Marathon Island
Marathon is the lively hub of the Middle Keys, spread across a cluster of islands around Vaca Key at the foot of the Seven Mile Bridge. A family-friendly base for fishing, diving and beaches, it packs in some of the Keys' best attractions.
Marathon at a Glance#
Local Time
8:24 PM
GMT-4
Weather
85°F
Overcast
Population
—
Known for: family beaches, sport fishing, and marine wildlife.
Don’t miss: the palm-lined Sombrero Beach, the Turtle Hospital, Crane Point nature museum, historic Pigeon Key beneath the old Seven Mile Bridge, and the nearby Dolphin Research Center.
When to go: great year-round; Dec-Apr is peak, summer is hot and quiet.
Marathon reportedly got its name from the round-the-clock ‘marathon’ effort to build Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad across the Keys in the early 1900s.