Florida Keys and Key West Tourism Statistics

In fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), the Florida Keys welcomed a record 4.7 million domestic visitors, up 4% on the previous year¹.

734,150 passengers² arrived at Key West International Airport in 2025, a 2.16% increase compared to 718,597 passengers in 2024.

• The highest monthly number of arrivals was recorded in March 2025, with 82,458 passengers, a 2.12% increase from 80,746 arrivals in March 2024.³
• December 2024 saw 73,720 passengers, a 16.62% increase from 63,216 in December 2023.³

How many cruise ship passengers did Key West receive in 2025?

639,412 cruise ship passengers arrived in Key West in 2025², representing a 13.6% increase from 562,999 passengers in 2024.³

• This showed a strong recovery from 2020 and 2021, but this was still a 33.73% decrease compared to 964,795 passengers in 2019.³

How many ferry passengers did Key West receive in 2025?

70,928 passengers arrived in Key West by ferry in 2025, a 1% increase from 70,229 passengers in 2024.²

• This was still 26.37% down compared to 96,334 passengers in 2019.³

In 2025, most visitors were domestic travelers from the United States at 81.5%, with Florida residents accounting for the largest share.⁴

• International visitors made up a smaller share, with Canadian travelers accounting for 3.4%, while 15.1% of visitors came from South America, Europe, and Asia combined.⁴
• Among domestic travelers, the top five states of origin were Florida (18.9%), New York (8.3%), Texas (7.6%), California (6.7%), and Georgia (6.6%) in 2025.⁴
• The average visitor was 42 years old in 2025, and 40% were millennials.⁴
• Visitors reported an average household income of $118,317, up from $109,318 in 2024.⁴

In 2025, 38.9% of Florida Keys visitors drove their own car or RV, the most common way to arrive, up from 34.9% in 2024.⁴

• 25.5% flew into Miami and drove a rental car to the Keys.⁴
• 19% flew directly into Key West.⁴
• 6.6% drove a rental car or RV rented outside Florida.⁴
• 4.3% flew into another Florida airport and drove to the Keys.⁴
• 3.2% arrived by tour bus, and 2% flew into Marathon.⁴

Hotels, motels and resorts were the most popular choice in 2025, housing 64.2% of Florida Keys visitors, up from 61.9% in 2024.⁴

• Vacation rentals such as Airbnb and Vrbo: 16.5%⁴
• Bed and breakfasts, guest houses and inns: 8.4%⁴
• Staying with family or friends: 7.6%⁴
• Campgrounds and RV parks: 3%, down from 4.6% in 2024⁴

41% of visitors booked their accommodation online through a travel site such as Expedia or Travelocity.⁴

In 2025, 74.7% of visitors traveled to the Florida Keys for recreation or vacation purposes, making it the primary reason for visiting.⁴

• Visiting family or friends: 14.9%⁴
• Combining business and leisure: 6.2%⁴
• Attending conventions or meetings: 3.8%⁴

In 2025, visitors to the Florida Keys and Key West spent $3.6 billion, generating $409 million in state and local tax revenue⁵.

• Tourism supported about 25,400 jobs, including nearly 19,700 direct jobs and 5,700 indirect jobs, or 26% of all jobs in the county⁵.
• Wages, benefits and proprietor income from tourism rose 3.1% to $1.12 billion⁵.
• In 2025, Key West collected $23.53 million in bed tax from January to October, down 1.1% on the same months of 2024.³

• The best time to visit is during the dry season (November-April) when the weather is typically warm (75°F-85°F) with minimal rainfall. This period aligns with peak tourism months and is ideal for activities like snorkeling, boating, and exploring.
• From May to October, the wet season brings higher humidity, frequent rain, and potential hurricanes. However, this season offers fewer crowds and more affordable accommodations.

• Key Largo: Best for diving and exploring the coral reefs.
• Islamorada: Great for fishing and outdoor adventure.
• Marathon: Perfect for families and beach enthusiasts.
• Key West: A must-visit destination for history, culture, and entertainment.