Whether you go by ferry or seaplane, visiting the Dry Tortugas is a full day activity. Key Largo and its attractions are among the best things to see driving to Key West. The Key West First Legal Rum Distillery opened in 2013 and offers free tours Monday through Saturday. No visit to South Florida is complete without road-tripping from Miami to Key West for a few days. You will see ‘Crocodile Crossing’ warning signs along the roads and if lucky, even spot a crocodile sunning itself. This unique off the beaten track pub was established in 1936 and is one of the oldest bars in the Florida Keys. This scenic drive follows the route of the Florida East Coast Railroad, which operated until 1935. On Your Way: Key Largo, Marathon, And More. Did you like our itinerary for the drive from Miami to Key West and things to do on the road while driving to Key West, Florida? Laidback life in the Florida Keys is something to be experienced on this beautiful road trip of a lifetime. On this day board the Dry Tortugas National Park ferry and visit one of the most remote national parks in the country. Some activities like snorkeling tours have resumed and some of the campgrounds are open. Key West Distilling offers craft distilled rum, vodka, gin, and whiskey. The US1 Key West Mile Marker Zero sign is however not at the buoy. For more activities and organized tours in Key West check Viator here. Compare the flight distance to driving distance from Syracuse, NY to Key West, FL. Many of the original buildings built by the Florida East Coast Railway are preserved as part of the Historic District of Pigeon Key. Driving the Overseas Highway in a top-down convertible car is one of the best things to do on the drive to Key West. There are plenty of things to do on Dry Tortugas including touring the historic Fort Jefferson, walking on the moat built around the castle, snorkeling in its crystal clear waters, and watching a variety of seabirds including sooty tern, brown pelican, and frigatebirds. Spacious layouts welcome you home, along with exceptional service and an ideal location close to shopping, dining and entertainment. Construction of the old Seven Mile Bridge was completed using state of the art technology in 1912 to carry the railroad track over the Keys. For more of a beach town vibe but still close to Miami, consider staying at Islamorada. Once you have your fill of Miami, it’s time to embark on your road trip. There are plenty of things to do in and around Marathon, making it a destination in itself. Finish the drive to Key West … (Not to say that we learned anything from our experience. About Us. There were many other campers in the park and we swapped news about the hurricane and discussed our travel plans. End the evening with a romantic sunset sail. We were really interested in learning about the history of the Seven Mile Bridge and Overseas Highway from Miami to Key West and learned quite a lot in Key West museums. Wondering what to do on the way to Key West for wildlife lovers? Show more Show less. I really loved the idea of a sunset sail and would recommend it if you have enough time to plan Florida Keys itinerary of 7 days. Our ultimate Miami to the Florida Keys drive guide along with detailed recommendations for best places to stop on the drive to Key West. Seven Mile Bridge is one of the main reasons to make the epic Miami to Key West Drive. Bahia Honda State Park has many things to do for its visitors and is a great stop on the Overseas Highway road trip. You won’t find souvenir shops that are common in the northern end neither will you find hungover tourists. It is named for William Pope Duval, the first territorial governor of Florida. Key West is the state’s official party island. Key West is the westernmost island among the Florida Keys that you can drive to, and is one of the most scenic roads in North America. I was really fascinated by all that free-range poultry just roaming the streets – listening to a rooster crow at dawn was even more surprising. If you drive Miami to Key West between March and May, you can skip the high season crowds and get better rates and discounts on accommodation. The driving distance from Miami to Key West is about 125 miles. We could peer into the water and see fish swimming below us. Visitors can view this information related to the seaport’s history in the various museums located in the area. Overall Alabama Jack’s is quite kid-friendly and we would recommend it for all types of travelers. Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Fort Lauderdale? I’m a huge fan! One of the most popular milkshakes at Robert is Here is, of course, the tangy key lime. The state park also has excellent fishing. Don’t forget a camera to capture all the memories. End your day at the beautiful Bahia Honda State Park and its white sand beaches which are counted among the best in America. Dry Tortugas National Park visitor’s guide, 29 Amazing Things to do in Brenham, Texas, 23 Best Things to do at South Padre Island, Texas, Texas Bluebonnets: The ultimate travel guide, 19 Best Restaurants on the San Antonio Riverwalk, 21 Best Places to Visit for Christmas, USA, Padre Island & More: Ultimate Guide to Camping on the Beach in Texas. Miami and Key West, the end towns have plenty of attractions and are destinations in their own right. However, the trip back is also worth a leisurely trip. There are tons of interesting (and kitschy) things to do during the 110-mile trip to the Conch Republic, including crossing 42 different bridges! The real southernmost point is located on private land at Ballast Key and is inaccessible. You could easily spend 3 to 4 days on Key Largo if you want to hike, snorkel, see wildlife, etc – we spent 2 days and could fit a lot in. Taking a road trip through the Florida Keys is one of the best adventures you can have in the USA. thank you so much for sharing your experiences and recommendations. Anytime but the hurricane season! Alternatively, you can reach Miami early and utilize the day to explore Miami and lounge on Miami beach. From: Kickin' It in Key West with Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Now Playing The Visitor Center at John Pennekamp has a huge 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium; kids love to check it out. We visited the Visitor Center first and from there went to the Blue Hole Observation Platform located just a few miles away based on the staff’s suggestion. If you are visiting the Dry Tortugas, we have written a detailed Dry Tortugas National Park visitor’s guide which has all the practical travel information. The puuuurfect activity for crazy cat lovers (like me)! MLS # 592433 The most popular one is that which goes past the bird cages. The seaport was formerly known as Key West Bight and has been used as a harbor since the 1820s. Florida Keys Through Instagram Photos | -or-undress-fantasy-fest-key-west">How to Dress (or Undress) for Fantasy Fest The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center