The 165 mile drive between Miami and Key West is without a doubt one of the most iconic road trips in the US, and if you’ve had the privilege of driving this epic route, then you know why! You could spend weeks trying to do, see, and eat everything along the way! Unfortunately, many people (ourselves included) only have a day or two to squeeze in as much as they can. For that reason, we’ve put together what we think are the 10 must-see stops along the way to help you make the most of your time on Florida’s Overseas Highway!
Be sure to check out our “Florida Keys Road Trip: Miami to Key West in a Day” travel vlog for a closer look at our experience!
:: From Miami International Airport, your first stop will be a 40 min (35 mi) drive ::
1. Robert is Here Fruit Stand (19200 SW 344th St, Homestead, FL)
Robert is Here Fruit Stand is a family-owned market selling local & exotic fruits and veggies, and more importantly… MILKSHAKES! But don’t let the name “Fruit Stand” fool you. This place has a full kitchen, a huge selection of snacks and local goods, as well as a feeding/petting zoo which includes a giant tortoise and even an emu!
:: 35 min (30 mi) drive ::
2. Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen (99336 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL)
Jeff MacFarland opened Mrs. Mac's Kitchen in 1976 in honor of his mother and her recipes. Today, nearly 5 decades later, Mrs. Macs is a staple in the Key Largo community, and still serves up some of the best fresh seafood and Key Lime Pie you can find! We personally loved the Key Lime Freeze! It’s like drinking a frozen Key Lime Pie! So good!
:: 23 min (18 mi) drive ::
3. Florida Keys Brewing Co. (81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL)
Florida Keys Brewing Company is the Upper Keys first microbrewery and offers a selection of crowd favorites as well as a rotating list of seasonal and barrel-aged beers, on draft. Just remember that you’ve still got another 80 miles to drive, so it’s probably good to practice the one-and-done policy, or have a designated driver!
:: 7 min (4.5 mi) drive ::
4. Robbie’s (77522 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL)
At Robbies, they do a little bit of everything… Snorkeling tours, party boat fishing, parasailing, and more, but the main reason you have to make a stop at Robbies is the Tarpon feeding! So much so that it was voted the #1 place in the Keys that every tourist should visit!
Robbie’s is open 7am-8pm daily, and while visiting Robbie’s is free, access to the dock will cost you $2.50 per person per day and each bucket of fish (to feed the Tarpon) is $4.50 (5-8 fish per bucket). But be sure to check Robbie’s Website for the most up-to-date hours and pricing.
:: 15 min (10 mi) drive ::
5. Betsy the Lobster (86700 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL)
At around 40 feet long and nearly 30 feet tall, it’s hard to miss this bizarre sight as you drive down Highway 1! Betsy’s original home was in the south Florida Keys where she became a popular photo destination, but in 2009 was moved to her current location in front of the Rain Barrel Artisans’ Village in Islamorada.
:: 45 min (38 mi) drive ::
6. Keys Fisheries (3502 Gulfview Ave, Marathon, FL)
Keys Fisheries is known to have some of the best Conch Fritters and Key Lime Pie in all of the keys, so if you’re a foodie like us, then it’s a must-try stop along the drive! And if you're really hungry, give their famous Lobster Reuben a try!
:: 5 min (2 mi) drive ::
7. Old Seven Mile Bridge/Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (4 Kyle Way W, Marathon, FL)
After a 5 year, $44 million renovation, the Old Seven Mile Bridge opened back up in January 2022! The 2.2-mile stretch of the bridge that is now a pedestrian walkway runs between Marathon Key and Pigeon key is one of the most incredible biking/walking/running paths you could dream of! Even if you don’t have time to walk the entire thing, it’s still worth a stop!
Pro Tip: There are only 35 parking spaces on the Marathon Key side of the 7-Mile Bridge, so if you can’t find parking, drive across the bridge and stop at the Little Duck Key Wayside Park Public Boat Ramp (39900 US-1). There, you’ll be able to access another small portion of the Old Seven Mile Bridge.
:: 0 min (0 mi) drive ::
8. 7 Mile Bridge
This one is a given since the 7 Mile Bridge is part of US Highway 1… The only route to get to Key West, but it’s so iconic that it has to be mentioned on our list!
Pro Tip: Be on the lookout for Fred the Tree as you drive along the 7 Mile Bridge. Fred is a salt-sprayed Casuarina (or an Australian pine tree) that is growing out of the roadbed on the Old Seven Mile Bridge which will be on your right as you’re headed southbound. It seems unlikely or even impossible that Fred could have any kind of substantial root system, but he somehow continues to grow. He even survived Hurricane Irma!
:: 6 min (3 mi) drive ::
9. Bahia Honda State Park (36850 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key, FL)
If it weren’t for Henry Flagler’s bold effort to build a railroad to Key West in the early 1900s, the remote island of Bahia Honda Key might have remained inaccessible by anything but boat or seaplane, but thanks to his efforts, this premiere tropical destination is accessible to all! Along with the iconic Florida Keys scenery, the 500-acre Bahia Honda State Park features an award winning beach as well as a historic bridge. There are also conveniences such as bathrooms, showers, a gift shop, snack bar, kayak rentals, daily snorkeling tours, and more!
The park is open from 8am to Sundown 365 days a year and the admission fee is $8 per vehicle. It’s also worth noting that the park is very popular and may close when it reaches maximum capacity in its day use areas.
:: 55 min (38 mi) drive ::
10. Southernmost Point (Whitehead St &, South St, Key West, FL 33040)
Erected by the City of Key West in 1983, the Southernmost Point is without a doubt the island's most iconic landmark! The 12 ft. tall, 7 ft. wide concrete buoy marks the lowest latitude in the continental US and should be on every visitor's bucket list.
Pro Tip: Just like any popular tourist attraction, if you want to get photos without having to wait in line or having other people in your photos, be sure to get there early! We arrived at 7am and were able to get some great photos, but it wasn’t long before the crowds started showing up.
If you have more time on your hand and want to make the most of the road trip, here are some other notable stops along the way (from North to South):
Coral Castle (28655 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL)
History of Diving Museum in Islamorada (82990 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL)
Florida Keys Hurricane Memorial (81831 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL)
World Wide Sportsman (81576 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL)
National Key Deer Refuge (30587 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key, FL)
Mile Marker 0 (501 Whitehead St Suite 1, Key West, FL)
Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square (Mallory Square, Key West, FL)
We hope that this has helped you plan your road trip on Florida’s Overseas Highway! If you did find it helpful, please consider heading over to our YouTube Channel and subscribing for more travel content, and following us on Instagram. It would mean the world to us!