The trip on the overseas highway was a memory we won't forget. We had heard of it and looked forward to it as a highlight of our trip to south Florida and we weren't disappointed!. It was a 3 hour trip one way from the Miami area. We stopped at the first visitor center on Key Largo and received a lot of helpful information! Shout out to the folks working there! The drive is easy. Absolutely beautiful looking out over the water. Never felt unsafe. Several places to pull out and stop to stretch legs and take in the sights. Along the way, bird sanctuary, turtle rescue sanctuary, places to walk on old highway now walking/ fishing areas. You pass over many islands with food and or gas stations if needed. Key West is the end destination- but getting there was part of the journey that was very special! read more

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The Overseas Highway consists of 113 miles of heavy traffic on mostly one lane from the Miami-Dade County line entering the Florida Keys to Key West. Today unfortunately got behind a slow truck so not a good start to our short vacay. Beautiful views of Jewfish Creek. read more

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On our way back from Key West and there was that all too often crash on the Overseas Hwy with a 20 minute delay but could have been worse. No bathrooms around here. Around MM95 the traffic flowed nicely all the way to Florida City. read more

Overseas Highway - Overseas Highway - Local Flavor Near Me

I have only flown into Key West once, so all the other times, I have taken the Overseas Highway from the mainland to they Keys, depending on your speed, your pace, or your curiosity, the drive might take 2, 3, 4, 5 hours.... Driving from mainland Florida down the Overseas Highway, it's easy to understand why the southernmost leg of U.S. Highway 1 is often referred to as the "Highway that Goes to Sea." The 113 miles of roadway from Key Largo to Key West incorporates 42 bridges leapfrogging from key to key in a series of giant arches of concrete and steel over the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. And what do visitors see on this long drive? Countless coral and limestone islets that support lively, picturesque communities. In 2009, the Keys highway was designated as Florida's first and only All-American Road by the US Federal Highway Administration, among only 30 other roadways in the nation that have earned the prestigious title. Here's some history on this beautiful road. The Florida Keys Overseas Highway trail was originally blazed in 1912 when millionaire Henry Flagler built what became known as the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad from Miami to Key West. Flagler envisioned a train route connecting all the Florida Keys and mainland Florida. Flagler inspired an army of men to spend seven years constructing the railroad's bridges and land-based tracks, and in 1912 the first train pulled into Key West. After only two-plus decades of carrying freight and wealthy vacationers, much of the railroad was badly damaged in a 1935 hurricane. The railroad ceased operations on the Miami-Key West link, following extensive damage to the roadbed by severe winds and erosion and the economic decline caused by the Depression era. Three years later the Overseas Highway debuted, built on a foundation that incorporated some of the original railway spans. Construction of the Overseas Highway was an incredible engineering feat. In 1982, 37 original bridges were replaced with wider, heavier spans, including the well-known Seven Mile Bridge at Marathon. For some people, the drive is tedious and long, for others it's a chance to experience diverse island living that is a bit different depending on which Key you stop. read more

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We were interested in the taking the Overseas Highway as we had heard from friends it is a nice and scenic drive. I had also watched a special on TV about Henry Flagler and the origin of the Florida East Coast Railway. It was awesome to see some of the old railway bridges that were converted to US 1 after the hurricane in 1935. It is a long drive. It is mostly one lane. I guess we were lucky as we did not experience any delays either way. We came down in the night and obviously the return trip was much more scenic in the day. There are 40 plus bridges and we passed through several small Key towns. We enjoyed the drive and we were not in any particular rush either way. We stopped at Mrs. Macs in Key Largo on the way down and Key Fisheries in Marathon and Robbie's in Islamorada Keys on the return. read more

Overseas Highway - A fun stop along the way - Local Flavor Near Me

Beautiful views. Can't beat it. However, be prepared to drive 10-15 under the speed limit for 90% of the way with limited passing abilities. Everyone is moving on slow Florida/vacation time! read more

