One of America’s Great Drives
The drive from Miami to Key West is short on paper and long on memory. It runs about 160 miles end to end and takes roughly three and a half to four hours without stops, but stopping is the entire point. You will leave the mainland behind and cross 42 bridges over open water, island-hopping all the way to the southernmost point in the continental United States. Few roads in the country feel like this one.
The whole route follows U.S. Highway 1, the famous Overseas Highway, built on the bones of Henry Flagler’s railroad that the 1935 hurricane destroyed. Once you reach the Keys, the highway is marked by green mile markers that count down from the mainland to MM0 in Key West, and locals give directions by mile marker, so it helps to think that way too.
Quick Route Overview
- Total distance: roughly 160 miles, Miami to Key West
- Drive time: about 3.5 to 4 hours without stops; give it 1 to 3 days to do it right
- The road: U.S. 1, the Overseas Highway, mostly two lanes through the Keys
- Mile markers: count down toward MM0 in Key West
- Direction of travel: south and west from Miami
Best Time to Drive It
Winter and early spring, roughly December through April, is peak season for good reason. The weather is warm and dry, the humidity drops, and the water is at its clearest. It is also the busiest and most expensive stretch, so book lodging well ahead.
Summer and fall bring heat, humidity, and Atlantic hurricane season, which officially runs June through November. Crowds thin and prices fall, but you trade that for the risk of storms and the occasional road closure. If you go in those months, watch the forecast closely and stay flexible. The single road in and out of the Keys is your only option, so weather matters more here than on most road trips.
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The Stops, North to South
Miami and the Everglades
Before you commit to the Keys, two national parks sit right at Miami’s doorstep and are worth a detour. Everglades National Park spreads west of the city, a river of grass full of alligators, wading birds, and airboat country. Just south, Biscayne National Park protects a marine world that is almost entirely underwater, best seen by boat or snorkel. Tack on a day or two for either before you head down U.S. 1.
Key Largo (around MM 106 to 90)
Key Largo is the first island you reach and the self-styled diving capital of the world. The big draw is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first undersea park in the country, where you can snorkel or dive the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Glass-bottom boat tours run for those who want to stay dry.
Islamorada (around MM 90 to 72)
Islamorada is a string of islands that calls itself the sport-fishing capital of the world. This is where you charter a boat for the day, watch the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina, or just settle into a waterfront restaurant for fresh catch and a sunset. It strikes a nice balance between lively and laid-back.
Marathon and the Seven Mile Bridge (around MM 60 to 40)
Marathon sits in the heart of the Keys and is a great midpoint base. Visit the Turtle Hospital, walk the beach at Sombrero, or take the family to Crane Point. Just past Marathon comes the showpiece of the whole drive: the Seven Mile Bridge, one of the longest bridges in the country, stretching across open turquoise water with the old railroad bridge running alongside. It is the moment the whole trip is built around.
Bahia Honda and the Lower Keys (around MM 37 to 9)
Bahia Honda State Park, near MM 37, has some of the best beaches in the Keys, with pale sand and clear shallows that are rare in this part of Florida. Farther down, the Lower Keys are quieter and more natural, home to the tiny endangered Key deer in the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key. Drive slowly here; the deer cross the road, especially at dawn and dusk.
Key West (MM 0)
The road ends at Key West, closer to Cuba than to Miami and unlike anywhere else in America. Walk Duval Street, photograph the Southernmost Point buoy, tour the Hemingway Home with its six-toed cats, and join the nightly sunset celebration at Mallory Square. Tour Fort Zachary Taylor and its beach, and if you have the time, catch a boat or seaplane out to Dry Tortugas National Park, 70 miles farther into the Gulf around Fort Jefferson.
Where to Stay and Eat
For a one-night trip, most people sleep in Key West. For a slower pace, break the drive with a night in Islamorada or Marathon, both of which keep you near the water and cut the daily driving. Lodging in the Keys runs expensive, especially in winter, so reserve early.
Eat the local specialties. Fresh stone crab and Florida lobster in season, conch fritters, fish caught that morning, and a slice of key lime pie wherever you can find a good one. Many of the best meals are at unfussy waterfront spots where the boats tie up out back.
Driving Tips for the Overseas Highway
- Fill the tank before the Keys; gas gets pricier the farther south you go.
- Much of U.S. 1 is two lanes with no passing, so settle into the pace and do not tailgate.
- Use mile markers, not street addresses, to navigate and find businesses.
- Watch your speed in the Lower Keys for Key deer crossings, especially at dawn and dusk.
- There is one road in and one road out, so check for closures during storm season before you go.
The 2026 Reality
As of 2026, the Overseas Highway is fully open and the drive is as rewarding as ever. The main thing to plan around is Atlantic hurricane season, which can close U.S. 1 and force evacuations on short notice between roughly June and November, so check current road and weather conditions before a summer or fall trip. Winter remains the busy, pricey, beautiful high season. Whenever you go, leave the schedule loose and let the islands set the pace.
Planning the wider trip? See our guide to the best national parks near Miami, and grab our road trip planning tools before you hit the road.
