Wondering what to pack for your vacation to the Florida Keys? Whether you’re going to Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, or Key West – or a road trip to all of them, you’re in the right spot!
If you’ve been around for any amount of time, then you already know our love for the Florida Keys. We visit as often as we can, which ends up being multiple times a year.
We have visited in all kinds of weather (even very cold weather!), for short trips and long, and for everything in between. So we know what you should pack for the Florida Keys no matter what season, event, or duration you’re visiting for.
Note: This post on packing for Key West contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link or book through an affiliate program, I receive a small commission at no cost to you!
We are covering essential items to pack for Key West, what to wear, what to avoid packing for Key West. Finally, we cover Key West weather by season so that you can be prepared!
Here is your Key West packing list:
Quick Florida Keys Packing List
Check out my Florida Keys packing list on my Amazon Storefront
I prefer quick bullet point lists so that I don’t miss anything so if that’s your preference, I’m putting that here. But I also have a lot of thoughts/more to say about a lot of the items on the list, so keep reading for my input (if you want!)
While I do expand on how much I think you should bring of some things below, for this list I am also not including how much of each thing to bring. This is because it really depends on how long you’ll be there and I don’t know how long you’re going to be there!
Also, please know that as much as I wish I was a light packer, I am not. So this is not a great minimalist packing list and you could get by with less.
Clothing
- Flowy dresses or rompers (I recommend breathable fabrics)
- Comfortable pair of shorts
- Tank tops and lightweight shirts (or tops of your choice)
- Lightweight long sleeve shirt, a light sweater or light jacket (optional and likely depending on the time of year)
- Pair of jeans or comfortable pants (optional and likely depending on time of year)
- Pajamas
- Underwear
- Bras
- Swimsuits and/or rash guard
- Swimsuit coverup
- Comfortable pair of shoes (I prefer both a comfortable pair of sandals that can get wet and a pair of tennis shoes)
- Water shoes (optional)
- Rain jacket (optional)
- Wide-brimmed hat (optional, this can help with sun protection, too)
- Workout clothes if you enjoy exercising on vacation
- Dressy clothes (optional if you want a nicer evening out)
Toiletries and Medical
- Shampoo and conditioner (optional if you’re staying somewhere that provides this). I pack them in these travel containers.
- Body wash (optional if you’re staying somewhere that provides this)
- Deodorant
- Skincare products
- Comb or brush (I like this travel brush)
- Hair ties
- Hairspray
- Razor and extra cartridges if needed
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Makeup
- Lotion
- I also really like to bring after sun lotion, but you don’t have to
- Chapstick with SPF
- Medication (prescribed and pain medication)
- Motion sick medication (optional, probably only needed if you think you might get sick on a boat tour or something like that)
- Chafe stick
- Contact lenses and solution if you wear them
- Feminine products
For the Outdoors
- Beach bag (if you’re low on space, sometimes I’ll throw in one of those reusable grocery bags that you can get or even a plastic bag)
- Wet dry bag (for things you don’t want to get wet or to prevent dry things from getting wet)
- Sunglasses
- Beach towel (optional, see my thoughts on this under things not to pack)
- Umbrella if you’re going to be there in rain season
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Snorkel & mask (optional – this is really bulky and you can rent there)
- Cooler (optional)
Tech Gear
- Chargers
- Headphones
- Underwater phone case
- Universal converter if you’re coming from outside of North America
- Waterproof camera like a GoPro
- Your camera, lenses, memory cards, batteries, etc if you have them
Other Things to Pack for the Florida Keys
- Reusable water bottle
I also have a storefront where I’ve saved all of these things for easier access.
You can also check out everything on my Amazon Storefont
Clothes
Key West and the Florida Keys are casual. It’s perfectly acceptable to wear casual dresses or shorts and a tank no matter the time of day. Often times, with a swimsuit underneath!
But the magic of the Keys is that you can wear whatever you want and you’ll fit in. So if you want to get dressed up, you can and no one will think anything of it.
Personally, I tend to dress casual in Key West because I like to try to stay as comfortable as possible. This also makes it easy to pack light. I always pack a lot of shorts, tank tops, and sundresses. Sandals are fine and sometimes I will throw in a pair of tennis shoes if I feel like we’re going to be doing a lot of walking.
Shoes – Wandering the streets of Key West is one of my favorite things to do and if that’s something you love, too, I recommend some comfortable shoes. These might be cute tennis shoes or they might be a comfy pair of familiar flip flops.
Water Shoes – Speaking of shoes, you might also want some good water shoes. Key West is made of coral which can result in the beaches being “rocky”. It doesn’t feel good to be wading in the water and stub your toe.
Lightweight Outfits like breathable cotton shirts and dresses are a really good choice
Swimsuits are a must and everything goes. You can wear a teeny tiny bikini or go full coverage. Whatever you are comfortable with works. I highly recommend bringing more than one so that they can dry out (it’s common for us to go back and forth between water activities multiple times per day).
Swimsuit Coverup
Packing Cubes – I swear by packing cubes, but compression packing cubes are even better! They help me stay organized. Some set up by outfits and others do all tops in one/all pants in another, etc., but whatever works for you is totally fine.
A bag for dirty laundry is nice to have. I feel like it makes packing to come home easier so I don’t have to mix any clean clothes with my dirty clothes. I will even bring this with me if we’re staying somewhere that has a washer and dryer and use it kind of like a laundry basket.
For the Water and Sun
I already mentioned swimsuits and swimsuit coverups in your clothing packing list but I wanted to mention them again so you don’t forget.
If you have some boat trips planned and already know you are at risk of feeling a bit woozy, bring some anti-nausea wristbands or motion sickness pills.