"Scenic road drive... Be ready to stop over at various places" - This is mostly one lane road, driving from Miami to key west. Out of 160 miles, 50-60 miles is within Miami city where the limit is maxed 45. You ll get to see Everglades national park beside it. After that it is one lane road, the sea is both sides. There are various places where you can pull over your car. I stopped at (Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine key) Enroute to kw, there is 7 miles bridge too. It feels good, driving on it. Blue-green sea both side, no sight of land. Beside it, there is also an old bridge but that's is closed now. read more

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Overseas Highway was extremely disappointing! I had read that it's one of the prettier drives in the United States! Wow I disagree. I was taking Overseas Highway, like everyone else, to get to Key West Florida for the very first time. I had researched that it's such a beautiful drive, yet the highway is one lane, with congestion, passing through small towns (Key Largo, Marathon, Summerland Key) that weren't even worthwhile to stop for....all while there's traffic lights and a 45 - 55 mph speed limit the majority of the way! Instead of it being enjoyable....I found the drive to be brutal. Sorry...just being honest with my opinion. I couldn't understand why my GPS was telling me that driving 150 miles from Miami to Key West would take almost 4 hours?? I thought that has to be impossible and that I could make the drive in 2.5 hours. But I was wrong. It did take almost 4 hours. The worst part is that I left at 6am on a Friday morning and ran into loads of traffic. At times, I was at a standstill. I thought this would be a wonderful drive where I could stop on the side of the road and take quaint pictures of the water. But no....there wasn't anywhere special to stop. I did make a brief stop at Robbie's in Islamodora to famously feed the tarpon (which was a whole other disappointing experience as well)....about 75 miles from Key West. Other than that, there were hardly any stretches where you could appreciate the infamous crystal clear waters. And the highway and road conditions felt pretty run down and looked in need of an overhaul. I think my expectations for this drive combined with my surprise disappointment of what I saw led to a poor experience. I could have sworn I read somewhere that Overseas Highway is included in some of the best drives in the US. But warning, it's nothing special at all. read more

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I'm not going to tell you what you "will" see on this drive; instead I will tell you what you "will not" see . . . . . that state trooper parked beside some brush, or the state trooper sitting at the far side of the bridge by Bahia Honda park, or their state trooper pal that appears out of nowhere, and of course don't forget the team that rolls all through Marathon... Point is, don't speed down here; (1) because it is a dangerous road and (2) because you will get busted down here. As for the drive, very scenic and entertaining. Normally I'd be miserable if I had to take a 3 hour drive on a "typical" highway like Interstate 95; but the overseas highway is not a "typical" highway. Many sections include seeing open water and mangroves on both sides of the road (spectacular). Other areas are littered with various ma and pa shops that are definetely worth making little pit stops. The hours spent on the drive from Florida City all the way to the end at Key West will pass faster than expected. Oh yeah, for the record.... you CAN speed through the town of Lawton because the police car that you see is un-manned, as it has been for a decade. They even move it to the other side of the road to make us think it's an active speed trap, but didn't fool anyone. ***Don't really speed through Lawton (I only said for you to speed thru for effect) One last thing... as a general observation and one of those things to make you say "Hmm". What's the deal with the wildlife protections fencing. Between Florida City and Key Largo the road is fenced on both sides yet there is still a caution sign for a crocodile crossing (since when can they climb fences and concrete highway divider wall). And down in Big Pine there is similar scenario for key deer (go figure). Great planning... read more

A two-lane road the whole time. Still under construction. We've been driving alongside orange traffic cones and power lines. Where are the rest stops? You can't turn into the overlooks at night because you won't see them. Every channel between the keys has a name. Regular gas is at least 5-10 cents more in this area. The most interesting part for me are the closed parallel suicide bridges. There are crocodile crossings. We spotted a fake police car and blue hurricane shelter signs. read more

Overseas Highway - Local Flavor Near Me

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Have you ever driven on a bridge where you can see land behind or in front of you? This is an experience every human being should have.

