# Turquoise to the horizon – along the Overseas Highway to Key West

> 4-day road trip of about 283 km (176 mi) with 9 stops, from Miami to Key West. About 3 h 09 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-005-florida-keys/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 283 km (176 mi) with 9 stops, from Miami to Key West. About 3 h 09 min of driving in total. 42 bridges and 180 kilometres of Caribbean feeling: snorkelling at the first underwater park in the USA, sunset at Mallory Square and campsites right on the water.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 283 km (176 mi) |
| Driving | 3 h 09 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 9 |
| Route | Miami → Key West |
| States | FL |
| Updated | April 26, 2026 |

*42 bridges and 180 kilometres of Caribbean feeling: snorkelling at the first underwater park in the USA, sunset at Mallory Square and campsites right on the water.*

## The spirit of the route

Beyond Florida City the mainland ends. US-1 becomes the Overseas Highway, and suddenly the world is nothing but water: on your left the bottle-green Florida Bay, on your right the Atlantic in turquoise and deep blue, and in between bridges that stretch for kilometres across the sea. The sliding door stays open, the warm wind smells of salt and mangroves, and pelicans glide alongside the vehicle. On Big Pine Key knee-high Key deer stand at the roadside, in Islamorada tarpon circle beneath the dock, and in Key West live music drifts out of the bars on Duval Street. The Keys are no place for racking up the miles: here you drive for ten minutes, jump into the water, eat fresh fish and drive on for another ten minutes.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Miami to Key Largo (approx. 100 km)

- **The drive:** Take Florida’s Turnpike or US-1 to Florida City, then either the “18-Mile Stretch” of US-1 through the mangroves to Key Largo or the quieter Card Sound Road, which charges a toll. About 1.5 hours without detours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Everglades National Park: from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center near Florida City, a short hop to the Anhinga Trail, where alligators and water birds lie right beside the boardwalk.
  - John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater park in the USA, with glass-bottom boat and snorkelling tours.
  - The Christ statue on the reef at Key Largo Dry Rocks – reached on snorkelling trips from Pennekamp.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** The campground in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, between mangroves and lagoon, with electricity and water. Or Flamingo Campground in Everglades National Park, at the far south on Florida Bay, some sites with electricity.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Monroe County (the Keys), sleeping in your vehicle on public land is prohibited and enforced – plan on established campgrounds only.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Florida’s toll roads are cashless: SunPass, E-ZPass or billing by licence plate (Toll-by-Plate); with rental RVs the rental company’s toll package often applies. Since 2026, visitors without US residency pay a surcharge at Everglades National Park – check current amounts on nps.gov.

### Stage 2: Key Largo to Marathon (approx. 85 km)

- **The drive:** Via Tavernier and the island chain of Islamorada to the Long Key Viaduct and on to Marathon. Mostly two-lane and flat, 45 mph in the towns, with sea everywhere on both sides.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park: quarries of fossilised coral.
  - Anne’s Beach on Lower Matecumbe Key: shallow, warm water along a wooden boardwalk.
  - The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, a non-profit rehabilitation centre for sea turtles (guided tours only).
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Curry Hammock State Park near Marathon, with sites right on the Atlantic, electricity, water and restrooms.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** No legal free-camping spots here either; enforcement is strict.
- **Insider tip for campers:** There are petrol stations and supermarkets in Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon. After Marathon they thin out, and Key West is more expensive – stock up beforehand.

### Stage 3: Marathon to Bahia Honda (approx. 25 km)

- **The drive:** The short signature stage across the Seven Mile Bridge, almost eleven kilometres over open water; the old Flagler railway bridge runs alongside.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - The old Seven Mile Bridge: the section to Pigeon Key is open again to pedestrians and cyclists.
  - Bahia Honda State Park with Sandspur Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Keys.
  - The old railway bridge over the Bahia Honda Channel, with a viewing platform.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Bahia Honda State Park: sites under palm trees with water and electric hook-ups and restrooms in the Buttonwood Campground – one of the most sought-after campgrounds in Florida. The Sandspur Campground is closed until further notice for rebuilding after hurricane damage.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Not possible. Book early, otherwise your only option is a private campground on Big Pine or Sugarloaf Key.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Sites in the Keys state parks open for booking eleven months in advance for Florida residents and ten months in advance for everyone else, and are often gone within minutes – set an alarm for the booking window and have alternatives ready.

