Marathon sits at the centre of the Florida Keys, where the islands thin out and the famous Seven Mile Bridge carries the Overseas Highway across open water. It's an excellent stop on a Florida Keys fly-drive holiday, offering beautiful coastal scenery, family-friendly attractions and easy access to some of the region's best beaches.
Continue further south and the Lower Keys become quieter and wilder, with mangrove forests, coral reefs and protected natural habitats. This part of Florida is ideal for travellers who want to experience the outdoors, from swimming in clear turquoise water to spotting wildlife in its natural surroundings. The Lower Keys are also home to the tiny Key deer, an endangered subspecies found naturally only in the Florida Keys.
Whether you're travelling as a couple or exploring Florida with the family, allow time to enjoy the journey as well as the destination. Marathon makes a convenient base for discovering the Middle Keys before continuing towards Big Pine Key, the Lower Keys and lively Key West.
From historic bridges and wildlife encounters to beaches and colourful underwater landscapes, this stretch of the Florida Keys offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors.
Marathon has a choice of relaxed waterfront accommodation, making it a useful overnight stop on your drive south. Banana Bay Resort & Marina is a laid-back option overlooking Florida Bay, with a swimming pool and marina facilities. Its central location makes it convenient for visiting the Seven Mile Bridge, the Turtle Hospital and other local attractions.
For a resort-style stay further north in the Middle Keys, Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key offers swimming pools, a saltwater lagoon, restaurants and water-based activities. It's a good option for families and couples wanting more facilities during their stay, although it is located north of Marathon rather than in the Lower Keys themselves.
If you'd prefer a quieter island retreat, La Siesta Resort & Villas in Islamorada offers suites, cottages and private villas in a tropical waterfront setting. It's another option to consider when planning your route, particularly if you want to spend a few nights in the Upper Keys before travelling south to Marathon and Key West.
The easiest way to reach Marathon is to fly from the UK to Miami International Airport and collect a hire car. The drive takes approximately 2.5 hours, depending on traffic and your starting point. Having a car gives you the flexibility to stop at scenic viewpoints, visit attractions along the Overseas Highway and explore the islands at your own pace.
Charter Travel can arrange your flights, car hire and hotels as part of a tailor-made Florida Keys fly-drive holiday. You can combine Marathon with Miami, Key Largo and Islamorada, or make your way south towards Key West for a longer road trip.
Continue south along the Overseas Highway to Key West, approximately an hour beyond Marathon, depending on traffic and stops. Explore the colourful streets of Old Town, visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, enjoy the lively atmosphere of Duval Street and watch the sunset at Mallory Square. Key West makes a memorable final stop on a Florida Keys road trip.
About 110 miles, or around 2.5 hours' drive without stops. Key West is about another hour further on.
Marathon is quieter, often better value and sits in the middle of the Keys, so it's a good base for day trips in both directions. Key West is livelier, with more restaurants, bars and nightlife. Many of our customers split their stay between the two.
Yes. The Turtle Hospital, the Dolphin Research Center and calm, shallow beaches like Sombrero Beach make it one of the most family-friendly parts of the Keys.
Yes. A restored section of the original bridge is open to walkers and cyclists, running alongside the modern highway out towards Pigeon Key. It's best early in the morning or around sunset.
Visits are by guided tour and can sell out, especially in peak season, so we recommend booking ahead.
On Big Pine Key, around the National Key Deer Refuge, especially early morning and late afternoon. Drive slowly through the area, and don't feed them; it's illegal and harmful to the deer.
Bahia Honda State Park, with clear, calm water and soft sand. It's also a starting point for snorkelling trips to Looe Key reef.
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