What’s the Southernmost Point in the United States?

As travelers, there are a ton of places we can’t ignore. Our country is filled with so many beautiful experiences waiting for us; each journey is more exciting than the last!

Something we’ve always been interested in is exploring all the extreme points of the United States. It’s certainly a fun activity that we put on our bucket lists long ago.

We’ve explored both the continental and contiguous United States, and one of the most exciting places to visit is the southernmost point. However, there’s something interesting about this area.

If you look at a map and check around Key West, Florida, you’ll notice there’s a “Southernmost Point” and an “Actual Southernmost Point.” What does this mean?

Identifying the southernmost point in the U.S. seemed to be harder than we thought it would be. Information online seems to contradict itself all the time, making it much harder for us to know who is right.

On this page, we’ll outline our experience traveling to the southernmost point in the United States. If you’re ever interested in visiting this place, you will love this guide!

What Is the Southernmost Point in the Continental United States?

The answer to this question is trickier than you may think. Let’s start by saying that Key West is known for being the “southernmost city” in the United States. There, you’ll find a famous area with the “Southernmost Point Buoy.”

This concrete buoy sits at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets. Interestingly enough, it’s only 90 miles to Cuba!

Before the buoy was erected in 1983, this “southernmost point” was originally marked with a sign. The buoy has survived Key West’s strong hurricanes, and it has become one of the greatest touristic attractions for those visiting South and Whitehead Street in Key West.

Here’s when it gets interesting: This isn’t the actual southernmost point of the United States. It isn’t even Key West’s southernmost point!

Identifying the Southernmost Point Correctly

Some people may find discouraging that this place around South Street isn’t the true southernmost point. The truth is that visiting this area takes a bit more planning compared to other extreme geographic points in the country.

One of the main reasons for this trouble is that southern Florida is filled with swamps and islands. While the Florida Keys are beautiful places to visit, they will make the trip to the southernmost point a bit more confusing.

We started with a tough rule: Islands were off the table. If you include islands in your trip, it may be impossible to visit all extreme compass points. There are many reasons for this, including that you would have issues distinguishing islands and small rocks. You may not even know where to stop.

When you exclude islands from your plan, you’ll limit your search to the mainland contiguous United States. In other words, Key West’s buoy around Whitehead and South Streets is out.

Did you know that Key West isn’t even the southernmost island in Florida? If you wanted to visit the actual island, that would be Ballast Key, which is about 10 miles west of Key West. Unfortunately, this place is privately owned, so you can’t visit it.

Without a concrete marker for the southernmost point and Key West out of the equation, what do you do? If you don’t consider islands, you’ll get a new southernmost point. It would be Cape Sable in Everglades National Park, which is located on the Florida mainland.

What’s Next?

You got the southernmost point, so there are two new areas to consider. Those would be the southeasternmost and south-southeasternmost points. If you go back to the map, you’ll conclude that both of these places are somewhere in southern Florida.

Since there are plenty of marshes in that area that transition into the ocean, it may be tricky to tell where the mainland ends.

Again, this comes down to your personal “rules” for the trip. We added another one to make the trip much easier, and it answered this question: “What’s considered part of the mainland?”

In the end, we decided that those would be the places where you could walk at the highest tide. This is often considered the definition of “mainland,” so we thought it would be a nice place to start.

With that rule in place, you can identify the southeasternmost point in the mainland contiguous U.S. We found a place on Card Sound, which is south of Homestead. The point is just before you reach the bridge that leads to Key Largo.

Technically, that’s the southeasternmost point of the U.S. that you can walk to at the highest tide. What about the south-southeasternmost point? That one would be on the right-of-way of Highway 1, just before you get to the first bridge. This place is south of Homestead, and it goes to a place called “Pelican Key.”

Getting to the Southernmost Point in the United States

As you can see, identifying the southernmost point depends on personal rules and definitions you set up. Many people will settle for going to the buoy on Key West. However, we wanted to take our experience to the next level.

After everything we just explained, we ended up with three key places:

• Southernmost Point – Cape Sable
• Southeasternmost Point – Card Sound Bridge
• South-southeasternmost Point – Pelican Key Bridge

At the time, we thought the real southernmost point of the U.S. was Cape Sable, so we planned our trip for that place. Here’s an overview of how everything went down:

To visit Cape Sable, we would have to go to Everglades National Park. It didn’t seem like such a hard place to visit. You could technically drive all the way down to Flamingo and then work your way up to Cape Sable, which is 11 miles west of this place.

Here’s when it gets tricky, though. Visiting Cape Sable would require some sort of boat. Using a motor boat seemed to be the best option since it would help us avoid the strong headwinds in the area.

By the time you reach Everglades National Park, you can go to the Visitor Center, which is past the park entrance. There, you can learn more about the Coastal Prairie Trail, which extends approximately seven miles west of Flamingo.

Flamingo is a small village at Everglades National Park’s southern tip. Although there’s not much to do there, there are a few areas worth considering. You may go to the Visitor Center, the campground, or the marina. Other than that, this is a nice, quiet place where you can spend some time.

