When looking for baby-friendly things to do anywhere in the world, I tend to gravitate toward animal-centric activities. My late husband loved animals, and he and I had a special affinity for sea turtles. So, when I decided to go to the Florida Keys with our daughter for Father’s Day, I knew we needed to take a little road trip up to Marathon. Why? Because it’s home to a Turtle Hospital! We had a great visit, and I know you and your kids will, too. Here are the best tips for visiting Marathon’s Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys.
When to Go
The Turtle Hospital is open seven days a week, and tours are offered every half hour starting at 9:00am, with the last tour at 4:00pm. Tours last 90 minutes in the rain or shine, and about half the time is spent outdoors. Definitely bring water, sunscreen, and a hat! I suggest starting your tour early, ideally for the 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, or 10:30 tours, before the day gets too hot. Water bottle refilling stations are available, as well as complimentary bottles of water if you need them during the tour. This was great for us, as we visited in June!
Also in Marathon: Your Guide to the EAA Air Museum
How to Get There
We drove from Key West, which is about an hour’s drive. If you’re coming from Key Largo, that’s also about an hour. If you’re staying in Marathon, of course, the Turtle Hospital is much more easily accessible! In fact, there is a nice, family-friendly resort next door. Wherever you’re coming from, you can park in the hospital’s onsite parking lot, but don’t expect to be able to park in the shade!
A Family-friendly Stay Nearby: Staying at the Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort, Marathon
Tickets
Because this is a privately-run, specialty hospital, tickets are not the cheapest. That said, the proceeds of ticket sales, and from their fabulous gift shop, go toward funding the hospital. As of 2025, general tickets for ages 12 and up are $35, children 4-12 are $17.50, and children 0-3 years old are free (great to do while your baby is still little!). You can buy tickets online here, or in-person at the gift shop. Buying in advance is highly recommended, as space is limited, and time slots do fill up!
More here: The Best Places to Eat in Marathon
Highlights of the Tour
The first part of the tour is entirely inside—woohoo, air conditioning! Savor it. You’ll be inside for about 30 minutes or so to learn about the different types of sea turtles, and what might cause them to need to come to the hospital. You’ll also get to see some skeletons and turtle shells, which little kids and grownups alike will find kind of fascinating.
I actually really enjoyed going into the actual hospital, in the surgical area. There were no turtles in surgery at the time, but there was a video of a previous surgery that we could watch while our guide explained what surgeries are like for turtles. There was also a plush, stuffed turtle on the surgical table with a bandage on for effect. See the photo above. Very cute!
The third highlight for us was seeing some of the patients in the tanks outside. But the best part? Feeding sea turtles! Many turtles are not able to safely return to the open ocean, so they live at the hospital and swim around in a massive pool all day. Visitors to the museum are allowed to feed them specific food during their visit. My baby girl and I love watching them swim around and feast!
Read next: What to Know Before You Visit the Florida Keys
Want more? Get everything you need on my United States Page!
Love this post? Pin it for later!
On my most recent trip to Key West, this was something I was disappointed to miss.
Worth going back for!