A stay in one of our Marathon vacation rentals is one of the best ways to experience tropical South Florida! Marathon is a 10-mile-long island chain (comprised mainly of Fat Deer, Vaca, and Grassy keys) off the southern tip of Florida. It is known for its year-round warm weather, great fishing, local seafood, and coral reefs that can be explored by both scuba diving and snorkeling. This unique town is one of the most popular destinations for Florida Keys vacation rentals, thanks to its central location and access to many activities, both indoor and out.
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Yes, 31 of our Marathon homes allow dogs—so feel free to bring Fido along. (Just make sure to check individual home listings for any limits on the number and size of dogs they allow).
Browse dog-friendly homes >Yes. 104 of our Marathon vacation rentals have internet access, so you can stay connected throughout your trip.
Browse homes with internet access >Absolutely. Our local Marathon team includes professional housekeepers who care for all our homes here. They’ll clean thoroughly and restock amenities, so everything is ready for your arrival—and all you have to do is settle in and relax.
Learn more about Vacasa Premium Clean >Tucked in between Islamorada to the east and the lower keys to the west, and accessible via the renowned Seven Mile Bridge, our Marathon vacation homes offer a wide range of activities, from snorkeling to sailing to interacting with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center, making it particularly well-suited for families.
Kids will love learning about the island’s abundant wildlife at Crane Point Museum and Nature Center, which features walkable nature trails, a natural history museum, and a wild bird sanctuary where injured native birds – egrets, herons, cranes, and more – are cared for and released back into the wild. Kids might also enjoy seeing specialized veterinarians doting on local loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles at the Turtle Hospital, the world's only veterinary-certified care facility for these gentle giants of the Florida waters.
Flying above the white sands and aquamarine waters of the keys on a helicopter sightseeing tour, indulging in a hand-crafted rum cocktail on Duck Key, or exploring Boot Key by kayak will suit more grown-up tastes.
And who could forget about fun in the sun on the area’s great beaches? Catch some rays on Sombrero and Cocoplum beaches, where gorgeous white sand, warm ocean breezes, and recreation, like sand volleyball and tennis, await.
For those who like to get out and explore nature, our Marathon condos and vacation rentals offer front-door access to many activities in Florida’s unique key island habitat. Take a self-guided walk along Crane Point Museum and Nature Center’s nature trail, where you can observe 63 acres of preserved mangrove swamp habitat. This beautiful area is home to species like golden orb spiders and giant swallowtail butterflies, and marine life such as the sailfin molly fish.
Marathon also plays host to a variety of birds, both those that overwinter and live here year-round; for that reason, birding is a popular activity. Grab your binoculars, rent kayaks, and paddle over to the Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area, where you’ll likely get up-close views of violet-green swallows, kelp gulls, white-eared hummingbirds, and many more bird species.
Because of its location in the middle of the key islands, Marathon is within a day’s drive to both mainland Florida (Homestead, the nearest town, lies 77 miles east) and the southernmost U.S. city of Key West, at just 55 miles to the west. For some cool history, check out the Hemingway Home, where Ernest Hemingway once lived. With its unique history, its pastel-hued houses, and great sport fishing, Key West is a sure bet for a fun daytime excursion within easy reach of your Marathon condo rental.
Miami, a city known for its Latin-infused culture, great food, fine shopping, and world-famous nightlife, lies just 116 miles to the northeast. The nearby resort town of Miami Beach is a great place to stay if you don't want to be in the hustle and bustle of the city. Cudjoe, Big Pine, Sugarloaf, Duck, Key Largo, and many more islands that make up the rest of the Florida Keys sit both east and west of Marathon and are an easy drive north and south on the Seven Mile Bridge.
For a fantastic home base in Florida, a stay in any of our Marathon vacation condos and house rentals will be one you won’t soon forget.
