Some links on our site may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
A Marathon Florida Keys itinerary fits comfortably into two days. Marathon also runs from mile marker 61 down to mile marker 47, roughly the midpoint of the Overseas Highway. The Dolphin Research Center, the Turtle Hospital and Sombrero Beach anchor the stops. Curry Hammock State Park adds a fee of $4.50 to $5.50 per vehicle, per Florida State Parks.
I have made plenty of long Florida road trips. I always build in one slow day for a place like this. A two-day stop in the middle of the Keys breaks up a longer drive south, instead of forcing everything into one rushed afternoon.
Quick facts
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Mile marker 61 to 47, City of Marathon, Florida Keys |
| Drive time from Miami | Roughly 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes (about 106 miles), based on Overseas Highway mile markers |
| Known for | The Seven Mile Bridge and the Dolphin Research Center, per Visit Florida Keys |
| Sombrero Beach | Open 7 a.m. to dusk, per the City of Marathon Parks & Recreation page |
| Hurricane season | June 1 through November 30, per NOAA’s National Hurricane Center |
Sombrero Beach Cost
Parking and park fees are small here, but they still add up over two days. The table below covers what you can pin down in advance for one vehicle with two adults.
What parking and park fees cost for one day in Marathon
| Stop | Fee | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Curry Hammock State Park | $5.50 per vehicle (2 or more occupants) | Florida State Parks entrance fee schedule |
| Sombrero Beach, nonresident, 3-hour visit | $5.00 for the first 2 hours, plus $2.00 for hour 3 | City of Marathon parking fee schedule |
| Total for one vehicle, one day | $12.50 |
Curry Hammock charges $4.50 for a single visitor and $5.50 for two or more people in one vehicle, per Florida State Parks. Sombrero Beach is free for anyone with a vehicle registered in Marathon or Key Colony Beach. Everyone else pays $5 for the first two hours. That grows by $2 for every hour after that, camera-enforced, per the City of Marathon’s own parking page. So a three-hour beach stop plus a state park stop runs $12.50 total for one vehicle.
How far is Marathon from Miami?
Marathon sits about 106 miles from downtown Miami, based on the mile-marker math used throughout this guide. That works out to roughly 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes of driving with no stops. It is farther than Islamorada or Key Largo. So most itineraries treat Marathon as a stop on a longer trip, rather than a single-destination weekend. Still, the extra half hour past Islamorada buys a different set of stops. Marathon centers on wildlife attractions instead of a marina and a marine park.
Dolphin Research Center Marathon
Start the morning at the Dolphin Research Center at mile marker 59 on Grassy Key. Hours run 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through mid-December 2026, then shift to 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the rest of the year, per the center’s own hours page. General admission includes narrated behavior sessions roughly every 30 minutes, plus access to the Sprayground and an air-conditioned theater for educational presentations. Book your ticket through dolphins.org before you arrive, since walk-up spots are not guaranteed. The center itself puts the drive at about 2.5 hours from Miami International Airport and 1.25 hours from Key Largo, so pair it with whichever direction you are already driving.
Then spend the afternoon at the Turtle Hospital, mile marker 48.5. Tours are reservation-only through the hospital’s own booking system, so reserve a spot before you drive over. The nonprofit rehabilitates injured and sick sea turtles, and the guided tour walks you through the recovery tanks. Plan for roughly an hour there, and leave a buffer before or after for the short drive back to Sombrero Beach or your hotel.
Best Beaches Marathon Florida Keys
Head to Sombrero Beach first, since mornings are calmer and cooler for swimming than the middle of the afternoon. It is open 7 a.m. to dusk, per the City of Marathon’s parks page, with picnic pavilions, volleyball courts and a playground. Loggerhead turtles nest here from April through October, so some stretches of sand may be roped off during those months.
Follow that with Curry Hammock State Park, mile marker 56, open 8 a.m. to sunset every day of the year. The park is the largest undeveloped stretch of land between Key Largo and Big Pine Key. So it is a better pick than Sombrero for paddling, hiking or a quieter picnic away from crowds.