This really is a nice drive with beautiful scenery. This was the first time I drove down to Key West and was pretty excited to see the scenery and beautiful water. We had great weather on the drive and I was thankful for that! read more

Overseas Highway - Local Flavor Near Me

This is a beautiful drive. It is amazing that in just a couple of hours you can be out of Miami and heading down a gorgeous stretch of road with water on both sides. I have heard the traffic can really suck and I can easily imagine it since there is just one lane in each direction read more

Overseas Highway - View from the drive - Local Flavor Near Me

We wanted to go to Key West from the Gulf Coast and almost took the ferry. I'm glad we didn't! I have done the drive before, but forgot how great it was. We were in a hurry, so we didn't have the chance to stop at all of the beaches and nature preserves. Even if you aren't going to stop, you get to see: 1) Giant shell, lobster, etc statues 2) Gorgeous mansions next to tiny shacks - worth probably close to the same amount of money 3) Birds! Birds! Birds! 4) A hilarious amount of fishing line tangled in the electrical wires on the bridges. Most importantly: 5) The most beautiful colors in the water. Definitely worth the drive. read more

After reading all the great reviews we so wanted to drive to Key West through the Overseas Highway ( the only road to get there). It took so much of our precious vacation time :( that we could do nothing after reaching Key west. We left Miami at 11am and reached Key West only at 3:30 PM. It was too late for other water activities after that. We went jet-skiing for 1 and half hour and that's it. The day was over. Felt very stupid.! It was as if we went to Key West just to Jet-ski. We were so desperate that we even started to look for motels to stay overnight as we wanted to see more of this wonderful island. Unfortunately everything everywhere was completely booked. It took another 4-5 hrs on the return journey. An entire day gone with no activities. And since it was dark, there were no views either. The views are alright. They are not bad or boring but I've been on the 17 mile drive at California, Pebble Beach. These views are nothing compared to that drive. I guess my expectations were a little high after the 17 miles drive at CA. Hey don't get me wrong, the views are beautiful but not worth a total of 7-8 hrs drive. My suggestion, do it only if you are on a long vacation. We were on a short vacation of 4 days. read more

Very rarely does a long drive warrant a review on Yelp, and the Overseas Highway is definitely NOT an exception. I flew into Key West, drove to Marathon, FL and back, and wasn't too impressed with any of the road trip. I didn't feel like there was anything particularly special that differentiated it from other highways. There was a lot of blue water and little towns everywhere, but if you've ever done road trips before, it'll seem just like many other highways- especially if you've previously driven along the Gulf coast, West coast, or Hawaii. read more

The Overseas Highway is the portion of US 1 that goes through the Florida Keys. It is about 127 miles long. Probably the most popular part of the highway is the part that is called the Seven Mile Bridge which is one of the longest bridges in the world. Unfortunately, we did not see much of the Overseas Highway or Seven Mile Bridge. We had taken a day trip to Key West from Miami, FL. We left early from Miami and left late from Key West. Therefore all we pretty much saw was darkness. On a positive note, we did not hit any traffic!!! Also we waited to see a fabulous sunrise after stopping at the parking area after the Seven Mile Bridge. At Key West, we saw a spectacular sunset at Mallory Square. Next time we travel on the Overseas Highway, we will go when there is sunlight. I hear the views are spectacular. read more

The most bipolar stretch of highway in the USA. Some parts of the drive from Miami to Key West are 5 stars all the way....amazing ocean views on both sides.....tropical scenery.....a mind-blowing 7-mile stretch where you're passing over nothing but water. It can be spectacular at times. But there are also long stretches where you're passing endless strip malls, gas stations, and the usual ugly roadside crud that Florida seems to have lots of...apparently the Keys are no exception. Seems like there should be more interesting places to stop, but there really isn't that much. The drive is still unique and should absolutely be done once. It's not consistently amazing, but it's still amazing. read more

The Overseas Highway was on my bucket list. Not sure what I was expecting, but like another reviewer mentioned it was truly one of the longest and boring rides ever. read more

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Majority of this drive is two lanes....... hope there is never a serious accident on this road or it will back up for miles. Its the only way into the Keys on wheels, so you got to make the best of it. Our recent drive down was very enjoyable, only one real snag on the way back, but it was fast in the morning. Scenery is amazing and the old bridge spans running parallel are fantastic. Wish I would have had more time to explore them. read more

