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How Far Is It From Fort Lauderdale To Key West

There's no bulldoze quite like a Fort Lauderdale to Central West route trip. Subsequently a get-go terminate in the wild Everglades, where the alligators rule, leave mainland Florida behind and embrace the unique Overseas Highway. Hopping from island to island, this Fort Lauderdale to Key West itinerary takes full reward of the palm-dotted Florida Keys.

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Fort Lauderdale to Key West guide

Highlights on the road trip from Fort Lauderdale to Key Westward are listed beneath. You find gorgeous route trip spots in each Florida Keys area forth the way.

  • Start: Fort Lauderdale
  • Everglades
  • Key Largo
  • Islamorada
  • Marathon
  • Lower Keys
  • Finish: Key West
  • Total altitude: 215 mi / 346 km
  • Total driving fourth dimension: iv.5 h

Route from Fort Lauderdale to Central West

If you haven't fallen in love with South Florida yet, this road trip from Fort Lauderdale to Key West will exercise the play a trick on. For such a short road trip, at 215 miles and four.5 hours, it's an incredibly scenic bulldoze.

You could head straight from Fort Lauderdale to the offset of Florida Keys. Merely to maximize the scenery, take a slight detour to the alligator-filled Everglades National Park.

Savor its untamed setting — only make certain not to go gator lunch.

Then continue towards the southern tip of mainland Florida. Where Florida'southward peninsula ends, the Overseas Highway takes over.

Connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland, the impressive Overseas Highway is 113 miles (171 km) long. It reveals a gorgeous world of palm-dotted islands fringed by clear waters, where life moves at a relaxing slow pace.

Discover the laid-back amuse of Cardinal Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys and finally, at the end of the continental USA — Key Due west. While the stops along the Overseas Highway are refreshingly quiet, its conclusion offers a surprising, merely appreciated, buzz.

The old Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys, Florida
The old 7 Mile Span betwixt the Heart and Upper Keys.

one. Fort Lauderdale

It's time to start the monumental drive from Fort Lauderdale to Cardinal West. But if you haven't had time to do so yet, bask Fort Lauderdale'southward watery beauty earlier yous head south.

Tour Fort Lauderdale'due south canals

Fringed by sugar-white beaches, many visitors caput straight to Fort Lauderdale Embankment and remain in that location for the duration of their stay. However, did you know that Fort Lauderdale is nicknamed the "Venice of America" for its extensive canal system?

The Intracoastal Waterway, running for 3,000 miles (4828 km) along the E Coast of the The states, shows its best side in Fort Lauderdale.

Sheltered from the open Atlantic Ocean, Fort Lauderdale'south canals are lined by mansions and dotted with yachts. You lot may also see some marine wildlife here, including apprehensive manatees and hungry tarpon.

Taking you around on the canals, Fort Lauderdale's Water Taxi offers top sightseeing and transportation in ane. Hop on to get from point A to indicate B or just to savor the tropical setting.

2. Everglades National Park

  • Driving distance: 77 mi / 124 km
  • Driving time: i.five h

Equally you piece of work your way south from Fort Lauderdale towards the Florida Keys, you lot accept the globe-famous Everglades to your westward. That'south also much of an opportunity to miss out on — let'due south see what those gators are up to!

Count alligators in the Everglades

Everglades National Park is the only wetland of its kind in America. The South Florida symbol encompasses an impressive 1.5 1000000 acres of pure wilderness.

To fully detect information technology, you need to park your motorcar.

At the Everglades' southern entrance, just a few miles past Ernest Coe Visitor Centre, the Anhinga Trail showcases the park's wildlife. Although this trail simply spans 0.4 miles (0.6 km), it's lined by what you came for — alligators.

Do you also want an airboat ride, offer both more stunning scenery and sightings of curious locals, through the swamp (or slow-flowing river that the Everglades really is)? If then, end past at the Everglades Alligator Subcontract too.

Alligator laying in grass next to water, Everglades National Park, Florida
Count gators every bit you drive from FLL to Primal Westward.

three. Key Largo

  • Driving distance: 41 mi / 66 km
  • Driving fourth dimension: 1 h

Key West, the upper-case letter of the Florida Keys, tries to pull you lot towards its bustling attractions. Yet every area of the Florida Keys has its own charm, and for the best experience — the Overseas Highway requires time.

