Florida Keys Overseas Highway
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United States drives

Florida Keys Overseas Highway

United States · Southeast

Island-hopping across turquoise waters on America's most unique road

168 miles · 4 Days · 4 rally points

Guide statusPublished and available
Editorial updateAugust 12, 2026
Road conditionsVerify locally

The route

This verified 168-mile, one-way journey begins in Miami and reaches Key Largo by the quieter Card Sound Road approach. It then follows the Overseas Highway through Islamorada and Marathon before crossing Seven Mile Bridge, pausing at Bahia Honda and finishing in Key West. Four measured stages keep the driving secondary to the water, parks and island stops that define the route.

The old return-stage placeholder has been removed, so the mileage now reflects the route members actually receive. Card Sound tolling is electronic only. Check FL511 immediately before departure, treat every park and water activity as conditional on weather and capacity, and leave margin for congestion on the single highway through the Keys.

“The Keys reveal themselves slowly: one bridge, one horizon and one unhurried mile at a time.”

The whole Drive Pack, not just a line on a map.

This complete edition includes the practical tools, considered places and editorial context listed below.

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Route

Exact route map

The complete route, every rally point and sequential navigation links ready to open in Google Maps.

Itinerary

Full rally-point itinerary

A day-by-day sequence with distances, driving time and the stops that shape the journey.

Field notes

Road character & timing

Surface notes, corner character, suggested departure windows and the stretches that demand attention.

PDF

Downloadable roadbook

A premium PDF edition of the complete Drive Pack, designed for print and reliable offline use.

Web + PDF

Pre-drive checklist

Interactive and printable checks for the car, fuel, bookings, weather and offline navigation.

Live tools

Live departure desk

Official road-condition links and practical departure checks gathered in one place.

Curated

Stops, stays & tables

Curated accommodation, restaurants, wineries and worthwhile pauses matched to the route.

Route map

See the territory. Keep the discovery.

The shaded area shows the landscape of the drive. Members receive the verified road, sequence and navigation.

Explore the route region
  1. 01

    Day 1, Morning

    Miami to Key Largo

    65 miles · 1 hour 40 minutes driving, plus the park
  2. 02

    Day 2, Morning

    Key Largo to Islamorada

    22 miles · 35 minutes driving, plus water time

  3. Days 2–3 · Member Drive Pack

    The rest of the journey

    2 further rally points with verified routing, timings and road notes

Day by day

The drive, unfolded.

Miami to Key Largo01

Day 1, Morning

Miami to Key Largo

The Card Sound Approach

Leave Miami, use Card Sound Road for the quieter approach and finish at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo.

Distance
65 miles
Drive time
1 hour 40 minutes driving, plus the park

Complete Drive Pack

2 more rally points await.

The complete itinerary includes exact timings, road character, every stop and the downloadable roadbook.

Public preview · 2 of 4 rally points
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Beyond the road

Worth stopping for.

Places selected because they belong to the journey, not because they happened to be nearby.

Food & wine

4 more curated picks
Casual$$

Mrs. Mac's Kitchen

Key Largo, FL

A long-running Key Largo restaurant serving seafood, comfort food and key lime pie at two Overseas Highway locations.

Booking note

Check the live hours for the Original and Big locations before choosing a stop; their schedules differ.

Parking

Use the on-site lot for the selected location and rejoin US 1 only when the lane is clear.

Waterfront$$$

Morada Bay Beach Café

Islamorada, FL

An outdoor Islamorada café set in the sand at mile marker 81.6, with Florida Bay views and daily service.

Booking note

Walk-ins are welcome, but reservation access can vary. Confirm the current policy directly before arrival.

Parking

Use the venue's signed parking and finish the day's driving before sunset drinks.

Seafood$$$

Lazy Days

Islamorada, FL

An oceanfront Islamorada restaurant serving lunch and dinner daily at mile marker 79.8.

