Gallery
Climate
Like the rest of the Florida Keys, Islamorada is a Tropical Savanna climate. This means that the weather is nearly identical to that of the Caribbean Islands. It’s hot and rainy during the summer months, and hot and mostly dry during the winter months, apart from storms ahead of cool fronts. During the winter months, the weather rarely drops below 70 degrees. In fact, alongside Miami Beach, the Florida Keys is the only region of the United States that has never experienced a deep frost or freeze.
The total average rainfall in Islamorada is 48 inches a year. This is higher than the U.S. average of 38 inches per year. On average, precipitation falls 104 days per year with September being the wettest month (7.5 inches) and June through October being the wettest time of year. January is the driest month on average (2.0 inches) with Spring being the driest season of the year.
On average there are 254 sunny days per year. This is higher than the U.S. average of 205 days per year. Islamorada experiences a very mild winter with average low temperatures between 62 and 65 degrees for the season. From November through April, the weather can be very pleasant. Excessive summertime heat really comes into play starting in May and runs through October. August is the hottest month of the year with an average high temperature approaching 90 degrees.
Airports & Traffic
| Airport | Size | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Tavernaero Park Airport | Small | 8 Miles |
| Florida Keys/Marathon International Airport | Small | 31 Miles |
| Miami International Airport | Large | 80 Miles |
| Key West International Airport | Small | 80 Miles |
Private Clubs
There are no private country clubs on the island of Islamorada.
Dining
Restaurants in Islamorada serve up ridiculously fresh seafood and American style dishes with a noticeable Caribbean flair. Many restaurants in the area will even do what they call a “catch and cook.” This is where you take your day’s catch to the restaurant and the chef will prepare it in a variety of ways for you.
Islamorada Fish Company
81532 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
Seafood, American, Ocean-front
(305) 664-9271
Lazy Days Resturant
79867 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
Seafood, Ocean Views, Laid-Back
(305) 664-5256
Chef Michael’s
81671 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33070
Seafood, American
(305) 664-0640
Pierre’s Restaurant
81600 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
French, Seafood
(305) 664-3225
Shopping
The Village of Islamorada does not have any indoor or outdoor malls as one might expect for a tiny island community. If you are looking for that you would have to travel up and out of the island chain to the city of Miami. What it does have is a large presence of unique island boutiques, local art galleries, and nautical themed gift stores.
Things To Do
Founders Park is a great community resource for the residents of Islamorada. It features an Olympic size swimming pool, large children’s splash pad, shallow water beach, volleyball court, picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, walking trails, outdoor fitness area, basketball court, sports fields, fishing jetty, golf driving cage, pickleball courts, and community center.
The ICE Amphitheatre at Founders Park is an outdoor performing arts amphitheatre hosts concerts, dance, and other live performances for the community.
The History of Diving Museum is a nonprofit educational center dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying artifacts and other items relative to the history of diving.
A common misconception for Islamorada and the Florida Keys in general is that like the rest of the state of Florida, they have great beaches. The truth is that while there are a select few natural beaches in the Florida Keys, most of the island chain is comprised of rocky shoreline with very little sand. There are a few tiny beaches one can go to in Islamorada which include Anne’s Beach, Library Beach Park, and Islamorada County Park. The waters off the island are typically a beautiful Caribbean blue and stay warm year round.
The Florida Keys and the Village of Islamorada are a boater’s paradise. Here you will find amazing sandbars, out-islands, watersports opportunities, fantastic snorkeling, and dive sites. With the Gulf of Mexico on one side of the island, and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, Islamorada features 360 degrees of boating pleasure. One popular activity is to pull up and dock at many of the islands waterfront bars and restaurants. Another local favorite is the Islamorada sandbar. Less than a mile offshore around mile marker 84 on the Ocean side you can pull up to this shallow white sand patch and party with other boaters who gather on the sandbar. Alligator reef lighthouse is another popular boating destination. It marks one of the best diving and snorkeling reefs in the area and is home to over 500 species of marine life.
Islamorada is known as the “Sport Fishing Capital of the World.” Like Key West there are seemingly endless opportunities to catch fish no matter where you go in the area. Inshore anglers exploring the backcountry will find bonefish, tarpon, permit, redfish, and snook. Near shore coral reefs provide ample opportunity to catch favorites like grouper, snapper, kingfish, amberjack, cobia, and many more. Offshore you will find captains trolling for tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo, sailfish, and the occasional marlin. Enough can’t be said about the areas sheer diversity of fishing options with its easy access to both Gulf of Mexico hot spots and Atlantic Ocean waters.
Boating
Fishing
Schools
Islamorada’s schools are among the most recommended schools in all of Monroe County. These schools are controlled by the Monroe County School District. Niche.com gives the school district a B rating and has it as the 21st best school district in the state. Monroe County School District has 8,571 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 62% of students are at least proficient in math and 59% in reading. The only private school in Islamorada is the Island Christian School (Christian).
| School | Grades | Type | Rating | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treasure Village Montessori Charter School | PK-8 | Public | A | view map |
| Plantation Key School | PK-8 | Public | A | view map |
| Coral Shores High School | 9-12 | Public | A | view map |
Golf
Golfing in Islamorada is quite limited, but there is a course in the village, as well as a few on the surrounding islands. For top-notch golf in the keys, Key Largo is the premier destination at the Ocean Reef Club, but there are a few other courses in between. Cheeca Lodge Resort is the Islamorada based course, but if you don’t mind driving, there are some additional options for you outside the island.
