KEY WEST, FL (Amazing America TV) — It’s time for a trip down south, way down south. Amazing America’s Kevin Kotwas takes us to the southernmost point in the continental United States.

You’ll find it in Key West, Florida.

It is perhaps the most famous buoy in America, but the one on display is actually a full-scale replica buoy on Duval Street in Key West. The original buoy, erected in 1983, and its plaza are currently undergoing reconstruction and are expected to reopen in late 2026.

The landmark is painted with the phrase “90 Miles to Cuba,” but the actual distance to the Cuban shore is about 94 miles.

And while there is much fanfare about the farthest south you can go and still be in America, the original spot was marked by a simple wooden sign that tourists would often take as a souvenir. Now decades later, the buoy is one of the most popular tourist spots in the entire state of Florida.

Now for a spoiler alert! The true “southernmost point” is on restricted U.S. Navy property, so the public can’t access it. It is about 10 miles from Key West on the private island of Ballast Key.

The best times to visit the tourist spot are early in the morning, before 9 a.m., or late at night to avoid the long lines that often form during the day. However, if you’re not interested in taking a photo at the buoy, you can spend your time soaking up the sun and taking in the southern view.

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