Marathon Airport – The Florida Keys' Middle Islands Gateway
Marathon Airport (MTH) serves the Middle Keys with scheduled commercial service and general aviation facilities at approximately Mile Marker 52 on the Overseas Highway, positioning it as the primary air access point for the sprawling middle section of the Florida Keys archipelago. The airport supports Cape Air service connecting the Keys to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), providing residents and visitors a practical alternative to the long drive on US-1. Marathon itself is a working waterfront community known for recreational fishing tournaments, the Dolphin Research Center, and the Seven Mile Bridge — one of the most photographed roadway structures in Florida.
The airport's single runway is oriented to minimize conflict with the shallow-water marine environment surrounding the key, with approach paths that take pilots directly over the Atlantic and Gulf sides of the archipelago. Hurricane preparedness is a dominant operational concern: the Middle Keys are vulnerable to direct hurricane impacts given their low elevation (averaging less than 5 feet above sea level), and airport management coordinates fuel reserves and aircraft evacuation procedures with Monroe County Emergency Management before named storms.
What airlines serve Marathon Airport in the Florida Keys?
Cape Air provides scheduled service between Marathon Airport (MTH) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL). The route offers Keys residents and visitors a convenient connection to South Florida's major commercial hub.
What is the runway length at Marathon Airport?
Marathon Airport's primary runway is approximately 5,008 feet, suitable for the small regional aircraft operating the Keys routes and for a wide range of general aviation traffic.
What should pilots know about weather at Marathon Airport?
Marathon sits in a narrow band of ocean-influenced weather. Afternoon sea-breeze convective activity, occasional winter fronts bringing low ceilings, and the rare but severe hurricane threat all require flight planning attention for Keys-based pilots.
Is general aviation fuel available at Marathon Airport?
Yes. Avgas 100LL and Jet-A fuel are available at Marathon Airport through the fixed-base operator serving the field, with 24-hour access for self-service fuel.
Marathon Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Marathon, Florida.
| Name | Marathon Airport |
| Address | 9400 Overseas Highway, Marathon FL 33050 Map |
| Phone | (305) 289-6060 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Marathon Airport
Airports near Marathon
Middle Keys Transportation and Marathon Aviation Services
Marathon Airport's role in Monroe County's transportation infrastructure is outsized relative to its size. For a community that relies on a single two-lane road (US-1) as its only land connection to the mainland — a road susceptible to hurricane closures, drawbridge delays, and seasonal tourist congestion — the airport provides genuine transportation resilience. The Cape Air service to Fort Lauderdale connects Keys residents to the broader national air network without requiring a 3-hour drive north.
The general aviation ramp at Marathon attracts a mix of transient private pilots making the iconic Keys flight across the Atlantic and Gulf, corporate aircraft serving the area's sport fishing lodges, and locally-based aircraft whose owners use the airport as their primary transportation link to mainland Florida. FDOT designates Marathon Airport as a regionally significant airport within Florida's aviation system, with state investment supporting runway maintenance and terminal improvements that keep the field operational through Florida's challenging tropical weather cycles.