There’s a particular quality to the light once you cross onto the Overseas Highway. The sky opens out, the water appears on both sides — turquoise on the left, deeper blue on the right — and the road ahead narrows to a thin thread stitched between the islands. You’re not going fast. Nobody does, down here. That’s the point.
The drive from Orlando to Key West is one of the great American road trips. It covers roughly 394 miles (634 km) on the east coast route — closer to 505 miles (813 km) if you take the west coast through the Everglades — and it earns every one of them. This guide covers both routes in full, gives you the Overseas Highway mile by mile, and tells you everything you need to know before you leave Orlando.
Essentials at a glance
East coast route: ~394 miles / 634 km · 7.5–9.5 hours (traffic dependent)
West coast route: ~505 miles / 813 km · 8.5–10.5 hours
Best time to go: March to May — warm, dry, and past the worst of the winter crowds
Tolls: Expect $15–$22 (USD) one-way on the Florida Turnpike. Get a SunPass or confirm your rental car’s toll plan before you leave.
Gas: Fill up in Florida City before hitting the Keys. Prices jump significantly past the first bridge — sometimes $0.50–$1.00 per gallon more.
Driving licence: A valid driving licence from your home country is accepted in Florida for most visitors. International travellers should also carry their passport.
Choosing your route
There are two ways to drive from Orlando to Key West, and they’re genuinely different trips. Neither one is wrong, but they suit different priorities.
| Route | Distance | Drive time* | Best for |
| East coast (Turnpike / US-1) | ~394 miles (634 km) | 7.5–9.5 hrs | Speed, coastal cities |
| West coast (I-75 / Alligator Alley) | ~505 miles (813 km) | 8.5–10.5 hrs | Everglades, quieter roads |
*Drive times assume no extended stops and moderate traffic. Miami traffic can add 30–90 minutes to eastcoast journeys depending on time of day.
The east coast route is what most people take. It’s shorter, it passes through Miami, and it connects directly to the Overseas Highway. The west coast route takes you through I-75 (known as Alligator Alley) and the edges of Big Cypress National Preserve before joining US-1 south of Naples. It’s longer and quieter, and it’s the better choice if Everglades access is on your list.
You can also combine them: go one way on each and make a loop of the whole of South Florida. If you have four days and the flexibility, that’s the version I’d recommend.
Drive times by leg — east coast route
| Leg | Distance | Drive time* |
| Orlando → Fort Pierce | ~105 miles (169 km) | ~1 hr 30 min |
| Fort Pierce → Miami | ~124 miles (200 km) | ~2 hrs (traffic dependent) |
| Miami → Florida City | ~30 miles (48 km) | ~40 min |
| Florida City → Key Largo | ~18 miles (29 km) | ~25 min |
| Key Largo → Islamorada | ~20 miles (32 km) | ~30 min |
| Islamorada → Marathon | ~28 miles (45 km) | ~40 min |
| Marathon → Key West | ~49 miles (79 km) | ~55 min |
| Total (east coast, non-stop) | ~374 miles (602 km) | ~7.5 hrs |
*Times are estimates for normal conditions, no extended stops. Add 30–90 minutes for Miami traffic during peak hours (7–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m.).
The east coast route: Orlando to Florida City
Most drivers from Orlando begin on Florida’s Turnpike — not raw US-1. The Turnpike is a toll road running south from the Orlando area to Florida City, where it hands you onto the Overseas Highway. It’s faster, cleaner, and more direct than trying to stay on US-1 through a string of suburban intersections. Budget around $15–$22 (USD) in tolls for the full south-bound run.
From Orlando, pick up FL-408 east, then join FL-417 south. Follow the signs for Florida’s Turnpike (I-Florida) and set a course for Homestead/Florida City. The first 90 miles (145 km) are honest Florida highway driving — flat, fast, and unremarkable except for the gradual shift in vegetation as you move south.
Kennedy Space Center — worth the detour
If you’re not on a tight schedule, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at Merritt Island is worth a half-day detour about 60 miles (97 km) from Orlando. Take FL-528 east toward Cocoa Beach. The Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit is genuinely arresting — the orbiter hangs overhead, mid-mission, at a slight tilt, surrounded by hundreds of artefacts. Give yourself at least three hours if you’re going inside.
