For our visitors to the laboratory, we would like to provide a online resource to help you plan your stay at the lab. Here we have provided an up-to-date list with directions to the lab from the nearest airports, locations of grocery and drug stores, some local attractions for those windy (off-water) days, and what you should bring from home to make your stay more enjoyable. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding your stay that we do not have answered here.
Follow these links to check out the KML Information and Welcome sheets before your arrival. If you don't yet have a Facilities Use Request Form (FURF), you can also download that here. Click here for a schedule detailing availability of KML resources. Please remember that you need to contact the KML Operations Manager before submitting your FURF to confirm the availability of resources for your requested dates. Also remember that the submission of your FURF does not constitute a reservation.
Follow these links to check out the KML Information and Welcome sheets before your arrival. If you don't yet have a Facilities Use Request Form (FURF), you can also download that here. Click here for a schedule detailing availability of KML resources. Please remember that you need to contact the KML Operations Manager before submitting your FURF to confirm the availability of resources for your requested dates. Also remember that the submission of your FURF does not constitute a reservation.
Be Sure to Bring:
- Your Bathing Suit - you will probably want a few if you will be in the water on a daily basis.
- Beach Towel(s) KML provides bath towels, make sure you take a beach/boat towel. You may want a few if you will be in the water every day.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat - the sun can be pretty intense down here, be prepared!.
- Dry bag for on the boat - keep your important stuff dry on the water.
- Water bottle - swimming makes you thirsty. Reusable bottles always best to cut down on waste.
Getting To KML:
NEAREST AIRPORTS - Map-
EYW - Key West International Airport: 66 miles, 1.75 hours drive time.
Get directions to KML here -
MIA - Miami International Airport: 93 miles, approx 2 hours drive time.
Get directions to KML here -
FLL - Fort Lauderdale International: 118 miles, approx 2.5 hours drive time.
Get directions to KML here
- Thrifty – Tavernier (MM 91).
- Avis - at the Marathon Airport.
- Budget - at the Marathon Airport
- Enterprise - at the Marathon Airport
- Hertz - at the Marathon Airport
Above: An old quarrying machine at the Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, a great place to check out fossils and the old reef that makes up the islands of the Florida Keys.
Some days you just can't get on the water due to the weather or may just want to do some sightseeing. Here is a list of some of the wonderful on-shore attractions in the Keys.
Click here to see these on a map.
Some days you just can't get on the water due to the weather or may just want to do some sightseeing. Here is a list of some of the wonderful on-shore attractions in the Keys.
Click here to see these on a map.
- Bahia Honda State Park: MM 37, south of KML.
- Turtle Hospital: MM 48.5, south of KML.
- Sombrero Beach: MM 50, south of KML in Marathon, turn by the Publix.
- Crane PointMuseum, Nature Center, & Historic Site: MM 50, south of KML, across the road from Publix.
- Curry Hammock State Park: MM 56, south of KML.
- Dolphin Research Center: MM 58, south of KML.
- Long Key State Park: MM 67.5, walking distance from KML.
- Anne's Beach: MM 71, north of KML over the channel 5 and 2 bridges.
- Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park: MM 77, you need to take a boat out to the island.
- Indian Key Historical State Park: MM 77, you need to take a boat, canoe, or kayak out to the island.
- Diving Museum: MM 83, north of KML.
- Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park: MM 85, north of KML.
- Wild Bird Center: MM 93, north of KML.
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: MM 103, north of KML.
- And, of course, Key West: at MM 0; 1.5 hour drive from KML
Groceries
Both our dorms and long term housing have fully equipped kitchens so you can cook for your group while you are here. However, like nearly everything in the Keys, Groceries are a 20 minute drive from nearly where ever you are, so it helps to plan your grocery trips ahead to make the most of your time at KML.Click here to see these on a map.
MARATHON (South of KML):
- Publix - MM 50 oceanside.
- Winn Dixie - MM 50 oceanside.
- Winn Dixie - MM 89 bayside.
- Publix - mm 102 oceanside.
Drug Stores
- Walgreen's in Key Largo – mm 99, north of KML
- CVS in Islamorada – mm 82.8 bayside, north of KML
- CVS in Marathon – mm 50 oceanside, next to WinnDixie, south of KML.
- Walgreen’s in Marathon – mm 53 bayside, south of KML.
Restaurants
For those nights when no one feels like cooking, or you just want a fantastic dinner at one of the Key's many great restaurants, there are a number of excellent places to eat within 20 miles the lab in either direction. Check out the directory of restaurants at the Chambers of Commerce below or ask any of our staff members for a recommendation (unofficial - as we do not endorse any particular establishment).MARATHON (South of KML):
- Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce - Restaurants
- Islamorada Chamber of Commerce - Restaurants
- Key Largo Chamber of Commerce - Restaurants
- Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce - Restaurants
