The Final Miami to Key West Drive Itinerary for a Accountable Traveler

A Miami to Key West Highway Journey is broadly generally known as among the finest highway journeys within the US. The route presents nice seashores, enjoyable actions, and an opportunity to go to the buzzing city of Key West.

Key West is by far the preferred trip vacation spot within the area, however there may be much more to see and do en route, particularly for outside and nature lovers.

The distance from Key West to Miami is simply 164 miles, making it straightforward to sort out the drive in a single go. Driving from Miami to Key West takes simply 3-4 hours, however we advocate stretching the journey throughout 5-7 days to cowl all of the highlights of the Florida Keys.

As sustainable vacationers, we’re at all times on the lookout for methods to reduce our impression on the atmosphere and on the locations we go to, so for this Key West Highway Journey, we rented an Electrical Car to traverse the Keys with minimal CO2 impression.

Within the beneath information we share all of our suggestions for planning an eco-friendly Miami to Key West drive. Learn on for our beneficial issues to do, favorite locations to eat, and keep from Miami to the Keys.

Touring With An Electrical Car In Florida Keys

Touring with an electrical automobile within the Keys ended up being simpler than we anticipated.

We rented a 2021 Polestar 2 by Volvo from Enterprise Automobile Rental at Miami Worldwide Airport for an important value of lower than $100/day. The automobile got here totally charged, permitting us to journey the gap of as much as 300 miles in a single go. This was greater than sufficient to drive from Miami to Key West with out having to recharge alongside the way in which.

Driving an electrical automobile on Florida Keys

EV Charging Stations In Florida Keys

When it got here time to cost up, we had been joyful to seek out quite a few EV charging stations within the Keys. For non-Telsa drivers, like ourselves, Electrify America presents 2 EV charging stations within the Keys.

Electrify America stations supply CCS, CHADeMO and J1772™ connectors, so any electrical automobile can use these chargers to high up. Their chargers mechanically provide the quickest cost primarily based on the specs of your automotive. To cost, you’ll be able to both use your smartphone and the Electrify America app (which supplies you discounted pricing with a Cross+ subscription or just use a debit or bank card such as you would at a daily fuel pump.

Our Polestar 2 Electrical Car got here with a quick charger and an adapter that allowed us to plug the automobile into any common outlet.

Electrify America Places in Florida Keys

Key Largo: 101499 Abroad Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
Key West: Financial institution of America Parking Lot at 3200 FLAGLER AVENUE, Key West, FL 33040

Along with Electrify America charging stations, we had been additionally in a position to cost at quite a few lodges and eating places in Keys, together with:

Grassy Flats Resort
Parrot Key Lodge
Isla Bella Seaside Resort

These resorts didn’t supply quick charging, however leaving our automotive on cost in a single day plugged into a daily outlet allowed as much as get 60-80kW of energy day-after-day (xx of our battery). Greater than sufficient for our every day adventures!

For a full listing of EV charging stations within the Florida Keys, try PlugShare, a community-sourced map of charging stations all all over the world. PlugShare additionally has an app with useful options like journey planning, so you’ve got charging stations lined up together with your Key West Drive map.

Our EV at Glassy Flats Resort in Marathon

EV Highway Journey In Florida Keys

The underside line is – we beloved cruising across the Keys in our Polestar 2 EV. The experience was snug and enjoyable! Given how straightforward it was to cost our Polestar en route, we by no means needed to fear about discovering an EV Charging Station within the Keys or waste valuable sightseeing time on the charger. And realizing that our option to journey in an Electrical Car resulted in a decrease carbon footprint on our journey made us really feel that a lot happier whereas exploring the Keys!

So now that we’ve hopefully satisfied you of the advantages of utilizing an electrical automobile to your Miami to Key West Highway Journey let’s dive into our steered itinerary.

Begin In Miami

The Metropolis of Miami is a seaside lovers’ paradise. This coastal metropolis is known for its Artwork Deco structure, heat climate, beautiful seashores, and a energetic nightlife and procuring scene.

