Key Largo To Key West: 30 MUST Visit Stops

The drive across the Flordia Keys is an iconic trip in the U.S. Few vacation destinations can compete with the Keys, blessed with warm weather, sparkling azure water, and gorgeous white sand beaches. Travelers have long been enamored with the chain of tropical islands. It’s no secret that the Florida Keys are one of America’s best destinations to escape.

The best part is that this escape is easy to attain as you can reach Key Largo and enjoy fresh conch fritters just an hour from the Miami Airport. It’s not just the islands’ natural beauty that makes the Keys an iconic destination, but the warm waters teeming with marine life. We enjoyed the sunshine, went diving, met some sea turtles, and even ate a key lime pie on a stick! Let’s break down some highlights if you plan to drive between Key Largo and Key West.

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Key Largo to Key West (or Vice Versa)

These stops focus on traveling from north to south (Key Largo to Key West), but it can also be done reverse if you want to start in Key West and drive north to Key Largo. Both are popular options! Renting a car at the airports in Key West or Miami is easy.

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Traveling the Overseas Highway

How far is Key Largo from Key West? The Overseas Highway is a 113-mile highway connecting Southern Florida to the Southernmost Point of the US (Key West). It’s called “The Highway That Goes to Sea” since drivers cross coral and limestone islets.

It’s a unique part of the world that is sometimes hard to believe exists. The Florida Keys are made up of hundreds of islands called “keys.” The distance from Key Largo to Key West is under 100 miles, and without stops, you can expect the drive to take you about 2.5 hours; however, there’s no fun in that! This post goes into the best Florida Keys stops you should make!

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Start in Key Largo

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Snorkel in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is located in Key Largo and was established in 1963 to protect the only living coral reef in the country. This state park is well worth a visit as it’s the first and one of the only undersea parks in the US.

The park encompasses 70 nautical square miles of pure, protected beauty. There are plenty of things to do in the park, so families and individuals could easily spend the entire day and not get bored. Most visitors venture out on a glass-bottom boat tour, scuba diving, or snorkeling.

One of the most popular spots is the Christ of the Deep statue. A gift from Italy in the 1960s, this nine-foot-tall bronze Christ statue sits 25 feet underwater! It’s quite the sight for snorkelers! Other activities include kayaking and canoeing, and some fishing is allowed in designated areas.

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Tour the Coral Restoration Foundation Education Center

The Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) is a unique nonprofit headquartered right in Key Largo and well worth a stop when driving from Key Largo to Key West. Did you know we have lost 50% of the world’s shallow-water coral reefs in the last three decades? By 2100, we could lose them all if humanity does not act fast. Did you also know that coral is an animal (not a plant)? Their genetic diversity and population resiliency are lost as these animal numbers decline.

It’s estimated that 500 million people rely on coral reefs for survival, accounting for almost 10 trillion dollars in business. Their significance on this planet is astounding, and that’s why we are so thankful for the Coral Restoration Foundation, which works with the reefs and aids in their recovery process. They have a large-scale cultivation and outplanting process and plant new coral reefs in the ocean! Volunteers mainly carry out these tasks in the “coral nurseries.”

Visitors can venture into their Key Largo center to learn about their projects, or divers can plant new coral underwater! There’s nothing better than feeling like you are giving back on vacation, and this is a great cause to give back to!

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Dive The Spiegel Grove Wreck

Key Largo is the dive capital of the USA, so if you are a certified diver, you can’t visit the Florida Keys without going for at least one dive underwater. Horizon Divers runs epic dive trips every morning and afternoon. We spent the entire day with them and loved every minute of our diving time. We were lucky to see two eagle rays and a few turtles, which made our trip even more exciting!

Over 100 regular dive locations are available, with all sites located less than 45 minutes from shore. We enjoyed diving at the City of Washington and the Undersea Highway, but the most famous place to dive in Key Largo is the Spiegel Grove Wreck.

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Harry Harris Beach and Park

Henry Harris Park is a great option if you are looking for an enjoyable day at the beach while enjoying your time in Key Largo. This is a popular hangout for locals and tourists, especially on a nice day. The park has several excellent amenities, including a tidal pool, boat ramp, grills, picnic tables, showers, playgrounds, and a bike path! It’s a common spot for anglers and snorkelers to come to! Note that there is a parking fee of $5 per person on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays.

What to Bring to the Beach? 50 Beach Must Haves

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Have Lunch at Key Largo Conch House

Tucked away right off the Overseas Highway is this chilled-out lunch and dinner spot. They serve delicious conch meals (which you must try when in the Florida Keys) and other seafood dishes. It’s best to call ahead and make reservations—this place can get busy!