From Kennedy Space Center, rejoin FL-528 west to pick up I-95 south or loop back to the Turnpike.
Fort Pierce — the real midpoint
Fort Pierce, about 115 miles (185 km) south of Orlando, is the sensible fuel-and-food break. The Sunrise City label is earned at this latitude: clear mornings here have a quality that doesn’t exist further north. Heathcote Botanical Gardens, if you have an hour to spare, holds the largest public collection of bonsai in the American South — 100-odd specimens, some over 40 years old, arranged in an open subtropical garden.
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, just east of town on the barrier island, has a half-mile beach with calm water on the inlet side — good for a swim break without the open-ocean surf.
West Palm Beach and the Gold Coast
From Fort Pierce south, US-1 threads through a chain of Gold Coast cities: Stuart, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale. You’ll stay on I-95 for much of this stretch. There’s no reason to rush through all of them, but Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse — a red-painted Federal lighthouse from 1860, sitting at the entrance to the Loxahatchee River — is a five-minute stop with a strong visual payoff.
Jupiter, 152 miles (245 km) from Orlando, makes a good overnight stop if you’re splitting the drive over two days. It’s calm, it has decent restaurants, and it keeps you clear of Miami until the morning.
Miami — the best reason to slow down
Miami is 230 miles (370 km) from Orlando and sits on the Turnpike’s doorstep. If you push straight through, you’re missing the best city on this drive. Even a single night here changes the character of the whole trip.
Little Havana, about four blocks of SW 8th Street, is worth an afternoon by itself: Cuban coffee at a ventanita window, domino players in Maximo Gomez Park, pastelitos from a bakery counter. It’s the most culturally dense stretch between Orlando and the end of the road.
South Beach is a quick drive across the causeway. Ocean Drive is best seen at dusk, when the neon signs on the Art Deco facades begin to work properly. The Bayside Marketplace on Biscayne Bay is a pleasant hour beside the water if you prefer a calmer walk.
Note: If you’re driving through Miami on a weekday, plan to hit the city before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m. Rush hour between Miami and Homestead is slow, and Turnpike traffic backs up considerably around Kendall and Cutler Bay.
Florida City — your last chance for cheap fuel
Florida City, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Miami, is the last town before the Overseas Highway. Fill the tank here — this is not a recommendation, it’s a practical instruction. Gas prices jump noticeably past the first bridge into the Keys, sometimes by $0.50–$1.00 per gallon, and there are long gaps between stations on some of the lower keys.
If you’re thinking about checking Card Sound Road as an alternative entry into the Keys (a scenic back-road option with a $1 cash toll), this is where you make that turn. It adds a few miles but puts you into Key Largo from the north end, past Alabama Jack’s — an open-air bar on the water that’s been there since the 1950s and serves good conch fritters.
The west coast route: Orlando to Naples via I-75
The west coast route runs approximately 505 miles (813 km) and takes 8.5–10.5 hours depending on stops. It’s the quieter option and makes sense if you want to see the Everglades from the west side, visit Naples or Fort Myers, or simply avoid Miami traffic entirely.
From Orlando, head south on I-4 briefly, then pick up I-75 south. You’ll pass through Tampa, Sarasota, and Fort Myers — all cities worth a detour if you’re building time into the trip. The highway runs flat and fast for most of this stretch.
Big Cypress and Alligator Alley
The section of I-75 known as Alligator Alley cuts 78 miles (126 km) east across the width of South Florida, running through the northern edge of Big Cypress National Preserve and the Everglades. This is one of the most ecologically significant stretches of highway in North America, passing over canals filled with alligators that are genuinely visible from the road at most times of year. There are pull-off areas, but the Oasis Visitor Center (at the midpoint of the Alley) is the best planned stop — rangers can tell you where to look, and the alligator density in the canal directly adjacent to the car park is often remarkable.
From the end of Alligator Alley, the road joins US-41 (the Tamiami Trail) east toward Miami, or you can stay on the highway toward Florida City. Either way, you’re joining the east coast route for the Keys.
The Florida Keys: Florida City to Key West
This is the part you came for. The Overseas Highway — US-1 threading south through the Florida Keys — covers 106 miles (171 km) from Florida City to Key West. It takes roughly two hours without stopping. With stops, it can take all day. Take the stops.
