The Florida
Keys are comprised of over 1,700 islands, 32
of which are inhabited.
US-1, or the
Overseas Highway, is the only road that
connects our string of islands to the
continental United States. It is
approximately 110 miles long and is our Main
Street.
You will cross
43 bridges on your way from mainland Florida
to Key West. The total population of the
Florida Keys is about 85,000, with
concentrations in Key Largo, Tavernier,
Marathon, Big Pine Key, Summerland Key, Big
Coppitt Key and Key West.
Why take
the drive?
- Experience one of America’s great
drives with amazing water views and
natural vistas. The Overseas
Highway was designated as an
All-American
Road by the US Department of
Transportation in October 2009.
Only 30 other roadways in the nation have
earned this prestigious title.
- Take your time at a slower pace as you
travel south of reality and ease yourself
into island time.
- Lots of great places to eat and drink,
as well as quirky tourist stops and unique
attractions.
- Meet the locals to discover the real
Keys.
Drive times
to Marathon
Figuring rental car pick-up plus drive
time ….
- From FLL, about 3 hours
- From MIA, about 2.5 hours
US-1 is heavily patrolled by both the
Monroe County Sheriff’s Department (white
cars with green stripes) and the Florida
Highway Patrol (black cars with tan roofs).
Speed limits bounce between 35, 45 and 55
mph. Stay strictly to the posted speed
limit (or within 5 mph if you’re feeling
frisky). With little crime to keep them
busy, the guys in uniform love to catch the
speeders. And, your rental Sebring or
Mustang convertible is and easy target.
Because US-1 is our Main Street, expect cars
to enter and exit frequently. Enjoy the
views, but drive safe too.
Directions
- From FLL, follow the signs to I-595
West and continue on I-595 West (stay in
the right lane) to the Florida Turnpike
South exit.
- From MIA, follow the signs to I-836
West. Merge your way over to the left
lane and look for the exit to I-836 West
about two miles from the airport. I-836
turns into I-874 and then merges with the
Florida Turnpike South.
These are all toll roads. Have singles
handle (you won’t need many). But, this is
your best choice. You do not want to go
through Miami on I-95. It will take
FOREVER.
You will stay on the Florida Turnpike
southbound for about 30 to 60 minutes,
depending on which airport you came from.
It’ll end at Florida City and put you
directly on US-1 South. Just follow the
signs to Key West.
If you need a bathroom break, now’s the
time. There are plenty of fast food joints
and convenience stations. You may also want
to make a quick stop at
Robert is Here
in Florida City to pick up some fresh fruit
and veggies and have a smoothie.
Once in Florida City, you have a choice
to make. Either one will take you about 30
minutes with no stops. A suggestion is to
take Card Sound Road on your trip into the
Keys and the 18-Mile Stretch on your way
out.
- Take Card Sound Road, which will come
up on your left
STOP
at Alabama Jack’s for adult
refreshments just past the $1.00 toll
- Stay on US-1 and take the 18-Mile
Stretch
Travel through the
southern tip of the Everglades
Once off Card Sound or the Stretch,
welcome to the Florida Keys! You are in Key
Largo. Don’t bother looking for Bogey or
Bacall. It’s not half as romantic as it
sounds. The next few miles are a boring
collection of strip plazas, gas stations and
souvenir shops. There is an
excellent restaurant at MM 102.4 oceanside
called the Fish House.
It’s time to take notice of the Mile
Marker signs. Key West, the end of the
road, is MM 0. At MM 85.5, you cross the
Snake Creek, and this is where it starts to
get fun. At the top of the drawbridge, you
can see both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of
Mexico for the very first time.
Below is a Mile Marker by Mile Marker
trip guide with some
STOP
recommendations to make your trip
pleasurable.
- 127.5 = Florida City
– Junction with Fla. Turnpike and US-1
- 126.5 = Junction US-1
and CR-905 to/from Card Sound Bridge and
Ocean Reef Club, oceanside. Also an
alternate route – $1.00 bridge toll, if
southbound
- 126.0 = End/Begin
two-lane 18 Mile Stretch
- 112.5 = MONROE COUNTY
LINE – Leave Dade County if southbound
- 109.3 = Osprey nest,
Oceanside
- 108.0 = Osprey nest,
Oceanside
- 107.2 = Jewfish Creek
drawbridge. Exit/enter Key Largo. Begin
18-Mile Stretch
- 106.6 = Lake Surprise
- 106.5 = Card Sound
Bridge turnoff to/from Ocean Reef via CR
905 oceanside. Also an alternate route,
$1.00 bridge toll, northbound to Florida
City.
If taking CR 905, Mile Markers (MM’s)
are labeled “C”. At C-9.25 is a three way
stop. Straight goes to the Anglers and Ocean
Reef Clubs gated communities. Left goes
across the Card Sound toll bridge to Florida
City. Now back to MM’s.
- 105.6 = The
location of the railroad depot and the
center of the community of Key Largo from
about 1910 to 1940. The depot was in the
highway median. The community was gulfside.
