Key West, United States
Smoking policy at Key West, Key West International Airport (EYW)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking and vaping inside the terminal or anywhere past the TSA checkpoint is prohibited. Violations can result in staff intervention, being asked to leave the terminal, and possible fines. The old airside smoking patio (visible in 2019 photos) is closed; do not expect to find it operational.
Key West International Airport is a smoke-free building, but you can smoke outdoors at the designated curbside zone in front of the terminal before security. There are no airside smoking options past the TSA checkpoint, so plan your last cigarette before you go through screening.
Before Security
The only confirmed smoking spot at EYW is the outdoor designated area at the curbside in front of the main terminal entrance. Florida's clean indoor air rules require smokers to stand a set distance back from the doorways, so look for the marked zone away from the entrance. The area is open-air with no permanent shelter, though Key West's warm tropical climate makes year-round outdoor smoking fairly comfortable. Brief afternoon rain showers are common in summer, so keep that in mind.
Curbside outdoor zone in front of the terminal entrance, landside only
No covered shelter; open-air spot set back from the doors per Florida setback rules
Vaping follows the same rules as cigarettes: outdoors only, in the same curbside zone
After Security
There is no smoking anywhere inside the secure area. EYW opened its new Concourse A in 2025, an approximately 48,800-square-foot building with eight gates, and the entire concourse is smoke-free. No indoor smoking rooms, no airside outdoor patios.
If you need to smoke after clearing security, your only option is to exit back to the landside curbside area and re-clear TSA. Because EYW handles relatively low passenger volume compared to mainland Florida hubs, the re-screening process is typically quick, though spring break and holiday weekends can be busier.
A Note on the Old Airside Smoking Patio
Photos from July 2019 show a covered outdoor smoking area past security, complete with a decorative waterfall feature, red-umbrella seating, and a "Last Call Beach Bar" setup. That area was a genuinely charming spot. However, multiple sources confirm it was closed, with the airport moving to a fully smoke-free indoor and airside policy around 2023. The images here are historical and the area no longer exists in its previous form.
Vaping Rules
Vaping and e-cigarettes are treated the same as cigarettes at EYW. No vaping inside the terminal or anywhere in the secure zone. Use the curbside outdoor area landside.
Bottom Line
Smoke at the curbside outdoor zone before you go through security; once airside, there are zero options and you would need to exit and re-clear TSA to get a smoke break.
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