.
The Florida Keys are located on one of the most iconic roads in the southern United States: US 1 Overseas Highway to Key West or Key West. After the mythical Route 66 that connects Chicago to Los Angeles, the US 1 route between Miami and Key West is possibly one of the most admired routes.
What are the keys?
The keys are hundreds of small islands that go into the sea to the south of the Florida peninsula and that, since the 1930s, are linked by a highway that connects them, the US 1 Overseas Highway.
The main islands along the route are Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada, Layton, Marathon, Big Pine Key, Cudoye Key and Key West. Many of them are sandy islands, shallow and, in some cases, are covered by mangroves and very sparsely inhabited.
Today the area is very famous for this road, however, at the beginning of the century, it was already possible to reach Key West, the farthest key to the peninsula, thanks to the railroad.
In 1905, the magnate Henry Flagler built a 206-kilometer railroad linking the peninsula with the keys. However, in 1935 a hurricane destroyed part of the structure and some time later the current highway was built, taking advantage of some of the sections of the old track and building new ones. In fact, there are several points where the disused road and the highway run almost parallel.
Visiting the keys in one day: the best stops
The distance between Miami and Key West is about 170 miles (about 270 kilometers). Is it possible to do the route coming and going in the same day? Yes, although I would recommend staying one night if you want to see it at your pace. We were on a tight schedule and had to do it all in one day and we saw a lot. The important thing is to organize your day well.
We booked a hotel in Homestead which is 30 minutes from the first key (Key Largo).
The speed limit on much of US 1 Overseas Highway is 45 miles per hour (approximately 72 km/h).
Key Largo
Key Largo is the first key and one of the largest. There are many businesses related to marine activities, such as diving and fishing. Most of the ports are private, so there is little access to the sea on this island and the road runs far inland. We passed it by, as we had noted many other points where we wanted to make a stop. It is also the most touristic of all.
Islamorada
Islamorada is the name given by the Spanish because of the color of the mother-of-pearl shells that accumulate on the coast.
This is where we made our first stop on the route, since at mile 86 is the famous statue of the giant lobster. Interestingly, it does not advertise a restaurant, but is the advertising claim of an art gallery.
One of the most visited spots in Islamorada is Robbie's Pier, an old pier with food stalls and some restaurants.
There are also many pelicans that wander around the area, especially since there is a kind of artificial pool from where, for a fee, you can feed tarpon, and the pelicans are waiting to catch some scraps. It can be appreciated perfectly from the other side without the need to pay.
Sombrero Beach
One of the secrets of Marathon Key, this hidden beach located in a neighborhood is one of the best beach in the keys. You'll be able to park for free and you will be able to enjoy its white sand and turquoise water. Perfect place to spend some family time!
Marathon
Marathon is full of vacation resorts, but its main interest lies in the fact that here begins the famous Seven Mile Bridge, which runs parallel to the old railroad track. It is the midpoint of the Keys, where the so-called Lower Keys begin.
Bahia Honda State Park
Another place worth stopping is Bahia Honda State Park. It could be said that this is where you will find one of the only beaches, properly speaking, of the keys, the so-called Old Bahia Honda Beach. In fact, in 1992 it was selected as the best beach in America.
The most spectacular thing about this beach is that you can see how destroyed the old railroad track was after a hurricane in the 30's. It is one of the most iconic images of the keys.
We were not very enthusiastic about the beach. It is very narrow, very crowded and there is a lot of seaweed.
As it is a reservation, there is a fee for access. The entrance fee varies depending on the number of people in the vehicle.
Restaurant recommendation on the way:
Kiki's Sandbar: Great food and nice location if you are traveling through this area.
Key West
Key West is the last of the Florida Keys and is located about 170 miles from Miami and about 90 miles from Havana. It seems that the name was given by the Spaniards, when they arrived, because numerous bones were found, since, until then, the area had been used as an indigenous cemetery.
Many people spend the night here, but I have to say that it is very expensive to sleep here. Even if you book well in advance and don't look for a lot of luxury, the small offer makes the prices go up a lot.
During the Spanish colonial period it was practically abandoned and was inhabited only by pirates, treasure hunters, contrabandists..., but in 1819 it was acquired by the United States government with the rest of the Florida peninsula.
Although it is home to only 25,000 inhabitants and is six kilometers long and two kilometers wide, it has an airport and is a cruise ship port.
The center of the town is Duval Street, full of bars and restaurants. At the end of the street is Mallory Square, a large square overlooking the sea and is filled every night to watch the beautiful sunset.
Most of the streets of the island follow the same architecture, with colorful wooden houses, Victorian style and curious mailboxes. Honestly, walking around Key West is charming. At every corner you find a more incredible houses. Despite the large number of tourists, I must admit that Key West was one of the places we liked the most during our Florida roadtrip.
Another of the must-see places in Key West, and surely the most photographed, is the Southernmost Point, the southernmost point of the United States, where the country ends and the Caribbean Sea begins. Keep in mind that, if you want the photo, there are usually a lot of people but if you stand on one side you can take a picture just the same and you don't have to wait in line.
Nearby is the Lighthouse Museum, the old lighthouse of the keys, dating from 1848, now converted into a museum and viewpoint of the island.
Also on the island is the Hemingway Home and Museum (907, Whitehead Street), the house where Hemingway lived for more than 10 years and where he wrote many of his works, and the Little White House, the official residence of former President Truman, where he lived during his term of office from 1945 to 1953. Both can be visited.
Coffee place recommendation:
Moondog: very nice little coffee place with amazing staff and great decoration. It has a pleasant terrace where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with a cake.
Sunset at Island Fish
On our way back we decided to stop at the Island Fish grill to see the sunset (one of the must do in the Florida Keys). We arrived a bit late, so there was actually no free table, but you can order something to drink and take it outside on the dock.
Tips for traveling the Keys
The maximum speed limit on most of US 1 Overseas Highway is 45 miles per hour (approximately 72 km/h) during the day and 35 miles per hour (approximately 54 km/h) at night.
There are spaces provided along the road on the right side of the road to stop the vehicle and take photographs.
The route is full of gas stations and supermarkets, but as you get farther away from Miami the price gets more expensive, so it is a good idea to make the route with a full tank of gas from the Florida peninsula.
