If you are planning a trip to Key West or thinking about a Florida Keys road trip, you are probably wondering: Is the Florida Keys drive worth it?
My honest answer is yes, but with a few important warnings.
Driving through the Florida Keys is absolutely something I think is worth doing once, especially if you have never been before. The Seven Mile Bridge alone is iconic, and there are some really beautiful stretches where you feel like you are driving across the ocean.
But I also think the drive gets romanticized a little too much.
It is not constant turquoise water on both sides of the road for hours. It is still a real highway connecting real communities, so you will also pass neighborhoods, businesses, marinas, traffic lights, and sections that look fairly similar.
If you treat the drive as part of a bigger Florida Keys road trip, it can be a great experience. If you are only using it as transportation to get to Key West as quickly as possible, flying might make more sense.
If you already know you want to make a full road trip out of it, I would also read my Best Stops on the Drive from Miami to Key West because the stops are what made the drive much more enjoyable for me.
Yes, I think the Florida Keys drive is worth it once, especially if you have time to make stops along the way.
The drive became much more enjoyable once we stopped treating it like a straight shot to the next place and started building in time for parks, bridges, beaches, food, and roadside attractions.
Some of the highlights for me were John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, the Seven Mile Bridge, Bahia Honda State Park, and spotting the tiny Key deer on Big Pine Key.
Those stops helped the drive feel like part of the vacation instead of just transportation.
But I would not recommend doing the drive just because you feel like you “have to.” If your main goal is Key West and you only have a few days, I think flying directly into Key West is probably the better use of your time.
For a full Florida Keys road trip, I would compare rental car prices through Discover Cars before booking, especially if you are flying into Miami or Fort Lauderdale and driving down.
No. And I think that is one of the biggest misconceptions about driving the Florida Keys.
There are definitely scenic stretches, but it is not nonstop ocean views for hours. You will pass neighborhoods, businesses, marinas, gas stations, restaurants, shopping areas, and long stretches that look fairly similar.
The most beautiful parts are the bridges.
That is when the drive feels the most special. When you are crossing over the water and seeing blue in every direction, it really does feel different from a normal road trip.
But between those bridges, it often feels like a regular highway through coastal communities.
That does not make it bad. It just means expectations matter.
The Seven Mile Bridge, without question.
This was the part of the drive that actually lived up to the hype for me. It is genuinely more impressive in person.
Seeing water stretch out in every direction while driving across it is something I think every Florida Keys visitor should experience at least once.
It also gives you that classic Overseas Highway feeling that most people picture when they imagine driving to Key West.
If you only have time for one major scenic moment during the drive, this is the one. I also have a full guide to Driving the Seven Mile Bridge if you want more details on what to expect.
Honestly, the expectation that the entire Overseas Highway is one giant scenic overlook.
There are beautiful sections, but it is still a working highway connecting communities throughout the Keys.
If you are expecting nonstop turquoise-water views from Key Largo to Key West, you may be disappointed.
I am glad I did the drive, but I also think it helps to know what you are actually getting. The bridges are the highlight. The stops make it more fun. The whole thing is not a dramatic ocean drive every single second.
Very rude of reality, but here we are.
Traffic was not particularly frustrating on my trip, but this is not a drive where you are going to make up time.
There are limited passing opportunities, lower speed limits, traffic lights in some areas, and plenty of people slowing down to enjoy the scenery.
I would go into it expecting a slower, more relaxed drive rather than trying to get somewhere quickly.
This is especially important if you are driving all the way to Key West. The distance may not look terrible on a map, but the drive can feel longer once you add in traffic, stops, food, photos, and general Florida Keys distractions.
For me, the Florida Keys drive became much more worthwhile because of the stops.
If we had just driven straight through, I probably would have enjoyed the bridges but felt like the rest of the day was mostly car time.
These were the stops and areas that made the drive feel more like an actual Florida Keys road trip.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo is a good early stop if you are starting the drive from the Miami area.
It gives you a reason to pause near the beginning of the Keys instead of just pushing straight through. Key Largo is also one of the first places where the trip starts to feel like you are officially in the Florida Keys.
