The Florida Keys is the ultimate road trip in the US. With jaw dropping views, amazing restaurants and unique experiences… there is something for everyone along this 160 mile adventure.
We flew into Fort Lauderdale and drove to Key West. I highly recommend flying into Miami or Fort Lauderdale. You will not regret the drive.
Once you start your Florida Keys road trip, you will notice there is a lot of talk about Mile Markers. These Mile Markers indicate the location or address in reference to the number of miles north of Key West’s Mile 0.
As the address numbers get smaller, this indicates the further south you’re going closer to Mile Marker 0.
Key Largo
Our first stop was Mrs. Macs Kitchen. A local restaurant everyone loves and worth a stop on your Florida Keys road trip itinerary. They have two locations very close together.
If you have time to explore Key Largo, take a snorkel trip out and see the famous Christ of the Abyss Statue. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the first underwater preserve in the United States protecting the Florida Keys barrier reef, the only reef system in the continental US.
John Pennekamp State Park includes mangroves you can walk through, seagrass beds, beaches to hang out on, and the underwater barrier coral reef system you can witness by snorkeling. You can snorkel among the coral reef with tropical fish and visit the Christ of the Abyss underwater statue, a 4,000 lb bronze statue placed underwater in 1961. The beach is a little rocky, I recommend water shoes.
There is a small fee to enter John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and I recommend booking your snorkel excursion in advance, at least a week or more as they do sell out quickly.
Islamorada
The next island, Islamorada is probably my favorite stop.
If you enjoy beer, the Florida Keys Brewing Company is the first brewery in the north Keys and is a perfect place to stop for a cold refreshing beer on a hot day. You can walk to the Hurricane Memorial from the brewery.
World Wide Sportsman is the islands Bass Pro shop. Even if you aren’t shopping for fishing lures, take a few minutes and explore the World Wide Sportsman. Displayed in the center of the store is Earnest Hemingways boat you can walk through. There is a marina behind the store with a restaurant. You can purchase fish to feed the tarpon on the dock or just walk around and enjoy the view.
Next stop is Islamorada Beer Co which is also a distillery. It is a really cool place to stop for a drink, enjoy live music and relax in the gardens. The vibrant colors and relaxed atmosphere will get you in the island hopping mood, if you aren’t already feeling it.
Another fun stop is to take a picture with Betsy the Lobster. This is a huge fiberglass lobster with the Rain Barrel Artisans Village right behind. Great place to shop local and maybe find something unique.
Up next is Robbies Marina. If you don’t stop anywhere else, you have to stop here and feed the tarpon. Robbie’s of Islamorada not only has a great restaurant to eat at but they have all kinds of water activities to enjoy as well as an outdoor shopping market full of fun finds and local souvenirs. Grab a bucket of small fish and feed the giant tarpon right in the water outside the restaurant! Watch out for the pelicans, they will steal your fish. This was a really fun experience, we actually stopped on our way back to the airport to do it again.
If you have time for an excursion, I recommend a snorkel trip to Alligator Reef with Sundance Watersports, which is located right next to Robbies Marina.
Marathon
The most stunning part of driving the Florida keys is the 7 mile bridge. This bridge is the longest in the keys and rebuilt in 1982. You can still see the old bridge and be on the look out for Fred the tree growing on the old bridge. There is a pull off before you get on the bridge which is a great place to snap some pictures and take in the beautiful scenery.
Marathon is home to the Dolphin Research Center and Turtle Hospital. We did not have time to explore the Turtle Hospital, but took a few minutes to check out the dolphins at the research center. This was better than I was expecting. They have small lagoons with dolphins you can observe and watch the trainers as they work with the dolphins. They will explain what they are doing, the care needed each day and give you some background history of the dolphins. You can pay extra to meet the dolphins and swim with them.
SS Wreck is right beside the Dolphin Research Center and a great place to eat. Everyone says they have the best Key Lime pie, but I think it was actually here. All the food, drinks and deserts were amazing.
Another place that was recommended a few times was Keys Fishier’s known for there famous lobster Ruben. We didn’t have time to stop, but it sounded amazing.
If you are interested in some beach time, Sombrero Beach is beautiful with white sand and crystal clear water. The Florida Keys are not known for their beaches. It is best to enjoy the water out on a boat.
Big Pine Key
Bahia Honda State Park beach was one place we stopped in Big Pine Key. There is a small fee to enter the park with two beaches to explore. You can hike to the old bridge which has amazing views and great picture spots. Snorkeling off the beach is an option, but we only saw a few small fish.
The beach near the bridge was small and crowded. Again, the keys are not known for their beaches.
Key West
Our final destination and home for the week was Key West. Now, if you rented a car and drove through the keys, return it or park it. You don’t really need it to explore Key West. Parking is expensive, you will be dropping a $20 in every parking lot. Uber is a great choice and very inexpensive. You can rent a bike or golf cart to explore also. Bring your walking shoes, you will get in your steps in Key West.
Visit our next Blog, All things Key West to learn the must sees and dos in Key West.
What to Pack
- Snorkel Gear: If you plan on doing lots of snorkeling, I would pack your own snorkel gear. You’ll save some money in the long run vs renting gear.
- Water Shoes: Because of the rocky surfaces in some of the beaches, water shoes will help you enter and exit the beaches. These worked great because they are so thin and don’t take up much room.
- Sunscreen: To help protect your skin from the sun and reef safe.
- GoPro: If you want to photograph the amazing underwater sea life during a swim, a Go Pro waterproof camera is a must!
