Perfect Miami to Key West drive for VIEWS + camping 🌴🐠 Florida Keys road trip stops 🌴🐠 South Florida travel blog

Hi there!

 

So you want to do an epic Florida Keys road trip by driving from Miami to Key West!

I did a drive to Key West that included 2 weeks in the Florida Keys, so I’ve got some ideas for you!

 

 

How long is the drive from Miami to Key West?

Driving directly, it might take around 3.5 hours of driving time from Miami to Key West.

This will also depend on where in Miami you’re starting your drive from.

 

Explore the map.

 

So, as a 4 hour drive, it’s doable to drive from Miami to Key West in one day if you’re looking to just go straight there. But there are also many stops you can make along the way if you want to turn it into a multi-day drive for an amazing Florida road trip!

 

Best stops on a Miami to Key West road trip

 

If you’re looking for more ideas on places to stop on your way to Miami from the north, be sure to also see ideas for a drive from Tampa to Miami! Or you may want to see ideas for Jacksonville to Orlando and things to do in Ocala National Forest! If you are driving from wayyyy up north, then you may want to see things to do in Mammoth Cave National Park, depending on where you’re coming from! Now, back to Miami to Key West!

 

1. South Pointe, Miami Beach

If you’re starting your drive from Miami without having seen Miami at all yet, then THE one place you can go before you get started on your drive to Key West is South Pointe in Miami Beach!

 

See more about South Pointe Park.

 

 

Cabin camping between Miami and Key West:

• Oleta River State Park cabins

 

 

2. Everglades National Park

It’s a little bit of a detour to go to Everglades National Park when your destination is Key West, but it’s the most popular national park in Florida, so you might want to go!

Plus, it’s one of the best places for a chance to see alligators in Florida!

One of THE things to do in Everglades National Park is to try to see alligators!

And it is to TRY to see them!

Alligators are wild and do what they want when they want!

That said, there are certain places in the Everglades that alligators are known to be spotted often.

You can make it a perfect one day in Everglades National Park.

Or you might be happy to choose just one activity. If you want to do just one thing, they you might be happy choosing Shark Valley or an Everglades airboat tour. (Although you should really do both, I think!)

Long Pine Key campground is the closest campground in Everglades National Park to the Florida Keys.

 

See more about how to spend one day in Everglades National Park.

 

Camping between Miami and Key West:

• Long Pine Key campground (tent camping, RV camping)
• Flamingo campground (tent camping, RV camping)
• Flamingo Everglades eco-tent camping
• How to make Everglades National Park camping reservations

 

🐊

 

3. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of the most popular state parks in the Florida Keys.

And yes, there is coral reef at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park!

This state park in the Florida Keys is considered mostly to be an underwater park, and the coral reef is not along the shore.

This means that in order to see the coral reef that John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is known for, you need to take a boat ride out to the reef!

This means that a John Pennekamp tour includes an epic boat ride in the Florida Keys to see amazing water color!

You can see the underwater life by getting in the water or by staying dry.

You have the option to take a snorkeling tour or a glass bottom boat tour.

 

 

And yes, both are worth it so you can get that boat ride in the Florida Keys and take a ride out on the ocean!

If you will be driving to Key West though, you will pass by one of the best snorkeling spots in the Florida Keys, so you may want to wait until further south to do a snorkeling tour! That’s coming up later on the list!

And then, if you are interested in seeing a small shipwreck, you can do snorkeling from shore at John Pennekamp State Park… and then maybe you will see some underwater life while you are at it!

 

👆 Snorkeling between Miami and Key West: Snorkeling around the site of the Spanish shipwreck of 1715 in John Pennekamp State Park. 

 

See more about snorkeling in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

 

Camping between Miami and Key West:

• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park campground (tent camping, RV camping)
• How to make John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park camping reservations

 

🌴🐠

 

 

4. 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.

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.

 

 

5. Lazy Days restaurant, Islamorada FL

 

Lazy Days can be a stop for food with a waterfront view!

 

 

 

6. 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!

 

 

Or just sit and enjoy the views from Long Key!

 

 

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.

 

Camping between Miami and Key West:

• Long Key State Park campground (currently walk-in tent camping only)
• Curry Hammock State Park campground (tent camping, RV camping)
• How to make Florida state park camping reservations

 

 

7. Sombrero Beach, Marathon FL

 

Sombrero Beach is the best beach in Marathon FL, and it’s also known as one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys.

 

 

 

8. Seven Mile Bridge, Overseas Highway

👆 Included in your drive from Miami to Key West once you get to the Florida Key will be the road called the Overseas Highway! And yes, parts of the Overseas Highway are “overseas”! You will be driving over many bridges that connect a bunch of the little islands (“keys”) in the Florida Keys!

 

Basically your entire drive in the Florida Keys along the main road is the road called Overseas Highway.

But it’s Seven Mile Bridge that will really have you understanding why it’s the Overseas Highway! (Although you will be driving “overseas” on many smaller bridges up until this point!)

This isn’t necessarily a stop to make on your drive from Miami 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.

 

 

 

9. 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.

Bahia Honda State Park has 3 campgrounds.

Buttonwood Campground and the newly opened back up Sandspur Campground (previously closed due to hurricane damage) are for tent camping and RV camping.

Bayside Campground is for tent camping only.

All campgrounds have waterfront campsites… although not all campsites are waterfront!

 

👆 Camping between Miami and Key West: Buttonwood Campground in Bahia Honda State Park. 

