Hi there!
So you want to make it an epic road trip with a drive from Atlanta to Key West!
It’s a road trip from Atlanta to the Florida Keys!
I did a drive from the Florida Keys to Georgia (and beyond!) passing through the Atlanta area on my way back up north.
So I thought to give a suggested driving route with possible stops to make in the opposite direction, from Atlanta to Key West!
How long is the drive from Atlanta to Key West?
Driving directly, it might take around 13 hours of driving time from Atlanta to Key West.
Explore the map.
I imagine that there are some people who would say it’s doable to drive from Atlanta to Key West in one day.
But I think for most people, you can think of it as taking at minimum 2 days to drive from Atlanta to the Florida Keys.
That would be an average of 7 hours a day.
Maybe you even want to take a minimum of 3 days to drive to Key West. Then that would be an average of 4-5 hours a day, with time for a stop or 2.
There are a few stops that you can make if you want to take it a little bit more slowly to get to the Florida Keys!
Of course, there are many different ways that you can do this drive depending on your time and interests!
Below will show you some stops you can make to give you some ideas… if you want to break up the drive and spend more time along the way from Atlanta to the Florida Keys and see more of Florida!
👆 You can make it a drive from Atlanta to Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys!
👆 You can make it a drive from Atlanta to Smathers Beach in Key West!
Road trip to Florida state parks
The driving route to the Florida Keys below includes a few Florida state parks.
In general, Florida state parks have an entry fee. This varies based on the state park, but it is generally around $5 per car.
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.
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!
Road trip to Florida springs
There are said to be over 1,000 springs in Florida!
And you have a few springs to choose from along the way on your drive to the Florida Keys!
And, many (but not all) Florida springs are for swimming!
It’s said that the water temperature of many springs in Florida are a constant high 60s to low 70s year-round.
This means that in theory, you can go swimming in Florida springs any time of year.
Bring goggles so you can see the underwater life!
👆 If you plan on making a stop to go swimming in some Florida springs on your way to Key West, bring snorkeling gear for swimming in Florida springs!
You may also consider wearing a swimming shirt with UV protection for swimming in the Florida springs too.
👆 If you plan on making a stop to go swimming in some Florida springs, add a float to your Florida springs packing list!
Alternate route #1: Atlanta to Key West via the Atlantic coast
The driving route “inland” passing by the Florida springs is the quickest route.
But if you want to make your road trip into more of a coastal route, then you can also make a detour to the Atlantic coast early on and then drive down the coast to Key West.
So if you’re not interested in the Florida springs, then you may be interested in the alternate route by driving to the Georgia coast and then south to Key West:
- Atlanta to Savannah (4 hours)
- Savannah to Jacksonville (2+ hours)
- Jacksonville to Key West (8.5 hours)… with a detour to Disney?!
- Jacksonville to Orlando aka Jacksonville to Disney World! (2+ hours)
- Orlando to Miami (3.5 hours)
- Miami to Key West (3.5 hours)
👆 Explore the map: Atlanta to Savannah GA to Key West
Alternate route #2: Atlanta to Key West via the Gulf coast
If you want to spend a few extra days exploring a different part of Florida, you can make a detour to the Gulf coast!
If you are able to spare a few extra days to make your epic Florida road trip even more epic, then maybe you want to make a detour to the gulf coast and Southwest Florida!
Southwest Florida is where you will find some of the best beaches for shelling in Florida.
You can see the beautiful beaches of Southwest Florida by driving from Tampa to Marco Island.
For the alternate route for driving from Atlanta to Key West with the Gulf coast detour, you can think of the driving route like this:
- Atlanta to Tampa (6.5 hours)
- Tampa to Miami with gulf coast stops! (5+ hours)
- Miami to Key West (3.5 hours)
👆 Explore the map: Atlanta to Tampa to Key West
More road trips from Atlanta
- Things to do in the Florida Panhandle (5.5 hours away from Atlanta)
- Things to do in Mammoth Cave National Park (5.5 hours away from Atlanta)
What is there to see between Atlanta and Key West?
