If you dream of a tropical getaway without breaking the bank, military lodging in Key West offers the perfect solution! In this guide, guest contributor Julie Chickery breaks down everything you need to know about staying at Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West.
From beachfront campsites to pet-friendly hotels and vacation rentals, you’ll find a wide range of accommodations and amenities across NAS Key West’s unique locations —each with its own charm and access to the island’s best attractions.
NAS Key West Overview
NAS Key West is a military installation located at the southernmost tip of Florida. It’s spread across a series of separate facilities extending up to 9 ½ miles from the main base at Boca Chica Key.
In addition to the main base, three annexes on Key West provide various lodging options and amenities. All are secure military facilities requiring proper identification to access them.
NAS Key West Installations
- Boca Chica Field – The primary installation is located on Boca Chica Key, along U.S. Highway 1 (Overseas Highway), approximately 11 miles east of Key West’s historic waterfront and downtown area.
- Sigsbee Park – The largest of the annexes, Sigsbee Park, is situated on a man-made island north of Key West, about four miles from the main tourist sites. It is connected to the main island by a causeway.
- Trumbo Point – West of Sigsbee is the Trumbo Point facility. It’s in a quiet corner of town just over 1 ½ miles from the downtown area.
- Truman Annex – Positioned on the southwestern end of Key West, Truman Annex is the smallest location with recreational lodging. This area is known for its proximity (just under one mile) to downtown Key West attractions.
NAS Key West Lodging and Amenities
NAS Key West offers such a wide range of lodging options with varying amenities, you’re sure to find something to suit your travel style.
Boca Chica Field
Home to the airstrip and primary missions of NAS Key West, the base offers standard hotel-style rooms through Navy Gateway Inns & Suites (NGIS). These rooms have queen-sized beds and private bathrooms.
The recreational highlight of the naval station is the marina. This beautiful facility is set on the calm waters of Boca Chica Channel. It boasts a sandy beach, kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals, picnic areas with barbeque grills, as well as a restaurant and lounge.
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Other base amenities include a fitness center, a bowling center with a cafe, and a NEX Mini Mart & Gas Station.
Sigsbee Park
Tucked on its own small island connected to Key West, Sigsbee hosts a Navy Lodge. The pet-friendly hotel-style rooms (one or two queen beds) with small kitchens. They have cribs and rollaway beds available upon request.
Better known for its campgrounds that have become a snowbird draw for military patrons every winter, Sigsbee boasts 93 full hook-up campsites, 204 dry camping sites, and 14 tent-only sites.
The Sunset View Campground is full hook-up only, while the Gulf View Campground has all the dry camping sites and a small full hook-up section. Both campgrounds have access to a rocky beach, as well as shower and laundry facilities. A dump station is also available at the Gulf View Campground.
As the primary housing location for NAS Key West, Sigsbee has more amenities and services than the other installations. These include: a commissary; Exchange; car wash (with large bays for boats and RVs); Tickets & Travel Office; and a fitness center with an outdoor track.
The Sigsbee Marina rents fishing boats, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, snorkeling fins + dive flags (with mask & snorkel available for purchase), and fishing gear. Adjacent to the marina is the Hideaway Grill and Sunset Lounge, where you can find entertainment like karaoke, trivia, and bingo.
Trumbo Point
The most coveted accommodations for vacationing families are the recreational lodging vacation rentals at Trumbo Point. Guests can choose between the 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom townhouses and the 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom cottages. The units have full kitchens, dining areas, and living rooms.
Trumbo Point also hosts the main 3-story NGIS building, which has more than one hundred standard rooms and two dozen one-bedroom suites with kitchenettes and a sitting room. A limited number of rooms are pet-friendly.
The Tropical Landing Campground comprises 66 seasonal dry camping sites available from mid-October through April. The campground also has laundry facilities, bathhouses with showers, potable water fill stations, and a dump station. While the campground is waterfront, there is no swimming allowed.
As of this writing, the Trumbo Pool is undergoing extensive renovations. The base anticipates that the pool will reopen by the summer of 2025.
The only other amenity on Trumbo Point is an NEX Mini Mart.
Truman Annex
The smallest of NAS Key West’s annexes is in a prime location for visiting the main tourist sites of Key West. Visitors lucky enough to get a room here can enjoy a beautiful one-mile walk to Mallory Square and Duval Street, passing the Truman Waterfront Park and the Little White House on your way.
The annex has one Navy Gateway Inn building with standard rooms consisting of a queen bed and a private bathroom. The campground offers five beachfront dry campsites and a small bathhouse.
Since the Recreation Center closed due to hurricane damage, the only remaining amenity at Truman Annex is a 400-square-foot Micro NEX offering snacks, beverages, and limited toiletry items.
Reservation Tips
The key to securing a spot at any of Key West’s lodging facilities is to make your reservations as early as possible. Active Duty and their dependents can reserve up to 12 months in advance, starting at 8 a.m. EST on the first of the month. All other eligible patrons can make reservations 6 months in advance, also starting at 8 a.m. EST on the first of the month.