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Eat at The Fish House

There’s arguably no better spot to feel like you are dining in the keys than at The Fish House Key Largo. The Fish House is one of the best Key Largo restaurants and is a quirky place with delicious local seafood every night. Their grouper can be served in many ways, and their drinks are fun and fabulous to enjoy with friends or family on your Florida Keys road trip. Although the food was great, my favorite part was the atmosphere, which made me want to return. If you think about what the Florida Keys were like 40 years ago – this place may come to mind!

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Check into Baker’s Cay

The best place to stay in Key Largo is Baker’s Cay. This 13-acre, 200-room private resort is one of the most comfortable places we’ve stayed in the United States. Baker’s Cay has a great location off the Overseas Highway, with a large private beach big enough for the entire family to enjoy. In true Florida Keys fashion, the water is calm and inviting, and there are plenty of activities to enjoy during the day.

The Baker’s Cay beach has fun toys like stand-up paddleboards, clear kayaks, and jet skis. If you don’t feel like spiking your adrenaline, you can kick back with a book and a pina colada from the tiki bar. The rooms at Bakers Cay are modern and romantic. We enjoyed an oceanfront room and enjoyed falling asleep to the sound of the ocean nearby.

If you’re bringing the fur babies, rest assured, as Baker’s Cay is pet-friendly and even has dog tiki huts! There are also two swimming pools with a waterfall, a beautiful marina area, and a romantic dock to enjoy drinks on while the sun goes down. Rest comfortably here before continuing your Key Largo to Key West journey.

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Islamorada

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Charter a Fishing Boat

Islamorada is a charming small American town known as the “sport fishing capital of the world,” If you’re an angler, you likely already know that. We are not anglers, so we did not charter a fishing boat. However, it’s a trendy thing to do in Islamorada!

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Scuba Dive

Islamorada isn’t just known for fishing but also diving! Some of the best diving in the Florida Keys can be found here. The Davis Reef, Alligator Reef, Pickles Reef, and many more dive spots are near Islamorada. Check out the Islamorada Dive Center for a full-service PADI scuba diving trip!

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Have a Sundowner at Lorelei

The Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar is one of the best places to head for a drink after a long day. They have nightly sunset entertainment and Happy Hour (4-6) specials on cocktails. Come prepared to wait for a spot or squeeze in with the locals at the bar on beautiful nights.

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Catch Sunset at Morada Bay

Morada Bay is one of my favorite sunset spots in all of the Florida Keys, and if you head here for sunset, you’ll see why. It’s a beautiful location on the beach, with endless palm trees and stunning sunset views. Sure, drinks are $15 a piece, but watching the sunset in such an ideal location is well worth it.

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Have Dinner at Chef Micheal’s

If you only do one thing in Islamorada, it should be to have a meal at Chef Micheals. Hands down, it is one of the best seafood meals we’ve ever had. This upscale restaurant offers an inspiring menu full of fresh fish. Chef Micheal creates the most tempting dishes: Hogfish, Grouper, and invasive Lionfish. You can also bring in your fresh catch for the day out, and Chef Micheal will blacken, grill, or prepare your fish any way you want!

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Explore Marathon

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Feed the Tarpon at Robbie’s

You’ve likely seen this one as one of the most popular activities in the Keys. However, feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina is a wild experience and brings nostalgia for a classic roadside stop. At the marina is a school of over 100 tarpons that hang out near the marina every day.

It’s no secret that tourists can hand-feed a tarpon for just $2.25 a person and watch its powerful mouth snatch a fish. While admission to the dock is $2.25, a fish bucket costs an extra $4. It all feels a little cheesy, but it can also be good fun if you’ve got the right attitude.

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Visit the Marathon Turtle Hospital

The Turtle Hospital’s slogan is – Rescue, Rehab, Release—precisely what they do. The animal hospital opened in 1986 for injured sea turtles and has helped out hundreds of turtles thanks to their awesome work. Located at mile marker 48.5, it works to rescue injured turtles and rehab them to be safely released into the wild.

This small nonprofit educates visitors on the importance of sea turtles and the human impacts on the species throughout this process. The Turtle Hospital also assists with research aid for sea turtles and works toward environmental legislation to make beaches and water safer for sea turtles.

Visitors can stop in and glance at what goes on behind the scenes. They run daily tours of the facilities, which are educational and fun! You’ll even get to feed sea turtles, making it a great thing for families to do in the Florida Keys. These Educational Programs run daily at 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, and 4 pm, costing $30.00 per adult and $15.00 per child.

