Sun Outdoors Sugarloaf Key

A Waterfront Basecamp in the Lower Keys

Sun Outdoors Sugarloaf Key sits on a 40-acre stretch of waterfront on Sugarloaf Key, about 17 miles — and one long bridge drive — from downtown Key West. For decades it operated as a KOA-style RV resort, but a major renovation under the Sun Outdoors brand turned it into one of the only properties in the Lower Keys where you can reasonably call what you are doing “glamping.” The setting is classic Keys: turquoise water on two sides, palm trees bent sideways by trade winds, and pelicans cruising the rental pier as if they are checking in too.

The Accommodations

The glamping inventory here comes in two flavors. The vintage Airstreams are the draw — restored silver bullets parked on private waterfront or near-waterfront sites, with full bathrooms, air conditioning, kitchenettes, and outdoor seating under a tiki-style awning. They sleep two to four and walk a nice line between retro novelty and actual comfort. The modern cottages and tiny homes are the alternative for groups or families, with one or two bedrooms, full kitchens, and screened porches. Both options get you the same access to the waterfront, the heated pool, the marina, and the Tiki Bar.

What you will not get is a wilderness experience. This is a resort, and it feels like one. The upside is that “resort” here means kayaks, paddleboards, a heated pool, a private beach area, a camp store, and a bar with frozen drinks. The downside is that your neighbor is probably 20 feet away in a fifth-wheel.

Why Go

The case for Sugarloaf Key is about location. True glamping inventory in the Florida Keys is extremely thin — most operators run RV-only parks or full-service hotels. Sun Outdoors is the rare middle ground: you get the canvas-and-chrome novelty of an Airstream stay, a kitchen to cook dinner in, a pool to cool off in, and Key West a quick drive away. For couples who want a long weekend of snorkeling, sunset sails, and Cuban food on Duval Street without paying Key West hotel rates, it is a strong play.

Families do well here too, especially with the marina and watersports program. The kids get kayaks and pool time, adults get the Tiki Bar, and everyone sleeps in something more novel than a hotel room.

How to Book

Reserve directly through Sun Outdoors for the best rates and widest selection. Airstreams and tiny homes get snapped up six to eight weeks ahead for winter weekends — the high season runs December through April, when Northerners flood the Keys. If you can travel midweek or in the May through November shoulder, rates drop significantly and availability opens up.

For more options across the state, our Florida glamping guide covers everything from the Everglades to the Panhandle.