It’s additionally the most typical place to begin your Miami to Key West highway journey. The town is a serious transport hub, so it’s straightforward to fly into Miami Worldwide Airport and begin your journey from there.

Whilst you could be wanting to hit the highway en route from Miami to Key West, we advocate slowing down and spending a couple of days in Miami.

Miami Seaside, Florida

Issues To Do In Miami

Head to South Seaside – one of the in style and delightful seashores in Miami
Store til you drop at Lincoln Highway Mall: It is a in style procuring strip in Downtown Miami the place you’ll discover all the main manufacturers. Be aware as you browse the retailers and purchase solely what you actually want. Lincoln Highway Mall can also be a energetic place on weekends with Sunday Farmers Markets, morning yoga lessons, and outside live shows.
Discover Little Havana: Immerse your self into Miami’s cultural coronary heart! Take a stroll within the vibrant neighbourhood on the coronary heart of the Cuban group. The world stretches from SW twelfth to SW seventeenth Avenues alongside Calle Ocho and is dotted with Cuban eating places, cigar stands, stylish retailers and artwork galleries. Assist the local people by grabbing a chunk to eat, indulging in some nice Cuban espresso or shopping for a couple of crafts for family and friends.
Everglades Nationwide Park: This expansive 1.5 million-acre wetlands nationwide park is likely one of the most unbelievable pure locations to go to in your complete nation. Positioned south of Miami, Everglades Nationwide Park is known for its uncommon and endangered animals, together with the manatee, American crocodile and Florida panther. You may take a ship tour to view a few of these animals or go climbing to discover on foot across the Everglades Nationwide Park.
Biscayne Nationwide Park: Encompassing and defending unbelievable coral reefs, islands, and shoreline mangroves within the northern Keys, the Biscayne Nationwide Park is one other great spot to go to close to Miami. There’s no scarcity of issues to do within the park, together with diving, snorkelling, boat excursions, climbing, tenting and kayaking.

Miami To Key West Drive: Florida Keys Highway Journey Itinerary

Time to hit the highway to your Miami to Key West drive! There’s tons to see alongside the way in which, so make sure to take it sluggish and plan to spend a couple of days en route. This lets you take a leisurely tempo and discover lots of the finest points of interest on the drive to Florida Keys.

Day 1: Miami To Key Largo/Islamorada

Miami to Key Largo: 67 miles
Key Largo to Islamorada: 16 miles

The primary cease is Key Largo, a small city sitting within the higher Florida Keys. Key Largo is commonly neglected by vacationers speeding to make their strategy to Key West and is a group that would use a lift in tourism.

Key Largo is commonly described because the dive capital of the world, so it’s the must-stop for anybody who desires to discover the underwater world. Should you go away Miami early and attain Key Largo within the morning, you’ll be able to spend a day exploring the realm.

Issues to do in Key Largo

Dive at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. This unbelievable underwater park will be explored by glass backside boat tour, with a kayak or by scuba diving. If you’re an authorized diver, hop about with Horizon Divers, a good and accountable dive operator in Key Largo, providing a wide range of diving journeys to over 100 dive websites inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. They provide 2 dive journeys per day, within the morning and within the afternoon.
Seize lunch at Key Largo Conch Home: Hidden behind bushes, Key Largo Conch Home is a comfy native restaurant with outside seating in a cute backyard setting. Their menu options contemporary native seafood, breakfast choices and scrumptious desserts. This spot is ideal for breakfast or lunch!

Dive boats lined up within the water in Key Largo

Issues to do in Islamorada

Try Tarpon at Robbie’s Marina/Hungry Tarpon Restaurant: The largest draw of Robbie’s is a faculty of big tarpon that circle the dock within the marina. The marina sells fish for $5.00 which you can hand feed to the tarpon. Whereas it makes for a cool expertise and an Insta-worthy shot, we opted out of feeding the fish, as we choose to not hand-feed marine life. If you’re a aware traveler, we advocate you do the identical. The on-site restaurant and bar get rave opinions for his or her scrumptious contemporary seafood and nice sundown views.
Cease on the Historical past of Diving Museum: A fast cease at this not-for-profit museum in Islamorada is a should for any avid divers. The museum has exhibitions and shows for all ages to study in regards to the historical past of diving, with occasions operating all year long.

