Taking a Florida Keys highway journey on the Overseas Highway from Key Largo all the way down to Key West is a basic American highway journey. Sun in your pores and skin, wind in your hair, your highway journey playlist jamming, cruising alongside this chain of islands — it’s a journey everybody ought to take of their lifetime, whether or not it’s with their household, pals, or on their very own.
This 113-mile journey travels by way of small vacationer cities, over Seven Mile Bridge (a Florida landmark), and previous glowing water in additional shades of blue than your common crayon field. It is without doubt one of the most scenic drives in Florida and if a Florida Keys roadtrip isn’t in your bucket record, it ought to be.
HOw Many Days Do You Need to Drive the Florida Keys?
Technically you’ll be able to full a Florida Keys highway journey in a day, because the drive usually takes about 5 hours with none lengthy stops. However, you must actually attempt to embrace the relaxed perspective of locals (or the “Conchs” as they name the locals in Key West) and take your time.
I might advocate that you simply cease and keep a minimum of two nights someplace within the center keys, both in Key Largo or Marathon. This permits you extra time to get pleasure from a few of the actions and water sports activities, like kayaking within the Florida Keys.
There are 5 main areas within the string of small islands that make up the Florida Keys. From north to south these are: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, the Lower Keys, and Key West. Each area presents a special vibe and sights, so it is smart to discover just a few locations alongside the best way. Otherwise, you would possibly as properly simply skip the highway journey and fly to Key West — however then you definately miss a lot of the great things!
Getting to the Florida Keys
Getting to the Florida Keys is fairly simple, as you could find direct flights from throughout the nation to both Miami or Fort Lauderdale. From Miami International Airport to Key Largo takes about an hour, and it is just a bit of additional (1.5 hours) from Fort Lauderdale.
If you might be restricted in time, chances are you’ll wish to think about driving a technique and flying out of the opposite, simply needless to say chances are you’ll incur some further automotive rental charges for a one-way drop-off.
Best Time to Take a Key West Road Trip
Since Key West is the Southernmost level within the continental USA, a Florida Keys highway journey may be an effective way to flee the winter chilly, making December by way of May peak season. While the Florida Keys are fashionable with snowbirds, you’ll be able to get pleasure from this enjoyable vacation spot year-round. Just needless to say the summer time months may be brutally sizzling and humid, so it’s best to plan water actions. You additionally have to be careful for afternoon thunderstorms.
The solely time to presumably keep away from is prime hurricane season from August by way of November, as you by no means know what to anticipate and evacuating on the Florida Keys may be difficult as there is only one highway out and in of this island chain.
Where to Stay on a Florida Keys Roadtrip
Note: This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I could obtain a small fee. My current journey was hosted by The Florida Keys and Key West, and we obtained complimentary lodging, transportation, and a few actions. All opinions are my very own.
If you solely have an extended weekend, it is smart to hightail it all the way down to Key West for the period. Or, skip the lengthy drive and keep within the increased Keys like Key Largo or Islamorada. However, when you have 4 nights or extra on your Florida Keys itinerary, think about splitting up your keep.
I not too long ago took a Florida Keys women’ journey with my podcast associate Kim, and we spent two nights in Key Largo at Baker’s Cay Resort. Located within the southern a part of Key Largo, it’s a nice jumping-off spot for exploring the close by Keys.
We additionally had dinner and a spa therapy on the Playa Largo Resort, a Marriott Autograph property, close by, which had an excellent pool and waterfront space for households.
On a earlier household journey to the Keys, we stayed at Hawk’s Cay Resort on Duck Key, which is a superb alternative for households and nice for venturing into close by Marathon.
Once you arrive in Key West, you will have the choice of staying on the town or saving a bit of cash by staying simply outdoors of city on Stock Island. On our woman’s journey, we stayed on the Perry Hotel Key West on Stock Island, a boutique resort that gives shuttle service to the seashore and downtown.
Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo
Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo is a part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. As with many Curio properties, this renovated property maintains the native character. The lovely public areas provide many areas to chill out and hang around, from swings on the patio to the library and video games space off the foyer.
There are two eating places on the property, in addition to a seashore bar that serves up complimentary champagne at sundown, and a meals truck and bar on the pool.
