Comparison · Fort Lauderdale vs Key West · United States
Fort Lauderdale vs Key West
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: KeanoManu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Fort Lauderdale for Fort Lauderdale Beach, canals and yachts and lower day-to-day costs; choose Key West for Mallory Square sunset and Ernest Hemingway. Fort Lauderdale is generally less expensive, and the two are about 240 km (149 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 240 km (149 mi)
- Less expensive
- Fort Lauderdale
- Best time for Fort Lauderdale
- November–April
- Best time for Key West
- December–May
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Side by side
| Fort Lauderdale | Key West | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Fort Lauderdale Beach, Canals and yachts and Las Olas Boulevard | Mallory Square sunset, Ernest Hemingway and Duval Street |
| Best time to visit | November–April | December–May |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$220–380 | US$320–520 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 24°C (75°F) | January, 24°C (75°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | Fort Lauderdale Beach | Fort Zachary Taylor beach |
| Airports | FLL, MIA, DJT | EYW |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Fort Lauderdale in October–November, and Key West in May. Both are at their best in December–April.
| Month | Fort Lauderdale | Key West | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°C (75°F), 7 rainy days · best time | 24°C (75°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| February | 25°C (77°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 25°C (77°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| March | 26°C (79°F), 7 rainy days · best time | 26°C (79°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| April | 28°C (82°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 28°C (82°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 30°C (86°F), 10 rainy days · shoulder season | 30°C (86°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Key West |
| June | 31°C (88°F), 16 rainy days · shoulder season | 31°C (88°F), 10 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| July | 32°C (90°F), 15 rainy days | 32°C (90°F), 10 rainy days | No clear pick |
| August | 32°C (90°F), 17 rainy days | 32°C (90°F), 12 rainy days | No clear pick |
| September | 31°C (88°F), 17 rainy days · best avoided | 31°C (88°F), 13 rainy days · best avoided | Neither: both best avoided |
| October | 29°C (84°F), 13 rainy days · shoulder season | 29°C (84°F), 9 rainy days | Fort Lauderdale |
| November | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 27°C (81°F), 6 rainy days · shoulder season | Fort Lauderdale |
| December | 25°C (77°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 25°C (77°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Fort Lauderdale for…
Fort Lauderdale Beach, canals and yachts and lower day-to-day costs. Fort Lauderdale is a beach and boating city on Florida's Atlantic coast, about 45 km north of Miami. Its wide public beach runs along State Road A1A behind a white wave-shaped wall, while inland the New River and hundreds of kilometres of canals are lined…
Choose Key West for…
Mallory Square sunset and Ernest Hemingway. Key West is a small coral island at the end of the Overseas Highway, about 250 km from Miami and closer to Havana than to most of Florida. Old Town — Duval Street, Bahama Village and the harbour — is about 3 km across, so visitors get around by bike, on foot…
Top sights compared
| # | Fort Lauderdale | Key West |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Lauderdale Beach and the A1A promenade | Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum |
| 2 | Las Olas Boulevard | Mallory Square Sunset Celebration |
| 3 | Water Taxi | Duval Street |
| 4 | Bonnet House Museum and Gardens | Southernmost Point buoy |
| 5 | Hugh Taylor Birch State Park | Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park |
Food compared
| Fort Lauderdale | Key West |
|---|---|
| Smoked fish dip | Key lime pie |
| Stone crab claws | Conch fritters |
| Grouper or mahi-mahi sandwich | Key West pink shrimp |
| Conch fritters | Cuban sandwich |
Which is cheaper?
Fort Lauderdale is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$220–380 per person there, against US$320–520 in Key West (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Fort Lauderdale on a budget.
Fort Lauderdale or Key West from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Fort Lauderdale | Key West | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | Same time | Same time |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +3 h | +3 h |
| From New York (JFK) | 1,070 mi (1,720 km) | 1,200 mi (1,940 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,340 mi (3,760 km) | 2,290 mi (3,680 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Fort Lauderdale is about 136 miles (219 km) closer than Key West in a straight line.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Fort Lauderdale and Key West are about 240 km (149 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Fort Lauderdale and 4 in Key West.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Fort Lauderdale or Key West cheaper?
Fort Lauderdale is usually less expensive: about US$220–380 a day mid-range against US$320–520 (estimates).
+Is Fort Lauderdale or Key West better for a first trip?
Pick Fort Lauderdale for Fort Lauderdale Beach, canals and yachts and lower day-to-day costs, or Key West for Mallory Square sunset and Ernest Hemingway.
+How far is Fort Lauderdale from Key West?
About 240 km (149 mi) in a straight line.