Marathon Florida Keys Turtle Hospital
The Turtle Hospital is worth the stop if a reservation fits your schedule. The Turtle Hospital only accepts visitors on its guided educational tour. It is booked through the hospital’s own online system, so a walk-in visit is not an option. Tour slots run on a set schedule through the day. So book at least a few days ahead during winter high season, when Overseas Highway traffic and tour demand both climb. The tour itself covers the hospital’s rehabilitation tanks. It also explains what brings a sea turtle in for treatment, from boat strikes to cold stress, and what happens once a turtle is well enough to be released.
Marathon Florida Keys Map
Marathon sits about 27 miles south of Islamorada by the same mile-marker math. That is close to 35 to 40 minutes of driving. Key West runs another 54 miles south of Marathon, about 1 hour 15 to 20 minutes further. So a Marathon stop works well as the midpoint of a longer Overseas Highway trip, instead of a destination reached on its own from Miami.
Sombrero Beach Marathon Parking
Skip a same-day combination of the Dolphin Research Center and the Turtle Hospital if you also want beach time. Both run on fixed schedules, and between the drive and the tour times, you will lose most of the afternoon. Skip driving to Sombrero Beach expecting free parking, unless your vehicle is registered in Marathon or Key Colony Beach. The City of Marathon enforces nonresident fees by camera.
Late August through October carries the highest storm risk of the year. That stretch falls inside the Atlantic hurricane season NOAA defines as June 1 through November 30. So build a flexible day or two into any trip booked that far out.
Pigeon Key Tour
Add Pigeon Key if you have a spare two to three hours. Pigeon Key is a small island reached by walking, biking or riding a tram across the historic Old Seven Mile Bridge, mile marker 47. It is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, closed on major holidays, per Pigeon Key’s own site, and admission is booked through its online reservation system. The island once housed the workers who built Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad, and the guided tour covers that history along with a shark pool and marine science programs. A walk or bike ride across the old bridge itself, without a ticket to the island, costs nothing and takes about 40 minutes each way to cover the two-mile span. Because the deck is exposed with no shade, bring water and sun protection even for a short walk.
Marathon Florida vs Key West
Marathon works better than Key West for travelers who want wildlife stops over nightlife. The Dolphin Research Center, the Turtle Hospital and Pigeon Key give Marathon three distinct attractions. That stretch is far quieter than Key West’s Duval Street. Anyone driving the full route should also see our Miami to Key West road trip itinerary for how a Marathon stop fits into a longer three-day plan. Check Bahia Honda State Park’s fees and beaches too, for the next stop south.
Best Things to Do in Marathon Florida Keys
I plan road trips around one slow day in the middle. Marathon is a natural fit for that on the Overseas Highway. Book the Dolphin Research Center and the Turtle Hospital for day one. Save Sombrero Beach, Curry Hammock and Pigeon Key for a slower day two. That split keeps both days to a few reservations each, instead of packing five stops into one long afternoon.
Frequently asked questions about Marathon Florida Keys
How many days in Florida Keys?
Two full days also covers the Dolphin Research Center, the Turtle Hospital, Sombrero Beach and Curry Hammock without rushing. One day works if you pick either the wildlife attractions or the beaches and state park, not both.
Is Sombrero Beach free?
It is free for vehicles registered in Marathon or Key Colony Beach. Everyone else pays $5 for the first two hours and $2 per hour after that, per the City of Marathon’s parking fee schedule. That fee is camera-enforced, so plan to pay before you settle in.
How do you get tickets to the Dolphin Research Center?
General admission is booked in advance through the center’s own website. Walk-up availability is not guaranteed, especially during winter and spring break weeks.
Is Marathon Key good for families?
Both still work well for families. Marathon leans toward hands-on wildlife stops like the Dolphin Research Center and the Turtle Hospital. Islamorada centers more on a marina, a marine park and open water time.
What is the weather in Marathon Key, Florida?
Winter and spring sit outside the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June through November. So those months bring steadier weather for beach days and reef visits.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the park, operator or provider before you go.
Updated September 20, 2026.