# Miami to Key West in One Day: The Overseas Highway

Source: https://driftkin.app/trips/miami-to-key-west-1-day-overseas-highway · Fact-checked against official sources · Updated 4 Oct 2026

**Quick answer:** Miami to Key West is 169 miles and about 3 hours 47 minutes of driving, planned as a one-day drive. Estimated tolls: $5.95. Highlights: Robbie's Marina in Islamorada: hand-feed the tarpon under the dock; Bahia Honda State Park: white-sand beach and the old Flagler railroad bridge; Mallory Square in Key West: the nightly Sunset Celebration. Best months: February to April. Driving difficulty: easy.

A fruit-stand milkshake, tarpon and lunch in Islamorada, a Bahia Honda swim, and a Key West sunset

A one-day, one-way drive from Miami to Key West on US-1: 169.4 miles and about 3h 47m of driving (about $5.95 in tolls on a toll-by-plate basis, about $3.41 with SunPass), with four stops and a Mallory Square sunset finish. Places to stay are listed for anyone who wants to linger.

- Road trip: Miami to Key West, FL
- Length: 1 day
- Total distance: 169.4 mi
- Driving time: 3 h 47 min
- Estimated tolls: $5.95
- Driving: Easy
- Best months: Feb–Apr
- Budget: $$

## Highlights

- Robbie's Marina in Islamorada: hand-feed the tarpon under the dock
- Bahia Honda State Park: white-sand beach and the old Flagler railroad bridge
- Mallory Square in Key West: the nightly Sunset Celebration

## Why drive Miami to Key West

The Overseas Highway is more about the road than the destination, and this plan treats it that way: a single, full day, four stops, and a lot of open water in between. You leave downtown Miami at 8:15 on a toll road, stop in Homestead for a fruit-stand milkshake just after the 9 am opening, and then U.S. 1 narrows to two lanes and starts to look like nothing else in the country: mangrove on both sides, then open water, then a long ribbon of bridges. Once you reach Key Largo, the green mile markers count down to 0 at the far end in Key West.

**The stops earn their place.** Robert Is Here, family-run in Homestead since 1959 by its own account, is the classic warm-up. Robbie's Marina in Islamorada, at about mile marker 77.5, is where dozens of tarpon gather under the dock and take bait fish from your hand; the waterfront Hungry Tarpon restaurant on the same property is the lunch stop, so there is no extra hunt for a table. After that comes the drive's showpiece, the Seven Mile Bridge, and Bahia Honda State Park, whose 2.5-mile beach and piece of Henry Flagler's railroad bridge are the best swim-and-photo stop on the highway. Then it is the last hour into Key West and Mallory Square for the nightly Sunset Celebration.

**Why a single day works.** The whole route is 227 minutes of pure driving, well under the roughly eight hours that would call for a second day. The catch is that Mallory Square needs to happen before dark: sunset is about 6:21 pm in mid-February and after 7:30 pm from mid-March, so the plan is built for February to April. In December and January, with sunsets before 6 pm, you would have to skip a stop. Anyone who would rather sleep in the Keys will find places to stay in Islamorada in the options, along with extra stops (John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, The Turtle Hospital, Mrs. Mac's Kitchen, No Name Pub, the Hemingway Home) that you can swap in if you leave earlier or stay a night.

**Which way in?** US-1 is the recommended way: no bridge toll, shorter and quicker than Card Sound Road, and every stop is on it. Card Sound Road is the scenic alternate (with Alabama Jack's), noted in the options.

The totals across the 4 driving legs add up to 169.4 miles, 227 minutes (3h 47m) of pure driving and $5.95 in estimated tolls on a toll-by-plate basis (about $3.41 with a SunPass), all on the first leg out of Miami.

## Miami to Key West drive, stop by stop

### Day 1: Miami to Key West in one day

Leave Miami at 8:15 for a fruit-stand milkshake in Homestead, then drive the Overseas Highway to Robbie's in Islamorada for tarpon feeding and lunch, swim at Bahia Honda, and finish in Old Town Key West for the Mallory Square sunset. About 169.4 miles and 3h 47m of driving.

#### Start in Miami: Bayfront Park (8:00 AM)

The drive starts at Bayfront Park on Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami, a well-known meeting point (its coordinates feed the toll and time math for the first leg). Fill the tank, confirm you have a working SunPass or know how your rental car handles tolls, and go: the departure is timed so you reach Robert Is Here just after it opens at 9 am, and so the whole day ends at Mallory Square before a February-to-April sunset. Tolls out of Miami are electronic (Florida's Turnpike is cashless), so sort out a transponder or plate-based plan before you leave.