Tarpons on the pier at Robbie’s

The place to Keep in Key Largo/Islamorada:

Postcard Inn Seaside Resort & Marina – A good looking resort acknowledged by Florida Inexperienced Lodging for his or her dedication to the atmosphere, the Postcard Inn Seaside Resort presents rooms and cottages with nautical decor and rustic handcrafted furnishings. The resort is house to 14 acres of seaside, iconic waterfront eating choices and an on-site dive centre. The resort has an EV Charging Station on-site that will help you hold your electrical automobile juiced up when you sleep.

The place to Eat in Islamorada/Key Largo

Florida Keys Brewing Firm is the Higher Keys first microbrewery, providing a big selection of craft beers, and has a formidable rotating listing of seasonal beers. That is the proper spot to get into the Florida Key groove, with art work, video games, and meals vehicles providing pub fare. Should you’re passing via Islamorada on a Sunday, Florida Keys Brewing Firm hosts A Movable Feast, a meals truck that’s well-known for Caribbean-inspired dishes.

Days 2-3: Marathon

Key Largo to Marathon: 47 miles
Islamorada to Marathon: 30 miles

From Key Largo/Islamorada soar again onto the Abroad Freeway and proceed your highway journey to Key West via the Higher and Center Keys. The subsequent cease in your Key West Highway Journey is town of Marathon. Set on 13 islands, this area presents nice boating actions, nice seashores and reefs, and fishing alternatives. There are nice waterfront eating places, plus alternatives to kayak, paddle-board and soar into the turquoise waters.

Should you’re an energetic outside fanatic, you’ll discover loads of issues to do in Marathon!

Issues to do in Marathon

Attempt wakeboarding or paddle boarding at The Lagoon: For water sports activities junkies, The Lagoon on Grassy Key is likely one of the finest locations to cease on the drive to Key West. The Keys Cable Park at The Lagoon is a big 50-acre eco-conscious water sports activities park providing a wide range of board, wind, and paddle sports activities. They’ve half or full-day leases, together with kayaks, SUP boards, physique boards, windsurfing gear and wakeboards. The Lagoon is run by a sustainability activist, Matt Sexton, who additionally owns the close by Grassy Flats Resort and dedicates numerous work to the sustainable growth of the area.
Discover Previous Seven Mile Bridge by Bicycle: The Previous Seven Mile Bridge was initially constructed over a century in the past however has been not too long ago become an prolonged cycle and strolling path to the historic Pigeon Key. Strolling the bridge can get actually scorching within the solar, so we advocate renting bikes from Bike Marathon Bike Leases. They’re a family-owned enterprise with nice high quality bikes and gear.
Dive into Historical past at Pigeon Key: Referred to as one of the traditionally vital areas, Pigeon Key is a tiny island that after housed 400 employees who constructed the Florida Keys Abroad Railroad within the early 1900s. Right now, Pigeon Secret is a historic web site with well-preserved buildings, together with a museum that showcases details about the railroad building and the lives of its employees. The island can also be a great place for snorkelling, kayaking and fowl watching. You’ll discover an clothes shop on-site with snorkelling and kayaking gear for hire.
Skip a go to to the Dolphin Analysis Middle: Positioned simply north of Marathon close to Duck Key, the Dolphin Analysis Middle remains to be a well-liked attraction in Marathon, however one we recommend that you just skip. Whereas the Analysis Middle is a non-for-profit and an academic facility, they promote unethical wildlife encounters, breeding in captivity, touching wildlife and coaching their in-house marine animals to carry out tips. In order for you a dolphin or sea lion interplay whereas within the Keys, we advocate a accountable dolphin cruise and snorkel with Trustworthy Eco Sustainable Nature Excursions in Key West (extra on that later).
Be a part of a Tour on the Turtle Hospital: A go to to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon is a good moral wildlife expertise for any animal lover. The Turtle Hospital is a non-profit devoted to rescuing and rehabilitating injured sea turtles. We advocate becoming a member of one among their excursions of the hospital which run each half an hour, and donating to their trigger.
Spent a while at Bahia Honda State Park: Positioned between Marathon and Large Pine Key, Bahia Honda State Park is thought for having a few of the finest seashores between Miami to Key West. You’ll discover boat ramps, a campground, picnic areas and loads of house within the park to unfold out and chill out for a day or so.
Cease at Nationwide Key Deer Refuge: Simply south of Bahia Honda State Park, this reserve on Large Pine Key covers 8500 acres. It was set as much as shield the endangered key deer, which quantity within the 600-800 now. You may discover on foot to try to spot just a few dozen of them or go to the free Nature Middle to study extra about them.