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Drive the Seven Mile Bridge

Anyone driving from Key Largo to Key West has to drive along the Seven Mile Bridge, but I still wanted to mention it because it’s one of the coolest roads in the world. Just driving across it makes you realize what a remarkable piece of civil engineering it is. The bridge connects Knight’s Key in the Middle Keys to Little Duck in the Lower Keys; when it was first constructed, it was one of the longest bridges in the world.

50 Important Road Trip Essentials You Need in Your Car

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Bahia Honda State Park

When driving the Seven Mile Bridge, save a little time to stop at the Bahia Honda State Park. It’s a wonderful spot for sunbathing and enjoying the salty air. It’s located at mile marker 37 and offers some of the best snorkeling in the keys.

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Enjoy Key West

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Enjoy a Coffee from Cuban Coffee Queen

An iconic thing to do in Key West is grab a quick cafe con leche from Cuban Coffee Queen near the harbor. They are fast and easy, so if you are short on time, rest assured you can grab a quick bite and have coffee here. And snap a “Key West photo” while you’re waiting.

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Paddleboard Yoga with Lazy Dog Charters

For a leisurely morning out, why not try some yoga? You can do it in Florida Keys style and practice your down dog on the water. Lazy Dog Tours runs paddleboard yoga tours right on Stock Island. Tours typically last about two hours, one hour of yoga and one hour of paddling. If you are lucky, you have a good chance to see some manatees beneath your board! Make sure to put on lots of sunscreen and cover up with an outdoor hat, as there is little shade.

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Dolphin Watch & Snorkel Tour with Honest Eco

If you venture off just a little off the coast of Key West, you’ll likely see some wild dolphins in the distance. The dolphins are such a regular occurrence that the Honest Eco Sustainable Nature Tours will almost guarantee a sighting with them! Book a trip with them, and you’ll enjoy SQUID, Key West’s first electric-powered charter boat. We’ve only been on one electric boat in Zambia before, so we were ecstatic to ride the hybrid charter boat.

SQUID will take visitors on a four-hour dolphin-watching tour every morning and evening. You’ll also get to hop in the water for a snorkel to see what other awesome marine life you can find. I love that Honest Eco focuses on seeing wild dolphins in their natural habitat rather than dolphin shows or dorsal fin rides, which are unethical animal tourism activities.

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Have Dinner at Matt’s Stock Island

Matt’s Stock Island is located on Stock Island at The Perry Hotel. Head here for dinner around sunset, and you can enjoy craft beer and laid-back comfort food as the sun goes down over the marina.

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The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

When you are done enjoying the beach or a fresh seafood meal, head to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory to relax in nature. The conservatory has plenty of beautiful birds, flowering plants, and butterflies. The conservatory’s two resident flamingos, Rhett and Scarlett, are the highlight. This famous Key West couple charms all visitors with their mating calls, foot-patting dance, and mesmerizing pink color.

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Land’s End Sunset Sail with Sebago Key West

I didn’t know what to expect when we boarded the Sebago Catamaran, but their sunset boat tour was a highlight of our time in Key West. The Sebago sunset sail is for those who want to let loose and listen to island music while drinking rum punch as the sun sets on the water.

Booking an evening with Sebago starts at 6:30 and ends after sunset; a ticket includes all-you-can-drink, appetizers, and plenty of entertainment. Oh yeah, and there are epic views as the sun sets in the beautiful Florida Keys.

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Enjoy Cuban Cuisine at El Siboney

If you are tired of the endless delicious seafood, head to El Siboney for authentic Cuban cuisine. We loved our meal here and could tell it was authentic Cuban home cooking in an inviting and friendly atmosphere. One of their best dishes is roast pork with black beans, rice, and sweet plantains. Pair your meal with their homemade sangria and end it with their signature Flan.

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Catch the Sunset at Mallory Square

Catch the sunset at Mallory Square. Around 5 pm every night, this area comes alive with street vendors, performers, artists, and food and drinks to soak in the ambiance together. There are not many better places to celebrate the end of a fabulous day in the Florida Keys than on Mallory Square. Even if crowds are not your thing (not mine), it’s still a fun outdoor atmosphere that’s just relaxed enough to be enjoyed by anyone, myself included.

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Tacos at Fisherman’s Café

A great lunch spot is Fisherman’s Cafe, right on Lazy Way Ave. It’s a fun takeaway spot with delicious lobster tacos!

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Enjoy Key Lime Pie on a Stick at Kermit’s Key Lime Café

You can’t visit the Florida Keys and not have a taste of the famous Key Lime Pie! There are plenty of places selling Key Lime Pie in Key West! However, none stand out as much as our FROZEN key lime at Kermit’s. Kermits is well known in the Key Lime world. Kermit Carpenter still bakes some of the pies, even after 28 years in business.