If you are planning a longer trip, this is an area where you could easily spend more time, especially if you want to snorkel, kayak, or explore the park more fully.
For beach and water stops in the Keys, I would bring reef-safe face sunscreen, spray sunscreen, and a dry bag if you are carrying your phone, keys, or camera gear near the water.
The Seven Mile Bridge was the most memorable part of the drive for me.
This is the section that really makes the Overseas Highway feel iconic. The water views are huge, open, and much more impressive in person than they look on a map.
If you are debating whether the Florida Keys road trip is worth it, this is probably the biggest argument for doing it at least once.
Bahia Honda State Park was another stop that made the drive feel more worthwhile.
It breaks up the road trip and gives you a chance to actually get out near the water instead of only seeing it from the car.
This is the type of stop I would include if you are trying to make the drive feel more like a Keys experience and less like a long transfer day.
Big Pine Key was memorable because of the tiny Key deer.
They are much smaller than regular deer, and seeing them in person was one of those oddly specific Florida Keys moments that stuck with me.
If you are already driving through this area, it is a fun stop to include. Just be careful and respectful, especially when driving through places where the deer are known to cross.
It depends on the type of trip you want.
If your main goal is simply to visit Key West, I think flying is the better use of time for most travelers.
Key West Airport is incredibly convenient, and you can be in Old Town within about 10 to 15 minutes of landing. That is hard to beat, especially if you only have a long weekend or a short vacation.
If you are comparing flight prices, I would start with Skyscanner and look at both Key West and Miami. Sometimes the cheaper flight is not actually the better deal once you add in rental car costs, drive time, gas, parking, and your own patience.
If you fly directly into Key West, you can spend those extra hours walking around Old Town, going to restaurants, visiting sunset spots, and actually enjoying the island instead of sitting in the car.
I also have a Key West Airport Guide for First Time Visitors if you are trying to decide whether flying into Key West makes more sense for your trip.
But if you are interested in exploring Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, beaches, parks, bridges, and roadside attractions along the way, then the drive becomes part of the experience. That is when I think driving makes the most sense.
Yes, but not in every situation.
If you have never driven the Florida Keys before, I think it is worth doing once. The Seven Mile Bridge alone is iconic, and it is a fun way to see multiple islands in a single trip.
I am glad I did it, and I understand why people talk about the drive so much.
That said, I would not plan it as a quick little add-on from Miami unless you are prepared for a long day. As a day trip from Miami to the Seven Mile Bridge? Probably not.
I really enjoyed it, but between the driving and stops, it turned into a full-day adventure. If I were staying in Miami again, I would only make the drive if I had enough time to continue all the way to Key West and spend at least 3 to 4 days there.
If that is your plan, my Key West 3 Day Itinerary for First Time Visitors would be a better next step than trying to cram everything into one long driving day.
I would absolutely drive portions of the Keys again while staying in the Florida Keys.
That is actually how I think the drive works best. Instead of trying to cram the whole thing into one exhausting day, I would rather stay in the Keys and explore sections at a slower pace.
Driving the Florida Keys makes the most sense if this is your first time visiting, you have enough time, and you actually want to see more than Key West. It works best for travelers who want to stop at parks, try local food, see different islands, cross the famous bridges, and make the road trip part of the vacation.
If your goal is Key West and your vacation time is limited, I would fly directly into Key West and use those extra hours on the island.
If your goal is to experience the Florida Keys as a whole, drive it at least once.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
For a Florida Keys road trip, compare rental car prices through Discover Cars before booking.
If you are deciding between flying into Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Key West, I would compare flights on Skyscanner before committing to the drive.
For hotels, you can compare options on Booking.com or Hotels.com, especially if you are splitting your trip between different areas of the Keys.
For this type of trip, I would bring a Brita Water Bottle, reef-safe face sunscreen, a quick-dry towel, and a dry bag if you plan to stop at beaches, parks, or snorkel spots.
For more help planning your trip, read my Key West Travel Guide for First Time Visitors, Key West FAQs: 25 Questions First-Time Visitors Always Ask, Best Things to Do in Key West, and What Areas to Stay in Key West.
Sky Ranch Lodge, Sedona. Booked it for the location, stayed for the sunsets.
