Turquoise Water, Coral Reefs & Island Sunsets
From Key Largo's underwater state park and the Seven Mile Bridge to Bahia Honda's beaches and Key West's Mallory Square sunsets: drive the Overseas Highway through more than 100 miles of island life.
Information reviewed October 2026 · Live National Weather Service forecast for Florida Keys, FL.
01 / Getting Here & Around
U.S. 1 links the islands from Key Largo to Key West across dozens of bridges, and addresses are given by mile marker, counting down toward Key West.
Most visitors fly into Miami (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and drive about three and a half to four and a half hours to Key West. Key West International (EYW) serves the southern end of the chain.
Traffic builds on weekends and holidays; leave early.
Getting to the Keys ↗A car is the easiest way to explore the Upper and Middle Keys. In Key West itself, walking, bikes and the city's free Duval Loop bus are simpler than finding parking.
Mile markers run from about MM 106 in Key Largo to MM 0 in Key West.
City of Key West ↗Reef etiquette: Never stand on or touch coral, use reef-safe sunscreen, and fly a dive flag when snorkeling from a boat. The Keys' reef is part of a protected national marine sanctuary.
02 / Interactive Map
Filter by area or type, tap a pin for details, and save places to download as a shareable image.
03 / Iconic Stops
Underwater parks, historic forts and laid-back island towns strung along U.S. 1.
The first undersea park in the U.S., offering glass-bottom boat, snorkel and dive trips to the reef, plus mangrove kayak trails.
Park Info ↗A string of islands famous for fishing charters, art galleries and waterfront restaurants, plus feeding giant tarpon from the dock at Robbie's.
Islamorada Guide ↗Driving the modern bridge is a highlight of the trip; the parallel historic bridge is open to walkers and cyclists toward Pigeon Key.
Marathon Guide ↗Soft sand beaches, clear shallow water and views of the old railroad bridge make this one of the Keys' best beach parks.
Park Info ↗Street performers, artists and food carts gather on the waterfront every evening to toast the sunset.
Sunset Celebration ↗The author's Spanish Colonial home from the 1930s, now home to dozens of six-toed cats.
Museum Info ↗04 / Island Flavors
Fresh seafood and tart key lime pie define a Keys meal.
Waterfront fish houses serve grouper sandwiches, yellowtail snapper and spiny lobster, with stone crab claws in season from mid-October to May.
Keys Dining Guide ↗Every island claims the best key lime pie, tart and creamy on a graham crust. Pair it with conch fritters, a Caribbean-influenced Keys classic.
Local Food Guide ↗05 / 3-Day Plan
A road trip from the Upper Keys to Key West.
Snorkel or ride a glass-bottom boat at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, then drive to Islamorada to feed the tarpon and enjoy sunset seafood by the water.
Tour the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, cross the Seven Mile Bridge, and spend the afternoon on the beach at Bahia Honda State Park.
Visit the Hemingway Home, the Southernmost Point and Fort Zachary Taylor's beach, then join the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square.
Sun, Water & Storm Season
The subtropical sun is intense year-round. Use reef-safe sunscreen, drink water and limit midday exposure, especially on boats.
Hurricane season runs June through November, and there is one road in and out of the Keys. Monitor forecasts, follow evacuation orders, and check currents and flags before swimming.
NWS Key West Office ↗ · National Hurricane Center ↗
06 / Official Resources
Tourism, park, marine and storm links for planning your Keys road trip.
About 160 miles, usually three and a half to four and a half hours without stops. Plan extra time for traffic, scenic stops and lunch along the way.
December through April offers dry, mild weather and the busiest season. Summer is hotter and quieter with afternoon storms, and hurricane season runs June to November.
The park is about 70 miles west of Key West and reachable only by boat or seaplane. The ferry and seaplane flights often sell out, so book well ahead.
Clicking "Save" on any location card or map marker stores it directly in your browser's local storage. You can filter the view to "Saved" or choose "Save list as image" in the place list beside the map to generate a clean PNG containing all your chosen stops and addresses for offline navigation.
