Best Places to Run in Key West, FL

Key West is unlike anywhere else in Florida — or the United States, for that matter. The southernmost city in the continental U.S. is a 2-by-4-mile island where everything is close, the pace is slow, and the running is defined by water, heat, and character. You will not find long greenway trails or 20-mile rail paths here. What you will find is beach running on the Atlantic, waterfront paths with Caribbean-blue water, historic streets best explored at sunrise before the tourists wake up, and a tropical climate that demands respect and rewards early risers. This guide covers the best places to run in Key West.

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1. Smathers Beach

Smathers Beach is the primary running beach in Key West — a 2-mile stretch of white sand along the Atlantic Ocean on the south side of the island. The sand is relatively firm near the waterline, and the beach runs from the airport area east to the White Street area. This is where Key West runners go for their beach miles. The view is open Atlantic in every direction, with the occasional cruise ship on the horizon. Early morning is the best time — the sand is coolest, the crowds are minimal, and you may have the entire stretch to yourself. A full out-and-back is 4 miles.

Best for: Beach running, sunrise runs, steady-state miles
Surface: Packed sand
Distance: 2 miles one-way (4 miles out-and-back)

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2. White Street to Higgs Beach Path

The paved path along the Atlantic side of Key West from White Street south to Higgs Beach and the White Street Pier is one of the best short running routes on the island. The path runs along the waterfront with ocean views the entire way, passing by the West Martello Tower (a Civil War-era fort now housing a garden), Higgs Beach, and the White Street Pier. The route is roughly 1.5 miles one-way and can be combined with Smathers Beach for a continuous 3.5-mile waterfront run. This is the route that makes runners fall in love with Key West.

Best for: Easy runs, scenic waterfront routes, connecting to beach runs
Surface: Paved path
Distance: 1.5 miles one-way; combine with Smathers Beach for 3.5+ miles

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3. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Fort Zachary Taylor — known locally as "Fort Zach" — is a state park on the southwestern tip of Key West with a beach, nature trails, and the historic Civil War fort. The park has approximately 1 mile of paths through tropical hardwood hammock and along the rocky beach. The beach here is the best swimming and snorkeling beach in Key West, but it also works for running. The main draw for runners is the nature trail loop through the hammock — shaded, quiet, and a welcome break from sun-exposed routes. Combine with a run through Old Town for a varied 3–4 mile outing. Vehicle entrance fee applies.

Best for: Shaded runs, nature trails, combining with Old Town routes
Surface: Paved paths, natural surface, and rocky beach
Distance: 1 mile of park trails; 3–4 miles combined with Old Town

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4. Old Town Loop

Running through Old Town Key West at sunrise is one of the most memorable running experiences in Florida. The streets are quiet before 8 a.m. — no tourists, no scooters, no Duval Street chaos. You can run a 3–4 mile loop through the historic residential streets, past Victorian gingerbread houses, the Hemingway Home, the Key West Lighthouse, and the Southernmost Point buoy. The roads are flat and the blocks are short, so you can weave any route you like. Stick to the residential streets parallel to Duval for the most pleasant running — Simonton, Elizabeth, and Whitehead streets are all good choices.

Best for: Sunrise runs, exploring the island, easy-paced routes
Surface: Paved roads and sidewalks
Distance: 3–4 miles depending on route

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5. Atlantic Side Bike Path (A1A)

The bike path running along South Roosevelt Boulevard (A1A) on the Atlantic side of Key West provides a continuous paved path from the eastern end of the island near the airport to the start of Smathers Beach and beyond. This path is separated from vehicle traffic and runs alongside the ocean, with open water views and consistent sea breezes. Combined with Smathers Beach and the White Street waterfront path, you can put together a continuous 5–6 mile Atlantic-side route that is one of the best waterfront running experiences in the Florida Keys.

Best for: Mid-distance runs, continuous waterfront running, training routes
Surface: Paved
Distance: 5–6 miles when combined with Smathers and White Street path

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6. Stock Island

Stock Island is the island immediately northeast of Key West, connected by a short bridge. For runners looking to add mileage beyond Key West itself, Stock Island offers a change of scenery with working waterfront, marinas, and a more local, less touristy feel. You can run from Key West across the bridge and loop around the island for an additional 3–4 miles. The route is flat on paved roads with light traffic. The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden on Stock Island has a short nature trail if you want to add a quick off-road section.

