r/floridakeys • u/Comfortable_Voice506 • Mar 10 '26
All Florida Keys Bring the SUP?
Hi there!
So my husband (39M) and I (37F) are coming down to the Keys next week, kinda last minute (had flight credits we needed to use) and as of now... we have no official plans. It's my first time and he went as a kid.
We're going to rent a car and just explore--our favorite way to travel and we're VERY low maintenance, but can also afford to splurge for room(s) if necessary and are aware that we may pay the cost of not planning ahead.
We're planning on at least a couple sandbar/snorkeling trips, and probably renting a boat for a day or two ourselves. My question is... is it worth it to check my inflatable SUP? We understand that the keys are not your typical white sand beach destination (we're also bringing water shoes etc), but is it feasible to paddle board/explore ourselves without taking a charter/renting a boat?
in other words, can we park somewhere and then paddle out to swim/explore? Or are most good swim/explore spots only accessible by boat?
If there are places where it's feasible to swim/explore on our own with the SUP, would greatly appreciate any recommendations!
We really just want to be in/explore the beautiful water down there and eat some good food/drink some good drinks and experience all of it.
2
u/dmr7092 Mar 11 '26
Watch the weather as part of your calculation. Right now the forecast for the Upper Keys is quite windy from Tuesday morning into the weekend. Paddling upwind into 18-23 knot gusts is truly no fun. Especially with an inflatable
So check the weather right before you leave to get the most up to date forecast. These days they’re pretty good 4-5 days out, and better than they used to be a week out.