PETERSEN’S PLAYBOOK — Travel Health, ER Insights & Smart Vacation Planning
Key West Health Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Paradise at the end of the road — the one catch is you’re a long way from a major hospital, so prevention matters more here than almost anywhere.
Key West at a glance
Key West is the southernmost point in the continental U.S. — Duval Street, snorkeling, and sunsets at Mallory Square. It’s also a two-plus-hour drive to the nearest mainland hospital, which makes catching problems early especially important.
Top 5 healthy things to do in Key West
- Bike or walk the flat, compact island
- Snorkel or paddle the calm flats
- Catch sunrise at the Southernmost Point before the crowds
- Swim and relax at Fort Zachary Taylor beach
- Kayak the mangroves
Best golf in Key West
Key West Golf Club is the only course in the Keys — book early tee times, drink plenty of water, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
Healthy eats
Fresh-caught fish and ceviche beat the fried conch baskets; there are good smoothie and juice spots just off Duval.
Common vacation health risks in Key West
- Sunburn and heat illness
- Dehydration
- Alcohol-related illness
- Jellyfish stings and coral cuts
- Swimmer’s ear
- Foodborne illness
- UTIs
Dr. Petersen’s take
“Key West is the one place I tell patients not to tough it out. The nearest big hospital is hours away, so a quick video visit early — for a fever, a bad sunburn, or dehydration — can keep a small problem from turning into an evacuation.”
— Dr. Erik Petersen, DO, board-certified emergency & internal medicine
Closest emergency rooms
For a true emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. Lower Keys Medical Center (5900 College Rd, Key West) is the island’s hospital ER. Anything major is transferred to the mainland, so don’t wait on serious symptoms.
Closest urgent care & pharmacy
CVS and Walgreens are on the island, but hours are limited — call ahead, especially at night. (Hours and locations change — please call ahead to confirm.)
What to pack
- Prescription medications (original bottles + a list)
- EpiPen and any rescue inhalers
- Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 30+) and a hat
- Electrolyte packets
- Anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medication
- Basic first-aid and blister care
If you get sick in Key West
If illness strikes on your Key West trip, Vacation Medicine provides virtual urgent care from licensed physicians — right from your hotel or rental. We treat UTIs, sinus and skin infections, pink eye, nausea and diarrhea, allergies, dehydration, and medication-refill emergencies.
Call Vacation Medicine: 850-660-3112 — Seen in minutes. Followed for a week.
Book a Virtual Visit – $100 Flat Fee →
Local hidden gems
- Best sunrise: the Southernmost Point before the tour crowds
- Best recovery: a swim at Fort Zach and an electrolyte drink
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