The Ultimate Road Trip From Miami To Key West

With a 3.5-hour road trip from Miami to Key West, travel time will be short to allow you the time needed to explore both Miami and the beautiful Florida Keys in just a few days!

Best Time Of Year To Road Trip From Miami To Key West

The best time to travel to Miami and the Florida Keys is February thru May, when temperatures range from high 70s to low 80s. We visited during March and had the perfect weather with low humidity and minimal crowds of people.

Fun Things To Do in Miami

Stop by Miami’s oldest cultural landmark, Little Havana, to experience the Cuban culture. Ball & Chain serves Cuban classics while Azucar sells Cuban inspired ice cream.

Relax and catch some rays at South Beach, cooling off by swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. Just a short walk from South Beach is Ocean Drive, where hotels and restaurants populate the street, intertwined with the iconic Art Deco architecture.

Miami Design District is abundant in restaurants, art stores, and shopping. It’s a great place to roam around for the day!

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is located in Coconut Grove, the oldest neighborhood in Miami. Enjoy the 10 acres of Italianate gardens and James Deering’s winter estate.

Best Places To Eat And Drink in Miami

Pura Vida Design District – instagram worthy restaurant.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro – authentic, recreated dishes from the cuisines of Greece and Turkey.

COTE – Korean steakhouse.

Swan – seasonal menu including salads, pasta, pizza, and seafood, located right next to Bar Bevy.

Night Owl Cookies – nothin’ but sweet treats!

The Ultimate Road Trip From Miami To Key West

We were on the road by 6am to begin the commute from Miami down to the Florida Keys. Once you leave the city to head south, the sides of the highway become more plush – you are nearing Everglades National Park. If you have time to stop, definitely do so! Boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, geocaching, hiking, and wildlife viewing are several activities you can do within the park. Watch out for any gators, pythons, tortoise, or the Florida panther!

We rented a Chevy Camaro Convertible for our road trip from Miami to Key West, highly recommend! It was quite the experience driving The Overseas Highway, a 113-mile long stretch that brings you through the Florida Keys, with the top down on a sunny morning.

Don’t forget to stop along the way and enjoy all the beautiful sights the Florida Keys has to offer! Pack some No Bake Pumpkin Seed Energy Bites to snack on during your car ride.

Top 6 Things To Do in The Florida Keys

From north to south, the Florida Keys start in Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, and end in Key West. Be sure to stop along the way to experience each destination!

Jet Ski Tours are offered all along the Florida Keys. We decided to do the jet ski tour through Sunset Watersports Key West which allowed us to jet ski in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Side note, you will need to pass a boaters safety test if you were born after January 1, 1988 in order to operate a jet ski. What an experience! The Gulf of Mexico was a calm, light blue color while the Atlantic ocean was a choppy, dark blue color. My knuckles were white five minutes into the tour, to say the least. Sunset Watersports Key West also offers parasailing, dolphin eco tour, snorkeling, dinner cruises, and boat rentals.

Mallory Square has shops, restaurants, places to stay, aquariums, and museums. Be on the lookout for roaming chickens!

Visit the Southernmost Point Buoy which marks the Southernmost Point of the Continental US. I recommend going early if you would like a photo next to the buoy, otherwise the line gets pretty long.

Walk Duval Street for the perfect party atmosphere where bars and restaurants are in abundance.

Cruisin’ Tikis Key West will allow up to six guests per tiki, BYOB. You can either go during the day or at sunset, your choice!

Have a relaxing day at Sombrero Beach located in Marathon.

Top 7 Places To Eat And Drink in The Florida Keys

Square Grouper – fresh & local seafood, specialty cocktails, wine, and great atmosphere! Located in Islamorada, Florida.

Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar – seafood, drinks, and sunset celebrations. Located in Islamorada, Florida.

Sunset Grille & Raw Bar – diverse menu with happy hour specials between 3-6 pm. Located in Marathon, Florida.

Sunset Pier – seafood, burgers, and specialty drinks! Located in Key West, Florida.

Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe – café that serves breakfast, lunch and lite fare. Located in Key West, Florida.

Isla Bella Beach Resort – dine at one of their five options. From a restaurant to a sushi cabana, the views are absolutely stunning! If you are looking to stay in the Keys, I highly recommend checking out this resort. Located in Marathon, Florida.

Blue Heaven – restaurant, bar, and live music. Located in Key West, Florida.

Green Parrot Bar – Key West’s saloon with live music, make sure to go during happy hour!

Havana Jack’s – an oceanside restaurant serving everything from a giant pretzel to clams. Located in Marathon, Florida.

Our trip lasted four days, which was the perfect amount of time to do several activities we enjoy. However, a week would have allowed more time for exploring without feeling rushed. I definitely recommend this trip as it was both relaxing and adventurous!