November might just be the Florida Keys’ best-kept secret. The heavy summer humidity lifts, hurricane season winds down, and the islands settle into the long stretch of warm, dry weather that makes this destination an early winter paradise.
It is also the last of the quiet shoulder season before the peak winter crowds arrive. With bathwater sea temperatures, quiet beaches, and crowd-free waterfront restaurants, it’s easy to see why November is a great time to visit the Florida Keys.
If a warm island escape sounds right, browse our luxury vacation rentals and settle into a home base in the Middle Keys of Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Duck Key, and Indigo Reef. Many of the homes come with private pools, boat dockage, and plenty of space to spread out.
This guide covers everything you need to know for an unforgettable trip to the Florida Keys in November.
November Weather in the Florida Keys
Photo Credit: Cavan-Images
November weather in the Keys is about as close to perfect as Florida gets. As the month progresses, so does the weather. Daytime average highs range from around 82°F early in the month to 79°F by the end, with lows easing from 74°F to 70°F.
The chance of rain drops significantly as the dry season settles in and the hurricane season wraps up. This means more dry, sunny days and less humidity as the month goes on.
The front half of November still feels like late summer, and the back half starts to feel like the Keys winter everyone flies down for. And those evenings and sunsets are genuinely pleasant rather than sticky and sweltering.
The pleasant weather makes water activities enjoyable without the oppressive summer sun. The water is still warm, cooling gently from 80°F to 78°F through the month, with excellent early-morning visibility.
Hurricane season officially ends on November 30, and storm risk in the Keys drops sharply through the month. Compared with the Florida Keys in October, conditions are noticeably clearer and calmer.
Florida Keys Events in November 2026
Photo Credit: Chuck Wagner
November is not the wall-to-wall festival month that March or December can be, and that is part of its appeal. Instead, November features a handful of local community events without the bustling crowds of the holiday season.
Hope Walk Luminary Event
- Location: Crane Point Museum & Nature Center, Marathon
- When: November 7, 2026
The Hope Walk Luminary Event is part of the Florida Keys’ American Cancer Society and a community-wide effort to recognize those affected by cancer; all are welcome. The peaceful candlelit walk at Crane Point Museum & Nature Center honors survivors and remembers those whose lives have been lost to cancer.
Honor Veterans Day in Marathon
- Location: American Legion Post 154, Marathon
- When: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Marathon typically marks Veterans Day with a parade that runs along the Overseas Highway and finishes with a ceremony at American Legion Post 154. The parade usually starts at 20th Street, makes a U-turn at the traffic light at 107th Street, and ends at American Legion Post 154.
Tour de Keys Charity Ride
- Location: Marathon to Key West
- When: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Tis the season for giving back and remembering what we are thankful for. What better way to give back than by riding from Marathon to Key West for charity? This annual cycling event spans the scenic Florida Keys and benefits the Monroe Association for reMARCable Citizens (MARC), supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The 50-mile ride starts in Marathon, while the 100-mile ride starts in Key Largo, and both finish in Key West. Register in advance to compete, or just head to the Overseas Highway to cheer on participants as they zip through the Middle Keys.
Spend Thanksgiving in the Islands
- Location: Marathon
- When: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Thanksgiving week is the one busy stretch of November in the Keys, and it is worth booking your rental well ahead. Several Marathon restaurants serve holiday dinner, and the Southernmost Turkey Trot 5K in Key West draws a big Thanksgiving morning crowd if you are making the drive down.
Honestly, the better option is cooking at the rental property with the doors open. Base yourself in the comfort of your own space and kitchen, order stone crab and yellowtail from the market to throw on the grill, and enjoy a Florida-style Thanksgiving feast on the patio.
Events Worthy of a Day Trip
The Race World Offshore Powerboat Championship (November 1–8, 2026) and the Key West Film Festival (November 18–22, 2026) both take place in Key West, about 1.5 hours south of Marathon. The All-American Backcountry Tournament runs in Islamorada, roughly 45 minutes north.
Our day trips from Marathon guide maps out the rest. While you’re down in Key West, there’s no better time to visit the famous Hemingway House.
Best Things to Do in the Florida Keys in November
Photo Credit: Erika Cristina Manno
The water is still warm enough for everything you came for, and the air is cool enough that you will actually want to be outdoors all day. That combination makes November one of the best months for adventure travel in the islands. These attractions and activities are well worth planning for.
Snorkel the Coral at Sombrero Reef
- Location: Sombrero Reef
- Best for: Snorkeling and diving with calm, clear conditions
- Cost: Charter or boat rental required
Sombrero Reef sits about four miles off Marathon and is marked by a 142-foot iron lighthouse, so it is easy to find and hard to forget.
