 am to 11 am, Saturday and Sunday 7 am to 10 am; brunch Saturday and Sunday 7 am to 2 pm; dinner Wednesday to Sunday 5 pm to 10 pm; happy hour Wednesday to Sunday 5 pm to 6 pm. (The same page's FAQ says breakfast is Monday through Sunday 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.)

    Source: Islamorada Resort Collection: Kindler Wood-Fired Fare, checked 2026-10-21

Thinking of staying longer

Islamorada for more than a week?

The Village says it has just over 6,000 permanent residents. LPE Realty LLC, a licensed Florida real estate brokerage, publishes this guide and can talk you through the questions to ask before buying or selling here.

Living in Islamorada

Sunset over calm, silvery water: a small white sloop with its sail furled lies at anchor at left beside a mooring buoy, in front of a long, low, dark line of distant islands, under a sky of gold, orange and purple cloud with the sun glowing through.
Photo: RetiredTimes, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

Quick answers

What people ask about Islamorada

What is Islamorada?

Islamorada, Village of Islands is a municipality in the middle of the Florida Keys in Monroe County. The Village says it was incorporated on December 31, 1997.

Source: Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters

Which islands make up Islamorada?

The Village names five inhabited islands: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key and Tea Table Key.

Source: Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters

What mile markers is Islamorada between?

The Village says it sits between Mile Marker 90.0 and Mile Marker 72.6 on U.S. Highway 1.

Source: Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters

How wide is Islamorada?

The Village says it is no more than one mile wide at its widest point, with an average elevation of about five feet.

Source: Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters

Why is Islamorada called the Sportfishing Capital of the World?

The Village says Islamorada is "known by many as the sportfishing capital of the world" and has perhaps the world's highest density of professional offshore charter boats.

Source: Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters

Is the Keys reef protected?

The Village describes the Keys as protected by the third largest barrier reef in the world and the only living coral reef in the continental U.S. The surrounding waters are designated Outstanding Florida Waters.

Source: Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters

Journal

One question at a time

All journal posts

Thinking of staying longer

A week on the flats turning into a second-home question?

LPE Realty LLC, a licensed Florida real estate brokerage, is behind this guide. If Islamorada has you thinking about a place of your own, call or write and we will talk through the questions to ask first. Where a question needs a Keys specialist we say so, and we only pass your details on with your consent.

Visit LPE Realty LLC Call LPE Realty LLC (561) 652-6917

What is it like to live in Islamorada? · Thinking of selling a home in Islamorada?