Navigation in the Keys uses mile markers (MM), numbered from 127 at the northern end (Florida City) down to MM 0 at Key West. Every business in the Keys gives its address as a mile marker. Once you understand this system, the whole archipelago becomes legible.
| Stop | Mile marker | Distance from Florida City |
| Florida City (mainland end) | MM 127 | 0 miles (0 km) from here |
| Key Largo | MM 106–90 | ~13 miles (21 km) |
| Islamorada | MM 90–73 | ~25 miles (40 km) |
| Marathon | MM 53–47 | ~53 miles (85 km) |
| Seven Mile Bridge | MM 47–40 | ~60 miles (97 km) |
| Bahia Honda State Park | MM 37 | ~67 miles (108 km) |
| Big Pine Key | MM 33–30 | ~71 miles (114 km) |
| Stock Island / Key West | MM 5–0 | ~106 miles (171 km) |
Key Largo — the first island (MM 106–90)
Key Largo is the largest of the Keys and the first you cross onto after Florida City. The water here is the first shock of the real Florida Keys colour — a shallow, clear green over sandbars, almost luminous in the afternoon sun.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (MM 102.5) is the anchor stop in Key Largo. It’s the first underwater state park in the US, covering 70 nautical square miles (240 sq km) of reef off the Atlantic coast. Snorkelling and diving trips depart daily — snorkel tours run around $30 per person and take you over living reef within 6 miles (10 km) of shore. Book in advance in the high season. Even if you don’t dive, the park’s visitor centre has a 30,000-gallon aquarium that gives a reasonable sense of what’s below.
Robbie’s Marina (just over the line into Islamorada, technically, at MM 77.5) is worth mentioning alongside Key Largo because many people stop here on the Key Largo leg: you can hand-feed enormous silver tarpon from the dock for a few dollars, which sounds novelty-grade but is genuinely unsettling and memorable.
Islamorada — the sport fishing capital (MM 90–73)
Islamorada describes itself as the sport fishing capital of the world and doesn’t understate the case: the flats fishing here — for permit, bonefish, and tarpon in the shallow water west of the highway — is world-class. If fishing isn’t your thing, the town still rewards a few hours. The main strip of restaurants and waterfront bars on the Atlantic side of the highway has a casual ease that Key West proper sometimes lacks.
Theater of the Sea (MM 84.5) is a marine park that’s been running since 1946 — it’s genuinely old-Florida in character, not a corporate production. Dolphin and sea lion encounters, boat rides through natural tidal pools. Admission is around $35 for adults.
The Hungry Tarpon at Robbie’s (MM 77.5) does good grouper sandwiches and has a rickety waterfront deck that feels exactly right at lunchtime.
Marathon — midpoint, and one of the best stops (MM 53–47)
Marathon is the main hub of the Middle Keys and a good base if you’re splitting the drive into two days. It has more accommodation options than the smaller islands, a proper grocery store, and a community feel that’s friendlier to non-resort travellers.
Turtle Hospital (MM 48.5) is a working rescue facility for sea turtles, with twice-daily tours that take you into the rehabilitation pools where injured turtles are being treated before release. It’s the kind of stop that lands differently than a regular attraction — you’re seeing the actual work, not a performance of it. Admission around $25.
Sombrero Beach (MM 50) is a free public beach with calm water — rare in the Keys, which are more known for flats and reef than surf beach. Good for children or anyone who just needs an hour in the water.
The Seven Mile Bridge — the visual centrepiece (MM 47–40)
The Seven Mile Bridge (11.3 km) is the engineering statement of the Overseas Highway, and crossing it for the first time is one of those driving moments you actually remember. Water stretches in both directions beyond sight, the road rises gently over the main channel, and for a few minutes there is nothing on either side of the car except open Atlantic and open Gulf.
The old Seven Mile Bridge — Flagler’s original 1912 railway bridge, later converted to road use — runs parallel to the current highway and is now a pedestrian walkway. Park at the small pull-off at the Marathon end (MM 47) and walk out as far as you like. At the bridge’s natural break, you can see the old swing bridge mechanism that once let boats through. It’s quiet out there, and the view is unobstructed.