Unfortunately, we hit a roadblock by this point. We learned that going to Cape Sable is close to impossible. First, you can’t hike there because the trail is flooded most of the time. On top of that, you would have to deal with mosquitoes and pythons.

If that wasn’t enough, we learned that there was a canal that we’d have to swim across to get to Cape Sable, and unfortunately, it was filled with alligators.

What’s the solution, then? We would have to paddle out there. The bad news is that it’s a 22-mile trip, and considering the strong winds in the area, it would take you a few days at a minimum.

Our Conclusion

With all of that in mind, it was safe to say that going to Cape Sable wasn’t an option for us. We would have to settle for going as near as possible, which was the Flamingo picnic area, in this case.

Although it seems disappointing to learn that this point isn’t “reachable,” keep in mind that many other extreme points aren’t either. The southwesternmost point in the United States, for example, is near Santa Barbara, California. However, you can’t visit it because it’s on an Air Force Base.

Other points, such as the ones in northern Maine, are inaccessible because they’re on private property.

However, we were happy to just go as close as possible to each of these points. In this case, we stayed in Flamingo for a while and took a few photos. It was a nice experience if you don’t consider the extreme amount of mosquitoes there.

With that being said, how do you get to this place? Here’s a small summary:

Travel to Everglades National Park, which is located in southern Florida. Make sure to go past the Visitor Center for approximately 45 miles. You’ll reach Flamingo by this point. Then, you can drive to the picnic area, which is near the campground.

If you want to reach the “southernmost point,” you have to walk south to the shore of Florida Bay for at least a few hundred yards. You’ll find the “southernmost point” by a tree that’s near the beach.

Clearing Up the Confusion: What’s the Real Southernmost Point?

We mentioned before that Cape Sable seemed to be the real southernmost point. After further research, however, we found something interesting.

Many geographers will conclude that Cape Sable is the southernmost point after all the rules mentioned above. This has caused some debate among those who go to Key West and people who prefer to consider Cape Sable.

What if we told you that Cape Sable may not be the southernmost point either? If you look closely at the map, you’ll notice that this place isn’t on the United States mainland; it’s on an island.

According to many definitions (including ours), a site on a mainland can’t be surrounded by water. You should be able to walk to the place at the highest tide so that it’s not considered an island.

As you have learned from our trip, you can’t hike to Cape Sable. This is because the place is cut off from the mainland by a canal that’s approximately 200 feet wide. It’s known as the East Cape Canal, and it was dug around the 1930s.

While Cape Sable was the southernmost point of the mainland United States, this doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. There have been several canals dug in the Everglades over the past years. This has isolated pockets of land, turning them into islands.

Cape Sable (and all the land around it) is considered an island like Ballast Key and Key West, which breaks the rule we set before.

We went back to the map to identify the southernmost point again. After some time, we saw that this place is at an unnamed point of land, which is located about six miles east of Cape Sable. It’s about halfway between Cape Sable and Flamingo.

By looking at satellite imagery, it seems like you can hike to this unnamed point. Although it features a thick underbrush that would make your trip harder, you can do it.

With that into consideration, you can say that this point is on the U.S. mainland, unlike Cape Sable. In other words, the southernmost point of the mainland contiguous United States is this place without a name. If you’re eager to explore, this would be the right place to go.

Activities You Can Do in Key West’s “Southernmost Point”

We understand if you’re overwhelmed by information; getting to the truth of the matter wasn’t easy!

Traveling to all the extreme points of the United States is certainly a great feat, but it’s not an experience for everyone. You would have to deal with harsh hiking trails, long trips, and mosquitoes, so it may not even be worth it for some.

Settling for the “touristic point” isn’t a bad idea. Going to Key West, for example, is a much simpler trip. The great news is that there are plenty of activities to do here, unlike the other places we’ve mentioned throughout this article.

If you want to visit Key West and enjoy your time there, here are some places we recommend:

Southernmost Point Buoy

You can’t ignore the famous buoy if you want to visit the “southern most” point in Key West. This is one of Key West’s most iconic places, and it’s where many tourists gather to take photos and videos.

The southernmost point buoy is also where you’ll hear the popular “90 miles to Cuba” saying. Although you can’t actually see Cuba from there, it’s nice to have a reference.

After taking enough pictures, make sure to stay for a while and enjoy the view. This place will give you a beautiful look at the Atlantic Ocean.

There are a lot of interesting stories surrounding this buoy. The old sign read “The Southernmost Point of the Southernmost City, Key West Fla.” After 1982, it changed to “The Southernmost Point in USA, Key West Fla.” At that point, there was also a sign on a fence nearby, which read “90 miles to Cuba.” The sign had an arrow pointing south.

Today, the buoy is maintained by the Key West Public Works Department. It’s 12 feet tall and 7 feet wide, and it has gone through a few paint jobs.

As of 2024, the buoy has the following text:

– The Conch Republic

– 90 Miles to Cuba

– Southernmost Point

– Continental U.S.A.

– Key West, F.L.

– Home of the Sunset

Something interesting to note is that the buoy didn’t have that much text before. It was refurbished back in 2005, adding the “Home of the Sunset” and “90 miles to Cuba” texts. In the case of the Cuba text, remember that there was a sign that had it written.

