Skip to content
AmericaTraveller

Type a city, a park, a road trip, a state or a question (“tipping”, “ESTA”). Use ↑ ↓ to move, Enter to open, Esc to close.

Shortcuts

Menu
ROUTE1

The Overseas Highway

From Miami to Key West across 42 bridges and a turquoise sea.

Seven miles bridge© Mirsal Ennaime · CC BY-SA 2.0
Distance
About 160 mi
≈ 260 km, rounded
Time
3–4 days
at a comfortable pace
Best season
Dec–May
Start → finish
Miami → Key West

US Route 1 leaves the Florida mainland at Florida City and hops from key to key for 113 miles on a chain of bridges built on the remains of Henry Flagler’s railroad. Mile markers (MM) count down to zero in Key West, and every address in the Keys uses them.

Map of the The Overseas Highway road tripFLKey LargoMarathonMiamiMIAMIEvergladesEVERGLADESThe KeysTHE KEYSN0100 mi
The route, stop by stop — tap a stop to open its guide.

Day by day

  1. 1

    Day 1 · Miami to Islamorada

    Out through Homestead (fruit shakes at Robert Is Here), John Pennekamp’s reef by glass-bottom boat at MM 102.5, then tarpon at Robbie’s, MM 77.5.

    80 mi · 1 h 45Sleep: Islamorada

  2. 2

    Day 2 · Marathon & the Seven Mile Bridge

    The Turtle Hospital (guided tours, MM 48.5), Sombrero Beach, then the Seven Mile Bridge and a swim at Bahia Honda (MM 37).

    75 mi · 1 h 30Sleep: Key West

  3. Days 3–4

    Days 3–4 · Key West

    Hemingway’s house, the Southernmost Point, Mallory Square at sunset, and a day trip to Dry Tortugas. See the Florida Keys.

    Sleep: Key West

Short on days? Part of this route also works as a short trip, planned hour by hour:

Driving tips

  • Mostly two lanes, with long no-passing stretches and strict speed limits: be patient.
  • Fly out of Key West or Miami — or drive back in one go (4 hours). One-way rental fees apply if you drop the car in Key West.
  • Avoid Friday afternoons southbound and Sunday afternoons northbound.

Where to sleep along the way

Book the nights that matter first — inside or next to the parks, and in towns hosting a festival — then fill in the rest. Free cancellation keeps the plan flexible.

Partner links · Trip.com

Our hand-picked hotels on this route

Road trip questions

How long is the drive from Miami to Key West?

About 160 miles and 3 h 30 to 4 hours without stops.

What are mile markers in the Florida Keys?

Small green signs along US-1 counting down from about 127 near Florida City to 0 in Key West. Addresses and directions use them.

Is the Overseas Highway scary?

No: the bridges are wide and low, with sea on both sides. Traffic is the only stress.

Exit 10Stops on this routeMiamiArt Deco pastels, Cuban coffee and a turquoise Atlantic.
Exit 17Everglades National ParkA slow river of grass, with alligators sunning themselves beside the path.Exit 24Florida KeysA chain of coral islands tied together by 42 bridges, ending in Key West.
Exit 10And now?Route 662,400 miles · 14–21 days
Exit 17Pacific Coast Highway640 miles · 5–7 daysExit 24The Grand Circle1,300 miles · 10–14 days

Written by Kylian Dev. Distances and drive times are without stops or traffic; add 25% for a realistic day.