The drive to Key West down the Fabulous Florida Keys
When planning your Key West, Florida vacation, take some time to consider if you want to fly to the island, or take the drive down the Florida Keys. The drive from the Miami International Airport (MIA) is 3 1/2 to 4 hours, depending on how much time you take to stop and enjoy the sites along the way. The drive takes you over the famous Overseas Highway through an archipelago of over 1000 islands, over 42 bridges with countless breathtaking views of island landscapes and pristine waters surrounding these coral and limestone islands.
The road bed was originally built for the 100+ year old Henry Flagler Overseas Railroad that was destroyed in a hurricane in 1935. The modern highway includes the incredible 7 mile bridge with amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. There are many beautiful places to stop along the way including Bahia Honda State Park at mile marker 37 which feels unmistakably like a beach in The Bahamas and offers some of the best snorkeling in Florida. Considering all the unique experiences offered by making the drive, you may want to reconsider paying the air fare to get a flight directly into Key West. However, if you do chose to fly down, you can catch some spectacular views from the plane, especially if you choose an airline with prop planes that fly at a lower elevation.