📌 Save this post for later! Save on Pinterest! 👈📌
Now, here are some potential stops on your driving route from Atlanta to Key West that is a mostly direct route!
Explore the map.
1. Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
The Gilchrist Blue Springs are Florida springs you can visit on a drive to Key West!
I saw turtles swimming at Gilchrist Blue Springs!
You can also go swimming at these Florida springs.
For camping, there is the Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park campground and the O’Leno State Park campground (30 minutes away).
Atlanta to Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park is around a 4.5 hour drive.
Gilchrist Blue Springs to Key West is around an 8+ hour drive.
Explore the map: Atlanta to Gilchrist Blue Springs to Key West
See more about planning your drive from Atlanta to the Florida Keys:
Camping between Atlanta and the Florida Keys:
- Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park campground
- How to make reservations for Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
- Ocean Pond Campground in Apalachicola National Forest (first come first served)
2. Silver Springs State Park
There is no swimming in the springs at Silver Springs State Park.
Instead, the big thing to do here is to take a glass bottom boat ride!
Otherwise, you can go for a simple walk along the springs.
You can also go kayaking at the springs.
For camping, there is the Silver Springs State Park campground.
Atlanta to Silver Springs State Park is around a 5.5 hour drive.
Silver Springs to Key West is around a 7.5 hour drive.
Explore the map: Atlanta to Silver Springs to Key West
Camping between Atlanta and the Florida Keys:
- Silver Springs State Park campground
- How to make reservations for Silver Springs Springs State Park
🌴
3. Ocala National Forest
More options for Florida springs to stop off at on your drive to Key West is the Ocala National Forest springs.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the water temperature of Salt Springs is a constant 74 degrees year-round.
There are several “recreation areas” in Ocala National Forest with springs, so you can take your pick:
- Salt Springs Recreation Area
- Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area
- Juniper Springs Recreation Area
- Alexander Springs Recreation Area
You can go swimming at these springs.
Explore the map of Ocala National Forest springs.
One of the prettiest springs in Ocala National Forest is Silver Glen Springs.
You can go camping at Salt Springs, Juniper Springs, and Alexander Springs.
There are more campgrounds throughout Ocala National Forest if you don’t care about being near springs.
If you are RV camping and looking for full-service hook-up, then you will want to go camping at the Salt Springs campground.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, this is the only campground in Ocala National Forest with full hook-ups for RVs.
Atlanta to Ocala National Forest is around a 6 hour drive.
Ocala National Forest to Key West is around a 7.5 hour drive.
Explore the map: Atlanta to Ocala National Forest to Key West
See more about planning your drive from Atlanta to the Florida Keys:
Camping between Atlanta and the Florida Keys:
- Salt Springs Recreation Area campground
- Juniper Springs Recreation Area campground
- Alexander Springs Recreation Area campground
- How to make reservations for Ocala National Forest
5. Orlando
Orlando is where you will find Disney World.
So yes, the direct Atlanta to Key West driving route will allow for an easy detour to Disney World!
Atlanta to Orlando is around a 6.5 hour drive.
Orlando to Key West is around a 6.5 hour drive.
Explore the map: Atlanta to Orlando to Key West
See more about planning your drive from Atlanta to the Florida Keys:
Camping between Atlanta and the Florida Keys:
- Fort Wilderness campground at Disney World (+ cabins)
- How to make reservations for Disney World campground
- Lake Louisa State Park campground (+ cabins)
- How to make reservations for Lake Louisa State Park
Leaving Orlando…
Now, I don’t really have anything for you between Orlando and Miami if you’re looking to drive there pretty directly.
I did the gulf coast detour to drive from Orlando to the Florida Keys so I didn’t do anything specific between Orlando and Miami. And on the way back up north it was straight from the North Miami camping cabins to Ocala National Forest camping!
But again, if you take the gulf coast detour, you will find beautiful beaches in Southwest Florida!
