Key Largo to Key West: A Road Trip Guide
There’s nothing quite like a road trip, the wind in your hair, blasting your favorite playlist, stopping for snacks, and finding fun attractions along the way; it’s the ultimate adventure. But if you’ve been weighing your vacation options between a fun family road trip or tropical island escape, you’re in luck — the Florida Keys offer the best of both.
A tropical paradise reminiscent of the Caribbean, the Florida Keys are a chain of islands that stretch just over 120 miles, from Key Largo to Key West. And they are all connected by the famous Overseas Highway, making for one epic road trip.
Ready for an island-hopping adventure through the Florida Keys? Grab your sunglasses, fill up the fuel tank, book a beautiful Key West vacation rental, and get ready to taste lots of Key lime pie. Here’s your ultimate road trip guide from Key Largo to Key West!
Navigating The Florida Keys
Before you head out on the road to paradise, there are a few things travelers should know about navigating the Florida Keys.
The Route from Key Largo to Key West
The best part about a Florida Keys road trip is that you practically can’t get lost. There’s only one road in or out of the Keys, the Overseas Highway. The Overseas Highway – including the famous Seven Mile Bridge – spans 113 miles through the Upper Keys, Middle Keys, and Lower Keys.
Navigating the Overseas Highway is easy, and finding roadside attractions and knowing how long you have left in your journey is even easier, thanks to mile markers. You’ll notice that most addresses in the Florida Keys contain mile markers (MM).
Mile Markers are used to indicate the location of islands and landmarks, and offer a countdown to Key West. For instance, the Old Seven Mile Bridge, a major landmark, is at MM 47, meaning that stopping here leaves you with 47 miles to reach Key West (MM 0).
Drive Time from Key Largo to Key West
It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to drive from Key Largo to Key West, depending on your exact starting and ending points, traffic, and weather conditions. And this is not a drive you’ll want to rush; speed limits on the Overseas Highway are lower than your average highway, and the road is very scenic, so you’ll want to take your time, drive safely, and soak in the views.
When planning your itinerary, we recommend factoring in 3 hours as a starting point to ensure you have enough time to make the drive before adding in stops — and trust us, you’ll be wanting to make lots of stops.
Whether it’s to go snorkeling, snap some pics with a famous giant lobster, or have a tarpon feeding experience, the road from Key Largo to Key West is filled with bucket list attractions.
Planning Your Road Trip from Key Largo to Key West
The route from Key Largo to Key West runs through many islands filled with breathtaking views, fun things to do, and delicious food. With so many options to choose from, it can be challenging to narrow down which places to visit. But don’t worry, we have you covered.
Here’s a breakdown of all the best stops along the road to Key West so you can plan your perfect day trip.
1. Snacks and Snorkeling in Key Largo
As you begin your journey in Key Largo, stop by The Juice House to fuel up for the day. This local favorite offers authentic Cuban coffee, pastries, sandwiches, tropical juices, smoothies, and more. After you’ve grabbed some goodies, head over to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, where you can swim, snorkel, SCUBA dive, kayak, hike, or take a glass-bottom boat tour. As the name implies, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is home to incredible coral reefs brimming with sea life.
2. Bird Watching in Tavernier
If you love birds, the Florida Keys Wild Bird Sanctuary is a must-stop when passing through Tavernier. The Florida Keys Wild Bird Sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates, and offers a permanent home to non-releasable injured birds.
You can stroll along the boardwalk and see a variety of birds, including anhingas, pelicans, herons, and others. The sanctuary is small, but it makes the perfect pit stop to stretch your legs, see some wildlife, and of course, contribute to a great cause.
3. Lunch, Shopping, and Photo Ops in Islamorada
Full of fresh seafood restaurants, funky shops, and fun things to do, Islamorada makes the perfect midday stop to grab lunch, shop for souvenirs, and snap some Insta-worthy pics!
Stop by Rain Barrel Village to shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs made by local artists, grab a coffee or smoothie, and most importantly, snap some pics with Betsy, the famous 30-foot-tall lobster statue. If you do just one thing in Islamorada, this should be it!
If you have extra time, Islamorada is also home to the History of Diving Museum, full of fascinating artifacts, dive suits, and exhibits showcasing the history of underwater exploration.
For lunch, you can’t beat Robbie’s Marina for fresh seafood, gorgeous views, and, of course, feeding the tarpon on the docks.
4. See Sea Turtles in Marathon
An incredible organization that rescues and rehabilitates sick or injured sea turtles found throughout the Florida Keys, the Turtle Hospital in Marathon is a must-visit.
You can tour the Turtle Hospital to get a behind-the-scenes look at sea turtle rehabilitation, meet some of these adorable patients, and you may even get the opportunity to feed some of them.
5. Sightseeing at the Seven Mile Bridge
While there are lots of amazing sights on the road from Key Largo to Key West, nothing quite beats the views of the Seven Mile Bridge. Not only is the bridge your connection to the Lower Keys, but it’s a famous landmark of its own.
Cruise the Seven Mile Bridge and enjoy the 360-degree ocean views, or if you have the time, stop at the Old Seven Mile Bridge, which runs adjacent and is open to pedestrians for walking or biking.
6. Catch a Glimpse of North America’s Smallest Deer in Big Pine Key
You might not think of deer being a big attraction in the Florida Keys, but you’re in for a big, or should we say, small surprise!
The forests of Big Pine Key are home to the smallest subspecies of North American white-tailed deer, known as Key deer. These tiny, adorable creatures can be found throughout Big Pine Key, but they are most commonly seen on the National Key Deer Refuge, where their habitat is preserved and protected.
If you feel like stretching your legs and seeing some wildlife, Big Pine Key is the perfect place to stop for an afternoon hike.
Enjoy Your Vacation in Key West
You’ll end your road trip in Key West, which many argue is the best Key of all, but we’ll let you be the judge of that now that you’ve experienced all the best these islands have to offer.
Now it’s time to relax and get ready for the next day’s adventure, of which you have plenty to choose from. Key West is full of things to do, including beaches, watersports, sunset cruises, historic landmarks, incredible restaurants, bars, great places to shop, and so much more.
And of course, you’ll need somewhere to relax after a long day of driving. Book your stay with VHKW to enjoy fully furnished vacation homes with amenities like private pools and hot tubs, and you’ll always be close to all the best attractions in Key West.