This is not a five-star resort with ten restaurants and a spa menu the length of a novel. It’s a family-owned boutique hotel on Airport Mesa that knows exactly what it’s good at: red rock views from basically everywhere and one of the best sunset spots in town, private, with maybe four other couples instead of a crowd.
We booked a Premier Rim Room and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Watched the sunset from our own patio one night and it’s still one of my favorite moments of the whole trip.
✨ Six acres of botanical gardens to wander morning and evening
✨ Pool + hot tub that hit exactly right after a day of hiking
✨ On-site food truck for easy breakfasts and lazy room service nights
✨ Complimentary shuttle so you’re not fighting Sedona parking
✨ Robes, slippers, and a staff that felt genuinely happy to help
Two stays in and I’d book it again without a second thought. This is where to stay in Sedona if you want it to actually feel like Sedona.
Thank you to @skyranchlodge for having us, link in bio for the full review 🌵
Four hours on a train through a canyon you can’t reach by car — such a fun experience! We picked the indoor seats with unlimited access to the open-air viewing car, which honestly felt like the only right call. You’re not stuck in an assigned seat the whole time we bounced between the two, snacks in hand, chasing the best light.
The scenery is the whole point. Red rock cliffs, the Verde River, a 734-foot tunnel, historic trestle bridges views most people visiting Sedona never see, because you literally can’t drive to them.
The charcuterie box that comes with your ticket is shockingly filling ✨ so skip lunch at the Copper Spike Café beforehand, save your appetite for dinner back in Sedona.
Four hours with no stops did start to feel long by the end, but the trade-off for scenery like this? Worth it.
Would I ride it again? Yes. Would I buy lunch first again? No.
Link in bio for the full review cost breakdown, what to pack, and exactly how early to arrive 🚂
I ate chilaquiles while a Cessna taxied past the window, and that’s just a normal Tuesday breakfast in Sedona.
@mesa_grill_sedona sits right beside the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, so along with your food you get red rock views stretching in every direction and a front-row seat to tiny planes lifting off. Chef Mercer Mohr runs the kitchen, serving up Southwestern comfort food from breakfast through dinner, chilaquiles, elevated diner classics, burgers, steaks, seafood, all of it.
The view is what pulls people in the door, but the food actually holds its own. Good enough that this place stays packed with locals, not just tourists passing through on their way to the lookout. It also picked up the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice and OpenTable Diners’ Choice awards, so it’s not just me saying it.
Indoor seating if you want the AC, a pet-friendly patio if your dog’s along for the trip. Either way, get there before plane-spotting turns into a wait for a table.
Link in bio for the full Sedona breakfast roundup ✈️🌵
Confession: my newsletter is where the good stuff lives. Not the polished, edited-for-the-grid stuff, the “here’s the hole-in-the-wall I almost skipped” stuff, the packing lists I actually use, the “don’t book this hotel” warnings before you waste your money on them.
The newsletter is basically me texting you before a trip instead of after one. Sign up and you’ll be the first to know where I’m headed next, plus a few things I’ll never post here.
Link in bio if you want in. ✈️
Yes, it’s only July. Start planning anyway. Fall books faster than people expect, and a few of these destinations are worth getting ahead of. Here are five places worth putting on your radar right now.
Ireland: Cooler temps, moody skies, dramatic coastline fall was made for it. Tourist crowds drop, the green stays, and the whole country feels a little more like itself.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: Fall foliage in the Smokies is the real thing. The color peaks mid-October and the views from the ridgelines are hard to argue with. It’s also one of the most visited national parks in the country, so going on a weekday makes a real difference.
New York City: Fall is NYC at its best comfortable temps, the energy of the city shifting into a new season, and every neighborhood doing something worth showing up for. It’s also just a great walking city when it’s not brutally hot.
Japan: Fall foliage season is as good as spring cherry blossoms and somehow less talked about. The colors are dramatic, the temples and gardens are stunning, and it’s worth planning around peak dates by region.
Mystic, Connecticut: Small, walkable, genuinely charming Mystic in fall feels like exactly what a New England autumn is supposed to look like. Easy to pair with a broader New England road trip if you want to extend it.
Full guides linked in bio 🍂
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