Bike experience alongside the Previous Seven Mile Bridge

The place to Eat in Marathon

Breakfast at Bongo’s Café on the Lagoon: Bongo’s Cafe, positioned on-site on the Lagoon, serves an important tropical breakfast menu from 8am to 11am every day. It’s the proper place to fill your abdomen earlier than you get pleasure from a few of the actions at The Lagoon. Elements are domestically sourced, and dishes are plant-forward!

Lunch at Meals for Thought Cafe: One in every of our favorite foodie experiences throughout our highway journey, Meals For Thought is positioned on Marathon and is a pure meals retailer and natural cafe multi functional. It’s nice for breakfast or lunch, with loads of vegan, plant-based, and gluten-free choices. In addition they inventory a variety of well being merchandise and plastic-free alternate options.

Dinner at Mahina at Isla Bella Seaside Resort: An unbelievable eating expertise in your highway journey to the Florida Keys, dinner on the new Polynesian-inspired restaurant at Isla Bella Seaside Resort is fairly particular. With contemporary, tropical flavours impressed by Hawaii, the oceanfront eating space is the proper place for a romantic night time.

The place to Keep in Marathon

The Grassy Flats Resort & Seaside Membership is a stupendous oceanfront resort, and the seaside membership in Marathon is the proper place to remain within the Center Keys space. They provide 33 rooms, together with two to three-bedroom suites and a four-bedroom guesthouse. There are 2 swimming pools on-site, a seaside membership bar, in addition to kayaks and paddle boards for hire.

The resort presents that quintessential Florida Keys vacation vibe however is not like some other resort within the Keys, because of its intensive concentrate on sustainable growth and accountable operations. The resort boasts a lengthy listing of sustainability initiatives, together with using plant-based detergents, an in-house recycling program, the exclusion of pesticides and herbicides from on-site gardens, and a seaweed composting program. The property additionally has a ban on single-use plastics and makes use of numerous recycled supplies within the building of the property.

If you’re touring with an electrical automobile, as we did, you’ll have the ability to plug in and cost up your EV in a single day.

Grassy Flats Resort, Marathon, Florida Keys

Days 4-7: Key West

Marathon to Key West: 51 miles

Your highway journey from Miami to Key West ends right here, however the adventures on the town are simply starting. Key West City is the southernmost metropolis of the contiguous United States and has change into a well-liked trip vacation spot. It’s actually the top of the highway, the place you’ll discover Mile Marker 0 of the US Freeway Route 1.

Plan to spend not less than 3-4 days when you attain Key West to provide your self time to chill out, see the city and revel in some close by actions. There’s a lot to do in Key West, with nice seashores, historic websites, and unbelievable eating places.

Listed here are a few of our suggestions to your Key West itinerary.