Back in 1983, there was also a curb next to the buoy that had the phrase “America Begins” written on it.

The current paint job was done by Danny Acosta, a local painter-artist. Although Hurricane Irma damaged the buoy in 2017, Danny was hired by the city of Key West to paint it again.

This buoy experienced damage again in 2022, specifically on New Year’s Day. It was vandalized by two people. Thankfully, a camera helped find the two culprits, who faced about $1,000 in damages.

Overall, we think that the southernmost point buoy is a location you can’t miss while on your trip to the Key West.

Southernmost Home

The “Southernmost Home” is nothing short of fantastic. It’s a Victorian-style mansion that you can find at the end of Duval Street. When you go to Key West, you’ll instantly recognize this place because of its conch shell pink and sea foam green colors.

It was built in 1896, and it remains one of the most beautiful houses on this island.

When you go to the lobby, you’ll find a small museum that you can explore. There are plenty of presidential artifacts that you can check out, including Ernest Hemingway’s correspondence.

There’s also a zero-entry pool located by the house, and it overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. It’s one of the nicest places to spend some time, take photos, and relax.

Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

This place is located approximately a block away on Duval Street. If you like butterflies, you’ll love the conservatory. It’s filled with hundreds of butterflies of many shapes, colors, and sizes.

Take the opportunity to learn more about these creatures, including their metamorphosis phases and other fun facts.

On top of that, you can also see a great collection of trees, flowering plants, and cascading waterfalls. There are about 50-60 different species from many places around the world, which can make your experience much more interesting.

We think that the conservatory is a great place to visit with your family. From the moment you enter, you’ll get happily overwhelmed by nature. It will feel like you’re entering a new world.

If you want a few souvenirs, don’t forget to check out the gift shop. The staff there will help you find the perfect item to buy.

South Beach

There’s nothing better than some fun time on the beach! Go across Duval Street from the Southernmost House, and you’ll get to South Beach.

Although this is a small stretch of beach, it’s an excellent destination for those who want to go swimming with their loved ones. Of course, you can also set up a beach chair and enjoy a nice and relaxing time while reading your favorite book.

If you want more exciting activities to consider, you could rent a paddle board. It’s a great option to explore what South Beach has to offer.

Ana’s Cuban Cafe / Southernmost Beach Cafe

Do you feel like enjoying a nice cup of coffee or eating a great meal while exploring Key West? We have two options that you may like.

The first one is Ana’s Cuban Cafe, which is located on South Street. It has an impressive menu of sandwiches, so if you want to grab some food without having to wait too long, this may be the right option.

We recommend the Cuban Mix, which is one of the most popular dishes there. It features ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles. You’ll accompany everything with fresh coconut water. Nothing beats that combination!

On the other hand, if you want a place to relax for a while and soak up the atmosphere, you can go to the Southernmost Beach Cafe, which is located right on South Beach. It offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for everyone, so you can go at any moment during the day.

If you don’t want to eat, feel free to go to the bar. There are many great drinks that will make you feel as relaxed as ever.

Old Town Trolley Tour

Riding the trolleys is an experience you can’t afford to miss. The Old Town Trolley has 13 stops that cover over 100 key points of interest. If you want to learn more about Key West and its history, this is a great activity to consider.

Southernmost Point Trolley Stop

This is the best spot to buy your souvenirs. One of the stops on the Old Town Trolley tour is the southernmost point, so take the opportunity to buy gifts and collectibles that will help you remember this amazing experience.

Archeo Gallery

Archeo Gallery is a few blocks north on Duval Street. It’s an art gallery that focuses on design and home wears, so you will find interesting pieces. Some of them include African art, sculptures, and even Gabbeh rugs.

This place also has a decent selection of fine jewelry, including earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

As the founders claim, this is “ancient art for modern living.” Whether you’re only looking at the gallery or buying a few items for yourself, you won’t regret visiting this place. It has a lot of items you won’t find in other galleries.

Bottom Line

Whether you want to visit the Key West southernmost point or plan an adventure to this “unnamed area” in Florida, make sure to take enough precautions.

Finding out which was the true southernmost point was a fun experience we don’t regret doing.

There’s a lot of debate regarding which place you should visit. In the end, that doesn’t matter much. What matters is that you’re accomplishing your goals, so you can go for the rules that best suit your needs.

As you have already learned from reading this article, the southernmost point will change depending on whether you’re considering islands and privately owned places.

If you want the experience to be as straightforward as possible, you can visit Key West and have a great time. We wanted to take an extra step in our journey, and that led us to these other fantastic places in Florida.

Traveling is something that we’ve loved for a long time, and we’re not planning on stopping anytime soon. Sharing these experiences with you only makes things better.

We know it may not be as “fun” to go to Key West knowing that it isn’t the actual southernmost point, but considering that many of the attractions here were designed for touristic purposes, we’re not surprised that people still enjoy going there. It’s still an exciting photo op if you ask us.

That’s everything we have on the southernmost point of the United States! We hope you found our page helpful. Don’t hesitate to check out more blog posts if you want to learn more about our trips.