November brings lighter winds than the late summer months, which means better visibility over the coral heads and less chop on the ride out. Warm water temperatures mean most people are comfortable in a shorty or no wetsuit at all.
Book a Marathon snorkel trip or grab a boat rental and run out on your own schedule.
If you’re new to snorkeling and would rather stay closer to shore, check out our Sombrero Beach snorkeling guide.
Chase Sailfish and Feast on Stone Crab
- Location: Marathon
- Best for: Fishing and seafood lovers
- Cost: Charter rates vary; market dining is walk-up
November is the front edge of sailfish season in the Middle Keys, and the same cool fronts that drop the humidity also push bait and predators onto the reef line. Wahoo, kingfish, and yellowtail snapper are all in play on a half or full day trip.
Book a fishing charter to have an expert help you land an incredible catch. You can then cook up a seafood feast back at your rental.
November is also when stone crab season is in full swing, so you can expect to order claws by the pound at local restaurants and fish markets. Learn the art of cracking into a fresh claw at Keys Fisheries on 35th Street gulfside, the classic stop, best enjoyed at picnic tables right on the water.
Walk the Old Seven Mile Bridge to Pigeon Key
- Location: Old Seven Mile Bridge
- Best for: Walking, cycling and history
- Cost: Free to walk; island access ticketed
The restored Old Seven Mile Bridge is a stretch of Henry Flagler’s historic railway corridor, now open to walkers and cyclists. November is the perfect month to walk it because temperatures are pleasant all day.
At the far end sits Pigeon Key, a five-acre island that housed the railroad workers who built the original bridge in the 1900s. The Pigeon Key Foundation runs tours of the surviving cottages and a small marine science center.
Go early and walk out into the sun. The light across the flats on the north side around mid-morning is the best view on the island chain, and you will have the bridge mostly to yourself on a weekday.
Watch the Fall Migration at Curry Hammock State Park
- Location: Curry Hammock State Park
- Best for: Birding, paddling and quiet beach time
- Cost: State park entry fee
Curry Hammock is the largest uninhabited parcel between Key Largo and Big Pine Key, and its tropical hardwood hammock and shallow flats make it a magnet for wildlife.
November is a strong month for birding species like colorful warblers, migrating shorebirds, and passing raptors, and the shallow seagrass beds are good for spotting rays and small sea turtles.
Rent a kayak, cross the shallow channel to the mangrove islands, and you will likely have the water to yourself. Our Curry Hammock State Park guide has the full rundown. Bring binoculars and go in the first two hours after sunrise.
If you want more marine nature in the same stretch, the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key is about 10 minutes north and is one of the more unique attractions on the island chain.
Have a Beach Day at Sombrero Beach or Bahia Honda State Park
- Location: Sombrero Beach and Bahia Honda State Park
- Best for: Swimming, picnics, and families
- Cost: Free at Sombrero Beach; entry fee at Bahia Honda
Sombrero Beach is Marathon’s most famous stretch of sand, with palm shade, grills, a playground, and no entry fee. It’s perfect for families and those looking for a midday activity with all the amenities for the perfect beach day.
Stay out for the evening if you can. A Marathon sunset cruise is at its best in November, when the humidity has dropped out of the air, and the colors over the Gulf are vibrant rather than hazy.
If you want postcard-worthy coastline, Bahia Honda State Park is a local favorite for a reason, about 25 minutes south. It has the widest, most photographed beach in the Keys. The old bridge in the background frames one of the most striking sunset shots in Florida.
Packing for Your November Trip to the Florida Keys
November packing is a two-season exercise. Days are hot enough for swimsuits and sun protection, but a cold front can drop evening temperatures, and sunset boat cruises out on the water can feel cooler than the thermometer suggests.
To be sure you don’t leave anything behind, focus on the items people most often forget:
- Reef-safe sunscreen, which is the only kind you should be wearing over coral
- A light fleece or long-sleeve layer for evenings and early morning charters
- A packable rain shell for the occasional short-lived shower
- Water shoes for rocky shorelines and boat ramps
- Polarized sunglasses, which make a real difference when you are scanning the flats
- Bug spray for sunset hours near the mangroves
Our full Florida Keys packing list covers the rest, and the winter in the Florida Keys guide is useful if you are planning an extended stay into December.
You’ll Love the Florida Keys in November
November is the best time to visit the Keys if your priorities are warm water, thin crowds, and clear conditions. The reef is at its most inviting, fishing is turning on, and you can practically have Sombrero Beach to yourself on a midweek day.
Marathon is a true shoulder-season secret, best kept between us and the locals, for a late-autumn island getaway of your dreams in the Florida Keys.
Browse the Marathon vacation rentals available at Coco Plum and find a home with the pool, dock, or oceanfront views your trip deserves.
