How to get to Key West in the Florida Keys

Key West is located at the end of the overseas highway in The Florida Keys. Getting to Key West is a whole adventure on its own. Whether you decide to travel by air, land or sea, the experience of entering the island chain and its tropical environment is something that every avid traveler should do at least once. Marathon The Florida Keys

If flying is your best option, you can opt to fly into Marathon or Key West airports. Should you decide to take this opportunity, you can find more information in our Florida Keys Airport section.

If you want to experience cruising trough the crystal clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean or the Florida Bay, check our travel to The Florida Keys by Ferry section

The best way to admire and get to know the Florida Keys as they really are, is to get there by car. Whether your starting point is Miami or Fort Lauderdale Airport, there are two options you can take to get to the Keys. You can either take I-95 south until this highway reaches its end and turns into US-1, or you can take the Florida Turnpike extension South to Florida City. The first option is a little slower than the second one; however, it is also slightly shorter.

Miami Airport Taking US-1, all the way to the Keys, is the most preferred route by travelers who want to enjoy the scenery and the change in the environment as you approach the southern tip of the Florida peninsula. At the end of I-95 you will find the Rickenbackercauseway that leads to famous Key Biscayne and Miami Sea Aquarium. A few miles further south you will cross Southeast 17 avenue, which leads to Coconut Grove and its bustling shopping and nightlife atmosphere.

As you continue southward on US-1, you will pass the east end of the very Spanish-looking Coral Gables on your right, and and you will also be able to admire South Miami. At this point you can start to see the change in the scenery. Also you will pass by Cutler Ridge and Homestead and its motor complex. About ten minutes after this, you will finally reach Florida City, which is known as The Gateway to the Keys. This will be your last city before you enter Key Largo and the upper keys.

Right after you pass Florida City you will reach a crossroad. There, you can either take the famous 20 mile stretch to Key Largo or the less known and wilder Car Sound Road. If you opt for the “stretch,” you will be in a 2 lane road for 26 miles and the first signs of civilization will be Gilbert’s Resort and Marina on Jewfish Creek. At that point, you will also have arrived the first of the 42 bridges connecting the more than 100 of islands that conform The Florida Keys.

If you opt to take Car Sound Road, you will be able to enjoy your ride with views of the ocean and mangroves until you reach the Car Sound Road toll. At the first bridge you will be able to spot many fishermen and diving tours out on the water. Just a few more miles down the road further south, you will encounter one of the most picturesque sites on this road: Downtown Card Sound Road and its very ownAlabama Jacks. A traditional bar frequented by locals and visiting fisherman. After your mandatory stop for the Alabama Jacks photo you will drive a few miles south were you will find a stop sign and flashing light, to the left, this road leads to Ocean Reef Club Resort, make a right turn and you will be driving for about 10-15 minutes of nothing but tropical foliage and the occasional lizard baking in the Florida Sun, you will get to Key Largo in no time.

After leaving this Diving oriented Island you’ll get to Tavernier, rumor has it that Tavernier got its name from thirsty sailors on nearby Plantation Key. It has been said that the sailors stopped to load their ships with fruit from the plantations along with some grog before returning to see. Tavernier was known as such becauase thier was always a tavern near. Islamorada bridge

Tavernier is a typical keys fishing village with its own Town center shopping and movie theater, driving further south , you’ll notice the thick mangroves on the side of the road are leaving space to the open views of the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Gulf of Mexico on the west, now you will get the real feeling you are in the Caribbean, endless views of turquoise calm waters will make you stop your car for the mandatory photo postcard you will send later to your relatives saying that you are not coming back.

After you pass Tavernier you will get to Plantation key, history has it that this was a favorite hideout for Rum Runners, ironically it now houses the new building of the Coral Shores School.

After a short ride you will see the gorgeous fish sculptures standing in front of The Theater of the sea and the World Famous Tiki Bar Holiday Isle Resort and Marina. Islamorada is in front of you, keep driving through the row of restaurants and stores and you will be driving over of a couple of bridges with endless open tropical views. On Mile Marker 70 you will encounter a popular camping spot, Fiesta key KOA with full RV facilities, a swimming pool and gorgeous views, a little further south you will advised to drive slower when you are enter the tiny town of Layton with a couple of Food Stores and a Gas Station. On Mile Marker 67.5 , Long Key State Park offers Canoe trails, picnic facilities and full waterfront campground. A short distance from Marathon is place called Duck key with its luxurious Hawk’s Cay resort and marina, keep driving south and Marathon will be minutes away.

Getting to Islamorada At the end of Marathon you will encounter one of the 7 wonders of modern architecture, the Seven Mile Bridge, if you happen to drive by the sunset hours, stop the car at the beginning of the Old Seven Mile Bridge and wait with your camera ready until the sun shows the famous green flash. At the end of this bridge you will notice a change in the environment, the water is even more turquoise, there is more land than on the other previous islands, and the time seemed to have stopped a long long time ago, you are now in The Lower Florida Keys. You will be driving through 7 main islands starting with Sunshine Key Resort Campground & Marina and Bahia Honda State Park and Campground with its own “Best Beach In America” crowned in 1992. Lower your speed, you are entering Big Pine Key and the National Key Deer Refuge area, the maximum speed is 45mph in daylight and 35mph at night through the whole area to protect the Key Deer crossing the road . If you want to see one of these animals up close , you can take a detour and explore the roads of Big Pine Key and No Name Key , you will find a Key Deer staring you in the face.

After you pass Big Pine Key, you will get to Ramrod Key , Looe Key resort and motel on the left and Boondocks on the right with the only Miniature Golf course on The Florida Keys. A short drive will lead you to Summerland Key and Cudjoe Key, most of these little islands are housed to families or residential homes.At Sugarloaf Key you will find Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Campground with full RV facilites . Boca Chica Key is the next island with a Naval Air Base Station , the next and last island before key west is stock island, congratulations, you ‘ve made it through the whole island Chain, now you are a true Florida Keys expert. Get to your hotel or campground, relax for a few seconds and get ready to enjoy the town, key west is only 90 miles to Cuba (closer to Cuba than closer to miami) explore the town and get ready for that duval crawl, you are in the southernmost city in the continental US.

Florida Keys Bridge

The Greyhound Keys Shuttle
(800) 231-2222
Has three daily scheduled departures from the Miami & the Miami Airport to all areas in the Keys.

Keys Airport Shuttle
1-888-765-9997

Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH):

Seacoast Airlines
866-302-6278

Paradise Air
305-743-4222

Key West International Airport (EYW):

Seacoast Airlines
866-302-6278

Comair
1-800-35-9822

US Air
1-800-428-4322

Gulfstream
1-800-992-8532

Cape Air
1-800-352-0714

America Air
1-800-433-7300