Booking note

Reserve directly for dinner and reconfirm the current service hours before departure.

Parking

Use the restaurant lot and allow extra time during peak dinner periods.

View all 7 food & wine recommendations
Casual$$

Keys Fisheries

Marathon, FL

A working Marathon seafood market, marina and casual waterfront restaurant on Florida Bay.

Booking note

Treat this as a casual stop and confirm the current restaurant and upstairs-bar hours directly.

Parking

Use the on-site lot and expect a busy waterfront setting at sunset.

Brunch$$$

Blue Heaven

Key West, FL

A Key West institution in Bahama Village serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a tree-shaded courtyard.

Booking note

Breakfast and lunch are first come, first served. Dinner has limited reservations and welcomes walk-ins.

Parking

Park for the day in a legal Old Town space or garage and continue on foot.

Tapas$$$

Santiago's Bodega

Key West, FL

A Key West restaurant in Bahama Village serving globally influenced small plates indoors and outside.

Booking note

Reservations are recommended and available through the official restaurant site.

Parking

Use legal Old Town parking and walk to Petronia Street.

Fine Dining$$$$$

Latitudes on Sunset Key

Key West, FL

A beachfront restaurant at Sunset Key Cottages, reached from Key West by the resort ferry.

Booking note

A dining reservation is essential. Follow the current ferry and check-in instructions supplied with the booking.

Parking

Leave the car in approved Key West parking and follow the restaurant's current ferry-departure instructions.

Where to stay

2 more curated picks
Night 2, Islamorada$$$$

The Moorings Village

Islamorada, FL

A secluded collection of cottages and homes on an Islamorada beach, within walking distance of the Old Highway area.

Visit website
Parking

Use the property's self-parking facility and confirm the space assigned to the cottage before arrival.

Night 2, Islamorada$$$$

Cheeca Lodge & Spa

Islamorada, FL

A 27-acre oceanfront Islamorada resort with rooms, suites, dining, watersports and a nine-hole golf course.

Visit website
Parking

Guest parking is included. Boat or trailer parking requires an advance reservation.

Night 3, Marathon$$$

Tranquility Bay Resort

Marathon, FL

A Marathon beachfront resort with guest rooms, beach houses, pools and on-property dining.

Visit website
Parking

Complimentary guest parking is listed; confirm the allocation for the booked room or beach house.

View all 5 where to stay recommendations
Night 4, Key West$$$

The Marker Key West Harbor Resort

Key West, FL

A 96-room Old Town harbor resort with three pools and an on-site restaurant, close to the historic seaport.

Visit website
Parking

Covered on-site parking is available for a nightly fee, limited to one vehicle per room. Confirm the current rate.

Night 4, Key West$$$$

Casa Marina Resort

Key West, FL

A renovated beachfront Key West resort with rooms, suites, dining and access to the island's largest private beach.

Visit website
Parking

Fee-based self-parking across the street and valet parking are available. Confirm current rates directly.

Before departure

Know before you go.

Fuel and Charging

Begin with a full tank or adequate charge, then top up in Key Largo, Islamorada or Marathon. Do not leave the final requirement until the Lower Keys.

Offline Route and FL511

Download all four member stages and a second offline map. Save FL511 and the current park status before leaving reliable service.

Reserve the Critical Stops

Book water excursions, winter stays and Key West dining as soon as dates are firm. Reconfirm weather-dependent activities before departure.

Card Sound Toll

Card Sound tolling is electronic only. Use SunPass or another accepted transponder, or expect Toll-By-Plate billing. Cash is not accepted.

Heat, Sun and Water

Carry water, high-SPF sunscreen, a hat and polarized glasses. Never leave people, pets or temperature-sensitive gear in a parked car.

Protect the Schedule

US 1 is the only through road. Allow generous traffic margin, monitor severe weather and evacuations, and never force the itinerary during a closure.

Continue exploring

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The complete journey

Take the full route with you.

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