has free entry and is staffed and run by volunteers. Spotlight on Key West 2020 State of the Community . I certainly admire Flagler’s vision for the Overseas Railroad. We also recommend booking your hotel and lodgings early on to get the best rates. While we didn’t visit Pigeon Key, you can reach there easily by ferry from the Visitor Center located at Marathon. Update: Curry Hammock State Park was also affected due to Hurricane Irma in 2017 but the staff has done a great job of cleaning up the park and most amenities including the campsites have been restored and are back to a working basis. La Te Da. If a resort is more your style, then try the Ocean Key Resort or Santa Maria Suites Resort. The views here are meant to be savored and not rushed through. The sculpture is an exact large-scale replica of the Florida Keys spiny lobster, which is a type of warm water lobster. My suggestions for places to stay during your road trip from Miami to Key West. Kids especially love visiting the Turtle Hospital and it is a great family-friendly attraction on the drive from Miami to Florida keys. The 150-mile drive from Miami to Key West is one of the great American road trips, whisking you off the mainland and through the fabled Florida Keys to an island city that has been a refuge to writers and presidents. The Time and Attention You Need. Coral Castle offers guided tours – these are included in the ticket price and the guides are excellent at narrating details about the castle and creating a mystery about the place. Ah, road trips. If you don’t want to camp, there are many accommodation options available near Bahia Honda State Park including inns, hotels, and resorts. The park also has excellent nature hiking and biking trails along with kayaking, paddling and fishing opportunities. The fruit stand is annually closed in the offseason: so we recommend checking their website before you visit. The hiking trail that we went on had excellent wildlife viewing opportunities but required some wading. Our Miami to Key West drive guide contains numerous places to stop, ranging from nature preserves and outdoor activities to breweries and bars. Dry Tortugas once served as a naval base for the United States Government. The views of the water from the park were beautiful and we also saw a lot of birds while in the park. Explore fun stops, roadside attractions, things to do, driving to key west tips, essential eats, and where to stay in our Miami Key West drive itinerary guide. Even if they don’t have anything major going on when you visit – you can do a little tour and check the gift shop for Nascar memorabilia. I felt as if the sun was performing a feat for the crowd rather than simply sinking into the ocean. Key West Surgical Group. We understand that life happens and you can’t always devote 7 days to a 4-hour drive, beautiful as it may be. We also saw vendors selling souvenirs, decorative license plates, and other Florida themed decor, cotton candy, hot dogs, and ice-cream. If you are really really busy then you can even consider a Miami to Key West Day Trip. | Check out 16 answers, plus see 6,860 reviews, articles, and 2,697 photos of The Overseas Highway, ranked No.20 on Tripadvisor among 849 attractions in Key West. There are 235+ audio points that play automatically along a tour route, featuring the best things to see and do, stories, tips and driving directions. You can also drive exotic cars at this racetrack occasionally – check their website and Groupon for deals – and enjoy the adventure of speeding down the track. Don’t miss the Green Parrot Bar or the (clothing optional) Garden of Eden! The sculpture is 30 feet tall and 40 feet long and has 12 big legs – it was created in the 1980s. You can pick and choose the types of activities that most interest you. We had planned a sunset sail to end this day, but it was canceled as Hurricane Matthew was barrelling straight towards Miami and southern Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. Miami To Key West Drive: 25 Essential Stops in Florida Keys At the Visitor Center, we learned invaluable information about the endangered Key Deer while at the observation platform we saw turtles, alligators, fish, ospreys, and frigate birds. The jet ski tour was fabulous! Which of these stops do you like the best? We walked many trails around the center. Ask to sit on the patio for some prime people watching of Key West at night while dining on the Bahamian-style snapper and Cuban seafood stew. Hope you have a great trip. There aren’t many budget-friendly places to stay in Key West, and if you’re visiting during high-season, you really need to book a few months in advance! Here, you’ll grab dinner at No Name Pub, which has been one of the key's favorite restaurants since the 1930s. Finding an available site during peak season is quite hard and we would recommend booking them as soon as you plan the trip. The food and ambiance are great while the views of the Gulf and the Seven Bridge Mile are very pretty. The Key Deer have an interesting history; they have evolved from the white-tailed deer that migrated from the mainland to the Keys nearly a hundred thousand years ago (100,000 years ago) when a land bridge connected the Keys to the rest of the country. It has been in the same spot for 50 years and is an institution on the Key West route from Miami. The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center is a great place to hike short, easy trails and look at rescued birds. To reach Alabama Jacks, you will have to take the road less traveled from Robert is Here. State parks like Bahia Honda, Long Key, Curry Hammock, and John Pennekamp are some of the best stops from Miami to Key West while Dry Tortugas National Park at the very end is a rarely visited treasure. Sunset Grille and Raw Bar is a restaurant just before the Seven Mile Bridge. Our Mustang car rental came to be under $250 for the entire week. ‘Robert is Here’ is one of the essential Key West road trip stops. Road Trip USA https://www.instagram.com/futuretravellphoto/ Find the perfect Key West Drive stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Thank you Karen. More details What is the fastest way to get from Sanibel Island to Key West? Another trail went through mangrove forests and around the coast – this one had great views of the Florida Bay. Marathon to Key West may only be 45 miles apart, with a straight through drive time of around an hour, but the following stops should definitely be on your itinerary! Check accommodations in Islamorada here. Key West, Florida is still as colorful as ever and you’ll need this Key West Travel Guide to maximize every waking minute in this town, whether it’s your first trip to Key West or not.. We tasted some of their key lime fudge (too tart for me), bought a few key lime truffles, and my husband tried key lime ice-cream. The Butterfly Garden trail was also pretty and we saw lots of butterflies. 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