- Time needed: 15 minutes to fuel and depart; the start point is a suggestion, any downtown Miami address works with small changes to leg 1

Place: Bayfront Park · 301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132 · Hours: Open daily 7:00 am to 11:00 pm (official site) · http://www.bayfrontparkmiami.com/

#### Miami to Robert Is Here (Homestead) (8:15 AM)

A fast toll-road run out of downtown: I-95, the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836), the Don Shula Expressway (SR 874) and then Florida's Turnpike south to Florida City. Cheap in time and gently dull; the reward is a fruit stand that opens at 9.

- Distance: 40 mi
- Drive time: 52 min
- Estimated toll: $5.95

#### Robert Is Here: fruit-stand milkshake (9:07 AM)

The classic pre-Keys ritual: a family-run fruit stand in Homestead that has been in business since 1959, according to its own site, and is known for blended-fruit milkshakes and smoothies made from hand-cut tropical fruit. Order something you cannot get at home, sip it at the picnic tables, and let the kids see the petting zoo. A 30-minute stop is plenty; the plan arrives just after the 9 am opening.

Place: Robert Is Here Fruit Stand · 19200 SW 344th St, Homestead, FL 33034 · Hours: Official site: daily 9 am to 6 pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Call ahead if you plan to arrive right at opening. · http://www.robertishere.com/

#### Robert Is Here to Robbie's of Islamorada (9:32 AM)

The heart of the Overseas Highway: US-1 runs south through the mangroves of Florida City, up onto Key Largo and then across the low bridges of the Upper Keys, with Florida Bay on one side and the Atlantic on the other. Expect a two-lane road with a few traffic signals; slow traffic is part of it. Robbie's is bayside at about mile marker 77.5.

- Distance: 51.8 mi
- Drive time: 1 h 9 min
- Estimated toll: $0

#### Feed the tarpon at Robbie's Marina (10:41 AM)

Robbie's is a working marina where dozens of big tarpon gather under the dock and take bait fish from your hand (bring a steady grip and a change of shirt). The official site lists tarpon-feeding admission at $2.50 per person and a bucket of fish at $5 each (as of 2026-09-29), with the marina and tarpon booth open 7 am to 9 pm daily. The waterfront Hungry Tarpon restaurant is on the same property, which makes it the lunch stop.

- Fee: $2.50 per person admission; fish bucket $5 each (robbies.com, as of 2026-09-29)
- Best time: Any time the booth is open
- Time needed: About 30 minutes for the feeding and photos

Place: Robbie's of Islamorada · 77522 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 · Hours: Official: marina and tarpon booth daily 7:00 am to 9:00 pm · https://www.robbies.com/

#### Lunch at the Hungry Tarpon, Robbie's Marina (11:11 AM)

The marina's waterfront restaurant serves seafood on the dock; Robbie's official site lists it open daily from 6:30 am to 9 pm, with a beach bar that is known for a 'loaded Trailer Trash Bloody Mary'. It saves a separate drive to another restaurant, which suits a day with only a few stops. The menu and prices were not retrieved, so check them on site.

Place: Hungry Tarpon (Robbie's Marina) · 77522 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 · Hours: Official: daily 6:30 am to 9:00 pm · https://www.robbies.com/

#### Robbie's to Bahia Honda State Park (12:11 PM)

The showpiece stretch: US-1 crosses Long Key, Marathon and the Seven Mile Bridge (about 6.8 miles per Wikipedia, opened 1982) with the old Flagler railroad bridge and Pigeon Key alongside. Bahia Honda Key is at about mile markers 36 to 38.5.

- Distance: 39.1 mi
- Drive time: 50 min
- Estimated toll: $0

#### Swim and stroll at Bahia Honda State Park (1:03 PM)

Bahia Honda is the Keys' beach state park: a 2.5-mile natural white-sand beach that Wikipedia notes was rated the top beach in the U.S. by 'Dr. Beach' in 1992, plus a piece of Henry Flagler's railroad bridge you can climb for views over the water. Bring a swimsuit; the shallow, clear water is the main attraction. The official park page lists hours of 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year, and a fee of $8 per vehicle (as of 2026-09-29); check the park website for which beaches and the bridge overlook are open on your visit day.

