best time to drive from miami to key west best time to drive from miami to key west

I would recommend packing some drinks and sandwiches and spending the day on your own little slice of paradise! We opted in for the Pasta Carbonara and it was seriously to die for! Marathon is a perfect rest stop because it's directly halfway between Miami and Key West. Im hoping to do this drive one day! The winter crowds will taper off, the hotel rates become reasonable and the weather is remarkably similar to winter's blissful 70s and 80s. You can join this Hemingway Food and Walking tour. Coral Castle is, as the name suggests, a castle made from coral stones. For dinner, head to Half Shell Raw Bar which had the BEST stone crab Ive ever had! In Miami, I stayed in the Downtown Area, specifically the Brickell neighborhood. Your first stop is just about an hour south of the city. For example you can drive from Orlando to Key West in about 6.5 hours, Tampa to Key West in just about the same time. Finish off any good road trip in style with dinner at Latitudes, voted one of the most romantic dinner spots in the country. Save yourself the stress!! Allowing for driving and check-in time, the total journey time for this option will take around 8 hours. There are bathrooms, picnic tables and volleyball courts there as well. Day 3: Key Largo > Key West, One of the most scenic drives in the world! Built in 1848, visiting the Key West Lighthouse and climbing up the 88 steps to check out the view is one of the top things to do in the Keys. With over 600 keys strung together by overwater bridges, this marks one of the most scenic road trips in the world. You can also click each item on the map for more information. Sample a few, pick one you like and throw a 12-pack in the car. Thislocal winery (with a restaurant and brewery also on the property) makes some pretty unorthodox wines from local fruits like avocados and lychees. From Fort Lauderdale Airport to Key West, it is 189 miles (304 km). Dive beyond the surface. TIP: Try to go at sunset to get the best view possible! So keep the bread crumbs in your bag and enjoy the chickens from a distance. The previous hurricanes have created big havoc and hence it is advisable to avoid that duration. If you have less time, you can also dine here for lunch too, but you wont get the full effect without the sunset, but still some great food. 2.1 Morning - Early start to the Everglades National Park; 2.2 Morning - Keep driving to Key Largo (mile marker 106) for lunch; 2.3 Afternoon - visit to Dolphins Plus Bayside or the Theater of the Sea; 2.4 Afternoon - Relaxing at Sombrero Beach From here, its said only to be a short 90 miles to Cuba. Key West is the Southernmost town in the United States, just 90 miles from Cuba. Grab yourself some lunch at The Fish House (which was featured on Drivers, Dive ins and Dives, Food Network, and many other news stations!) Length: 106 miles. Miami to Key West is a 165 Mile drive and would take you just 3 hours and 20 minutes if driven without stops but then youd miss one of the great drives in America. Day 2: Drive to Key Largo, Stopping in Everglades National Park. How long is the drive from Miami to Key West. Take time to explore the South Florida quirky shops and restaurants, natural areas . We dined for dinner one evening as we werent in town on a Sunday morning. The route is best driven in a convertible, takes you through a wonderland of mangrove trees, coral reefs, tropical savanna, quaint islands, and historical sites . Make sure to check out our complete best restaurants in Key West article. The best time to visit Key West is between March and May. Take time to meander round the colorful and unique streets of Fort Myers. This painted concrete buoy is a popular photo spot that marks the piece of land furthest south in the Continental United States. Here are my top recommendations for visiting Key West: After youve played tourist all day, its time to unwind and see a famous Key West Sunset from another perspective a sunset Catamaran Cruise! Some of this trip was hosted by Florida Keys Tourism but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Weve got your essential list of pit stops for your road trip from Miami to Key West. Maybe thats because the drive is a bit longer than most people think it is. This spot here ceremoniously marks the end of your Miami to Key West drive. The spots I would recommend are Miami, somewhere in between Miami & Key West (like Key Largo), and Key West! This historic street is home to a number of great art galleries, shops, and attractions plus, youre on vacation, and the bars are open during the day too! Its a great place to grab a bite to eat or drink before or after feeding the tarpon. Unfortunately, no! On the menu are nice wraps and awesome fries for reasonable prices. Miami to Key West Road Trips. A: Yes, The road from Miami to Key West is a popular drive with tourists and is very safe. Lauderdale. One of the most impressive bridges youll ever drive across is located on the west end of Marathon in the Middle Keys. Its one of those old-time places that they just dont make anymore. For an interesting side trip on your way to Key West, you will see Card Sound Road on your left just after the freeway ends (just beyond all the gas stations outside Homestead). 3. You can rent boats or go with a tour company, but their are many different sand bars a short boat ride away. Theres so much more to Miami than partying. Here are my top recommendations for a day in Miami: I dive into WAY more detail on my One Day in Miami Travel Guide,which includes a full walking tour of Miami Beach, restaurant recommendations, and tons of photos! , I would HIGHLY recommend stopping at least once on your Road trip from Miami to Key West! There is a ton to see on that 165 mile stretch, so you will want to have time to explore. The PERFECT Weekend in Key West Itinerary - For First Timers! Stop 1: Coral Castle. On my road trip, I was cursed with very bad weather most of my trip (which is extremely rare in the Florida Keys). Miami to Key West drive time - if you were to drive straight through, the drive would take you on average of 4 hours. The Overseas Highway spans nearly 120 miles of breathtaking scenery as it runs over the Atlantic Ocean, the Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico connecting the far flung Florida Keys before finally reaching . The Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream Sammich is where its at! The menu often changes as everything is fresh. Curious about the discoveries and life under the surface? There are a lot of great sights, beaches, and