Issues to do in Key West

Go to the Southernmost Level: An enormous buoy marks the southernmost level within the continental United States, which can also be solely 90 miles from Cuba. It’s a well-liked spot to snap a photograph to mark the top of your Miami to Key West highway journey.
Go on a Sundown Sail Cruise: For a unique strategy to see the Key West harbour, we advocate taking a sundown cruise with Sebago Watersports, a good operator with every day departures. Don’t overlook to convey your individual reusable cup on board, as drinks on the boat are sadly served in plastic cups.
Spend a day at Smather Seaside: This picture-perfect seaside simply exterior of Key West is a well-liked vacation spot on a stupendous sunny day. There are sunchairs for hire, water sports activities on supply and meals vehicles lining the seaside promenade, so you’ll be able to simply keep all day.
Be a part of a Dolphin Watching Tour: This tour was one of many highlights of our Miami to Key West Highway Journey. The fabulous crew from Trustworthy Eco Sustainable Nature Excursions presents an unbelievable half-day journey on Key West’s first electric-powered constitution boat. The boat takes guests out to the close by shallow waters generally known as the dolphin playground and offers you an opportunity to look at dolphins of their pure atmosphere. The tour additionally consists of an hour-long snorkelling session, appropriate for full rookies. We noticed a ton of marine life on our journey, together with sharks, turtles, octopuses, lobsters and extra!
Expertise Nightlife on Duval Avenue: Duval Avenue is the principle hub of nighttime leisure in Key West Previous City. It’s house to many energetic bars and eating places and is a well-liked spot for an evening of reside music and good enjoyable. On the northern finish of the road, you’ll additionally discover Mallory Sq., a public waterfront sq. with a nightly arts and crafts pageant value trying out at sundown.
Go to Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters: Positioned within the coronary heart of Key West City, the historic lighthouse first opened in 1848 with a lady as its Keeper, which was practically unprecedented through the nineteenth century. Whereas the lighthouse has been decommissioned since then, it’s been preserved as a reminder of the maritime heritage of the realm. You may stroll up the 88 steps to the highest of the Key West lighthouse for an unbelievable view and discover the belongings, images, and phrases of the lighthouse Keepers and their households within the museum.
Tour Ernest Hemingway House and Museum: Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote in Key West for practically 10 years, with a lot of his basic works being put collectively at his Whitehead Avenue property. Now you can step again in time and go to the rooms and gardens of the author, together with his authentic studio day-after-day from 9am to 5pm.
Take a Conch Practice Tour of Key West City: Quick on time, however need to see as a lot of Key West as attainable? Hop aboard the historic Conch Practice for a enjoyable and informative experience across the Previous City. You’ll get insights into the historic significance of the city and its foremost points of interest and get an opportunity to see all of Key West points of interest in a 1-2 hour tour.
Hire a motorcycle and create your individual tour: Discover the city by yourself phrases and timeline! All you want is a motorcycle and a Key West map. You get to choose which points of interest to see, linger the place you need to, and actually chill out. You may get a paper map at most service stations or obtain one that highlights Key West points of interest.
Eat dinner at Sundown Key: This small island simply off the coast of Key West is house to a luxurious resort, a non-public neighbourhood, and Latitudes, among the finest outside eating places in America. Reservations are required, and you’ll have to take the ferry to the island.

Duval Avenue, Key West

Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

Go to Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park

Positioned simply 70 miles off the coast of Key West, the Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park is likely one of the most original nationwide parks within the nation. When you’ve got some further time in your Florida highway journey, we extremely advocate including a while to go to the islands of Dry Tortugas.

You may go to the nationwide park by seaplane or ferry, with the ferry taking round 2 hours and quarter-hour to achieve Dry Tortugas from Key West. Be aware that ferry seats are restricted and tickets promote out effectively upfront, so make sure to ebook forward!

You may go to Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park on a day journey, however there may be additionally tenting accessible if you wish to keep the night time.