- Fee: $8 per vehicle (Florida State Parks page, archive copy retrieved 2026-09-29)
- Best time: Late morning or midday for swimming
- Time needed: About 1 hour 45 minutes for a swim, a beach walk and a look at the old bridge

Place: Bahia Honda State Park · 36850 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key, FL 33043 · Hours: Official park page: 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year · https://www.floridastateparks.org/BahiaHonda

#### Bahia Honda to Key West (Mallory Square) (2:48 PM)

The last long piece: Big Pine Key (watch for Key deer near Watson Blvd), then a run of Lower Keys islands and short bridges, Stock Island and the causeway into Key West. Traffic often thickens as you enter town; park once near Old Town and walk.

- Distance: 38.5 mi
- Drive time: 56 min
- Estimated toll: $0

#### Key West finale: Old Town and the Mallory Square Sunset Celebration (3:49 PM)

You reach Old Town in the mid-afternoon, which leaves time to park, walk to the Gulf-side waterfront and wander before the evening's main event: the nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, a street-festival tradition since the late 1960s (per the Mallory Square site) with performers, musicians, artists and food vendors as the sun goes down. No admission price is listed on the site. Sunset is about 6:21 pm in mid-February and after 7:30 pm from mid-March (see tips), so the earlier part of this block is free time: the Mile Marker 0 photo, Kermit's key lime pie and the Hemingway Home (open until 5 pm) are all in the options below.

- Best time: 45-60 minutes before sunset
- Time needed: About 2 hours 45 minutes including free time before sunset; the block can start later in March and April

Place: Mallory Square · 400 Wall St, Key West, FL 33040 · Hours: Open-air waterfront; celebration is nightly around sunset · https://www.mallorysquare.com/

## Where to stay in Islamorada

### Where to stay if you linger: La Jolla Resort, Islamorada

A bayfront resort at about mile marker 82 whose official site describes classic rooms, suites and multi-bedroom bayfront lodges, a private beach area facing the Islamorada sunsets, an outdoor pool, a catch-and-release fishing dock, and complimentary use of kayaks, paddleboards and bicycles. No pets. No nightly rates are shown on the pages checked, so check current rates and any resort fee directly with the resort.

Place: La Jolla Resort · 82216 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 · Hours: Front desk hours not verified · https://lajollaresort.com/

### Casa Morada

An all-suite boutique hotel (48 suites per its site) with pool and bay access, complimentary kayaks, paddleboards and bicycles, and complimentary yoga on Wednesdays and Sundays. Pet-friendly; children 16 and older welcome, so it suits couples better than families.

Place: Casa Morada · 82200 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 · https://casamorada.com/

### Cheeca Lodge & Spa

A 27-acre oceanfront resort with oceanfront suites, bungalows and casitas from 361 to 2,100 sq ft, on-site dining, golf, tennis, snorkeling, a spa and fishing charters. The pick for a splurge night if you want to stay on the property rather than drive out to eat.

Place: Cheeca Lodge & Spa · 81801 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 · https://www.cheeca.com/

## Where to eat in Key Largo

### Alternative meal: Mrs. Mac's Kitchen, Key Largo

A Key Largo roadside diner with the counter, walls and lamps covered in license plates from all over. It is a casual lunch stop right on the highway; menu and prices were not retrievable for this draft, and the kitchen closes in the mid-afternoon, so arrive well before mid-afternoon.

Place: Mrs. Mac's Kitchen · 99336 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037 · https://mrsmacskitchen.com/

### Optional Key West stop: Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe

A yellow-and-green cottage shop on Elizabeth Street devoted to Key lime pie. About a 0.9-mile (roughly 20-minute) walk from the Hemingway house and roughly 10 minutes from Mallory Square. Grab a slice as a snack before the sunset crowds; the shop's current products and prices were not retrievable, so check its site.

Place: Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe · 200 Elizabeth St, Key West, FL 33040 · http://kermitskeylime.com/

## More options near Miami to Key West

### Optional stop: Tour The Turtle Hospital, Marathon

A working veterinary hospital and rescue centre for injured and sick sea turtles, run as a nonprofit on the grounds of a former motel. The official visit page lists programs of approximately 70 to 90 minutes that start every 30 minutes from 9 am to 4 pm (last program), ending with feeding the permanent residents. Adults are $38 and children 4 to 12 are $19 (under 4 free; as of 2026-09-29), paid on site at check-in; reservations are strongly suggested because capacity is limited. It sits between Robbie's and Bahia Honda; if you add it, leave Miami earlier and book a slot.

