I’ve lived in Miami for nearly seven years, and I love experiencing the city’s neighborhoods and beaches.
And with so many great options for day trips, it’s no surprise people are moving to Florida en masse.
Recently, I took my first trip to Fort Myers, where the Key West Express ferry transports travelers from the Gulf Coast to Key West.
Driving from Fort Myers to Key West can take more than five hours, so I wanted to see if this 3-½ -hour ferry ride was a good alternative.
Despite some minor hiccups, I think it is. Here’s how it went.
Buying tickets online was super convenient.
The Key West Express operates daily ferry rides to Key West from Fort Myers and Marco Island. I chose Fort Myers as my departure point.
I loved that I could buy my ticket online. The rates vary and depend on what day you take the ferry, whether you book eight or more days in advance, and your age.
As an adult, my ticket cost $185. Since I would be driving to the port, I also paid $17 in advance for parking in the ferry’s private lot.
The ferry left early in the morning.
The ferry from Fort Myers departs at 8 a.m. daily year-round. Boarding begins at 7, and everyone is meant to be on the vessel by 7:30.
The check-in process was simple and intuitive.
The parking attendants were cheerful and ready to direct me to the spot where I could leave my car, which was only a short distance from the ship.
After my ticket and ID were checked, I was ready to board.
Since I was only traveling for the day, I didn’t have any bags to check. However, Key West Express provides luggage services for visitors who are spending more time on the island.
There were a variety of seats on the ferry — but choose wisely.
On the main ferry deck, there were restaurant-style tables and airplane-style rows of seats. I planned to do some work on the ferry, so I initially sat in one of the corner booths toward the front of the ship.
That was a mistake. I felt every wave we hit, and it wasn’t long before I felt a bit seasick.
Luckily, I was free to move about the ship and switch my seats since they are not booked in advance. I felt much better when I relocated to the outdoor seating on the second deck.
Snacks were available, but the concession stand was cash-only.
I was also able to purchase a motion-sickness pill for $1 on board. The galley also had a stand selling other drinks and food, such as pretzels, trail mix, and pizza.
If you plan on making a purchase on board, keep in mind the stand is cash-only.
There was a combination of families and adult travelers on my voyage.
On this particular trip, I was traveling by myself. However, I saw a good variety of families and other adult-only travel groups on the vessel.
There was no WiFi but movies and TV shows were playing throughout the ship.
Each indoor seating section of the ship had a direct view of a large television screen, where the ship streamed different movies and shows throughout the ride.
There was no WiFi available on board, but I only lost my cell signal for an hour or so as we got farther out into the Gulf.
I always anticipate having limited reception when I travel, so this didn’t impact me. However, if you need the internet to work while you’re on the ferry or if you’re traveling with children, plan accordingly.
It took 3½ hours to sail from Fort Myers to Key West.
We arrived on schedule, and I had more than five hours to explore Key West until the ferry home. It felt like a good amount of time for a day trip.
When it was time to leave the island, boarding began at 5 p.m.
Passengers got back on the ship at the main ferry terminal on the northwestern side of the island.
Many people seemed eager to board, and the ride back felt more crowded.
I arrived promptly at 5 p.m. to board, and I was one of the last people in line. I was surprised at how early everyone was to get on the ferry to return to Fort Myers.
The ride back was a little rocky, but I’d chosen a better seat.
This time, I sat in the center rows toward the middle of the ship. The ride was way more enjoyable than earlier, even though the sea was a little rougher.
It was a long day, but I’d ride this ferry again.
I liked the ferry because it was more convenient and quicker than driving. I didn’t have to pay for gas or parking in Key West, and I had more flexibility on the ride than I would have if I were stuck behind the wheel.
However, my Key West Express ferry ticket was significantly higher than if I had driven myself. If I were taking the trip with friends or family, I’d probably still drive to cut back on costs.
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