Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key by kayak from Islamorada

Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key are state park islands off Islamorada, run by Florida State Parks. They are not among the five inhabited islands the Village names (Plantation, Windley, Upper Matecumbe, Lower Matecumbe and Tea Table). Both are reached only by boat or kayak, and right now only one of them is open. We read both parks’ pages in a browser on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

• The Village names five inhabited islands: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key and Tea Table Key. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters

Indian Key: closed for the dock rebuild

Florida State Parks said in April 2026 that Indian Key would be fully closed for up to six months while its dock is rebuilt. When we checked on October 21, 2026, it had not posted a reopening date, so do not plan a landing until the park’s page says it is open. The usual launch is closed too: FWC lists the Indian Key Fill ramp as temporarily closed for repairs, even though the state park’s kayak page still says to launch there.

• Florida State Parks posts: "Effective April 2026: Indian Key Historic State Park is completely closed to the public while contractors rebuild the Park's dock. The project is slated to take up to six months." Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park
• Florida State Parks said in April 2026 that Indian Key would be fully closed for up to six months while its dock is rebuilt; no reopening date was posted when we checked on October 21, 2026. Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park

Indian Key when it reopens

Florida State Parks says Indian Key is accessible only by boat, about a half-mile offshore, and that paddling over the seagrass flats is one of the ways it recommends reaching the 11-acre island. Its posted hours are 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year, with a $2.50 per person fee paid in cash at the iron ranger near the kayak launch or online. The park lists kayak rentals from Robbie’s Marina (305-664-4878) and Backcountry Cowboys (305-517-4177). Its notes say the kayak landing on the south side is the only authorized landing, there are no facilities on the island and no pets, and swimmers and snorkelers need a diver-down flag and must stay 100 feet from the dock.

• Florida State Parks says Indian Key is accessible only by boat, about a half-mile offshore, and that one of the best ways to reach the 11-acre island is paddling over the seagrass flats. Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park
• Florida State Parks lists Indian Key hours as 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year, and a $2.50 per person fee paid in cash at the iron ranger near the kayak launch or online. Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park
• Florida State Parks lists kayak rentals for Indian Key from Robbie's Marina (305-664-4878) and Backcountry Cowboys (305-517-4177). Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park

Why Indian Key matters

Florida State Parks says Jacob Housman bought Indian Key in 1831 and in 1836 had it made the first county seat of Dade County. In 1840, Indians attacked the island, destroying all but one building and killing Dr. Henry Perrine. Today only stone foundations remain; this page’s aerial photo shows their outlines beside a modern dock. More is on our history page.

• Florida State Parks says Jacob Housman bought Indian Key in 1831 and in 1836 had it made the first county seat of Dade County. Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park, History
• Florida State Parks says Indians attacked the island in 1840, destroying all but one building and killing Dr. Henry Perrine; today only stone foundations remain. Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park, History

Lignumvitae Key: open Thursday to Monday

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. It charges a $2.50 per person visitor fee and a $2 per person tour fee. It is accessible by boat or kayak only; the listed address, 77200 Overseas Highway, is on US 1, not on the island. William J. Matheson, a Miami chemist, bought the island in 1919 and built a caretaker’s home with a windmill and cistern, now the visitor center.

• Florida State Parks says Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Hours & Fees
• Lignumvitae Key charges a $2.50 per person visitor fee and a $2 per person tour fee. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Hours & Fees
• Florida State Parks says Lignumvitae Key is accessible by boat or kayak only; the listed address is 77200 Overseas Highway, Islamorada FL 33036. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
• 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. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

The park’s pages disagree about tours. Its Hours and Fees page lists ranger-led tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Friday through Sunday, with the Matheson House open during tours; its main page says ranger-guided tours are currently unavailable and offers a self-guided brochure. Call 305-664-2540 before you go, and see the Hours and Fees page.

• The Lignumvitae Hours & Fees page lists ranger-led tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Friday through Sunday, with the Matheson House open during tours. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Hours & Fees
• The Lignumvitae main page says ranger-guided tours are currently unavailable and offers a self-guided tour brochure. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
• Florida State Parks gives two different answers on Lignumvitae Key tours: the Hours & Fees page lists ranger-led tours Friday to Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., while the main page says ranger-guided tours are currently unavailable. Call 305-664-2540 before you go. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

Getting to Lignumvitae: ferry or kayak

Florida State Parks says Florida Keys Boat Rentals at Robbie’s Marina runs a ferry to Lignumvitae Key on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m., 305-664-5533. The park is open Thursday and Monday too, but the ferry is not listed for those days. Robbie’s is at 77522 Overseas Hwy, MM 77.5 bayside. If you paddle, note this: Florida State Parks says both listed kayak providers currently rent kayaks for the Lignumvitae waters only, not for the Key itself. A rented kayak from them is for exploring the water around the island, not for landing on it.

• Florida State Parks says Florida Keys Boat Rentals at Robbie's Marina runs a ferry to Lignumvitae Key on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m., 305-664-5533. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
• Florida State Parks says both listed kayak providers currently rent kayaks for the Lignumvitae waters only, not for the Key itself. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
• Robbie's of Islamorada lists its address as 77522 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036, at Mile Marker 77.5 bayside. Robbie's of Islamorada: home page

Planning the paddle

• Check both parks’ pages the morning you go: Indian Key’s status will change when the dock work ends, and Lignumvitae’s two pages disagree on tours.
• Robbie’s is open 7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily, and the Hungry Tarpon restaurant there opens at 6:30 am.
• The San Pedro shipwreck preserve sits about 1.25 nautical miles south of Indian Key, boat only, free, with mooring buoys. See our snorkeling page.
• Sanctuary-wide, boats must stay at 4 knots, no wake, within 300 feet of stationary vessels, and at idle speed within 300 feet of a divers down flag.
• The Islamorada Chamber lists Lignumvitae Christmas on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but the organizer showed no upcoming events when we checked, so treat it as not confirmed.

• Robbie's lists its hours as 7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily, with the Hungry Tarpon restaurant open 6:30 am to 9:00 pm. Robbie's of Islamorada: home page
• The San Pedro lies in 18 feet of water about 1.25 nautical miles south of Indian Key, at 24 degrees 51.802 N, 80 degrees 40.795 W. Florida State Parks: San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park
• Sanctuary-wide, NOAA prohibits operating faster than 4 knots/no wake within 300 feet of residential shorelines, stationary vessels or reef navigation aids (outside marked channels), and above idle speed/no wake within 300 feet of a divers down flag. NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Sanctuary Regulations
• The Islamorada Chamber lists Lignumvitae Christmas on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but the organizer (Friends of the Islamorada Area State Parks) showed no upcoming events when we checked on October 21, 2026. Friends of the Islamorada Area State Parks: Events

For other launches, including the free floating launch at Green Turtle Hammock, use the shore-access finder.

Indian Key and Lignumvitae FAQ

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: Village of Islamorada (official site)