According to a recent survey, 81% of Americans will take a road trip vacation this year, with 18% traveling more than 500 miles away from home. If you’re looking for a road trip to remember, Florida is perfect because the scenery is so diverse, and the journey from Miami to the Florida Keys is one of the most spectacular. On a road trip you can set your own pace, seeing the sights along the way. It also gives you the opportunity to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds. In the sunshine state there is something for everyone – you won’t want to go anywhere else.
Setting Out Your Road Trip
The journey from Miami to Key West covers 159 miles of some of the most spectacular scenery in Florida. The drive on the Overseas Highway is unlike anything you will experience elsewhere. Make sure that your vehicle is in good repair before you set out though, as the highway is not somewhere you want to break down. Getting your car towed can be expensive for long distances if your vehicle won’t start. This is why it is a good idea to make sure that your insurance includes roadside assistance. Miami is an amazing cosmopolitan city with a great nightlife, and worth spending a few days in before you head out on the road. The beaches are pristine and there is an amazing nightlife. Miami is also great for shopping and has some beautiful Art Deco architecture.
Key Largo and Islamorada
Key Largo in the upper Keys archipelago is around 90 minutes drive from Miami, and known as the “diving capital of the world.” If you enjoy snorkeling, you certainly won’t be disappointed by the crystal blue ocean. Whilst you are in the area make sure that you visit the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – this is the very first underwater park in America. There are also some incredible nature walks for you to enjoy on Key Largo, with an abundance of wildlife. Approximately 30 minutes drive from Key Largo is the setting for the Netflix series, Bloodline, Islamorada. This is the perfect place to try some kayaking and is known for sports fishing. Head out on a boat and you may even catch some Mahi and Snapper.
Marathon and Big Pine Key
If you love animals, then Marathon is a wonderful place to stop on your road trip – it is home to The Turtle Hospital, a very special organization that looks after endangered sea turtles. Make sure that you sign up for a guided tour so that you can meet some of the current residents. There are also some fantastic hikes in the Crane Point Nature Area, and you can also spend some time relaxing on Sombrero Beach. From Marathon, a short drive will then take you to Big Pine Key, home of the National Deer Nature Center where they rescue injured deer. On Big Pine Key you will also find Sandspur Beach, which stretches for a mile – it is the perfect place to relax and watch the world go by.
Key West with its vibrant nightlife, bars and beaches is your last place on your road trip – the island is known for the most incredible sunsets in the world. You may well find that you want to stay forever and never take the drive home.
