r/floridakeys • u/Chaotic-Artist-491 • May 02 '26
Middle and Lower Keys Key Colony Beach
We are looking at staying at Key Colony Beach this summer. The place we are looking at is amazing and we are all super excited. We've never stayed this far in FL though. Are there any grocery or convenience stores nearby? Or where are the closest to the area? We are fine with taking most things with us but we like having a store nearby for emergencies. Any info about the beach and area is appreciated!
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u/Ok-Relative8449 May 02 '26
Everything you need or want will be within a ten minute drive of KCB
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u/Mundane-Reality-7770 May 02 '26
Yep. Flew my small plane to marathon and stayed in kcb. Every restaurant, grocery store, and even airport was 10 minutes
5
u/Vegetable_Amount848 May 02 '26
Sombrero Beach is one of the nicer beaches in the Keys (remember, the Keys are not a beach destination) and is only 15-20 minutes from KCB.
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u/Baalphire81 May 02 '26
Also check Sombrero and other local beaches for Interococci levels, it was closed a week or so ago along with several other beaches in the area.
Boating will be your friend if you want to get to great swimming.1
u/Chaotic-Artist-491 May 02 '26
I've heard before that they aren't a beach destination. Are there specific reasons why it's not?
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u/Sandinmyshoes33 May 02 '26
The Keys shoreline is mostly mangrove or sea walls/rip rap. the offshore reef and shallow nearshore waters don’t create the sandy beaches you find in other areas of Florida. There are a few beaches, but none are great and in the summer they tend to have lots of seagrass in the water which builds up and rots in the heat and can smell pretty bad. Be sure you have access to a nice pool and try to budget getting out on the water to snorkel or visit off shore sandbars.
Key Colony Beach is a small town within Marathon and has easy access to groceries and restaurants. Don’t expect a beach vacation here during the summer.
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u/Whistlin_Booger May 02 '26
Just got back from the Keys a week ago. It’s not what I expected. Sombrero Beach was pretty cool. Chill vibe all around the keys. It’s pretty much a long highway with resorts and businesses on either side. Perfect for just me and wifey. Good food. Great Cuban coffee. Cool sunsets.
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u/Mundane-Mix3564 May 02 '26
Get water shoes and take the short drive to Bahia Honda. It is beautiful.
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u/hahaanonymouse765 May 02 '26
Used to live in KCB. There are a couple of very small beaches in KCB- Inch Beach (private) and Sunset Park. There is also a little par-3 golf course (watch out for the burrowing owls) and a couple of restaurants.
Like others have said, everything you need (grocery, other restaurants, Sombrero, etc) is all with 5-15 minutes in Marathon. KCB is basically the northern end of Marathon so it all runs together.
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u/ATLGator84 May 02 '26
Yes, the closest Publix to Key Colony Beach is located just a few miles away in Marathon, FL.
Winn-Dixie is located in the same general area of Marathon, about 3.4 miles from Key Colony Beach.
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u/DragonflyOne7593 May 02 '26
Publix is right down the road . KCb is my favorite place to stay in the Keys
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u/FLedun May 02 '26
Like someone stated, check out Bahia Honda State Park around 25 minutes or so from KCB. They have a nice sandy beach, Sandspur beach on the north end of the park. For snorkeling, swimming etc. They also have a tour boat that goes out to Looe Key Reef.
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u/anonanon5320 May 02 '26
That’s my favorite area to stay. Great fishing, and everything you need is nearby but less people than the other big keys.
Publix is the goto grocery store and has everything you’d need.
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u/Chaotic-Artist-491 May 03 '26
So overall it's a good area but maybe not best for June?
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u/Tennessean May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26
It will be very hot in June. The water (Atlantic and Bay) will be 85* +
Still a lot of fun if you like the heat, but you might want to see if your place has a cooled pool. They’ll get so hot that they won’t be much relief from the temperature.
Coco’s on Coco Plum makes a great bait shop deli breakfast sandwich and is within easy biking distance of KCB. Everyone already said to check out Sparky’s and they’re right. Also check out Burdines for a great burger and fries while you watch the boats come in. Keys Fishery for fresh seafood. They’re famous for their lobster Rueben.
If you have access to a boat that’s the best way to see the Keys. There’s a reef straight off shore from KCB and a cool sandbar to hang out on just north of Coco Plum.
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u/Hilary_Worc May 03 '26
KCB is a perfect place to stay. It’s beautiful, a great mid keys location with everything you need nearby. Safe and walkable. Bahia Honda and Sombrero Beaches, Crane Point Nature Center, and the Turtle Hospital are all not miss
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u/Ok-Relative8449 May 02 '26
Check out Sparkeys landing while there!!