A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Key Largo vs. Virginia Beach for Families, Resorts, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Key Largo or Virginia Beach?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Key Largo and Virginia Beach can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Key Largo

Key Largo is a family-friendly, beautiful, and relaxed island. As it is a quaint destination, it has a nice vibe. Visitors also love the scuba diving and snorkeling and beaches.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a fun-filled, relaxing, and bustling coastal city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the nightlife and beaches.

Key Largo and Virginia Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Key Largo or Virginia Beach?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Key Largo. Although Key Largo and Virginia Beach are both popular with visitors, Key Largo has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Key Largo is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and quaint atmosphere, while Virginia Beach is known for its nightlife and impressive beauty. Key Largo is more touristy than Virginia Beach and is known for its snorkeling and scuba diving including that around John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the artificial reef around the USS Spiegel Grove. It is also home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Virginia Beach is popular for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe.

How is Key Largo different from Virginia Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Virginia Beach and Key Largo. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is the Food Better in Key Largo or Virginia Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Key Largo and Virginia Beach can be an enjoyable experience.

Key Largo may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Like the rest of the Florida Keys, Key Largo is known for its Key Lime pie and seafood. You'll find a great selection of restaurants that serve seafood dishes and options for the land-loving crew. There are even a few international restaurants to choose from.

Virginia Beach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is Key Largo or Virginia Beach Better for Nightlife?

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for its evening party scene. However, Key Largo is not a good destination for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Virginia Beach has a few options to choose from. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

Most people don't head to Key Largo specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. This area is not known for its nightlife, so you'll need to head further south if partying is your style.

Is Key Largo or Virginia Beach Better for Resorts?

Key Largo is great for its luxury resorts. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its resorts.

Key Largo is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Popular resorts in the area include Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, Reefhouse Resort & Marina, and Largo Resort.

Virginia Beach has a few great resort options. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

Is Key Largo or Virginia Beach Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Key Largo is great for its diving and snorkeling. However, Virginia Beach is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to Key Largo to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. Near this island you'll find some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Florida Keys at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. There are private tours that head out to the reef for either snorkeling or diving. There are also shipwrecks and other fascinating spots to explore.

Virginia Beach is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Key Largo or Virginia Beach Better for Beaches?

Both Key Largo and Virginia Beach are considered to be good beach destinations.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Key Largo. Many of the beaches around Key Largo are man-made, but they do offer nice sand and beautiful blue water. The water is turquoise, although not as striking as further south.

Virginia Beach offers a nice beach destination. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

Is Key Largo or Virginia Beach Better for Families?

Key Largo is terrific for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its family-friendly activities.

Key Largo is an amazing family-friendly island to visit. This area has some of the best family-friendly snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. There's also several places where your kids can interact with dolphins or experience wildlife. If you want to get out on the water, there's kayaking, sunset cruises, and glass bottom boats, all of which are great for the whole family.

Virginia Beach is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

Is Key Largo or Virginia Beach Better for Couples?

Both Key Largo and Virginia Beach are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Key Largo is a good island for couples to visit. Most couples head further down the Florida Keys, but for snorkeling and scuba diving, Key Largo is the better option. You'll also find kayaking and sunset cruises that leave from the area.

Virginia Beach is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Is Key Largo or Virginia Beach Better for Students?

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Key Largo is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Virginia Beach. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

Key Largo is not popular with students.

Is Key Largo or Virginia Beach Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Neither Key Largo or Virginia Beach offer decent public transit.

Public transit is quite limited in Key Largo. There's no real public transit around the island and you must have a car to get around.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is Key Largo or Virginia Beach a more walkable city?

Virginia Beach is adequate for its ease of walking around. However, Key Largo is not a good destination for its walkability.

Virginia Beach is generally not a very walkable coastal city. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

Key Largo is not a walkable island. It is a sprawling area that spreads out along a main highway that is not pedestrian friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Key Largo Worth Visiting? and Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Virginia Beach or Key Largo?

How long in Key Largo or Virginia Beach?

Both Key Largo and Virginia Beach have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Key Largo has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Key Largo than Virginia Beach. However, 5-7 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Key Largo than Virginia Beach. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Key Largo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Key Largo than Virginia Beach if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Key Largo.

One day in Key Largo or Virginia Beach?

In Key Largo, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find nightlife around the coastal city of Virginia Beach. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Key Largo or Virginia Beach?

Key Largo is a great place to explore. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Anyone can find something fun to do here. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find nightlife around the fun-filled destination of Virginia Beach. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Key Largo or Virginia Beach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Key Largo. It's also a relaxing resort destination. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. It offers something for everyone. Because of this, five days is usually enough time for a trip here.

You'll find nightlife around the bustling coastal city of Virginia Beach. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this coastal city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal city has to offer.

A week in Key Largo or Virginia Beach?

In Key Largo, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. One week is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Virginia Beach is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Virginia Beach, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Key Largo and Virginia Beach, we can see that Key Largo is more expensive. And not only is Virginia Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia Beach and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Key Largo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Key Largo than you might in Virginia Beach.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Key Largo Expensive? and Is Virginia Beach Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Key Largo or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Key Largo. When comparing the sizes of Key Largo and Virginia Beach, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Key Largo or Virginia Beach?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Key Largo or Virginia Beach in the Summer?

Both Virginia Beach and Key Largo are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Key Largo for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Key Largo is generally around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Key Largo average around 82°F (28°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Key Largo. Key Largo usually receives more sunshine than Virginia Beach during summer. Key Largo gets 316 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. It's quite rainy in Key Largo. In July, Key Largo usually receives around the same amount of rain as Virginia Beach. Key Largo gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Key Largo or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

Both Virginia Beach and Key Largo during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

Key Largo is much warmer than Virginia Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Key Largo averages around 78°F (26°C) in October, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

In Virginia Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Key Largo. In the autumn, Key Largo often gets more sunshine than Virginia Beach. Key Largo gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Key Largo. Key Largo usually gets more rain in October than Virginia Beach. Key Largo gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Key Largo or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Key Largo and Virginia Beach. The cuisine are the main draw to Key Largo this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Virginia Beach. In the winter, Key Largo is much warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Key Largo in January average around 67°F (19°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 39°F (4°C).

In Key Largo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Key Largo usually receives more sunshine than Virginia Beach during winter. Key Largo gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Key Largo usually receives less rain than Virginia Beach. Key Largo gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Key Largo or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Key Largo as well as Virginia Beach. Many travelers come to Key Largo for the beaches. Also, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Key Largo is generally much warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Key Largo average around 74°F (24°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Key Largo this time of the year. In the spring, Key Largo often gets more sunshine than Virginia Beach. Key Largo gets 300 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun.

Key Largo usually gets more rain in April than Virginia Beach. Key Largo gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and Key Largo