A Native Floridian's Day Trip Guide to Cedar Key, Florida

Well, we weren’t planning to visit Cedar Key.

Michael and I had every intention of spending the day in Tallahassee to explore our state’s capital. But after a late-night gathering with friends stretched well past our bedtimes, the allure of sleeping in won out. Instead, we decided to keep our adventure closer to home. With map in hand, we traced a circle around Gainesville and landed on a spot just over an hour away: Cedar Key.

Strung along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Cedar Key is a charming island community rich in history and natural beauty. It’s part of a cluster of small islands known as the Cedar Keys, named for the dense stands of Eastern red cedar trees that once thrived there.

This tiny town, steeped in Old Florida charm, has roots stretching back to the mid-19th century when it was a hub for timber, fishing, and trade. Today, Cedar Key offers visitors a peaceful escape, surrounded by serene waters, vibrant wildlife, and a slower pace of life. It’s the perfect choice for a leisurely day trip (or for oversleepers looking to reclaim part of their day!):

CEDAR KEY DAY TRIP

Unless you have your own plane or boat, the only way to access Cedar Key is via a short bridge on State Road 24. The islands of the Cedar Keys are located very close to shore, and the landscape changes quickly—from dense Florida woodlands to palm-filled salt marshes in minutes.

Parking in Cedar Key is free for vehicles without boats, though we did spend a few minutes searching for a spot. It was easy to see why many of the residents drive around in street-legal golf carts that can be parked just about anywhere. Once parked, we set off for a cup of coffee at 1842 Daily Grind and Mercantile to wake us up.

We walked around for a bit in the small shopping area, popping into places here and there. The island’s art scene reminds us of many of other Florida beach cities’ art scenes – bright, colorful, playful, and occasionally a little racy, but always done in fun.

We took in some of the day-to-day scenes of the island, walking past the post office, public library, city hall, and volunteer fire department. Nearby is a fishing pier, where locals and visitors alike were trying their hand at catching dinner. The facilities at the pier were appreciated by everyone – free public restrooms and a station for cleaning your latest catch. We saw several signs around town advertising bait prices and fishing pole rentals.

By this point, we were ready for lunch. There are only a few restaurants on the island, and I discovered how much easier it is to choose somewhere to eat when there are fewer options available (it takes me hours to find a place to eat in a city like NYC, Paris, or London, but given only five or six options? We decided in about three minutes).

We chose Steamers, as it was on the water and served seafood. We ordered bacon and blue cheese oysters to start, along with beer from Swamphead Brewery located in our hometown, followed by a soft-shell crab sandwich, and a lobster roll. The cold beer and oysters were perfect for the sunny weather.

I was a little overwhelmed with my sandwich, as I don’t typically eat fried food, and the thought of eating an animal whole started to get to me (yes, even after eating oysters). Michael’s lobster roll was a little short on the lobster, and since I’d already teased him about ordering a Maine lobster dish in Florida, I gave him the remainder of my sandwich. We would definitely eat there again, but next time might spring for the Low Country Boil instead.

After lunch, we continued walking around the last few blocks in that part of town, stopping in at the local grocery store to grab a bottle of water and check out the local selection. The options were much like you’d expect in an island town – lots of wine, beer, and Old Bay. Back outside, we passed some residences and fishing equipment lining the street. It’s no wonder that there are so many cats running around this area!

Finally, we returned to our car to drive to the other side of the key to visit Cedar Key Museum State Park. The map showed it was only a forty-minute walk, but we opted to drive as the museum was nearing closing. We’re glad we did, as that part of the island doesn’t seem as pedestrian-friendly.

We arrived at the museum about an hour before closing, paid the $2 admission fee, and explored the museum exhibit, homestead of St. Clair Whitman which faced the museum, and walked the brief nature trail. While small, the museum provided lots of information about the area’s previous inhabitants and industries, and we enjoyed seeing many of the original items on display within the Whitman home (note: currently closed for repairs). The nature trail ended at the water, where we saw lots of crabs burrowing in the sand, though they were too quick for our phone cameras.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: TIPS FOR VISITING CEDAR KEY

Cedar Key is the perfect day trip from Gainesville (1h, 10m), Tampa or Tallahassee (about 2h, 20m) or Orlando (around 3h) by car. Parking on the island is free, but locating a spot may be difficult on event days. If you decide to make a weekend out of it, there are plenty of accommodations offered through local brokers or Airbnb.

Bear in mind many restaurants and businesses are not open late in the evening or on some weekdays, so plan to grocery shop on your way to the island, as you’ll mostly find convenience stores once you arrive.

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Questions for you

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A Day Trip to Cedar Key, Florida

CEDAR KEY DAY TRIP

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: TIPS FOR VISITING CEDAR KEY

Questions for you

Looking for more? You may enjoy these other Florida guides:

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