The Overseas Highway to Key West

Route description

Leave Miami southbound for Homestead, where Coral Castle shows more than 1,100 tons of coral rock carved and moved by one man working alone. Before heading for the Keys, take Krome Avenue north to the Tamiami Trail (US-41) and Shark Valley in Everglades National Park. Its 15-mile paved loop through the sawgrass can be done by rented bike or on the tram, often with alligators lying beside the path.

Back at Florida City, US-1 becomes the Overseas Highway and crosses to Key Largo, the first of the larger islands. Mile markers count down from here to Key West, and many addresses along the road are given by mile marker. At Marathon the Seven Mile Bridge carries you across almost seven miles of open water, with the old bridge running alongside, partly open to walkers.

Just beyond, Bahia Honda State Park has beachfront campsites and some of the clearest water in Florida; reservations open up to 11 months ahead, and in winter you will need them. The highway ends in Key West, where the striped Southernmost Point Buoy marks 90 miles to Cuba and draws a line at sunset. The Overseas Highway is mostly two lanes with few places to pass, parking in Key West is tight for motorhomes, and hurricane season runs from June to November.