If you don’t get a reservation on your first attempt, try again closer to your travel dates, as plans change and there are often last-minute cancelations.
What to Do in Key West
Key West has a wide range of opportunities to enjoy its stunning tropical scenery, rich history, and vibrant culture. Don’t forget to make the Tickets & Travel Office at Sigsbee Park one of your first stops.
If you plan to frequent the popular Old Town area, keep in mind that parking is limited and is not free. You can, however, park at Trumbo Point or the Truman Annex and walk or take advantage of the city’s free bus service.
One of the best ways to experience the island is by bicycle. Several rental operations offer military discounts, rent by the week, and will deliver the bikes to you.
Old Town Key West
This district is the island’s downtown area, known for its architecture, vibrant atmosphere, and fantastic food.
- Mallory Square is famous for its lively Sunset Celebration, where street performers, local artists, and musicians create an unforgettable atmosphere as the sun sets over the Gulf.
- Just a short walk away, Duval Street is the heart of Key West’s nightlife and dining scene, lined with iconic bars like Sloppy Joe’s, eclectic shops, and historic architecture.
- The Historic Seaport and Waterfront offer a glimpse of Key West’s maritime heritage. They have a series of boardwalks to explore, numerous fresh seafood restaurants, and opportunities for water adventures like sailing and dolphin-watching.
Museums and Historical Sites
History buffs will also find many treasures around the island, from maritime to military history.
- The Little White House served as President Truman’s winter retreat and provides a glimpse into this presidential retreat with its well-preserved rooms and artifacts.
- If you love literature, the Hemingway Home and Museum lets visitors explore the legendary writer’s residence, complete with his famous six-toed cats.
- For treasure hunters, the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum showcases real-life shipwreck treasures, including gold and artifacts recovered from Spanish galleons.
- The USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum, a retired Coast Guard cutter, offers a unique military and maritime history perspective, allowing visitors to step aboard and experience life at sea.
- The Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters Museum offers breathtaking panoramic views of Key West from its 88-step climb to the top. Built in 1848, the restored Keeper’s Quarters showcases artifacts and stories of the lighthouse keepers who maintained it.
Beaches
Though Key West isn’t famous for long, sprawling beaches, these options provide opportunities to enjoy the island’s tropical beauty.
- Fort Zachary Taylor State Park is known for its clear water, snorkeling, and shaded picnic areas, making it the best all-around beach on the island. It also has nature trails and a historic Civil War-era fort to explore.
- Smathers Beach is most like a vacation destination beach with chair and umbrella rentals, plus water sports like jet skiing and parasailing.
- Higgs Beach offers a quieter choice with a historic pier and picnic areas.
Marine Excursions
No trip to Key West is complete without enjoying a day on the water. Covering over 2,900 square nautical miles, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is home to coral reefs, shipwrecks, seagrass beds, and abundant marine life.
A plethora of local vendors offer experiences to enjoy stunning waters and diverse marine life. Glass-bottom boat tours are a way to view the vibrant coral reefs and tropical fish without getting wet, making them perfect for families.
For a more immersive experience, snorkeling trips bring adventurers to swim among colorful corals, sea turtles, and exotic fish. Dolphin-watching tours are often accompanied by a beautiful sunset cruise, some offering food and drink.
For fishing enthusiasts, deep-sea, reef, and backcountry fishing trips give anglers a chance to catch everything from tarpon and snapper to mahi-mahi and sailfish. As an added bonus, several local restaurants will “cook your catch” any way you like.
Dry Tortugas National Park provides the ultimate day trip from Key West. Accessible only by water or air, there are two main options for visitors to explore the park.
The Yankee Freedom ferry is the most popular choice with a scenic 2.5-hour boat ride (each way) across turquoise waters, providing passengers with breakfast, lunch, and the chance to spot marine life along the way. It stays docked for 4.5 hours before returning to Key West.
For a faster and more exhilarating journey, the seaplane excursion takes just 40 minutes, offering breathtaking aerial views of the seven remote islands, coral reefs, and historic Fort Jefferson before landing on the water. Once there, visitors can explore the massive 19th-century fort, snorkel in crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life, or relax on pristine white-sand beaches.
Ready to Plan Your Key West Vacation?
As you can see, Key West is the perfect place for service members and their families to enjoy a memorable and budget-friendly island getaway.
Start planning your trip by contacting the facilities directly!
Looking for more military lodging? Check out dozens of other locations across the U.S. and around the world!
Author Bio: Julie Chickery is a travel writer with a passion for exploration. She caught the travel bug while serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. After retirement, Julie and her husband, Sean, lived in their fifth-wheel RV for six years before settling down near their grandchildren. She shares travel tips and itineraries for epic road trips on her blog, Chickery’s Travels.
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Thank you, Julie, always great tips.
Steve
Great article Julie,
I lived in the Florida Keys and owned a resort, close to the Marathon, Island. This is full of great local information that will make any travelers trip more efficient and easier to get around.
One suggestion about a place that should not be missed. Latitudes Restaurant. The whole experience is fun, exciting, and can be tremendously romantic. The food is amazing.
Thank you!
Thank you for the tip!