- 104.1 = Caribbean
Club, gulfside. The set for the 1948
movie Key Largo was modeled for this
location
- 103.5 = The 1920s Key
Largo Rock Castle, End of Oceana Drive,
oceanside
- 103.4 = Marvin Adams
Waterway Bridge (The Cut), a canal that
connects Atlantic to Florida Bay
- 102.8 = John
Pennekamp State Park entrance, oceanside
- 101.2 = Hibiscus
Park, oceanside. This was the center
of the 1880s community of Newport.
- 95 to 100 = This
was the early community of Rock Harbor. A
small railroad depot was also here.
- 95.2 = Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary building
- 94.8 = Seaside
community, oceanside. The 1900s
Thompson line packinghouse was in this
area.
- 93.8 = Wild Bird
Center, gulfside
- 91.9 = Old Tavernier
Post office, Old Settlers Park, oceanside;
Tavernier Hotel, oceanside. This was
the center of the early community of
Tavernier. Its depot was in the median
just south of the post office.
- 91.0 = Tavernier
Creek Bridge; enter Islamorada; Tavernier
Creek Marina, Plantation Marina, gulfside
- 87.0 = Founders Park
(Plantation Yacht Harbor), gulfside
- 85.5 = Snake Creek
Draw Bridge; Coast Guard Station, gulfside
Enter Windley Key
- 85.3 = Windley Key
State Fossil Reef Geological Site,
gulfside
- 84.3 = This was
the center of the community of Quarry that
thrived during the construction of the
railroad.
- 84.2 = Theater of the
Sea, Holiday Isle Resort, oceanside
- 84.0 = Whale Harbor
Bridge
- 81.5 = Islamorada
Library and park, gulfside; Hurricane
Memorial; Cheeca Lodge, oceanside. The
library was constructed as a Hurricane
Refuge School after the 1935 Hurricane.
During construction, the
Florida Keys Memorial, known as the
Hurricane Monument, was also
constructed and dedicated.
STOP
81.2 = Bass Pro Shops
Worldwide Sportsman and Islamorada Fish
Company Restaurant, gulfside
- 81.3 = Green Turtle
Inn, oceanside. Part of the structure
survived the 1935 Hurricane.
- 79.8 = Tea Table
Relief Bridge. Bud and Mary’s, oceanside.
The north approach washed out during
Hurricane Donna, 1960.
- 79.1 = Tea Table
Channel Bridge
- 78.0 = Indian Key
Bridge. Lignumvitae Key Botanical Site
(State) gulfside in distance. Lignumvitae
Key Boat Ramp gulfside; Indian Key
Archaeological Site, San Pedro Underwater
State Park and Alligator Lighthouse,
oceanside at a distance. This area is
of historic significance. The islands of
Indian Key, Lignumvitae Key and Alligator
Lighthouse are prominent artifacts.
- 77.1 = Lignumvitae
Bridge
STOP
77.0 = Robbie’s Marina,
gulfside –
FEED THE TARPON
- 73.6 = Boy Scouts Sea
Base, gulfside; Calusa Cove Marina,
oceanside. Gulfside was the location
of Camp 3 for the WW-1 veterans. Many
perished in the 1935 hurricane.
- 73.4 = Anne’s Beach,
oceanside. Gulfside is Veteran’s
Island, which is the grown over approach
to the veteran’s bridge piers.
- 73.0 = Offshore
on the gulfside can be seen the remains
(8) of the concrete bridge piling built by
the WW-1 veterans.
- 72.8 = Apogee of
Channel #2 Bridge
- 71.8 = Craig Key.
Rowland Craig built his resort of Craig at
the north end of this railroad fill. The
drawbridge tender for the Channel 5
railroad bridge lived at the south end.
- 71.4 = Apogee of
Channel #5 Bridge
- 65.8 = Henry
Flagler’s Long Key Fishing Camp occupied
the southwest end of Long Key. American
author, Zane Grey, vacationed and wrote
while at this location in the early 1900s.
- 64.0 = Middle of Long
Key Bridge. If
southbound, entering the Middle Keys.
- 62.2 = Walker’s
Island (Little Conch Key)
- 61.2 = Tom’s Harbor
Cut Bridge
You are now
entering the Islands of Marathon!
