First Time Flying to Key West

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Pilot Mikey

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Pilot Mikey
Coming to visit a friend at the end of March and were planning on doing a cross country together to Key West from Sarasota. Was thinking of just getting flight following and following the coast down past Everglades City then to Marathon and on to Key West. We wanted to park and go into the city for a few hours, so I also wanted to know where GA parks, how much it costs and what kind of accommodations there are and if we can just show up or have to call ahead. Kind of just want tot know what other people have experienced and what to expect going in. I've never been before, so I want to familiarize myself beforehand.
 
Welcome to POA.
Have fun on your trip, sorry I can’t help but I am interested in making the same trip someday.
 
Going from Everglades city to marathon takes you over a good bit of water and the Everglades. Prices at key west can be extremely high.check with air nav for the latest. Some people prefer going into marathon and taking ground transportation to key west. If you go by car there is limited parking in Key west and no free parking to be had. Key West is a fun place enjoy your trip,watch out for the balloon and the navy air space.
 
Be careful of the tethered surveillance balloon… Check the VFR chart for that restricted area.
 
I go to Key West fairly often from Ft. Lauderdale and have made the trip from Sarasota, as well. Key West is always a great time and it is good for an overnight or just for lunch with someone who wants to do a quick and fun trip.

It is a pretty simple flight and can definitely be done VFR with or without Flight Following. Going down the west coast to
Everglades City and direct to the airport will leave you with around 70 miles of water to cross. I am not sure I would go to Marathon because it requires you to go back to the east and then head west again.

The FBO at Key West is Signature and it is the only FBO on the field. That means that the fees and fuel prices are excessive. However, the people are nice and service is pretty good. I have also had some success calling in advance and asking them to discount the overnight, etc. I always buy enough fuel to waive the handling fee.

I would not fly to Marathon and then drive to Key West, as it would require a rental car and a fairly long drive to and from Key West. It does not seem worth it to me to avoid the excessive fees.

Have a great time!

Abram Finkelstein
N685AS
 
** if you want to avoid Signature:

You really don't need a car in key west, so skip it and take the bus from Marathon. It means you're at their mercy for when to travel, but it isn't like you're going to miss your flight, right?

The Lower Keys Shuttle run by the City of Key West takes close to 2 hours to get from Marathon to MM0, but it's the cheapest option at $4 one way. It looks like about 10 buses a day, so there is flexibility. http://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1097/-Lower-Keys-Shuttle-Schedule-PDF?bidId=

Greyhound is about $10, 4 buses a day. The Keys Shuttle also runs the route, but I can't find pricing right now. An Uber will run around $170.

Just remember, you're on island time.
 
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We were down there a few weeks ago. The fees are ok but my impression of the staff was, well they got the job done— never been a fan of Signature and Key West was no exception. Having said that I’d rather pay them then slog around on a bus from Marathon. Once you arrive you can Uber anywhere you want to go.
 
I also looked into this trip and I cannot remember if parking was $35 or $50 per night for single engine piston.

If you have an engine out over the everglades you’ll be playing with the alligators. :eek:
 
mandm said:
I also looked into this trip and I cannot remember if parking was $35 or $50 per night for single engine piston.

If you have an engine out over the everglades you’ll be playing with the alligators. :eek:
Click to expand...

Years back I went from Ft Myers’s to Key west, It was always deciding swap with alligators, or water filled with sharks if there was an engine failure.
 
bflynn said:
You really don't need a car in key west, so skip it and take the bus from Marathon. It means you're at their mercy for when to travel, but it isn't like you're going to miss your flight, right?

The Lower Keys Shuttle run by the City of Key West takes close to 2 hours to get from Marathon to MM0, but it's the cheapest option at $4 one way. It looks like about 10 buses a day, so there is flexibility. http://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1097/-Lower-Keys-Shuttle-Schedule-PDF?bidId=

Greyhound is about $10, 4 buses a day. The Keys Shuttle also runs the route, but I can't find pricing right now. An Uber will run around $170.

Just remember, you're on island time.
Click to expand...
You may be technically right, but:
Why buy an airplane to fly somewhere to take a bus to where you really want to go when there is an airport right where you want to go? Especially on a short trip why waste time on the bus when you could be walking down Duval Street gulping margaritas and ogling women :wonderwoman:(or at least people that look like women :yikes:).

Just bite the bullet and fly to KEYW. Getting a car depends on how long you will be there and if they have free parking like the B&B we stayed at a few times. You may be surprised how little you actually need a car, but again, that depends a bit on where you stay.
 
Been there many times. Was there last weekend. $37 a night, $37 handling fee waived with 10 gallons on $8+ fuel. You will need PFDs and flares on board. Smart to have a PLD too.

Taxi from airport to lodging, rent a bicycle to get around because parking is a PITA and $2.50 an hour at metered parking on many streets.

Plan on dropping $150 for a 3 night stay at airport. I do not ever complain about the fees at KEYW. I think Signature earns it at that location.
 
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JOhnH said:
…Why buy an airplane to fly somewhere to take a bus to where you really want to go when there is an airport right where you want to go?
Click to expand...

The premise was to avoid Signature. Marathon is cheaper and for some, the price might be important. According to https://www.rampfee.me/ it’s $45 for two nights at Marathon vs $83.44 at key West.

But I’m with you. Buy gas before you get there and get on the beach sooner.
 