### Stage 4: Bahia Honda to Key West (approx. 60 km)

- **The drive:** Across Big Pine Key – where strict speed limits apply at night to protect the Key deer – and further small islands to Key West.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - National Key Deer Refuge with the Blue Hole, an old quarry with alligators and Key deer.
  - The Southernmost Point Buoy and the sunset at Mallory Square.
  - Fort Zachary Taylor, a Civil War fort with a swimming beach; ferries and seaplanes leave Key West for Dry Tortugas National Park.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Key West itself has only a few, expensive campgrounds. Many campers stay at Bahia Honda or in the Lower Keys and visit Key West as a day trip.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Sleeping in your vehicle is prohibited in Key West and penalised.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Key West’s Old Town is cramped and RV parking is scarce: park in a designated area outside the Old Town and switch to a bike or the app-based on-demand bus “Key West Rides” (it replaced the free Duval Loop in early 2026).

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- Free camping is prohibited in the Keys; Monroe County enforces this consistently.
- On the Florida mainland, rest areas and some supermarkets allow overnight stays – but not in the Keys.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium and the Florida State Parks reservation site.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- The Keys’ drinking water comes by pipeline from the mainland and is safe to drink.
- Dump stations in the state parks and at private campgrounds.
- In the humid heat you will usually need shore power for air conditioning and cooling.
- Never release grey water onto the ground – environmental regulations are strict.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Mostly 45–55 mph on the Overseas Highway, lower at night on Big Pine Key (Key deer), strictly enforced.
- Toll roads in Florida are cashless (SunPass, E-ZPass or Toll-by-Plate); the Card Sound Road charges a toll.
- Hurricane season runs from June to November: when evacuation orders are issued, visitors must be the first to leave the Keys.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Toll transponder (SunPass or E-ZPass) or licence-plate billing sorted out for the Turnpike; on the Card Sound Road, SunPass and compatible transponders or Toll-by-Plate are accepted, cash is not.
- Fine-mesh mosquito screens for windows and door against “no-see-ums”, tiny sand flies that get through normal screens.
- Snorkelling gear and water shoes for Pennekamp, Bahia Honda and shallow bays with bits of coral.
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a UV shirt – protects your skin and the corals.
- 30A/50A power adapter for the state park hook-ups and the air conditioning.
- Hurricane and weather app with National Hurricane Center alerts.

_As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Miami** (FL)
2. **Florida City** (FL)
3. **Key Largo** (FL)
4. **Islamorada** (FL)
5. **Marathon** (FL)
6. **Seven Mile Bridge** (Marathon, FL): Almost seven miles of open water on the Overseas Highway. The old bridge alongside is partly open to walkers.
7. **Bahia Honda State Park Campground** (Big Pine Key, FL): Beachfront Keys camping with some of the clearest water in Florida. Book up to 11 months ahead.
8. **Big Pine Key** (FL)
9. **Key West** (FL)

## FAQs

**How long is Turquoise to the horizon – along the Overseas Highway to Key West?**
4-day road trip of about 283 km (176 mi) with 9 stops, from Miami to Key West. About 3 h 09 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Turquoise to the horizon – along the Overseas Highway to Key West?**
We suggest 4 days: about 3 h 09 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Turquoise to the horizon – along the Overseas Highway to Key West start and end?**
It starts in Miami and ends in Key West.

**Which states does Turquoise to the horizon – along the Overseas Highway to Key West pass through?**
Florida.