 

There are also waterfront cabins in Bahia Honda State Park. (Again, good luck getting a reservation!)

 

 

See more about planning your drive from Miami to Key West:

• Things to do in Bahia Honda State Park
• Bahia Honda State Park snorkeling

 

Camping between Miami and Key West:

• Bahia Honda State Park campgrounds (tent camping, RV camping)
• How to make Bahia Honda State Park camping reservations

 

10. 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 Miami 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

 

No matter which snorkeling tour you choose, it’s important to know that sometimes snorkeling tours get cancelled.

It could be for reasons like visibility and snorkeling conditions, or it could be for other reasons.

Snorkeling tours can also sell out.

So it could be best to plan ahead to avoid disappointment.

 

See more about Looe Key snorkeling.

 

 

11. Blue Hole, Big Pine Key

If you didn’t get enough alligator sightings in Everglades National Park, and/or you’re looking for every opportunity to see alligators in Florida… and you don’t mind making a 30 minute detour for another try to see alligators in the Florida Keys… then you can head to Blue Hole on Big Pine Key!

And, once again, emphasis on TRY!

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! (Seeing the Tamiami Trails alligators driving west from Miami was more exciting, though!)

 

 

12. 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.

For the visual on a map, look for the Southernmost Point Key West, and then locate South Street and Duval Street. (map)

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 Miami!

 

 

Key West to Miami and beyond

Driving from Key West to Miami, if you didn’t make it a stop before the Florida Keys, be sure to stop at South Pointe Park of Miami Beach!

If you’re headed further north beyond Miami, you can make a stop north of Orlando at Ocala National Forest!

Go swimming at one of the best Florida springs in Ocala National Forest!

 

Can you do a day trip to Key West from Miami?

 

Being a 3.5 hour drive one way, a day trip to Key West would mean 7 hours of driving from Miami to Key West to Miami… at least!

The speed limit on the main road through the Florida Keys (the Overseas Highway) is mostly 55mph, but it’s possible that could be reduced to driving at 45mph even with the higher speed limit.

The vast majority of the Overseas Highway has no passing lane, so you can only go as fast as the car in front of you… which is sometimes 45mph in a 55 mph zone.

 

 

And, even if you could, you don’t want to speed.

The police department of the Florida Keys (aka Monroe County police department) are quite serious about getting you to go the speed limit.

You will likely see many police cars along the side of the road as you’re driving to give you a scare into slowing down if you are speeding!

 

 

While most of them are empty police cars, now and then, there could be a police officer who is checking your speed! So don’t speed!

So basically, even if you map it out and google maps tells you it will take you 3.5 hours of driving time to get from Miami to Key West, it will probably take longer.

And so, for most people, it’s not reasonable to do a day trip to Key West from Miami.

Of course, if Key West is a Florida bucket list item for you and it’s the only chance you have to go to Key West, then you might want to do it anyway.

But otherwise, giving yourself at least 2 days for a Miami to Key West to Miami drive becomes more reasonable, although it would still be better if you had more time.

You can stay overnight in Key West, or you can find another place to stay along the way.

Of course, there are many different ways you can do this drive depending on your time and interests!

You can take a look at the list below to see if you think you will be happy with 2 days from a Miami to Key West road trip, or if you want an extra day (or more!) to explore the Florida Keys between Miami and Key West!

You won’t be able to do everything on the list below with just 2 days, but these are some ideas to get you started!

 

👆 The Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys is a Florida Scenic Highway and an All-American road as one of America’s byways! So by driving from Miami to Key West, you will be driving a Florida Scenic Highway and All-American road!

 

Florida state parks between Miami and Key West

There are a few Florida state parks between Miami 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 Miami and Key West, as well as in Homestead, Key Largo, Islamorada, and Marathon all of which you will pass along the way.

Also, there are state parks in the Florida Keys that are located between Miami 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!

 

Florida Keys state park camping between Miami and Key West

 

There are state parks in the Florida Keys that are located between Miami and Key West that offer camping.

This includes tent camping and RV camping… and car camping, van camping, etc!

 

 

Finding open campsite availability at state park campgrounds in the Florida Keys is known to be (very) difficult.

State park campgrounds in the Florida Keys are often fully booked 11 months in advance when campsites open up for booking!

But don’t worry, not all hope is lost if you aren’t capable of planning that far in advance. (And even if you were, it’s also known to be difficult. Reports indicate campsites can get snatched up within the first 5 minutes… or less!)

If your Miami to Key West road trip is just a few months, weeks, or even days away, cancellations do happen. You just have to get lucky and search for campgrounds immediately after someone cancels.

Your “luck” will increase the more you search, and the closer you are to your travel date.

Searching over and over (and over 😜) does really work. I spent 2 weeks camping in the Florida Keys in Florida state parks!

In case you are not able to find availability and/or you just want to get something booked, a good back-up campground near the Florida Keys can be Long Pine Key campground in Everglades National Park. This is just outside Homestead FL. I camped there for one night and the campground was practically empty when campgrounds in the Florida Keys were full.

I have found camping availability open up weeks away, days away, and even the day before. There was one day that I was looking for a campsite for the next night and ALL state park campgrounds in the Florida Keys had availability!!! (Decisions! Which to stay at?!)

So, while it’s not something to depend on, it’s something you can look for.

1 night stays will generally be easier to find than multi-night stays.

You will find the greatest difficulty in finding open campgrounds for Saturday nights.

 

HAPPY DRIVING TO THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM MIAMI!