Best for: Extended distance, exploring beyond Key West, less-touristed routes
Surface: Paved roads
Distance: 3–4 miles for a Stock Island loop; 6–8 miles round-trip from Key West

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7. Duval Street Early Morning

Running Duval Street at 6 a.m. is a Key West rite of passage. The famous street that runs from the Atlantic to the Gulf — 1.2 miles end to end — is empty and quiet at sunrise. You pass shuttered bars, sleeping restaurants, and the occasional rooster. It is a completely different street than the one the tourists see. A Duval out-and-back is only 2.4 miles, but you can extend by looping through Old Town side streets. This is not about the workout — it is about the experience of having Key West's most famous street entirely to yourself.

Best for: Experience runs, sunrise, easy miles
Surface: Paved
Distance: 1.2 miles one-way (2.4 miles out-and-back)

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8. Truman Waterfront Park

Truman Waterfront Park is a 6-acre park on the western waterfront of Key West, built on the former Truman Annex naval base. The park has a 0.5-mile paved loop, open lawns, a playground, and waterfront views toward the harbor and Sunset Key. It is small but well-designed, and it works as a warm-up loop, a cool-down destination, or a meeting point for group runs. From here you can run south to Fort Zachary Taylor or north along the waterfront toward Mallory Square. It connects well to an Old Town loop for a varied 3–5 mile run.

Best for: Warm-up loops, starting point for Old Town runs, waterfront access
Surface: Paved
Distance: 0.5-mile loop; connects to Fort Zach and Old Town routes

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9. Salt Ponds

The Salt Ponds are a series of shallow, brackish ponds on the Atlantic side of Key West near Smathers Beach, bordered by a 1-mile paved path and nature area. The ponds attract wading birds — herons, egrets, and occasionally roseate spoonbills — making this a scenic and ecologically interesting running detour. You can incorporate the Salt Ponds path into a Smathers Beach or A1A route for added variety. The path is flat and exposed, so morning running is best. This is one of those Key West spots that locals know about but tourists rarely visit.

Best for: Easy runs, birdwatching, adding variety to beach routes
Surface: Paved path
Distance: 1 mile; best combined with adjacent routes

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Running in the Key West Heat: What You Need to Know

Key West has a true tropical climate — the warmest in the continental United States. Summer temperatures hover in the upper 80s to low 90s with humidity rarely below 75%. Even winter mornings are warm by mainland standards. Here is what you need to know:

• Run at sunrise or skip it: May through October, start at first light — 6:15 to 6:45 a.m. By 8 a.m. the heat and humidity make running genuinely miserable. There is no shade on the beach routes.
• Hydrate obsessively: Carry water on every run over 20 minutes. There are limited water fountains along the beach and waterfront paths. Dehydration happens fast in Key West.
• Embrace the sea breeze: The Atlantic-side routes (Smathers Beach, A1A path, White Street) get consistent trade winds that make a meaningful difference in perceived temperature. Plan your route to take advantage of this.
• Slow way down: Key West heat is different from mainland Florida heat. Expect your pace to be 45–90 seconds per mile slower than your temperate-weather pace. Do not fight it.
• Winter is still warm: Even December and January mornings in Key West are typically in the high 60s to low 70s. This is comfortable for running but still warmer than most mainland cities' summer mornings. Hydrate accordingly.

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Key West Running Groups and the Running Community

Key West has a small but dedicated running community. The island's compact size means you will see the same runners regularly:

• Key West Southernmost Runners: The local running group organizing group runs and participating in Keys-area races
• Smathers Beach morning runners: An informal group of locals who run Smathers Beach at sunrise most mornings
• Keys running events: The Florida Keys host several destination races including the Key West Half Marathon and races across the Overseas Highway

Check our running clubs directory for more options in the Florida Keys area.

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Find Running Gear in Key West

Key West has limited specialty running retail on the island. For serious shoe fittings and gear, many Keys runners make trips to Miami or order online. Browse our Florida running store directory to find the nearest specialty running stores.

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Find Key West Races

Key West and the Florida Keys host several destination-quality races throughout the year, with peak season from November through April when conditions are most favorable. Browse Key West races on Run Florida Run to find upcoming 5Ks, half marathons, and the signature Keys running events.