Reef-Friendly Sunscreen – Please, please, whatever you do, bring reef safe sunscreen. The Keys are made up of coral and their coral reefs are some of the most beautiful in the world. Non-reef safe sunscreen can further damage the reefs. Coral reefs are already struggling and this is just one small thing we can all do to prevent them from getting worse.
I love this guide on reef safe sunscreens by Save the Reef because they provide several options as well as some really good information. Here are some of my favorite reef-safe sunscreen options:
Umbrella or poncho especially if you are coming during rain season.
Snorkel equipment – Personally, I prefer traveling light and would prefer to rent my equipment once I get to the Keys. But if you love your snorkel equipment (or are particular about it), you might want to pack it. Plenty of people do bring their own on their Key West vacation. It just depends on your preferences and how light you want to pack/how much room you have in your luggage.
Lip balm with sunscreen for extra sun protection. It will also help with dry lips (mine always get very dry when I’m out in the sun all day)
Water bottle – With the heat, you’ll want to stay hydrated. Especially if you plan to go bar hopping on Duval Street. I recommend bringing your own water bottle to make sure you can stay hydrated on your vacation to Key West.
A wide-brimmed sun hat and/or a rash guard can help give you an additional barrier from the sun.
A waterproof phone case will protect your phone from the sand and salt water.
GoPro – We loved having our GoPro when we went snorkeling in Key West. This is obviously an investment so if you don’t do a lot of things that involve underwater photography, you might not add this one to your list. Or if you want a more affordable option, you can check out this Dragon Touch underwater camera.
If you chafe, definitely get yourself an anti-chafe stick!
A wet dry bag will help your things stay dry if you’re out on a kayak or boat and conversely, it will keep your wet stuff (like your swimsuit) from getting other things wet.
Hair and Makeup
Don’t forget a comb. I also like this spray in conditioner/detangler. No matter what I do, my hair gets frizzy and tangled when I’m swimming.
WOW Dream Coat Spray is a miracle worker for frizzy hair in the humidity.
What NOT to Pack for Your Florida Keys Vacation
Heels: I always see girls in heels when I’m in Key West but unless you absolutely love your heels, I recommend skipping them. Walking around Key West involves uneven sidewalks and cobblestone streets. Plus, they can be harder to walk in after a drink or two. I recommend bringing cute comfortable sandals or flip flops over heels.
Too Much Makeup and Hair Products: Unless you’re visiting during a cold front, Key West is typically hot and humid. This can make heavy makeup a pain. You’ll want to pack light makeup and focus on waterproof mascara or tinted moisturizer. I also like WOW Dream Coat Spray to help with how frizzy my hair gets in the humidity.
Towels and Beach Gear: Most accommodations in Key West have beach towels. Of course, you will want to double check this before you leave your towel at home, but skipping your towel can save a lot of room in the suitcase unless you want to pack a Turkish Towel.
Jewelry: This will be more of a personal decision. If you want to bring jewelry, go for it but personally, I honestly cannot stand anything touching me or the weight of the jewelry in the heat. Plus, if you are constantly going between land and water it can be a pain to take it off and put it back on (plus a risk of losing it). Depending on your situation, you might prefer to leave the jewelry at home.
Weather in the Florida Keys
When you think about Florida, you probably think about warm weather. Especially in Key West, the southernmost city in the US. Key West is actually the closest you can get to the equator while in the US.
Despite the tropical climate in the Keys, it can get cold (or at least chilly), especially in the winer months. We visited one January and had highs in the 50’s during the day. I swear everyone on the island was wearing a Key West sweatshirt from one of the souvenir shops.
Check the weather before you come, especially for storms. But also do not be alarmed if your weather app tells you there will be rain. During the rainy season, your weather app might tell you there’s a high likelihood of rain every day. And that might be true, but that doesn’t mean it will rain all day. It’s very common for it to rain very hard for short periods of time (like 30 minutes) during rain season. Then it will clear up and you’ll forget all about it.
To help you be the most prepared for packing, here is what to expect for weather in Key West for each season:
Visiting the Florida Keys in the Winter
December, January, and February. Average highs around 77° and average lows around 70°.
Visiting the Florida Keys in the Spring
March, April, and May. Average highs around 80° and average lows around 74°. The earlier in the season you go, the cooler it will be whereas later in the season will start to get warmer.
Visiting the Florida Keys in the Summer Months
June, July, and August. It will be HOT. You will want to bring lightweight clothes, tons of reef safe sunscreen, and your water bottle. Highs will average around 90° and lows will be around 80° but with humidity, it will kind of all feel the same no matter how hot it is.
It’s also rain season so daily rain showers are common. It’s also the start of hurricane season. Hurricane season starts in June and ends in November.
Visiting Key West in the Fall
September, October, and November. Highs average 85° and lows are around 78°.
The beginning of Fall in Key West has similar weather to summer but with less rain. It will be very hot but as the season starts slipping into winter, it will start to get a little more mild.
Hurricane season wraps up in the fall, but in my experience, hurricane season tends to be worse in late summer/early fall (around the end of August through early October). With that being said, no one can predict what hurricane season will bring. You can purchase trip insurance or better yet, use a credit card that has built in trip insurance, in case a hurricane wrecks your plans.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s your first time in the Keys or you’re a regular visitor, I hope that this packing list helped you prepare for your trip to the Florida Keys! In no time, you’ll be soaking up the sunshine, exploring the islands, and embracing the island lifestyle.
Whether you’re snorkeling off the coast of Key Largo or enjoying a sunset dinner in Key West, packing smart means less stress and more time enjoying paradise.
A well-packed bag sets the tone for your entire trip, so take a moment to review your list and leave room for souvenirs (Key lime pie to-go, anyone?)