The rooms at Baker’s Cay have been refreshed, however the constructing nonetheless maintains outside corridors. There are two wings of the resort, one fronting Hammock Beach, which is a tiny seashore tucked below the mangroves, and the opposite close to sundown seashore, which is the primary seashore that includes the dock and water actions.
Keep in thoughts that the seashores within the Florida Keys are comparatively small, lined with palm timber and some rows of seashore chairs. The actual attraction of the seashore space is the clear water and outside actions.
You can e book all kinds of excursions and water sports activities from the resort, together with wave runners and paddle boarding. Kids additionally love the problem of the resort ABC scavenger hunt, with letters scattered all through the property.
Perry Hotel Key West
The Perry Hotel is situated on Stock Island, an up-and-coming space roughly 20 minutes outdoors of downtown Key West. This fashionable, boutique resort caters to younger households, teams, and {couples}.
Even although the resort isn’t inside strolling distance to downtown, they do provide scooters for lease for $45 a day, or free shuttle service on the hour from mid-morning by way of the night.
Of course, you’ll be able to at all times hang around on the resort. Rent a cabana across the pool, hand around in a hammock, get pleasure from an tour from the marina subsequent door, get pleasure from oysters on the pool bar, or expertise fabulous sea-to-table eating at Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen and Bar.
The rooms are as tastefully adorned as the general public areas, many providing balconies overlooking the pool. The Perry Hotel Key West is a good alternative for these on the lookout for sensible, inexpensive luxurious who wish to keep out of the hustle and bustle of downtown.
More Key West Hotel Options
Places to Stop on a Florida Keys Road Trip Itinerary
While you might be staying within the Key Largo space, take a while to discover. It is thought for its fishing and scuba diving, and close by Islamorada is without doubt one of the cutest small cities in Florida. Other sights embody:
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
The underwater playground of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a must-visit and an excellent first cease in your Key West drive. This undersea park covers 70 nautical sq. miles, whose coral reefs may be explored by glass-bottom boat, scuba, or snorkeling expedition to see marine life and tropical fish. Upland areas provide mangrove swamps, strolling trails, picnic tables, swimming, and a customer middle.
Lunch at Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen
Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen is a long-time favourite of locals and vacationers, as you’ll be able to inform from the license plates lining the partitions. Try the crab muffins or the conch fritters, simply make sure to save room for some key lime pie.
See extra solutions on the place to eat in Key Largo!
Robbie’s of Islamorada
Robbie’s Marina is without doubt one of the hottest locations within the Keys and a should cease in your Florida Key highway journey. Most guests cease right here to feed the tarpon fish, buying buckets of fish and paying an entrance payment to entry the docks. However, there may be additionally a restaurant and bar on website referred to as the Hungry Tarpon. Just be sure to arrive early as a result of the parking zone fills up quick.
Robbie’s additionally presents all kinds of water excursions, together with snorkeling, parasailing, scuba, kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing charters. We took a snorkeling tour from Robbie’s out to Alligator Reef (don’t fear, there aren’t any alligators, though you might even see a nurse shark!) It was fairly uneven on the day we went out, so in case you get seasick chances are you’ll wish to inquire about circumstances earlier than you board.
Boat Tours
You might also wish to think about a glass-bottom boat tour or sundown cruise with Key Largo Princess. The glass-bottom boat tour will can help you see the underwater world of the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary with out going below the water!
If you are taking my recommendation and spend a few nights in Key Largo earlier than heading all the way down to Key West, you’ll nonetheless have fairly a drive in entrance of you. The journey from Key Largo to Key West took us almost 5 hours, with just a few stops alongside the best way.
For extra stops in your Florida Keys highway journey, try these choices.
Marathon
If you might be getting hungry whereas driving by way of Marathon, plan to cease for lunch at Island Fish Co. and Tiki Bar, which is a good spot to catch the sundown too. Or head off the freeway to go to Burdine’s Waterfront Marina. Both have a scrumptious fried key lime pie, however Burdine’s is fairly distinctive and served chimichanga fashion.
While you might be there, cease and go to the ocean turtles at The Turtle Hospital, with rescues, rehabilitates, and releases injured turtles. Just needless to say reservations are really useful.
