Miami to Key Largo: An EPIC Mini Road Trip Guide

Miami to Key Largo is hands-down one of my favorite mini road trips in the entire world!

As a Florida native, I grew up visiting both Miami and Key Largo, separately and together. And together, this road trip route offers the perfect blend of Florida experiences: city, nightlife, nature, and ocean adventures, all packed into one!

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to turn the drive from Miami to Key Largo into an epic road trip, from where to stay and what to eat to the best places to stop along the way!

In this little slice of south Florida, you can experience the streets of Little Havana, bike or boat through the Everglades, and snorkel in the crystal clear waters of John Pennekamp State Park, all in one epic trip!

This itinerary is built for road trippers in their own vehicle, but I’ve briefly included some other options like taking a bus or booking private transport.

Either way, this guide will show you all the incredible things to see in and between Miami and Key Largo. There’s no doubt this is one of the most quintessentially Florida trips you can possibly take, and I hope this guide helps you plan every stop perfectly.

Route Overview

The distance between Miami and Key Largo is almost exactly 60 miles. If you’re driving, you can expect the journey to take around one hour, barring any major traffic delays! However, you likely won’t be driving straight through if you follow this guide, which includes some fun stops along the way!

Check out the map below for more details on the drive and where I recommend stopping.

As mentioned, this road trip is based on driving yourself, whether that’s your own car or a rental! If you are traveling from out of state and flying into Miami International Airport (MIA), you can pick up your rental car directly at the airport and start your journey!

🚗 I personally love using DiscoverCars.com for my trips, since they compare pricing and availability across all rental cars company! Plus, they have a great cancellation policy. 🚗

If driving is not an option for you, you can also take a Greyhound bus from Miami to Key Largo. However, this means you won’t have as much flexibility when it comes to stopping along the way and exploring once you get to Key Largo!

Or, if public transportation isn’t your thing, you can always book a private transfer from Miami to Key Largo. However, this option is pretty pricey! Plus, if you’re staying in Key Largo overnight, you are going to want a car during your time there!

Stop #1: Kick Off in Miami

Whether you’re arriving by plane or by car, I highly recommend spending one night in Miami before hitting the road! There are endless things to do in Miami, but I am going to try to cover the highlights!

Miami Beach and Ocean Drive

Start your trip with a stroll down Ocean Drive. The art deco buildings, palm-lined sidewalks, and people-watching here are peak Miami vibes!! Of course, I highly recommend hitting the beach – South Beach that is! The water here is shockingly blue, and you can pretty much guarantee warm weather year round.

For something extra fun, I highly recommend the weekend drag brunch at Palace Bar. It’s loud, it’s raunchy, and it’s unforgettable.

Eat Through Little Havana

If you’re into culture or art, you could skip the beach and head inland instead. Little Havana is packed with Cuban flavor (literally). It’s home to the largest population of Cubans outside of Cuba.

This area is far more than just cigar shops, dominos, and rum bars (although those are great too!). Cuban culture is a huge part of Miami, and what better way to experience this culture than through FOOD?! I highly recommend checking out one of the awesome Little Havana food tours during your time in Miami.

Catch a Sports Game

Depending on the season, you might be able to catch a basketball game, football game, or baseball game during your time in Miami.

This Miami and Beaches article gives a great overview of the different sports you can see in Miami, but below is a quick breakdown with the times of year!

Basketball (Miami Heat): ~October through April
College Football (University of Miami): ~August through December
Professional Football (Miami Dolphins): ~August through February
Baseball (Miami Marlins): ~March through October

Explore Wynwood

Another fun area of Miami to explore is the neighborhood of Wynwood. This area has become well known due to the incredible collection of artistic murals adorning warehouse walls. It’s also home to eclectic bars, breweries, restaurants, and more!

This article from Coastlines to Skylines gives a great overview of the Wynwood area and all the things to do there!