So don't miss out on the best things to do in Primal Largo earlier you lot turn your attention further s.

Every bit indicated by its proper name, Key Largo is at 33 miles (53 km) long the largest segment of the Keys. This island, where the Overseas Highway begins, is a great identify to make acquaintance with the Florida Keys' honey for water.

What's the Overseas Highway? The Overseas Highway is both a highway and an attraction. Extending for 113 miles (182 km) from the southern tip of mainland Florida to Primal W, information technology remarkably jumps from island to island making it easy for everyone to savor the secluded Florida Keys.

Discover John Pennekamp

John Pennekamp Coral Reef Country Park, located at the start of the Overseas Highway, is known as the first undersea park in the United states of america. It'southward an heady offset place to check out on the Fort Lauderdale to Key W itinerary.

This park, habitation to cute coral reefs and an impressive marine life, really shows how rich the Keys are in natural beauty.

Explore John Pennekamp's corals past diving and snorkeling. Or, if you don't want to tip your feet in the h2o, bask the undersea park's beauty aboard a drinking glass-bottom gunkhole.

Recline aboard the African Queen

Some other nice way to explore the waters of the Florida Keys and to acquire some movie history is by taking the African Queen on the Key Largo canals. This steamboat got famous through the 1951 picture show, starring Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, with the same name.

An African Queen canal trip is, of grade, extra interesting if you have seen the moving-picture show. Simply fifty-fifty if yous haven't seen it, the boat tour is a pleasant cease on the Fort Lauderdale to Key West itinerary.

Where to stay

You detect quintessential lodging already at the start of the Overseas Highway. Stunning Key Largo hotels and resorts bear witness that you don't demand to go deep into the Florida Keys to find some real gems.

  • Playa Largo Resort & Spa – A luxury oceanfront resort.
  • Sunset Cove Beach Resort – Cozy beachfront lodging.
Overseas Highway sign in Key Largo, Florida, USA
From Fort Lauderdale to Key Westward on the Overseas Highway.

4. Islamorada

  • Driving distance: 17 mi / 27 km
  • Driving time: 0.v h

After a get-go taste of Florida Keys in Fundamental Largo, the road trip from Fort Lauderdale to Cardinal Due west continues further downward in the Keys. It'southward time to cheque out all the fun things to do in Islamorada.

Islamorada is packed with opportunities to fully accept in the beautiful environment of the Florida Keys. The area is known as the sport-fishing capital of the world, and water activities are in abundance.

Kayak to bygone Indian Cardinal

Within sight of the Overseas Highway, Indian Key Historic Country Park is a unique end on the drive from Fort Lauderdale to Cardinal West. Still, this one is located about one-half a mile offshore and only accessible past boat.

Boasting a surprisingly rich past, Indian Cardinal became the kickoff county seat of Dade County in 1836. Wrecking ships was large business, and the outset Indian Cardinal inhabitants even wanted to compete with Fundamental West.

In the end it didn't work out, and a long time has passed since anyone lived on Indian Key. But a visit to the isle is both historically interesting and a great chance to see some exceptional marine life on the Fort Lauderdale to Key Due west road trip.

To get to Indian Fundamental, many visitors rent kayaks at the nearby Robbie'due south Marina and paddle over.

Feed fish at Robbie'southward

Waterfront in Islamorada, Robbie's is both a fun and tasty terminate on the Fort Lauderdale to Primal West route trip.

Experience wise, people from all around the earth go to Robbie'due south for the opportunity to feed tarpons. In fact, the place has go an establishment along the Overseas Highway.

Massive silver giants wait at Robbie's dock for nutrient. They love to snatch it right out of your hands — those tarpons certainly aren't shy when you lot dangle fish on the surface — and down in their stomachs information technology goes.

While you're hither, neither miss out on Robbie's Hungry Tarpon Restaurant and Thirsty Tarpon Bar. No thing if you're after breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktails, Robbie'due south is a great place to exist.

Where to stay

Islamorada is a lovely base on the Fort Lauderdale to Key W road trip. Yous can't stay on Indian Key present, merely the resorts in Islamorada are famous for their stunning offerings.