of course, amazing restaurants in Miami. If you love brunch, you have to go to Matts Stock Island for their Sunday brunch. Stop here because you need to fill up on beer for your trip and you might as well drink local. Thanks for subscribing! Especially if youve never been to Key West. This is something that I plan on coming back to Key West to do because we ended up having a REALLY rainy day on our last day. You know, just in case. You cannot miss this stop in Islamorada. On your road trip in the Keys, you can stop in and see the turtles that are currently being treated on one of their 90-minute tours that start on the hour from 9 am-4 pm daily. Be sure to follow me along on Instagram @MyPerfectItinerary@MyPerfectItinerary! I'm Monique - a Las Vegas native who doubles as a HR Manager & travel junkie (contradicting, I know). Things to do on the way from Miami to Key West. Another place we recently stayed was this hotel Uma House by Yurbban South Beach. Continuing on in Marathon, animal lovers wont want to miss a stop at the Turtle Hospital. Do your part by buying reef safe sunscreen, which my favorite is Sunbum! Most beaches are free in Key West as long as they are not a state or National park. Day 2: Drive to Key Largo, Stopping in Everglades National Park, Day 3: Road Trip to Key West One of the most Scenic Drives in the USA, Day 4: Key West Site Seeing + Catamaran Sunset Cruise, Day 5: Sand Bar Boat Tour + Farewell Dinner, On your Florida Keys road trip, I would recommend stopping in three different spots to break up your drive. Are you ready to be the ultimate tourist?! For dinner, its time to head to Joseph & Is favorite restaurant on Key West, LLs Test Kitchen! By Dalia Colon. We sailed on this sunset sail with a full bar and live music with Sebago Watersports, and we highly recommend them. What I loved the most about the few days I spent in Key Largo was that even though the Florida Keys is a popular tourist destination, they have done a great job at keeping their small town charm! I do think you should drive from Miami to Key West, but then FLY out of Key West to go home! One thing I was surprised about in Key West was how easy it was to get around! The sand on Clearwater Beach is all white and fine. If it is your first time in Key West, we suggest joining this Key West Pub Crawl. After exploring the Everglades, head onto Key Largo! I strive to share my travel journey to inspire YOU to see this beautiful world we live in! This non-profit saves and rehabilitates dolphins who are hurt and unfit to survive on their own in the wild. Sundowners: 103900 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037. Flocking with the herd? Robbies because famous for its terrapin feeding, which started after trying to nurse an injured fish back to health. Mostly everyone in Miami knows about thisimmensely popular farm and bakery selling tasty, local and fresh treats. During his time in the keys was when his most successful books were published. Summer is warm but VERY humid, so beware! Indulge in a massage on your way to Key West and make time to have lunch at the Atlantic Edge restaurant on the property with great views of the sea. As a bonus, on some tours, you can even bring your dog! We already have this email. Grab a paddle and head out into the mangroves. Their IPAs were pretty solid, and it was fun to try some of the beers that included regional ingredients and local flare. Get off the beaten path. Q: How is the drive from Miami to Key West is it Worth it? The Miami to Key West drive via the Overseas Highway is one of the great American road trips and one of the most scenic drives in the world. This is a great budget travel hack because you can return your rental car when you arrive in Key West instead of when you fly out. This will give ample time to hit the highlights with some time to truly experience the Keys. Related Article: Things to do in Key Largo. The research center was established in 1984 by Jayne & Armando Rodriguez as a non-profit to provide a habit for dolphins and educational experiences for visitors. The downside is that you can expect more traffic and higher accommodation costs. East to west. They also make some great brunch. If you prefer your bar with a little more elegance, maybe this aint for you. It has been compared to the Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge simply because it was all created by one small man, Edward Leedskalin. We highly recommend the shrimp & grits appetizer and beignets as a dessert. When it comes to this drive, it truly is as much about the journey as it is the destination. However, it's a lot of fun to break up the journey with interesting stops along . Homestead. 1 Miami to Key West road trip - In a nutshell; 2 Miami to Key West road trip - Drive it in 1 day. this hotel, the Iberostar Berkeley Shore Hotel, this hotel Uma House by Yurbban South Beach. Miami to Key West Drive Map. This 159-mile (256 km) drive from Miami takes around four hours nonstop on the Overseas Highway and offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in Florida. The food was DELICIOUS! This is a great place for animal lovers as it provides educational resources for those curious about one of the worlds smartest creatures. In addition to the natural wonders, the visitor center also has a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium filled with some of the same sea life youll find in the park. Since then, Robbies has grown from a little pit-stop to the place you must stop on your drive from Miami to Key West. You dont have to go very far between stops on a road trip from Miami to Key West to find fun places to grab a drink. We enjoyed everything we had. There is also an abundance of Uber / Lyfts (which I was really shocked about)! With sweeping scenery, fun pit stops and quirky things to see and do during the 165-mile trip, you'll want to leave plenty of time to enjoy the experience fully. 23 UNIQUE Things to do in La Fortuna Time for an adventure! The drive from Miami to Key West isnt one of Floridas most scenic routes for no reason. Check rates here. You cant miss the bright yellow building that make up Islamorada Beer Company and their adjoining distillery. Stop at this very pretty beach/park in Marathon. Manatee Bay Eco Tours. Key Largo is the perfect place to rest your head as it is laidback while offering an array of aquatic activities. Go Pro is completely waterproof, durable, and is perfect for action shots! Driving distance: 118 mi / 189 km. On your way down to the Florida Keys on Highway 1, a turn-off just south of Florida City will take you into a portion of the Everglades National Park.