Bahia Honda State Park — the best beach in the Keys (MM 37)
Bahia Honda is the most consistent piece of natural beauty on the entire drive. The park sits on one of the few Keys islands with naturally wide, white sand beaches — Calusa Beach on the Atlantic side has the kind of sand-and-water combination you’d more normally associate with the Caribbean than with South Florida.
The park has kayak and snorkel equipment rentals, a dive shop, and two campgrounds if you want to sleep here rather than pushing on. Day-use admission is around $8 per vehicle. On summer evenings, the sunsets off the Atlantic-facing beach are extraordinary.
Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys (MM 33–10)
Big Pine Key is one of the largest and least developed of the Keys. It’s the primary habitat of the Key deer — a miniature white-tailed deer found only in the Florida Keys, standing about 26 inches (66 cm) at the shoulder. You’re legally required to slow to 35 mph (56 km/h) through the deer zone, and the deer do not behave as though they’re afraid of traffic. The National Key Deer Refuge encompasses most of the island and is worth a short walk.
The lower keys between Big Pine and Stock Island (the island just before Key West) are quieter and less visited than the Upper and Middle Keys. Spending a night or two here before arriving in Key West gives you a better sense of the Keys’ full character — not just the tourist end.
Key West — the end of the road
Key West sits at MM 0, 394 miles (634 km) from Orlando and 90 miles (145 km) from Cuba. It’s the southernmost city in the continental United States, and it knows it. The town is compact enough to walk across in 20 minutes, loud enough on Duval Street to require earplugs at 11 p.m., and genuinely engaging in its older, quieter streets where wooden Conch houses sit behind bougainvillea walls.
What to do
Mallory Square sunset celebration: Every evening, about an hour before sunset, the square fills with street performers, food carts, and spectators. The sunset itself is real; the performance around it is winking self-awareness. Worth going once.
Duval Street: The mile-long spine of Key West nightlife, running from the Gulf to the Atlantic. Captain Tony’s Saloon (428 Greene St) is the original Hemingway bar — worn, dark, and hung with signed dollar bills. Green Parrot Bar (601 Whitehead St), three blocks off Duval, is where the locals actually drink.
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: 907 Whitehead St. The house where Hemingway wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls and other works is open daily. The resident six-toed cats — descendants of Hemingway’s own polydactyl cat, Snow White — are the genuine draw for many visitors.
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park: A Civil War-era fort at the island’s western tip that also has the best swimming beach in Key West. $6 entry per vehicle. Less crowded than Duval Street in every direction.
The Southernmost Point: The large striped buoy marking 90 miles (145 km) to Cuba. There will be a queue for photos. It’s a tourist moment with no apology, and fine for what it is.
Where to eat and drink
Blue Heaven: 729 Thomas St. Weekend brunch under a canopy of trees in Bahama Village. Famous enough to have queues; the banana bread French toast and the lobster Benedict earn them.
Garbo’s Grill: A food truck near the Historic Seaport that’s served Korean-Mexican fusion and standout fish tacos since 2009. Cash or card, eat standing up.
Key lime pie: The real thing is made with the small, yellow Key limes native to the Keys (not the larger Persian limes found in most supermarkets), and the filling is cold, dense, and tangy. Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe (200 Elizabeth St) does a version on a stick, chocolate-dipped — it’s exactly as good as it sounds.
Where to stay
Old Town (on a budget): The Alexander Palms Court on Fleming Street has small, clean rooms around a courtyard pool and is a short walk from everything.
Old Town (mid-range): The Gardens Hotel on Angela Street occupies a 1870s tropical estate — quiet courtyards, a good pool, and enough distance from Duval Street to sleep.
Parking: Old Town parking is genuinely difficult. Most hotels on the historic side have limited spaces that fill by noon in high season. If your accommodation doesn’t include parking, budget around $20–$30 per day for a public garage and walk everything.
Before you go: practical notes
Tolls
Both routes involve tolls. The Florida Turnpike charges roughly $15–$22 (USD) one-way from Orlando to Florida City. The Turnpike’s southern section (from approximately Homestead into Florida City) is cashless — toll-by-plate only. If your rental car doesn’t come with a SunPass transponder plan, confirm how tolls will be billed before you take the car.
