Day trips from Fort Myers
Fort Myers to Key West: Ferry vs Driving
Photo by runarut via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Drive time
3.5 hours by ferry / 6–7 hours by car
Distance
150 mi
Typical cost
$155–$210 per person round-trip ferry
Best season
November–April (calmest seas)
Best for: A bucket-list day, Duval Street, Mallory Square sunset
How to get there
The Key West Express departs from Fort Myers Beach, typically boarding around 7:30am and returning by early evening. Driving means I-75 to the Turnpike to US-1 through the entire Keys chain — feasible only as an overnight.
Hour-by-hour itinerary
- 7:00amBoard at Fort Myers BeachArrive 60–90 minutes before departure; parking is paid and separate.
- 11:00amArrive Key WestThe terminal is a short walk from Old Town.
- 11:30amDuval Street & Hemingway HomeThe two things almost everyone wants to tick off.
- 2:00pmSouthernmost Point & Mallory SquareExpect a queue at the buoy marker.
- 5:00pmReturn ferryCheck the exact return time when booking — it shifts seasonally.
Highlights
- Key West Express ferry
- Duval Street
- Hemingway Home
- Southernmost Point
- Mallory Square
Tips from our editors
- Take motion sickness medication before boarding — the Gulf crossing can be rough
- The ferry sells out weeks ahead in high season
- You will not see the Mallory Square sunset on a day trip; the return ferry leaves before it
Book a guided Key West tour
Prefer not to drive? Compare guided day tours departing the Fort Myers area.
Browse Key West ToursOther day trips from Fort Myers
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Fort Myers to Key West?
The Key West Express takes approximately 3.5 hours each way from Fort Myers Beach, making a same-day round trip possible with roughly six hours ashore.
Is a Key West day trip from Fort Myers worth it?
It works if Key West is a bucket-list item and you accept seven hours of travel for six hours on the island. If you want to experience Key West properly — including the Mallory Square sunset — stay at least one night.