Summerland Key Cove Airport – Lower Keys Private Aviation Enclave
Summerland Key Cove Airport is one of several private aviation facilities serving the Lower Florida Keys, where the geography of narrow limestone keys separated by shallow tidal channels makes water-adjacent airstrips almost a necessity for residents without access to the main runway at Key West International (EYW). Summerland Key sits at approximately Mile Marker 24.5 on the Overseas Highway, close enough to Key West for quick business trips but far enough to retain the quiet character of the outer Keys. Residents here include offshore fishermen, retirees, and a small community of serious private pilots.
The cove setting of this airport means water is immediately adjacent to the operating surface, demanding pilot awareness of the unique challenges of operating from a strip perched between land and sea. Crosswinds funneling through the Keys' east-west orientation, salt air corrosion, and the constant presence of boat traffic in the adjacent waters are all factors in the daily operating environment at Summerland Key Cove.
What is the approximate location of Summerland Key Cove Airport on the Overseas Highway?
Summerland Key Cove Airport is located near Mile Marker 24–25 on US-1, in the Lower Keys between Big Pine Key and Key West in Monroe County, Florida.
Can I fly a seaplane into Summerland Key Cove Airport?
Summerland Key Cove's waterfront location may accommodate amphibious operations, but specific water aerodrome designation and current operational status should be verified with the facility owner before attempting a water landing.
What is the nearest public airport to Summerland Key?
Key West International Airport (EYW) is the nearest public-use airport, approximately 20 miles southwest on the Overseas Highway. Marathon Airport (MTH) is approximately 25 miles northeast.
Summerland Key Cove Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Summerland Key, Florida.
| Name | Summerland Key Cove Airport |
| Address | 200 West Shore Drive, Summerland Key FL 33042 Map |
| Phone | (305) 745-3325 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Summerland Key Cove Airport
Lower Keys Aviation and the Summerland Key Community
The Lower Keys from Big Pine Key to Sugarloaf Key host several private airstrips that serve a resident population who have chosen life at the end of the road — or very nearly. Summerland Key Cove Airport is part of this network of informal aviation infrastructure that connects lower Keys residents to Key West and to the mainland without requiring a two-hour drive up US-1 to Miami or Fort Lauderdale. For time-sensitive medical needs, business meetings, or simply avoiding the seasonal tourist traffic on the Overseas Highway, a private aircraft is a practical choice.
Summerland Key is also known for its tidal cove habitat and backcountry fishing access, and the aviation community here overlaps significantly with the fishing community. Aircraft at facilities like Summerland Key Cove often serve as fast platforms for pre-dawn positioning to distant fishing grounds or for aerial fish-spotting runs over the backcountry flats of the Lower Keys. FDOT's Monroe County aviation inventory documents these private facilities alongside the public airports at Key West and Marathon.