Where to Stay in Miami

If you decide to stay one night in Miami, I recommend going all out and staying on Miami Beach! From South to North Beach, hotels like the Marriott Stanton and Fountainebleau will definitely be a stay to remember, if it fits the budget!

If these are out of your price range, Brickell and Downtown are also neighborhoods worth considering and are typically safe!

Stop #2: Everglades National Park

Once you’ve had your fill of Miami fun, it’s time to hit the road on day 2. From central Miami, you’ll head south toward the Florida Keys. But before you zip down the highway, make time for a little detour into Florida’s wildest gems: the Everglades!

The Everglades are massive (they cover more than 1.5 million acres), so there are multiple entrances and ways to experience them.

Hiking Trails

If you’re more into hiking and nature trails and want a more off-the-beaten-path experience, you’ll probably enjoy the southern side of the park more, via the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. This area is further from Miami (but still on the way to the Keys) and will take around 1.5 hours to reach.

From here, you can explore deep into the park as you make your way to the Flamingo area. Along the way, stop at some of the hiking trails and walking paths, like the West Lake Trail and the Mahogany Hammock.

Alligators and Airboat Rides

However, if you are looking for a more traditional Everglades experience, and your priority is seeing wildlife, you’ll want to head to the Shark Valley Visitor Center instead. This area is closer to Miami and feels a bit more touristy (but no less enjoyable!).

This is one of the best places in the Everglades for wildlife viewing – you’ll likely see alligators, turtles, birds, maybe even a deer if you’re lucky! The most popular way to experience this area is making the 15-mile journey to the Observation Tower.

No cars are allowed on this road, so you can either rent a bike and ride the 15-mile paved loop, or hop on the Shark Valley Tram Tour, which is great in the warmer months when you may not want to bike. Both options give you a front-row seat to the Everglades ecosystem, and you will definitely see some gators and other wildlife along the route!

Another iconic thing to do in the Everglades is go on an airboat ride! There are three main companies that run airboat rides in the Everglades National Park – Coopertown, Gator Park, and Everglades Safari Park. All of these are located just east of the entrance to Shark Valley, so you’ll pass by them on your way from Miami.

Lastly, if you don’t want to plan and organize your day at Everglades National Park, consider booking an organized Everglades tour from Miami!

This tour leaves from downtown Miami and include the Shark Valley tram tour as well as an airboat ride. It’s the perfect option for people who don’t want to plan a thing.

Stop #3: Journey to Key Largo

After exploring the Everglades, it’s time to continue south toward island life! To get to the Florida Keys, first head to the small town of Florida City at the very end of the Florida peninsula.

If you chose to explore the Shark Valley area of the Everglades, it will take you around 1 hour to reach Florida City. However, if you explored the Flamingo area via the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, your drive to Florida City is much shorter, about 20 minutes!

Pit Stop in Florida City

This is your chance to fill up on gas, grab a snack, and hit the bathroom. Once you leave Florida City, the next 20 miles of driving — known as The Stretch — don’t have many services, so stock up now.

I always stop at the RaceTrac in Florida City for a quick break. It’s got everything you need: gas, restrooms, and a solid snack selection. It’s also your last shot at a fast food drive-thru for a while if you’re craving something quick.

Driving “The Stretch”

From Florida City, you’ll hop on US-1 South, which becomes the famous Overseas Highway. The first leg of it is nicknamed The Stretch — a 20-mile, mostly two-lane road that takes you through the thick mangroves and wetlands of old Florida! If you see the blue wall dividing the road, you’re in the right place.

Traffic can definitely back up here, especially on Friday afternoons or Sunday evenings, so avoid those times if you can. If you’re driving this part at sunset, it can be absolutely gorgeous, but watch out for wildlife on the road.

Once you cross the long bridge near Lake Surprise, you’ll officially arrive in Key Largo — the first and northernmost Key! You’ll start to see palm trees, pastel motels, and lots of dive flags waving in the breeze.