The most scenic highway I have come across in my life. 42 bridges (including the 7 mile bridge!), hundreds of small islands/keys, and a whole lot more when going from Miami/Fort Lauderdale down to Key West! It was my first time going on the overseas highway and it took at least 3 hours to get from one point to the other. Road can get very crowded and is mostly one lane in each direction, so be careful when driving! I wish I could have gotten photos but I was the lone traveler and didn't have time to make stops along the way. Admittedly, it can get tiresome and boring after a while, especially if you are really focused on getting to your destination! read more

It's a long drive. I'm glad we did it, but I probably wouldn't need to do it again. It gets very slow in some sections so plan accordingly. Google maps is not good at estimating times. Follow the speed limit signs. As low as 35mph in some spots at night because of the key deer. (Police are really nice though if they pull you over for not knowing how to properly operate the lights on your rental car .) We stopped to photograph the giant lobster that looks more like an icky bug, and of course best Key Lime pie ever at Mrs Mac's in Key Largo. Old Seven Mile Bridge looks fun to go for a walk or run on, I was too lazy. Tip: If you are going to stop to do anything (sightsee, photograph something, etc) it's best if you choose things on the right hand side of the road to see on the way down and save the things on the opposite side for the way back. It can be almost impossible sometimes to pull back out against traffic. read more

After driving this road countless times, and riding my motorcycle down here more than once, I have learned to love the trip. Sure, the traffic is a bit of an annoyance at times, but it is really just part of the experience. I have found myself driving this road with no destination in mind, just to escape Miami, and it truly does feel like a thousand miles from anywhere. The entire trip is lined with ocean and gulf views, wet lands, tourist traps, great little restaurants, dolphin parks, resorts, and my favorite, little motels that are perfect for overnight trips. This weekend I am heading down this road for a getaway that I just booked and the thought of the relaxation has me smiling here at work. Recently I ran the Ragnar relay down this road all the way to Key West, and that gave me a new appreciation for the length of the bridges and the engineering that went into the entire project. From the remnants of the old train line, to the blown out parts of the old 7 mile bridge, putting my feet on the pavement and seeing all of these things as a pedestrian made me aware of how great it is to have this road right in our back yard. read more

What a piece of history. Great view. Glad it's not the only way to get to Key West. Long boring drive, but a must.

This is one of the most scenic drives anywhere. You go over 42 bridges and over hundreds of small islands on the way down from Miami to Key West. I have driven it many times, but it never ceases to amaze me on a nice day. The road is crowded so drive very carefully here. There are countless places to stop along the way for a break as well. read more

The beautiful beginning of US Route 1 starts at Key West and passes through the keys toward mainland Florida. The 45-m.p.h. highway passes though each town and over bridges between each key for about 100 miles, much of it with a spectacular view of blue-green Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Not nearly as isolated as one might think, there are plenty of gas stations, restaurants, and stores to ease the trip. Recommended once -- Key West has an international airport for future visits. read more

It's a must do for those who enjoy nautical scenery; it's absolutely beautiful. It's a long drive from Miami, mind you, but gorgeous the entire way. read more

I have always loved this trip. But be aware of how long it is and plan accordingly. You will enjoy your trip more if you can choose your restaurant ahead of time instead of just using what comes along as there is a huge variety of places on the way. read more

Very rarely does a drive warrant a Yelp review, and even rarer does it get 5 stars. The Overseas Highway is really something special. It's like being on a cruise through the Caribbean, but in your car. You can actually see dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, tropical fish, parrots, iguanas, and more while driving. Not to mention the gorgeous views of the water and the islands you're driving through. Take your time on this drive, it's worth it. Having previously owned a Jeep Wrangler, tradition was to take the top down in Miami and (rain or shine) enjoy the rest of the drive to Key West in the fresh air. Can't think of a better way to do it, or much of a better drive at all on the east coast. read more

This road is kind of equivalent to the Route 66 of the south east. It has tons of mom n' pop joints off the main road and all of them are usually nautical themed...go figure. While it is quite beautiful, there are some parts (as other yelpers have mentioned) that aren't very pretty but don't let that discourage you. I think the most beautiful stretch is from Marathon to just north of Key West. Just beautiful, and it's also a big hit for bikers. read more