  • Islander Resort – Awe-inspiring landscaping.
  • Sands of Islamorada – Low-key but comfortable.
Clear waters, white sand and swaying palm trees in Islamorada, Florida
Islamorada's world-grade setting.

5. Marathon

  • Driving distance: 30 mi / 48 km
  • Driving time: 0.5 h

As you leave Islamorada, y'all take passed the halfway point betwixt Miami and Primal West. In Marathon you're instead about halfway to Central West from the start of the Overseas Highway.

When the Florida Keys Overseas Railroad was congenital in the early 1900s, the stakes were loftier and efforts put in past the workers enormous. They worked day and night to finish the project on schedule.

As they worked, the men said that "this is getting to exist a real marathon". Hence the name for the local station and later urban center was born.

Striking sandy Sombrero Beach

In the endless Florida Keys summer, the ultimate itinerary from Fort Lauderdale to Key West, of course, needs lovely beaches. So terminate by at Sombrero Beach in Marathon, one of the very all-time beaches in the Florida Keys.

Sombrero Embankment appeals with a sandy shoreline, calm waters and palm trees that give shade for when the direct sun feels likewise potent. Its shallow water is ideal for a day of unwinding, sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling on the Fort Lauderdale to Fundamental Due west road trip.

Go to know Florida Keys' turtles

From April to Oct, it'southward nesting season for the Florida Keys' population of loggerhead turtles. That's great, but how tin you lot become shut to and acquire more virtually them as you bulldoze from Fort Lauderdale to Central West?

For a beautiful learning experience, head to the Florida Keys Turtle Hospital in Marathon. The turtle infirmary rehabilitates injured body of water turtles and render them to their natural habitat.

If yous book a guided bout, y'all get to larn everything at that place's to know most turtles and the hospital's efforts to save them. A visit is rewarding both for adults and younger travelers on a Fort Lauderdale to Key West family road trip.

Where to stay

The center of Florida Keys, Marathon is a true isle oasis. To actually make the nigh of the time in the central Florida Keys area, Marathon provides several nifty places to stay.

  • Courtyard by Marriott Marathon – An excellent Marriott.
  • Isla Bella Beach Resort & Spa – Exclusive by the Seven Mile Bridge.
Florida Keys' iconic 7 mile bridge, the longest bridge on the Fort Lauderdale to Key West drive
The iconic Seven Mile Bridge, just west of Marathon.

half dozen. Lower Keys

  • Driving distance: 21 mi / 34 km
  • Driving time: 0.five h

Now the Fort Lauderdale to Fundamental Westward road trip is getting really deep into the Florida Keys. The Lower Keys is the area of the Keys subsequently the 7 Mile Bridge, which includes every key from Bahia Honda Key and Big Pine Fundamental until Primal West.

Kick back on Bahia Honda Beach

Spending time in Florida Keys is equally much about unwinding as it is about seeing things.

Sombrero Beach, situated in a higher place in the Florida Keys, is e'er mentioned every bit ane of the best beaches in the region. Another renowned embankment not to miss on the FLL to Key West route trip is located in the Lower Keys, Bahia Honda Beach.

In Bahia Honda Land Park you discover a picturesque beach for perfect days in the lord's day. The beach, overlooking the historic Bahia Honda Rail Span, has crystal-clear water and lots of shoreline to explore. Its shallow h2o makes it a smashing stop for families on the Fort Lauderdale to Key West drive.

Unload all your embankment gear, and preferably a tasty picnic, for this i.

Gaze at the tiny Key deer

Big Pine Key is the identify of the National Key Deer Refuge. It has been established to protect Florida Keys wildlife, nearly famously the Primal deer.

The Fundamental deer is the tiniest member of the North American white-tailed deer family. So you might exist surprised about how modest it really is.

Covering 9,000 acres, the refuge is likewise abode to the Lower Key marsh rabbit and the silver rice rat.

This is a fun place to visit on the Fort Lauderdale to Key West road trip for anyone who likes nature and animals.

Impress co-travelers: Bucks (males) reach xxx inches (76 cm) at the shoulders and weigh effectually 80 pounds (36 kg). Does (females) are even smaller, reaching 26 inches (66 cm) at shoulders and weighing 65 pounds (29 kg). That's certainly tiny, isn't it?

