A Florida Keys Road Trip: Key Largo to Key West on the Overseas Highway
- Across Opal
- Top Activities
- Florida Keys
- Reefhouse Resort & Marina
- Sunset Key Cottages
- The Laureate Key West
- The Capitana Key West
- Opal Key Resort & Marina
A road trip to Mile Marker 0 via the “The Highway That Goes to Sea,” shouldn’t be done without experiencing these amazing pit stops.
The Overseas Highway, the southernmost leg of U.S. Highway 1, isn’t just any old highway. Following a trail originally blazed in 1912 by Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railroad, it’s a true modern wonder, stretching 113 miles – largely over water – from Miami to Key West. While you can drive the whole route in about three and half hours without stopping, it’s considered one of the most beautiful scenic drives in America, and, in order to fully enjoy it, it requires taking your time.
To make the most of a journey across the countless coral and limestone islets that make up the Florida Keys, begin your adventure in Key Largo, the northernmost island in the chain and the gateway to the Keys. From there, follow the Overseas Highway south and be sure to hit these standout pit-stops along the mile markers before you arrive at your evening endpoint: Key West.
BEGIN | Start at Reefhouse Resort & Marina [Key Largo, FL]
Before heading south along the Overseas Highway, consider spending the night in Key Largo, a peaceful counterpart to bustling Key West. Set across 17 acres of tropical island landscape, Reefhouse Resort & Marina is a destination unto itself, offering scenic bay views, a private beach, and easy access to water adventures through its on-site marina and dive shop. Guests can snorkel, kayak, or simply relax by the heated outdoor pool beneath swaying palms before beginning the scenic drive south.
MM 100 | Grab a Bite at Skippers Dockside [Key Largo, FL]
If you want to fuel up before setting out on the drive, make your first stop just a few miles south of Reefhouse Resort & Marina at this vintage boathouse-style restaurant, formerly an ice house and filling station. The outdoor tiki bar is perfectly situated to take in the gorgeous marina views while you watch passing fishing boats over a lunch menu of fresh-off-the-boat “soul food,” like lobster mac and cheese and coconut-crusted snapper.
MM 77.5 | Tarpon Feeding [Islamorada, FL]
The biggest attraction at Robbie’s Marina – which is more like an eclectic tropical village, where you can rent boats, shop for art in the open-air market, and listen to live music – is, undoubtedly, the tarpon feeding. Daily, 100 or so tarpon come to the dock and linger for hours, and, for just a few bucks, you can hand-feed the large silver fish, who lack no fear of leaping out of the water to snatch a fish from your hand.
MM 48.5 | Turtle Hospital [Marathon, FL]
Is there anything sweeter than a hospital that rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles? Housed in an old motel, this bright sea-green building has been converted to serve as living quarters for staff, so they are available 24/7 for their aquatic patients, as well as houses 23 individual tanks, ranging in size from 150 to 800 gallons. The largest tank of all is actually the former pool, holding up to 100,000 gallons of saltwater for these gentle swimmers.
MM 37 | Bahia Honda State Park [Big Pine Key, FL]
With soft white sands, azure waters, and palm trees, the beaches of Bahia Honda Key feel like they should be on a faraway Caribbean island instead of just off the Overseas Highway. In the heart of the Bahia Honda State Park, the mile-long Sandspur Beach is coveted for its shallow, calm waters (thanks to an offshore reef) and nearby park concession that operates daily hour-and-a-half snorkeling tours to the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.
MM 0 | Sunset at Opal Key Resort & Marina [Key West, FL]
Located right next to Mallory Square, the marina at this waterfront resort hub is famous for its daily evening celebration, offering – yes, a prime viewpoint of that amazing sunset – but also jugglers, island musicians, artists, and food vendors. For an even more memorable vantage point, head upstairs to Elevate Skye Bar & Lounge, the resort’s outdoor rooftop sanctuary where guests and locals alike enjoy front-row sunset views alongside craft cocktails. Or, settle in at Opal Key Resort & Marina’s newest on-site restaurant to savor that same sunset view over some tasty street tacos.
END | Check-in at Sunset Key Cottages
While most would say Key West is the end of the road, technically where you’ll be resting your head for the night is the true end. Located on a 27-acre private island, just an eight-minute ferry from Opal Key Resort’s marina, Sunset Key Cottages is the epitome of luxury and privacy with 40 stand-alone cottages all fully equipped with kitchens and private verandas. And, if looking to toast your trip after you’re arrival, look no further than a nightcap at Latitudes, the resort’s award-winning Key West restaurant, serving fresh flavorful island cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails made from local spirits like the restaurant’s own white or golden raw rum.
**Please confirm details with business/attractions prior to visiting due to possible restrictions.
Where to Stay
KEY LARGO, FL Reefhouse Resort & Marina
KEY WEST, FL Sunset Key Cottages | The Laureate Key West | Opal Key Resort & Marina | The Capitana Key West
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