- Reservation needed
- Fee: Adult $38, child (4-12) $19, under 4 free; paid on site at check-in (turtlehospital.org, as of 2026-09-29)
- Best time: Morning slot
- Time needed: Program about 70-90 minutes; needs a reserved slot and adds roughly 2 hours to the day

Place: The Turtle Hospital · 2396 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050 · Hours: Programs start every 30 minutes, 9 am to 4 pm (last program), per the official visit page · http://www.turtlehospital.org/

### Optional Key West stop: Mile Marker 0, the end of US-1

The green 'Mile 0' sign beneath the 'End' US-1 shield at Whitehead and Fleming streets is the traditional 'you made it' photo. Wikipedia notes that Keys mile markers begin at 0 in Key West. Park once in town (paid parking and limited street spaces are typical; rates not verified here) and walk: Kermit's, the Hemingway Home and Mallory Square are within about a mile.

- Time needed: 15 minutes; queue for the photo if busy

Place: Mile Marker 0 (US-1 terminus) · Whitehead St & Fleming St, Key West, FL 33040 · Hours: Street sign, always accessible

### Seven Mile Bridge and Pigeon Key

The trip drives over the modern Seven Mile Bridge (6.765 miles, opened May 24, 1982, per Wikipedia). The older Flagler-era railroad bridge sits beside it; the 2.2-mile section to Pigeon Key reopened to pedestrians and cyclists in January 2022 after restoration. The coordinates given are on the bridge itself, so treat it as a scenic pass-through rather than a scheduled stop; Pigeon Key's visitor access, tours and fees were not researched here.

- Time needed: Pass-through on leg 9

Place: Seven Mile Bridge · US-1 (Overseas Highway), Moser Channel, Marathon, FL 33050

## Miami to Key West road trip tips

## Route, timing and weekday assumptions
- **Assumed weekday:** a Saturday departure. Robert Is Here (official: 9 am to 6 pm daily), Robbie's (marina 7 am to 9 pm, Hungry Tarpon 6:30 am to 9 pm daily) and Bahia Honda (8 a.m. until sundown) are all open at the scheduled times.
- **Departure:** 8:15 am from Miami so you reach Robert Is Here just after it opens at 9. This is a long day: about 227 minutes of driving plus about 6 hours 30 minutes at stops (including free time in Old Town before sunset), ending near 6:30 pm at Mallory Square. If you add an optional stop (John Pennekamp or the Turtle Hospital), leave earlier or expect to arrive after sunset in February.
- **Totals:** 169.4 miles, 227 minutes (3h 47m) of pure driving, $5.95 in estimated tolls (toll-by-plate basis; about $3.41 with SunPass). Drive times are typical, without live traffic; US-1 is mostly a two-lane road, so an accident or a weekend crowd can add a lot.
- **Why US-1 and not Card Sound Road:** toll-free, shorter (29.7 vs 35.4 miles from Homestead to Key Largo), and every stop is on it (see options).
- **Paying tolls:** all toll roads on leg 1 are electronic (no cash). The trip total of $5.95 is on a Toll-By-Plate basis (billed to the registered owner; rental cars usually pass it through the rental company); with a SunPass the same route is about $3.41. It breaks down as SR 836 $2.64 + SR 874 $1.86 (GMX schedule, whose PDF carries 2023-2024 dates, so confirm current rates on gmx-way.com) + Florida's Turnpike Homestead Plaza $1.45 by plate ($1.16 SunPass, effective 2026-04-21) = $5.95.
- **Return:** this is a one-way itinerary. To go back to Miami take US-1 north: it is about 162 miles and 3h33m using the Turnpike (tolls apply), or about 158 miles and 3h38m toll-free. Key West also has an airport (EYW) if you prefer to fly, or you can stay a night (see the places to stay in the options).
- **Sunsets (approximate, NOAA solar equations for Key West, +/-3 min):** Feb 15 ~6:21 pm, Mar 15 ~7:36 pm, Apr 15 ~7:49 pm (daylight saving time from mid-March); for reference Dec 21 ~5:43 pm and Jan 15 ~5:59 pm. The plan reaches Key West about 3:50 pm; in March and April there is over an hour of extra light, so add time at Bahia Honda or in Old Town. Islamorada's sunset is a few minutes earlier than Key West's.
- **Best months:** February to April. Dec/Jan sunsets (before 6 pm) do not fit this timed one-day plan without dropping a stop.
- **Parking:** in Key West park once (paid lots and limited street spaces; rates not verified) and walk; Mile Marker 0, the Hemingway Home, Kermit's and Mallory Square are within about a mile.
- **Fees (as of 2026-09-29):** Robbie's tarpon feeding $2.50 per person plus $5 per bucket of fish; Bahia Honda $8 per vehicle. Optional stops: Pennekamp $8 per vehicle plus 50 cents per person; Turtle Hospital $38 adult (reserve a slot); Hemingway Home $19 adult.