- 61.1 = Entrance to
Duck Key; Hawk’s Cay resort, Oceanside
- 60.6 = Tom’s Harbor
Channel Bridge
- 59.9 = Enter/leave
City of Marathon
58.9 = Grassy Key
STOP
= Dolphin Research Center, gulfside
- 56.2 = Curry Hammock
State Park
- 54.6 = Coco Plum
STOP
= The Island Tiki Bar and Restaurant,
gulfside
- 53.1 = Vaca Cut
Bridge, entering the business district of
Marathon next 8 miles
- 52.0 = Marathon
Airport, gulfside
- 50.0 = Sombrero Beach
Road
STOP
= Crane Point Museum of Natural History,
gulfside
STOP
= Sombrero Beach,
oceanside (turn off US-1 onto Sombrero Beach
Road)
STOP
48.5 = Turtle Hospital, gulfside
- 48.0 = US Coast Guard
Station, gulfside
STOP
= Porky’s BBQ and Captain Pip’s Marina,
gulfside
STOP
and turn onto 15th
Street = Burdine’s Chicki
Tiki and Castaway Restaurant, oceanside
STOP
and turn onto 11th
Street = Lazy Days South
Restaurant, oceanside
STOP
47.5 = 7 Mile Marina Charter Boat
Row and Salty’s Waterfront Grill, gulfside
STOP
47 = Knight’s Key, Pigeon Key
Visitor’s Center and Sunset Grille,
oceanside
- 47.0 = Begin/end of
Seven Mile Bridge, Marathon City limits
- 44.8 = Pigeon Key,
gulfside
- 43.9 = Moser Channel,
apogee of Seven-Mile Bridge. Sombrero
Light House seen at a distance, oceanside
- 41.7 = End of
original steel truss railroad bridge and
begin concrete arch bridge
- 40.0 = End/begin
Seven Mile Bridge
Thanks for
visiting Marathon! Come back soon!
- 39.5 = Veterans
Memorial Park, oceanside
- 39.5 = Misouri-Little
Duck Channel Bridge
- 39.0 = Ohio-Missouri
Channel Bridge
- 38.8 = Sunshine Key
Trailer Park, gulfside
- 38.7 = Ohio- Bahia
Honda Channel Bridge
STOP
36.8 = Bahia Honda State Park
entrance, oceanside.
- 36.0 = Bahia Honda
Bridge (4-lanes) old railroad
camelback bridge, oceanside
- 34.0 = West
Summerland Key
- 33.0 = Spanish Harbor
Bridge west end
- 30.2 = Big Pine Key
traffic stop light; gulfside to Key Deer
Road and Wilder Road
STOP
Key Deer Preserve, No Name Pub, No Name Key,
gulfside
- 29.3 = North Pine
Channel Bridge
- 28.1 = Little Torch
Key
- 28.0 = Torch Channel
Bridge
- 27.9 =
Middle Torch Key. Entrance to Big
Torch Key, turnoff gulfside
- 27.7 = Torch-Ramrod
Channel Bridge
- 26.6 = South Pine
Channel Bridge, east end of bridge,
oceanside
- 27.0 = Ramrod Key
- 26.0 = Niles Channel
Bridge, middle
- 25.0 – 24.0 =
Summerland Key community
STOP
22.5 = Square Grouper Restaurant,
oceanside
- 23.5 = Kemp Channel
Bridge, east end of bridge, oceanside
- 21.0 = Cudjoe Key
Subdivision on oceanside. U.S. Navy “Fat
Albert” site, gulfside
- 20.2 = Bow Channel
Bridge to Sugarloaf Key
STOP
20.0 = Mangrove Momma’s Restaurant,
gulfside
- 19.3 = Crane Blvd. to
gulfside, Sugarloaf School
- 18.6 = Upper
Sugarloaf Key
- 18.8 = Park Channel
Bridge
- 17.8 = North Harris
Channel Bridge
- 17.6 = Harris Gap
Channel Bridge
- 17.5 = Lower
Sugarloaf Key
- 16.3 = Harris Channel
Bridge
- 15.8 = Lower
Sugarloaf Channel Bridge
- 15.0 = Gate on
gulfside to old U.S. Army transmitter
site. Now Radio Marti. Bay Point Park.
- 14.6 = Saddlebunch #2
Bridge, Bay Point Subdivision entrance,
oceanside
- 14.3 = Saddlebunch #3
Bridge, Saddlebunch Shrs./Bluewater Dr.,
oceanside
- 13.1 = Saddlebunch #4
Bridge
- 12.8 = Saddlebunch #5
Bridge
- 11.4 = Shark Channel
Bridge
- 11.2 = Shark Key
- 10.0 = Big Coppitt
Key
- 9.7 = Rockland
Channel Bridge
- 9.2 = East Rockland
Key
- 8.0 = NAS Boca Chica
Overpass, entrance to NAS, oceanside.
Turnoff from both directions US-1.
- 7.0 = Back gate to
NAS, closed, oceanside
- 6.1 = Boca Chica
Bridge, middle
- 5.2 = Key Haven,
ocean turnoff
- 5.0 = Stock Island
- 4.1 = Cow Key Channel
Bridge
- 3.9 = Traffic light.
End/begin 4-lane
Bear left for Flagler Street,
Airport, Martello Towers, Higgs Beach, Casa
Marina
Bear right for N. Roosevelt, Truman
Avenue, Fort Taylor, Historic Seaport, Old
Town Key West
- 2.3 = Salt Run
Bridge, N. Roosevelt, Key West
- 1.7 = Palm Ave;
U.S.C.G. Group; NAS Trumbo
- 1.0 = About South
Street
- 0.0 =
MILE MARKER
ZERO! Jackson Square County Seat;
Key West Post Office