Upon arriving, make your way to your hotel, check in, and relax! If you have time for dinner, I recommend heading over to Snook’s for the best food and incredible sunset views!

Where to Stay in Key Largo

Make sure to check out my full guide to the Best Hotels in Key Largo here!

Stop #4: Experience Key Largo

Wake up in Key Largo and get ready for what I think is the absolute best way to start your day here — getting out on the water!

As you probably know, the Florida Keys are known for their incredible underwater landscapes. But did you know the Florida Keys are home to the only living coral barrier reef in North America, and it’s also the 3rd largest coral barrier reef in the world?!

There is a reason everyone raves about the snorkeling and scuba diving in the Florida Keys!

Snorkel Tour in Key Largo

So, if you only do one thing in Key Largo, make it a snorkel tour!

My favorite place to snorkel in Key Largo is the Christ of the Abyss, a submerged statue of Jesus that’s surrounded by schools of tropical fish and coral. This is not just one of the best places to snorkel in Key Largo, but maybe in the entire Florida Keys!

This snorkel spot, and most of the other spots in Key Largo, are located within John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the United States’ first undersea park! There is no fee to enter the park limits by boat, but if you visit on land, there is a small entrance fee.

If you can, book a tour like this one that takes you to two different reef snorkel spots. This tour is top-rated and includes all the snorkeling equipment, so I highly recommend it!

Book this snorkeling tour in advance to ensure it doesn’t sell out! 🤿

Another option is to scuba dive in Key Largo! Similar to snorkeling, Key Largo has some of the best scuba diving in all of the Florida Keys. If you’re a certified scuba diver, you can’t go wrong with incredible dives like Molasses Reef, Pickles Reef, and Spiegel Grove!

Head South to Islamorada

Most snorkel and scuba diving tours last a few hours, so you should be arriving back on dry land around lunch time. After your tour, head back to your hotel to shower and change before conquering the second half of your day: lunch and tarpon feeding in Islamorada.

Okay, I know this is a Miami to Key Largo road trip guide, but I had to include Islamorada, Key Largo’s neighboring Key (and my personal favorite)!

The drive from Key Largo to Islamorada is only about 30 minutes, and it’s full of postcard-worthy views! Once you hit Islamorada, head straight to Robbie’s Marina.

This spot is a tourist and local favorite, and not just for the restaurant. At Robbie’s, the most popular thing to do is feed massive tarpon by hand right from the dock! You can buy a bucket of fish for ~$4 on-site. Watch out for the bold pelicans who might try to steal from you!

Afterwards, wash your hands and then grab a laid-back lunch at Robbie’s restaurant, The Hungry Tarpon, which overlooks Lignumvitae Channel. Robbie’s also has some small shops and stands on property, so it’s the perfect place to do a little souvenir shopping!

Note: Feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s is one of the most popular things to do in Islamorada, so it does get busy, especially on weekends!

There are plenty of places in the Upper Keys to do this, but the most popular is to pick a dinner spot on the bayside with epic sunset views. Luckily, Key Largo has some of the best restaurants on the water in the entire Keys!

Don’t worry, I have tons of recommendations! If you’re still in Islamorada around dinnertime, you can’t go wrong with the famous Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar, which celebrates the sunset every night with live entertainment.

Or, you can head back up to Key Largo and visit Sol By The Sea At Playa Largo (reservations recommended) or Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill for something more casual!

Lastly, if you’d rather be out on the water watching the sunset, consider a sunset cruise to end the night!

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for the best road trip in Florida, the drive from Miami to Key Largo may just take the cake! This drive has no shortage of delicious food, wonderful places to stay, and incredible adventure activities.

How many other drives in the world can you swim with dolphins, eat Cuban food, snorkel through coral reefs, and party on the beach?!

However, there’s one thing that could make this road trip even better, and that’s extending it! Key Largo is great, but the rest of the Keys have so much to offer too!

Make sure to read my one week Key Largo to Key West itinerary next to continue planning your trip through the Florida Keys 🙂

Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!