Should-see points of interest in Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park:

Historic Fort Jefferson: The enduring attraction of the islands is the historic fort courting again to the nineteenth century. Used through the Civil Struggle by warships and as a jail, there are civil battle relics and loads of historical past to find on a go to.
Backyard Key Lighthouse: The lighthouse, inbuilt 1826, is positioned close to Fort Jefferson and is one other in style attraction in Dry Tortugas. The lighthouse was actively used for round a century.
Coral reefs: Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park is a web site wealthy in historic significance, however outside fans might be joyful to listen to that additionally it is house to an unbelievable coral reef community. The reef wraps across the islands, making Dry Tortugas a nice snorkelling and diving vacation spot.

Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park, Florida Keys

The place to Eat in Key West

Breakfast at Date & Thyme Natural Cafe: Positioned in a former fuel station, Date & Thyme Natural Cafe & Market is a vibrant foodie oasis within the coronary heart of Key West. Their menu options contemporary, natural meals with an purpose to nourish and gasoline the physique and thoughts. It’s also possible to flick through their natural grocery retailer for further goodies to take with you.

Lunch or dinner at Half Shell Uncooked Bar: Positioned within the Key West Historic Seaport, the informal Half Shell Uncooked Bar serves a wide range of contemporary seafood overlooking the marina. Whether or not you choose the normal fish and chips, the well-known Half Shell conch ceviche or their home made Key Lime Pie (our favorite), you gained’t be dissatisfied by this native spot.

Dinner at Matt’s Inventory Island Kitchen & Bar: Positioned at The Perry Lodge Key West, Matt’s Kitchen serves American coastal consolation meals with a inventive twist. The restaurant overlooks a stupendous marina on Inventory Island and has gained numerous awards for its meals and atmosphere.

Eat Key Lime Pie: If discovering the perfect Key Lime Pie in your Miami to Key West drive is in your to-do listing, don’t miss an opportunity to pattern the goodies at Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe. The intense place decked out in yellow and inexperienced is broadly generally known as among the finest Key Lime pie spots on the town. They provide contemporary, home made pies to get pleasure from.

Our meal at Matt’s Inventory Island Kitchen & Restaurant

The place to Keep in Key West

Parrot Key Lodge & Villas

Positioned in New City in Key West, this not too long ago refurbished 148-unit property is surrounded by a mangrove forest. The lodge presents spacious waterfront villas with semi-private outside patios. Rooms are good for a romantic getaway for a pair however also can match a household or group of mates touring collectively. Some rooms supply a number of bedrooms, lounge house and balconies.

The property additionally options the poolside bar and Grove Kitchen, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The lodge makes sustainability a precedence by utilizing its personal platform, EarthView, to trace the vitality and water use and waste impression.

To assist its visitors decrease their carbon footprint whereas within the Keys, the lodge presents bicycles for hire and a gaggle shuttle that may take you to downtown Key West for dinner or actions all through the day.

The Parrot Key Lodge, Key West
Inside our room on the Parrot Key Lodge

Hanging within the hammock on the Parrot Key lodge

Different Issues To Do

If you end up with further time to discover the Decrease Keys, otherwise you simply want a break from the touristy spots, there are many parks and seashores within the space that provide a peaceable escape.

Veterans Memorial Park

Positioned on Little Duck Key, this oceanfront seaside park options shallow, crystal clear waters and views of the well-known 7 Mile Bridge. You shouldn’t run into numerous vacationers since this can be a bit off the crushed path.

Eco Kayak Excursions in Nice White Heron Refuge

Reflections is a small, cell nature tour and Kayaking firm centered on educating guests and offering up-close experiences with wildlife native to the Decrease Keys. You’ll paddle via clear bay waters and mangrove creeks to see ocean life, birds, and native flowers.

Geiger Key Paddleboard Backcountry Excursions

Positioned simply quarter-hour from downtown Key West, Geiger Secret is house to protected mangroves and many native marine life. An knowledgeable nature information from Key West Eco Excursions will lead you down winding mangrove trails out to open water, the place you’ll be able to see dolphins, turtles, and colleges of vibrant fish.