You will also find world-class shelling! Or so the people of Florida claim. 😅
Really though, at the very least, it’s where you will find some of the best beaches to look for seashells in Florida.
So if you want to make the detour to the gulf coast before you head to Miami, then you can drive towards Tampa, and then you can drive down the gulf coast from Tampa, and then take the Tamiami Trail across southern Florida to the other side of the state aka the Atlantic coast aka Miami and the Florida Keys!
Your driving route for this section can be from Tampa to Miami with many options for gulf coast stops to make.
Otherwise…
Driving directly from Orlando to Miami is around a 3.5 hour drive. (map)
So if you want to just keep driving south…
Next stop…
6. Miami
If you don’t want to spend too much time in Miami but want to do SOMETHING, because well, it’s MIAMI, then stop by South Pointe Park in Miami Beach and then drive along Ocean Drive!
Atlanta to Miami is around a 9.5 hour drive.
Miami to Key West is around a 3.5 hour drive.
Explore the map: Atlanta to Miami to Key West
See more about planning your drive from Atlanta to the Florida Keys:
- South Pointe in Miami Beach
- Things to do in Everglades National Park
- Where to see alligators in Everglades National Park
- Where to see crocodiles in Everglades National Park
Camping between Atlanta and the Florida Keys:
7. Florida Overseas Highway
And now you have made it to the Florida Keys!!!
The Florida Overseas Highway is the road that goes through the Florida Keys!
So by driving to Key West, you will be driving along the Florida 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!
The first major key is Key Largo, and you just keep driving the Overseas Highway to get to Key West!
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 in the Florida Keys, you will be driving a Florida Scenic Highway and All-American road!
Once you starting driving in the Florida Keys, it will basically be a drive from Key Largo to Key West.
Driving from Key Largo to Key West might take you around 2.5 hours.
One of the major icons along the way is the Seven Mile Bridge.
This isn’t necessarily a stop to make on your drive from Atlanta 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.
See more about planning your drive from Atlanta to Key West:
Camping in the Florida Keys
There are state park campgrounds in the Florida Keys that offer tent camping and RV camping… and car camping, van camping, etc!
These campsites are generally hard to come by, but with a little bit of luck, it is possible to go camping in the Florida Keys in state parks!
Camping between Atlanta and Key West:
- Camping in the Florida Keys
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park campground
- Long Key State Park campground
- Curry Hammock State Park campground
- Bahia Honda State Park campgrounds
- How to make Florida state park camping reservations
8. Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda State Park is also along the way from Key Largo to Key West off of the Overseas Highway, but it gets a special mention!
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.
You can go camping in Bahia Honda State Park.
👆 Camping between Atlanta and Key West: Bahia Honda State Park campground
There are also waterfront cabins in Bahia Honda State Park. (Again, good luck getting a reservation!)
See more about planning your drive from Atlanta to Key West:
Camping between Atlanta and Key West:
- Bahia Honda State Park campgrounds (tent camping, RV camping)
- How to make Bahia Honda State Park reservations
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.
For the visual on a map, look for the Southernmost Point Key West, and then locate South Street and Duval Street. (map)
Then after you go to the southernmost point, you can leave the car behind and take the free Duval loop bus to see more of Key West without a car!
Or, you can get back in the car to drive to one of the best snorkeling spots in Key West!
And then, once you’ve spent all the time that you want in Key West, you can start making your way back up north!
HAPPY DRIVING TO THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM ATLANTA!
Here are some popular activities you need to know about to get some very-Florida experiences! Read the reviews on the partner websites listed below!
🐠 You can swim with colorful fishies in the Florida Keys!
The most popular snorkeling tours are the snorkeling tours in Key Largo and the snorkeling tours in Key West!
Read the reviews for more of the best Key West tours on viator and the best Key West tours on getyourguide.
If you're going snorkeling (or to the beach!), here are things you must consider packing for Florida!
You can find these things on Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate.
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel
I also like to go snorkeling with a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.