Airports in Monroe County, Florida: Private, Municipal, Regional(All)

Monroe County Airport Directory – Connecting the Florida Keys

Monroe County, Florida, stretches over 740 square miles of turquoise water and coral‑capped islands, making air travel an essential link for residents, tourists, and businesses. The county’s aviation network consists of two commercial airports, several general‑aviation fields, and a seaplane base, each positioned to serve specific communities while reducing travel time across the Keys. This directory provides a detailed look at every airport in Monroe County, the services they offer, and the exact distances from major towns and unincorporated neighborhoods.

Monroe County Airport Directory

The official Monroe County airport list includes:

• Key West International Airport (EYW) – the primary commercial gateway.
• Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH) – a secondary commercial hub located near the geographic center of the archipelago.
• Key West Seaplane Base (EYW‑S) – a water‑landing facility for scheduled and chartered seaplanes.
• Big Pine Key Airstrip (X44) – a privately‑owned general‑aviation field serving the lower Keys.
• Key Largo Airpark (N56) – a public‑use turf strip used mainly by flight schools and private pilots.

All five facilities are registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Together they handle roughly 350,000 passenger movements annually, with Key West International accounting for about 260,000 of those movements.

Airport Serving Monroe County

Key West International Airport (EYW) sits on the southwestern tip of Key West, just 2.5 miles north of the historic Old Town district. The airport features a single 8,001‑foot runway (09/27), two passenger terminals, and a cargo facility that processes more than 12,000 tons of freight each year. American, Delta, United, and Southwest operate daily flights to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Atlanta, providing the fastest connection to the continental United States.

Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH) lies on the island of Marathon, approximately 27 miles east of Key West International and 50 miles west of Key Largo. Marathon’s runway (09/27) measures 5,000 feet and accommodates regional carriers such as Silver Airways and Southern Airways Express. In 2023, MTH handled 45,000 passengers, primarily tourists traveling to the middle Keys and residents commuting to the mainland via indirect connections.

The Key West Seaplane Base, located at the historic Key West Bight, offers water‑landing services for amphibious aircraft like the De Havilland Twin Otter. Seasonal charter flights connect directly to Miami’s PortMiami seaplane dock, cutting the travel time from 2 hours by road to under 30 minutes by air.

Communities in Monroe County with Airport Access

While the two commercial airports cover the bulk of passenger traffic, many smaller communities rely on short‑haul ground transportation to reach them. Below is a distance matrix that shows the driving distance (in miles) from each major community to the nearest airport facility:

Community	Nearest Airport	Distance (mi)	Typical Drive Time
Key West (Old Town)	Key West International Airport (EYW)	2.5	5‑7 minutes
Marathon	Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH)	1.2	3‑4 minutes
Key Largo	Key West International Airport (EYW)	58	1 hour 30 minutes
Islamorada	Key West International Airport (EYW)	44	1 hour 10 minutes
Big Pine Key	Big Pine Key Airstrip (X44)	1.8	5‑6 minutes
Sugarloaf Key	Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH)	12	20‑25 minutes

Monroe County’s 2022 population of 82,000 is distributed unevenly across the islands, with roughly 25 % living in Key West, 30 % in Marathon, and the remaining 45 % spread among the Upper Keys and unincorporated areas. Because road travel between islands can exceed 100 miles and involve multiple bridges, the county’s airport infrastructure dramatically reduces travel time for emergency services, commerce, and tourism.

Key West International Airport – Primary Gateway for Monroe County

Key West International Airport is classified as a “non‑primary commercial service airport” by the FAA, yet it processes more than 2.5 million passengers per decade. The terminal features three gates equipped with jet bridges, a rental‑car center serving eight national providers, and a dedicated customs and immigration facility for international arrivals from the Caribbean. In 2022, the airport recorded 41,000 aircraft operations, of which 68 % were commercial, 22 % general aviation, and 10 % military.

For residents of the Upper Keys, the airport’s “Key West Express” shuttle runs every 30 minutes between the Old Town terminal and the Marathon Airport, covering the 27‑mile stretch in under 45 minutes. This service is coordinated with the Monroe County Office of Transportation, which also provides a free “Airport Access” van for seniors and disabled travelers.

Florida Keys Marathon Airport – Central County Hub

Marathon Airport’s strategic location makes it the most convenient commercial option for communities such as Sugarloaf Key, Summerland Key, and Cudjoe Key. The airport’s 5,000‑foot runway can accommodate regional jets up to the size of the Embraer 145, and the terminal includes a 2‑gate concourse, a small but efficient TSA checkpoint, and a full‑service café that showcases local seafood dishes.

In addition to scheduled airline service, Marathon Airport hosts a thriving flight‑training school, Aviation Center of the Keys, which trains over 150 pilots annually. The airport also supports air‑ambulance operations for the Monroe County Health Department, with an average response time of 12 minutes to any point within the county’s jurisdiction.

Seaplane and General Aviation Options in Monroe County

The Key West Seaplane Base (EYW‑S) provides a niche but vital service for tourists seeking quick island‑hopping experiences. Operators such as Keys Air and Tropic Seaplanes run daily routes to Miami’s Biscayne Bay, the Bahamas, and even the Everglades National Park. The base’s proximity to the historic waterfront means passengers can board a seaplane directly from the Key West Bight after a short walk from Mallory Square.

General‑aviation pilots favor the Big Pine Key Airstrip (X44) for its low‑traffic environment and 2,500‑foot paved runway. The airstrip is maintained by the Monroe County Aviation Services Division and offers 24‑hour fuel, a modest terminal building, and a tie‑down area for up to 20 aircraft. Similarly, the Key Largo Airpark (N56) serves flight‑training schools and private owners, with a grass runway that is ideal for light‑sport aircraft.

Overall, the airport in Monroe County network is designed to balance commercial demand with the unique geographic challenges of a sprawling archipelago. Whether you are a tourist landing in Key West, a resident commuting from Marathon, or a pilot seeking a quiet airstrip in Big Pine Key, Monroe County’s aviation facilities provide reliable, fast, and locally attuned services.

Frequently Asked Questions — Monroe County Airport Services

What is the nearest airport in Monroe County for residents of Key Largo?

Key West International Airport (EYW) is the closest commercial airport to Key Largo, located about 58 miles away. The drive via US‑1 takes roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes, and the airport offers daily flights to Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta.

How many airports are there in Monroe County, Florida?

Monroe County, Florida, has five FAA‑registered airports: Key West International Airport (EYW), Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH), Key West Seaplane Base (EYW‑S), Big Pine Key Airstrip (X44), and Key Largo Airpark (N56).

Which Monroe County airport offers commercial airline service to the mainland?

Both Key West International Airport (EYW) and Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH) provide scheduled commercial airline service to mainland Florida. Key West International connects to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Atlanta, while Marathon offers regional flights to Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

What general aviation facilities are available in unincorporated areas of Monroe County?

Unincorporated areas such as Big Pine Key and Key Largo are served by the Big Pine Key Airstrip (X44) and Key Largo Airpark (N56). Both fields provide 24‑hour fuel, tie‑down spaces, and basic terminal amenities for private pilots and flight‑training schools.

How far is the Florida Keys Marathon Airport from the community of Sugarloaf Key?

Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH) is approximately 12 miles west of Sugarloaf Key. The drive along US‑1 takes about 20‑25 minutes, making Marathon the most convenient commercial airport for residents of Sugarloaf Key.