Hi there!
So you want to do an epic Florida Keys road trip by driving from Islamorada to Key West!
How long is the drive from Islamorada to Key West?
Driving directly, it might take around 2 hours of driving time from Islamorada to Key West.
Explore the map.
So it’s obviously doable to drive from Islamorada to Key West in one day.
But, should you make it a day trip to Key West from Islamorada?!
Making it an Islamorada day trip to Key West means that you’ll likely have at least 4 hours of driving time.
So then, should you stop over along the way… or even stop overnight in Key West?!
You can take a look at the list below to see if you think you will be happy with a day trip from Islamorada, or if you want an extra day (or more!) to explore the Florida Keys between Islamorada and Key West!
Below will show some ideas of stops you can make as you make the drive from Islamorada to Key West!
Florida state parks between Islamorada and Key West
There are a few Florida state parks between Islamorada and Key West.
The Florida Park Service says that you can see the “real Florida” when you go to state parks.
In general, Florida state parks have an entry fee.
This ranges from around $3 to $8 per car for the state parks on the list below.
If you plan on making this the year of visiting many Florida state parks, then there is also an annual Florida state park pass that you can buy when you arrive at any Florida state park that is staffed.
Even with the Florida state park pass, you may or may not be charged an extra 50 cents for the county tourism fee for any of the state parks in the Florida Keys.
Florida state parks also have picnic tables so they can also make for a perfect stop for a picnic.
So stop by a Publix grocery store for prepared food or picnic food and eat your meal outdoors with views!
You can find a Publix in Islamorada and Key West, as well as in Marathon which you will pass along the way.
Also, there are state parks in the Florida Keys that are located between Islamorada and Key West that offer kayaking, including kayak rentals.
So if kayaking in the Florida Keys interests you, be sure to look further into that!
You can also go camping in the Florida Keys in state parks!
The best state park for camping is Bahia Honda State Park! This is about an hour from Key West.
More below for ideas on driving from Islamorada to Key West!
🌴🐠
Partner resources for travel planning!
Look for unique Florida experiences like a sunset sail, dolphin watching, foodie tour, or snorkeling followed by post-swim mimosas, at viator.com or getyourguide.com. Read the reviews!
Look for hotels and vacation rentals at booking.com or vrbo.com. You can filter to adjust for your price range to look for cheaper options too. Also look for the "property type" filter at booking.com and filter for kitchen, beachfront, or pool at vrbo, as well as the map! Read the reviews!
📌 Pin this post for later! Save on Pinterest! 👈📌
Now…
What are the prettiest views to be seen on a drive from Islamorada to Key West?
Explore the map.
1. Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
For a look at fossilized coral reef, you can make a stop at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological Park to start your drive from Islamorada.
You can take a walk to see the ancient coral reef in its original location.
Windley Key Fossil Reef State Park has a state park entry fee. This is around $2.50 per person. See current fees.
If you will be staying in Islamorada, then Windley Key is an easy going spot you can visit during your time in Islamorada.
2. Lazy Days restaurant
Lazy Days can be a stop for food with a waterfront view!
If you will be staying in Islamorada, then Lazy Days in Islamorada is a waterfront restaurant you can go to during your time in Islamorada.
3. Long Key State Park
Long Key State Park can be a perfect picnic stop!
There are picnic tables that are right along the water so you can eat with views!
There are kayak rentals at Long Key State Park.
Long Key State Park has a state park entry fee. This is around $5 per person. See current fees.
4. Sombrero Beach
Sombrero Beach is the best beach in Marathon FL, and it’s also known as one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys.
5. Seven Mile Bridge
This isn’t necessarily a stop to make on your drive from Islamorada to Key West, but it’s an icon of a Florida Keys drive!
If you are still not sure about driving all the way to Key West and you’re wondering how far south you should drive otherwise… your answer is a drive across the Seven Mile Bridge!
If you’ll be getting to the Seven Mile Bridge around sunset time, then Seven Mile Bridge can make for an epic Florida Keys sunset too!
You can find parking areas on either side of the bridge.
6. Bahia Honda State Park
So you now know that you need to drive as far as Seven Mile Bridge.
And since you have made it to Seven Mile Bridge, you can make Bahia Honda State Park your turnaround point if you decide you don’t want to go all the way to Key West!
It will be just a few minutes further.
Bahia Honda State Park is one of the most popular state parks in the Florida Keys.
This is where you will find another icon of the Florida Keys, the Old Bahia Honda railway bridge.
You can actually see the old bridge if you do continue your drive without stopping at Bahia Honda State Park.
You’ll see it as you continue your drive to Key West.
But if you do stop at Bahia Honda State Park, you can get a classic view of the old bridge.
And you can also get amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean!
There are also beaches in Bahia Honda State Park for swimming.
You can also try snorkeling in Bahia Honda State Park for a chance to see some underwater life.