Card Sound Road (the scenic alternative into Key Largo via Alabama Jack’s) has a $1 cash toll. Keep some coins.
Best time to visit
March to May is the window most worth targeting. Temperatures are in the mid-70s to low-80s°F (24–28°C), rain is infrequent, and the worst of the winter crowd has dispersed. Late March and early April hit the sweet spot of weather without peak prices.
December through February is peak tourist season — excellent weather but higher hotel rates, heavier traffic on US-1, and fully booked campgrounds. July through October brings heat, humidity, afternoon thunderstorms, and hurricane risk. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The Keys are narrow islands with limited evacuation routes; check NOAA’s forecast if you’re travelling in summer.
Getting through the Keys efficiently
• Download offline Google Maps for Monroe County before you leave — cell coverage drops in sections of the Lower Keys.
• The Keys speed limit is 45 mph (72 km/h) through most developed areas and 55 mph (88 km/h) on the open Overseas Highway. It’s enforced.
• Seven Mile Bridge has a 45 mph (72 km/h) limit. There will be drivers doing 35. That’s fine.
• Big Pine Key: the 35 mph (56 km/h) Key Deer speed zone is strictly enforced during dusk and dawn hours.
Car rental and one-way fees
Renting a car in Orlando and returning it in Key West is possible but attracts a one-way drop fee — typically $100–$300 depending on the rental company. If you’re not planning a return drive, confirm the fee before booking. Some travellers rent one-way, fly back from Key West International Airport (EYW — served by American Eagle, Silver Airways, and Cape Air), and find the combined cost comparable to a return road trip.
Four-day itinerary outline
Day 1: Orlando → Kennedy Space Center (optional) → Fort Pierce. Stay: Jupiter or Fort Pierce.
Day 2: Fort Pierce → Miami. Explore Little Havana, South Beach. Stay: Miami.
Day 3: Miami → Florida City (fill up) → Key Largo → Islamorada → Marathon. Stay: Marathon.
Day 4: Seven Mile Bridge → Bahia Honda → Big Pine Key → Key West. Stay: Key West.
If you have a fifth day, spending it in Key West and driving back via the west coast (I-75 / Alligator Alley) makes for a complete South Florida loop.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the drive from Orlando to Key West take? The east coast route covers roughly 394 miles (634 km) and takes 7.5–9.5 hours, depending on whether you hit Miami traffic and how many stops you make in the Keys. Budget a full day if you’re driving straight through, or split it over two days to enjoy it properly.
What’s the most scenic route from Orlando to Key West? The east coast route along US-1 is the more varied drive — it passes through Miami and gives you the Overseas Highway through the Keys. The first view of open water on the Seven Mile Bridge is the visual peak of the entire trip. The west coast route (I-75) has longer stretches of open highway and better Everglades access but less coastal scenery until it joins the Keys.
Are there tolls on the drive from Orlando to Key West? Yes. Florida’s Turnpike is the main toll road and will cost approximately $15–$22 (USD) one-way from Orlando to Florida City. The southern section near Homestead is cashless and bills by licence plate. A SunPass transponder (or a rental car toll plan) is the simplest way to handle them.
Where should I stop overnight between Orlando and Key West? Jupiter (152 miles / 245 km from Orlando) is a quiet, pleasant midway stop if you’re spreading the drive over two days. Miami (230 miles / 370 km from Orlando) is the better choice if you want a full city evening — it’s on the route and worth the night. For a Keys-only overnight, Marathon (MM 47–53) is the most practical mid-keys town, with good food and accommodation options.
Is it worth driving to Key West from Orlando? Yes — but commit to the drive properly. If you push straight through without stopping in the Keys, you’ve done 8 hours of Florida highway to reach a town you could have flown to in 90 minutes. The point of this drive is the journey: the space centre, the Gold Coast cities, Miami, and then the long, slow, water-flanked descent through the Keys. Budget at least three days. Four is better.
Can I rent a car one-way from Orlando to Key West? Yes, but expect a drop fee of $100–$300. Check with your rental company before booking. Flying back from Key West (EYW) on a short-hop regional flight is sometimes a cost-effective alternative if you don’t want to double back.