Where to stay

The Lower Keys expanse is quiet and sheltered from distractions. But that only makes it the the about perfect place to unwind earlier you accomplish the quirky Key West.

  • Parmer'south Resort – Relaxed nearly Bahia Honda Beach.
Bahia Honda State Park in Florida Keys,  overlooking the historic Bahia Honda Rail Bridge
View from Bahia Honda Beach.

7. Key Due west

  • Driving altitude: 29 mi / 47 km
  • Driving time: 0.five h

Later a spectacular route trip from Fort Lauderdale to Central West, y'all're finally there. In Central West not simply does the Overseas Highway end but as well the continental United States.

Let's make the virtually of our time in this unique urban center.

Enter the Hemingway Home

If only one thing to do is mandatory in Key West, it's probably the Ernest Hemingway Home. Hither, on Whitehead Street and surrounded by Cardinal W tranquility, the celebrated American writer and Nobel Prize winner spent a majority of the 1930s.

As y'all bout Hemingway's former home and workplace, dotted with descendants of the author's own cats, the many colorful stories fascinate you lot. From the wives, he was married four times, to the of the fourth dimension cutting-border swimming pool, in that location's then much to indulge in.

Take a proficient time on Duval

Key West locals with a sense of humor, which includes well-nigh of them, say Duval Street is the longest street in the earth. Later all, it runs from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Bounding main.

Simply distances aren't long in the isle metropolis Fundamental W. Duval Street is, in fact, just a little over one mile long. However, lined by i quirky allure later another, one mile is more than enough.

Check out Duval's many beautiful souvenir shops, enjoy a slice of key lime pie or sit downwardly at Sloppy Joe's, once Hemingway's favorite bar, for one of the almost iconic nightlife experiences in America.

Mallory Foursquare, known for its nightly sunset commemoration, is located at the northern end of Duval Street. At Duval's southern conclusion, the family-friendly Butterfly Garden shows that Duval is a street for all ages.

Where to stay

Following a loaded FLL to Key West road trip, it's nice to not take to rely on your car for a while. From Key West hotels in Old Boondocks y'all have nearly attractions and things to do within walking distance.

  • Almond Tree Inn – Excellent Primal Due west lodging virtually Duval Street.
  • Blue Marlin Motel – A more inexpensive motel.
Flagler Station in Key West, marking the end of the Fort Lauderdale to Key West road trip itinerary
You have arrived in Primal West.

Summary of Fort Lauderdale to Fundamental West bulldoze

That was such a sweet ride, wasn't it? From north to southward, hither you accept all the all-time Fort Lauderdale to Key West stops ane more time.

  1. Fort Lauderdale
  2. Everglades National Park
  3. John Pennekamp Coral Reef Country Park
  4. African Queen
  5. Indian Key Historic Country Park
  6. Robbie's
  7. Sombrero Beach
  8. Florida Keys Turtle Hospital
  9. Bahia Honda Beach
  10. National Key Deer Refuge
  11. Ernest Hemingway Abode
  12. Duval Street

Road trip from Fort Lauderdale to Key W FAQ

Here you detect the answers to some frequently asked questions nigh the Fort Lauderdale to Primal West road trip.

How long does information technology have to drive the ultimate Fort Lauderdale to Key Westward road trip?

This ultimate Fort Lauderdale to Central West road trip is 215 miles (346 km) long. Driving it takes roughly four.five hours, non including any stops along the fashion.

If you just accept the quickest road from FLL to Key West, without the slight Everglades detour, the drive is 190 miles (306 km) and four hours.

Where should I terminate between FLL and Key West?

The primary stops included on the ultimate Fort Lauderdale to Key West road trip are Fort Lauderdale, Everglades National Park, Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys and Fundamental Due west.

How many days do I need to take the Fort Lauderdale to Key West road trip?

It's certainly possible to drive from Fort Lauderdale to Key Due west in just a day. People practise that all the fourth dimension. All the same, the best arroyo for this Fort Lauderdale to Key West itinerary — and for the Overseas Highway in full general — is to take it step by stride. The Overseas Highway is an incredibly scenic drive, but it needs multiple days to be fully appreciated.

Source: https://howtobookyourtrip.com/fort-lauderdale-to-key-west-road-trip/

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