Southernmost Point Buoy Location, Directions & Parking

The Southernmost Point Buoy stands at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street in Key West’s Old Town, right where Whitehead Street runs out of land and meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the most photographed spots in Florida, and it is exactly what the Southernmost Webcam watches around the clock.

Address: Whitehead St & South St, Key West, FL 33040
GPS coordinates: approximately 24.5465° N, 81.7975° W

Important: The Original Buoy Is Under Construction

Since September 2025, the original buoy at South and Whitehead has been closed off while the City of Key West rebuilds the storm-damaged seawall and street end around it. The seawall work is substantially complete, and a separate roadway and plaza project along South and Whitehead Streets began in mid-September 2026. The city estimated roughly 180 days of work, which points to early spring 2027, though no firm reopening date has been announced.

In the meantime, a full-size replica of the buoy stands one block east in the Duval Street pocket park at 1400 Duval Street, at the southern end of Duval. It gives visitors the same classic photo while the real thing is restored. You can follow the work on the live webcam, which is pointed at the original corner, and read the latest on our construction and restoration updates page.

Walking to the Southernmost Point

Old Town Key West is compact and flat, and walking is the easiest way to reach the buoy. Distances below are approximate:

From the north end of Duval Street (Sloppy Joe’s, Duval and Greene): walk south on Duval Street for a little over a mile, about 20 to 25 minutes, until Duval ends at the ocean. The replica buoy is right there at 1400 Duval; the original corner is one short block west along South Street.
From Mallory Square and the cruise ship piers: about 1.3 miles, or 25 to 30 minutes on foot. Head up Duval or Whitehead and keep going south until you run out of island.
From Mile Marker 0 (Whitehead and Fleming): walk straight south on Whitehead Street for roughly three-quarters of a mile. You will pass the Key West Lighthouse and the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum on the way.

For a route that strings the best nearby sights together, see our walking tour from the Southernmost Point.

Trolleys, Buses, Bikes & Scooters

The narrated sightseeing trolley and train tours through Old Town routinely include the Southernmost Point, and the City of Key West’s free Duval Loop bus runs the length of Duval Street. Routes and stops can shift while South and Whitehead Streets are torn up, so check the current schedule before you rely on a specific stop.

Bicycles and scooters are everywhere in Key West and are a practical way to get around. Lock up only in designated areas and keep sidewalks and the construction fencing clear. Traffic at the end of Duval and Whitehead can be tight, with pedestrians stepping into the street for photos, so ride slowly here.

Parking Near the Buoy

Parking right at the Southernmost Point has always been scarce, and construction has reduced it further. Street spaces in the surrounding blocks are limited and paid, and many Old Town streets are reserved for residents with permits. Read the signs carefully, because Key West enforces parking actively.

Most visitors do better parking in one of the city garages or lots closer to downtown, such as the Park ‘N Ride garage on Grinnell Street, and then walking, biking, or riding the Duval Loop down to the buoy. If you are staying in Old Town, leave the car where it is. The walk is part of the fun.

What You'll Find at the Corner

The buoy itself is a painted concrete marker about 12 feet tall and 7 feet wide, set against a low seawall with open water behind it. Beside it sits a small concrete hut that once housed the underwater telephone cable that linked Key West with Havana in the 1920s. To the west, beyond Whitehead Street, is restricted U.S. Navy property; to the east, South Street leads one block to the end of Duval Street, the replica buoy, and the landmark Southernmost House.

On a normal day there is a line of people waiting their turn for a photo, street vendors, cyclists, and the occasional Key West rooster. On the webcam, you can check how long the line is before you walk over, and the Cam Archive shows how the scene changes through the day.

Accessibility

The area around the buoy is flat, with sidewalks on the approach streets. During construction, sidewalks and crossings near South and Whitehead may be closed or rerouted, so follow posted detour signs. The temporary replica at 1400 Duval sits on a level pedestrian plaza that is easier to reach with a wheelchair or stroller. The new plaza design at the original corner includes new sidewalks, landscaping and lighting.

More Southernmost Point Guides

See all guides →

For Keys travel information, please visit PartyInKeyWest.com and The Florida Keys & Key West.