## Current conditions (as of 2026-09-29)
- Hurricane season runs through November 30. Check the National Hurricane Center and Monroe County notices before you go; evacuations can close the Overseas Highway.
- The Southernmost Point buoy: the City of Key West's page says a temporary buoy was installed at 1499 Duval Street on September 4, 2025 during seawall and roadway repairs. It is not part of this itinerary for that reason.
- Tolls: Turnpike rates cited are those effective 2026-04-21 (South Florida rate sheet). GMX (SR 836 / SR 874) rates come from a schedule PDF with 2023-2024 file dates; confirm current rates. Card Sound Road bridge toll rates are from the Card Sound Toll Authority and change each October 1.
- The Florida State Parks pages blocked direct automated access; park hours and fees were read from web.archive.org copies retrieved 2026-09-29.

## Miami to Key West road trip FAQ

**How long is the Miami to Key West drive?**

169 miles and about 3 hours 47 minutes of driving time, planned over one day. Drive times are typical figures without live traffic and do not include stops.

**Are there tolls on the Miami to Key West route?**

Estimated tolls total $5.95 for the whole route. Toll amounts are estimates and change often, so check the toll operator before you go.

**When is the best time for the Miami to Key West drive?**

The best months are February to April. Dec/Jan sunsets (before 6 pm) do not fit this timed one-day plan without dropping a stop.

**Where should you stay for the Miami to Key West trip?**

This itinerary suggests La Jolla Resort, Casa Morada, Cheeca Lodge & Spa and Ragged Edge Resort & Marina. Check current rates and availability before you book.

**Where should you eat on this Miami to Key West trip?**

Places this itinerary uses or suggests include Robert Is Here Fruit Stand, Hungry Tarpon (Robbie's Marina), Mrs. Mac's Kitchen and No Name Pub. Opening hours change, so confirm before you go.

## Sources

- [Bayfront Park Miami (official site)](http://www.bayfrontparkmiami.com/)
- [Florida's Turnpike toll rates: SunPass, Toll-By-Plate and cashless tolling](https://www.floridasturnpike.com/toll-rates/)
- [Bayfront Park Miami (official site: hours)](https://www.bayfrontparkmiami.com/)
- [Florida's Turnpike South Florida toll rates (Turnpike mainline SR 821 table, effective April 21, 2026)](https://floridasturnpike.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/South-Florida-8-3-2026.pdf)
- [GMX (Greater Miami Expressway Agency) toll rate schedule: SR 836 / SR 874 2-axle SunPass and Toll-By-Plate rates (PDF file dates 2023-2024; confirm current)](https://www.gmx-way.com/pdf/Toll_Rate_Schedule.pdf?2)
- [OpenStreetMap contributors (routing: distance, time and route line)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright)
- [Robert Is Here official site (address, hours, since 1959, petting zoo)](http://www.robertishere.com/)
- [Robbie's of Islamorada official site (address, hours, tarpon prices)](https://www.robbies.com/)
- [Bahia Honda State Park (Wikipedia): beach, bridge, hours](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahia_Honda_State_Park)
- [Florida State Parks: Bahia Honda State Park (hours, fee, address; read via a web.archive.org copy retrieved 2026-09-29)](https://www.floridastateparks.org/BahiaHonda)
- [Mallory Square: Sunset Celebration (address, nightly festival since the late 1960s)](https://www.mallorysquare.com/)
- [La Jolla Resort official site](https://lajollaresort.com/)
- [Casa Morada official site](https://casamorada.com/)
- [Cheeca Lodge & Spa official site](https://www.cheeca.com/)
- [The Turtle Hospital official site (address MM 48.5, nonprofit, online booking)](http://www.turtlehospital.org/)
- [The Turtle Hospital online booking](https://theturtlehospital.checkfront.com/reserve/)
- [The Turtle Hospital: visit information (program times, length, prices)](https://www.turtlehospital.org/visit-us/)
- [Mrs. Mac's Kitchen official site (automated access blocked)](https://mrsmacskitchen.com/)
- [OpenStreetMap: Mrs. Mac's Kitchen (address and location)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Mrs.%20Mac%27s%20Kitchen%20Key%20Largo)
- [Overseas Highway (Wikipedia): mile markers, Card Sound Road alternate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Highway)
- [Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe (brand site)](http://kermitskeylime.com/)
- [Seven Mile Bridge (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Mile_Bridge)

Distances and drive times are typical figures without live traffic; toll amounts are estimates. Confirm opening hours, fees, permits and closures with the park or business before you go.

Plan this trip in the DriftKin app: https://driftkin.app/trips/miami-to-key-west-1-day-overseas-highway