Bahia Honda State Park
Even although the Florida Keys aren’t recognized for its seashores (see this record of the finest Florida Beaches), Bahia Honda State Park is alleged to be probably the most lovely seashores within the nation. It makes an excellent cease for a day or simply some seashore time at Bahia Honda Key.
Big Pine Key
Just after Bahia Honda State Park, you’ll enter Big Pine Key. This is residence to the National Key Deer Refuge so be sure to drive slowly by way of this space and maintain your eyes peeled for the native key deer. These tiny creatures are fairly cute and never too laborious to seek out.
Stop for lunch or a drink on the No Name Pub. It appears like a neighborhood joint however regardless of being off the freeway, loads of vacationers have already discoverd it. No Name Pub is usually recognized for his or her hen wings and the tons of of greenback payments that hold from the ceiling and partitions.
Things to do in Key West
Soon you’ll arrive at your closing vacation spot…Key West…the Conch Republic. You can simply spend per week having fun with Key West, particularly in case you get pleasure from getting out on the water. Be certain to plan to remain a minimum of two or three nights to get an actual style of the Keys. Just be careful you don’t get “Keys disease” and find yourself shifting down there like so most of the individuals you’ll meet down there.
In addition to buying on Duval Street, testing the Key West Aquarium, stopping on the Butterfly Conservatory, visiting Ernest Hemingway’s home, and getting a photograph opp on the Southernmost Point within the Continental United States marker, listed here are another enjoyable issues to do in Key West. And when you have the time, I’d advocate a day journey to Dry Tortugas National Park.
Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
Key West sunsets are well-known, as are the Sunset Celebrations at Mallory Square. You will discover meals carts and all kinds of avenue performers from fireplace jugglers to tightrope-walking cats. Just make sure to line up on the water’s edge early to get a chief spot for watching the sundown.
The Sunset Deck on the Margaritaville Key West Hotel is a chief sundown viewing alternative. If you’ll be able to’t discover a seat there, or if a cruise ship is obstructing your view, head over to Sunset Pier and stake out a rail-side desk. Of course, the perfect place to see the sundown could be over at Latitudes at Sunset Key.
Sunset Catamaran Cruise
Don’t miss a sundown while you’re in Key West. After having fun with one night in Mallory Square, get out on the water for an unobstructed view. There are many various kinds of sundown cruises, from main get together boats with reside music and disco lights, to smaller catamaran cruises.
We picked a sundown catamaran with Sebago Key West. There was loads of room to maneuver across the catamaran and the crew was very attentive. The cruise included an open bar of wine and beer, together with 4 programs of sunshine bites together with cheeseburger sliders and key lime tarts.
I might additionally advocate the two-hour sundown cruise with Wild Dolphin Adventures or the sundown and snorkel combo sail with Sunset Sail Key West.
Island Adventure Tour
Key West has just a few seashores, however to expertise the Keys, you could spend time on the water. You can discover each sort of water exercise, however one which we liked was the Island Adventure Eco-tour from Fury Key West.
This half-day tour included breakfast and lunch. It began with a brief snorkel time in a coral backyard, the place we noticed loads of sponges. Next, we headed out to Woman Key for an eco-kayaking tour alongside the mangroves. We additionally had loads of time to hang around on the sandbar and paddle board.
On the best way again we even lucked out by recognizing a pod of dolphins alongside the aspect of the boat. This was such a enjoyable tour, however make sure to deliver loads of reef-safe sunscreens and an excellent solar hat as a result of the solar is robust out on the water.
Key West Food Tours
If you’re a foodie, make certain to enroll in an tour with Key West Food Tours. They provide a seafood tour, Cuban tour, and cocktail tour. We took a seafood tour with Rose, who was an incredible information and former chef and he made the tour so fascinating.
We sampled meals in 5 totally different areas and ended our day at a brewery. If you might be on the lookout for extra meal solutions, make sure to try my suggestions on the place to eat in Key West.
And that wraps up your Florida Keys highway journey. If you could minimize your time quick, you’ll be able to at all times e book a one-way automotive rental and fly again from Key West. Otherwise, use your return journey to hit a few of the locations you might have missed in your drive down.
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