To say this place is an institution is an understatement, and even if you’ve already had Key Lime Pie in the keys, it’s well worth popping in here. There are now two locations, the original at 200 Elizabeth Street and one right off Duval Street.

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Southernmost Point Buoy

Although it’s not the most exciting thing to do in Key West, it’s worth venturing to the Southernmost Point in the US to snap a photo and say you have been there!

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Smathers beach

Surprisingly, Key West really isn’t known for its beaches. Most visitors hang out at their hotel pools, the marina, or the infamous Duval Street. However, you can head for some beach time in a few places. Our favorite was Smather’s Beach! It’s a beautiful sandy beach with plenty of idyllic palm trees for shade. There’s a volleyball court and places you can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboard boards as well.

Other Great Key West Beaches Include

• Higgs Beach
• Rest Beach
• Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

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Slurp Up Oysters at Half Shell raw Bar

The Half Shell Raw Bar is rated as one of the best Key West seafood restaurants. Set along the harborfront on the historical seafront, they serve fresh food and plenty of shellfish. We had to order a dozen oysters and were surprised by how large and tasty they were. They are also the only seafood restaurant in Key West that owns its fish market – so you know you are getting the freshest catch!

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Stay at Oceans Edge Marina and Resort

Oceans Edge Resort is a great place to stay on Stock Island if you don’t mind not being in the center of all the Key West action. This secluded resort allows guests to enjoy peace and tranquility in Key West, all in a beautiful setting.

All rooms at Oceans Edge have ocean views and access to the marina. There are six swimming pools to enjoy, with bar service for all! Oceans Edge also has kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and bicycles for free on-site. When you are ready to head into Key West, a free shuttle runs hourly downtown, so you don’t have to deal with the hectic parking situation in Key West.

The oceanfront rooms all have a balcony, high-speed WiFi, and a large flat-screen television. The rooms are larger than average and decorated with modern beach decor. We stayed three nights here and never wanted to leave!

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A Map To Our Stops

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How Many Days?

We spent five nights and six days in the Florida Keys, and I thought it was the perfect time to spend traveling the Florida Keys. The drive from Key Largo to Key West can be done in one day as it’s only 97 miles (about a two-hour drive), though to make the most out of your Florida Keys road trip, it might be worth breaking up the drive in Marathon or Duck Key.

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Where to stay?

When planning your road trip, you may realize that most hotels and rental options are in Key Largo and Key West. That’s not to say there aren’t places to stay in other parts of the Keys, but fewer options exist. Islamorada and Marathon have numerous options, and a few hotels and resorts are on the other Keys. I would suggest staying a few nights based out of Key Largo at Baker’s Cay, spending one night in Islamorada or Marathon, and staying three nights in Key West for the complete Florida Keys experience.

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Which Airport Is Best?

I would highly suggest looking at options for flying into either Miami or Key West and flying out of the opposite, making your road trip one way; sometimes, it can work out better and not cost much more! We flew into Miami, rented a one-way car rental for cheaper than a round-trip car rental, and flew out of Key West.

This gave us more time to explore each Florida Keys stop on our way, driving from Key Largo to Key West, and allowed us more time on our final day in the Keys as we didn’t have to drive back up to Miami to fly out.

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Which is better, Key West or Key Largo?

Neither is better, but one may be better for you and what you want to do! Key Largo is fantastic for beaches, diving, and snorkeling. It is closer to Florida’s Barrier Reef, where most underwater action happens in the keys. Key Largo is also closer to Marathon and Islamorada, making day trips easier.

Key West has more things to do, and you’ll find it hard to get bored here! It has a more relaxed “Jimmy Buffet” atmosphere with plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops. If you want to have a party holiday with friends, you will probably find that Key West is more your scene. Don’t take my word for it—check out both!

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Is there a shuttle from Key Largo to Key West?

There is no shuttle, but the Greyhound Bus Service does operate a route between Miami, Key Largo, and Key West. It only serves those few stops, so it’s not ideal for most travelers. However, it is an option for those who can not drive. You can hire a company like Florida Keys Express Shuttle if you want private transportation.

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Car Rentals

Expect to pay about $100 per day for a car rental in the Florida Keys. The further out in advance you book, typically, the cheaper rates you can find. Read our car rental tips for more information about renting a car.

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Do I need a car in Key West?

While a car is essential for getting from Key Largo to Key West once you are in Key West, I found you don’t need a car rental at all. All Key West is pretty walkable, and there are Ubers and Lyfts on the island should you need to go further. A popular thing to do is rent a bicycle during your stay and get around Key West that way!