Eric Brunelle said:
Be careful of the tethered surveillance balloon… Check the VFR chart for that restricted area.
Click to expand...
frfly172 said:
Key West is a fun place enjoy your trip,watch out for the balloon and the navy air space.
Click to expand...
I remember that balloon from 1984-85; somethings never change. When going down, I mirrored the highway, but being young and invincible, Alligator Alley was no problem on the way back. I think I had my first taste of jet skiing down there. We took a taxi everywhere, but it is not that big.
 
Something no one has said yet and I wasn't aware the first time I flew to Key West with VFR flight following is you have to be 3.5K or above for radio coverage between the end of Florida and the Islands. Miami cannot hear you below that.

So if you have clouds and need to remain below 3.5K they won't hear you. This obviously is for flight following you can tune your heart out to towers and such.
 
My parents picked me up from EYW and once we were at their condo in the Truman Annex we had no further need for wheeled transportation until it was time to depart for the airport again.
 
I usually fly V225 straight shot from Naples when I fly to/from Key West. There are so many boats and ships in those waters that if you lose the engine, aim for one and honk the horn as you pass by (joke).
 
bflynn said:
The premise was to avoid Signature. Marathon is cheaper and for some, the price might be important. According to https://www.rampfee.me/ it’s $45 for two nights at Marathon vs $83.44 at key West.
Click to expand...

Hmm, and two people round trip on the bus is $40. So total $85 versus $83.44..............
 
mandm said:
I also looked into this trip and I cannot remember if parking was $35 or $50 per night for single engine piston.

If you have an engine out over the everglades you’ll be playing with the alligators. :eek:
Click to expand...

Nah, the pythons have eaten most of the gators in the Everglades!
 
Even if the gators are gone, pythons still gotta eat ... who's next on the menu?:eek:
 
Forget the pythons. They’re nothing compared to the anacondas.


upload_2023-3-14_10-48-9.jpeg
 
bflynn said:
The premise was to avoid Signature. Marathon is cheaper and for some, the price might be important. According to https://www.rampfee.me/ it’s $45 for two nights at Marathon vs $83.44 at key West.

But I’m with you. Buy gas before you get there and get on the beach sooner.
Click to expand...
There is no beach at KW. Just sayin
 
bflynn said:
The premise was to avoid Signature. Marathon is cheaper and for some, the price might be important. According to https://www.rampfee.me/ it’s $45 for two nights at Marathon vs $83.44 at key West.

But I’m with you. Buy gas before you get there and get on the beach sooner.
Click to expand...

Don’t let your hatred of Signature cloud your logic. The drive from Marathon to Key West is over an hour, the flight direct from the mainland is only 10 nm more. You will need to rent a car. Then a car is a PITA in Key West from both finding places to park and paying for places to park. EYW, taxi to lodging and bicycle rental is the way to go. Besides, if saving money is your goal don’t go to Key West. The lodging and restaurants are quite pricey.
 
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Clip4 said:
I guess you missed Smathers Beach @ Key West. It’s the public beach about 3/4 mile long. There is also a public beach at Fort Taylor.
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Beat me to it. Thanks for saving me the time of looking up my pics of those beaches.
 
The best beach is at Snipe Point. You do need a boat or floats to get there ;). The man made beach at Smathers is barely adequate by standards of all other Florida beaches. Like Clip4 said...bring a loaded credit card because everything is pricey in KW. For a great dining experience overlooking the Atlantic, don't miss Louie's Backyard.
 
Clip4 said:
Don’t let your hatred of Signature cloud your logic. The drive from Marathon to Key West is over an hour, the flight direct from the mainland is only 10 nm more. You will need to rent a car. Then a car is a PITA in Key West from both finding places to park and paying for places to park. EYW, taxi to lodging and bicycle rental is the way to go. Besides, if saving money is your goal don’t go to Key West. The lodging and restaurants are quite pricey.
Click to expand...

I don’t hate signature. I was replying based on someone exploring options. My choice is to get on the beach as stated above.
 
I preferred flying down the Key Highway, just off the beaches. Absolutely gorgeous, and always a place to land in an emergency.

As the day warms up, there is a cloud over each key, but unless you are actually over the key, not a problem.
I have been to Key West 3 times, but since I was either driving, or met a friend who lived on the keys, I landed at Sugarland or Marathon. Don't consider Sugarland, it is suited to J 3 Cubs, and had no rental cars. My buddy lived a few hundred yards from the runway, though.

As others have said, avoid Fat Alberts airspace, he always wins. Landing at Key West may cost more than most airports, but then you have it in your logbook. :)
 
Sluggo63 said:
I’m sure it’s smart to do so, but why is it required?
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It is if you are beyond gliding distance to shore and every time I have flown to KEYE the direct route was beyond glide distance.
 
Sluggo63 said:
I’m sure it’s smart to do so, but why is it required?
Click to expand...

I didn’t know about a requirement for flares, so I looked it up:

§ 91.205 Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements

“(b) Visual-flight rules (day). For VFR flight during the day, the following instruments and equipment are required:
(1) Airspeed indicator
(2) Altimeter.
….
(12) If the aircraft is operated for hire over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from shore, approved flotation gear readily available to each occupant and, unless the aircraft is operating under part 121 of this subchapter, at least one pyrotechnic signaling device”

 
Clip4 said:
It is if you are beyond gliding distance to shore and every time I have flown to KEYE the direct route was beyond glide distance.
Click to expand...
Which CFR says that?

If you’re using 91.205, that’s only for aircraft for hire.

Since I don’t think many of us are operating for hire to KEYW, I think 91.509 applies, and I don’t see where a normal route to KEYW is more than 50 nautical miles from shore.
 
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