Emphasis on CHANCE!
The fish are wild and they do what they want when they want!
That said, I did have some fun snorkeling experiences in Bahia Honda State Park!
It’s considered one of the best beach snorkeling spots in the Florida Keys.
Bahia Honda State Park also has picnic tables so it can make for perfect stop for a picnic with views!
There are kayak rentals at Bahia Honda State Park.
If you will be at Bahia Honda State Park for sunset, then this can also make for a sunset spot in the Florida Keys.
Bahia Honda State Park has a state park entry fee. This is around $8 per car. See current fees.
See more about planning your drive from Islamorada to Key West:
- Things to do in Bahia Honda State Park
- Bahia Honda State Park snorkeling
- Bahia Honda State Park camping
7. Looe Key reef
Looe Key is more than just a simple stop as it’s all about snorkeling at the Looe Key reef!
And, it requires a boat ride to get out to Looe Key! (Which is not actually an island, but just a location of the reef!)
Looe Key is considered among the best snorkeling in the Florida Keys.
This means that Looe Key can make for the best snorkeling between Islamorada and Key West!
So if you are going to do just one snorkeling tour in the Florida Keys, you likely won’t be disappointed if you make it a Looe Key snorkeling tour!
Here are the top ways to get a Looe Key snorkeling tour:
- Bahia Honda State Park Looe Key snorkeling tour
- Captain Hook’s, Big Pine Key
- Looe Key Reef Resort, Ramrod Key
So if you’re staying in Islamorada and depending on your plans, you may opt to make it a separate day trip to Looe Key from Islamorada, instead of something to do on your way to Key West.
It might take about an hour drive one way from Islamorada to do a Looe Key snorkeling tour.
See more about planning your drive from Islamorada to Key West:
Side note: Another popular snorkeling tour in the Florida Keys is from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. This is in Key Largo, so it will be on your way to Islamorada as you drive down from Miami. It’s also a thing to get a glass bottom boat tour in Key Largo from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Islamorada to Key Largo is around a 30 minute drive if you want to make it a day trip.
8. Blue Hole, Big Pine Key
If you don’t mind making a 30 minute detour for a chance to see alligators in the Florida Keys, then you can head to Blue Hole on Big Pine Key.
And, emphasis on CHANCE!
Alligators are wild so they do what they want when they want!
That said, there are alligators that like to hang out at Blue Hole, so it can be one of your best chances to see alligators in the Florida Keys.
I actually went out to Blue Hole 3 times… because I didn’t see alligators the first 2 times!
But finally I did see an alligator at Blue Hole!
Otherwise, if you really want to see alligators, when you head back up north, drive the Tamiami Trail west of Miami to go to Everglades National Park or Big Cypress National Preserve!
9. Key West
And you’ve made it to Key West!!!
There are many different ways to see Key West.
To get you started, you can make Smathers Beach your first destination in Key West.
Smathers Beach is one of the best beaches in Key West, and it will give you the tropical vibes you’ve imagined!
You’ll also pass by mile marker 1 with a drive along the coast on your way!
Right in front of Smathers Beach is paid parking for $5 per hour. ($2.50 if you think you’ll be in and out in 30 minutes!)
Or if you don’t mind walking an extra 5 to 10 minutes, then further east (or “north”) you can find free parking. This is in the area of the mile marker 1.
Just be mindful of the parking signs!
If you don’t see any “no parking” or “paid parking” signs, you can probably feel safe about parking there!
And then, you can continue the drive to mile marker 0!
You will also probably want to at least drive by the southernmost point of the continental United States.
If you want to park and take pictures here, then expect to wait in a line to take a picture with one of Key West’s most famous icons.
The Southernmost Point is a very touristy spot so you can expect crowds here in Key West.
Once again, there’s paid parking directly around the southernmost point. And once again, the paid parking near the southernmost point is $5 per hour.
Or if you don’t mind walking an extra 10 minutes, you might be able to find free parking if you’re lucky and/or it’s not too busy of a day!
To get you started on where you look for free parking, you can look on South Street beyond Duval Street in the direction that’s further away from the southernmost point.
And then if you want to park and leave your car behind, you can get on the free Duval Loop bus to further explore Key West!
Or, you can get back in the car to drive to one of the best snorkeling spots in Key West!
Then, once you’ve spent all the time that you want in Key West, you can start making your way back up north to Islamorada!
Islamorada to Miami
And then once you get to Miami, where to go if you want to make a quick stop with epic views?!
Make a stop at South Pointe Park of Miami Beach!
And then you might also be interested in these South Florida activities:
And then onwards north, you can make a stop north of Orlando at one of the Ocala National Forest springs in Central Florida!
Or maybe you want to head to the gulf coast for the beautiful beaches in Southwest Florida!
In which case, also see:
HAPPY DRIVING FROM ISLAMORADA TO KEY WEST!