Miami to Key West by Car: What to See, Where to Stop & What to Expect

Day 1 — Miami

If possible, consider renting a car outside of the airport to save a little money. However, for this particular trip down the Keys, I highly recommend splurging a little and getting a convertible.

Trust me. You’ll thank me later.

Also, expect to pay for parking if you’re staying in one of the more touristy parts of Miami. Check with your hotel ahead of time to see if parking is included or if they offer a discounted rate. There are also public parking garages where you can usually pay for overnight parking at a more reasonable price, although you may have to walk a block or two.

As you can imagine, there is so much to do in Miami. If it’s your first time visiting, I’d recommend giving yourself at least a couple of days to really experience the city.

If you want an instant taste of Miami, start with Ocean Drive. It’s lined with restaurants, bars, colorful buildings, and probably an exotic car or two. Just know you’re in one of the most touristy areas, so expect prices to reflect that.

Personally, we’re nature lovers, so we usually spend most of our time at the beach and looking for good food.

Right across from Ocean Drive is Lummus Park, which leads directly to the beach. You’ll also find app-based bike rentals around the area, and we’ve taken them out for a spin a few times.

The paths are nicely paved, and riding along the beach is absolutely worth it. Just be mindful of how far you go, especially when heading north, because it’s very easy to lose track of time — and how far you now have to ride back.

One of our favorite areas is farther south near South Pointe Park Pier.

The pier stretches out over the water and is a great spot to watch enormous cruise ships sail out of the port. It’s always fun to wave and see who waves back — especially when you’re the one departing on a Virgin Voyages cruise.

But we’ll save that for another post. ;)

We also like setting up on the beach next to the pier near the rock formations because they can help create calmer pockets of water, which we’ve found great for snorkeling, attracting plenty of little fish and marine life.

Miami Beach is very well set up for visitors. You can easily find vendors renting chairs and umbrellas, and nearby parks generally have outdoor rinse stations, water fountains, and public restrooms.

Another fun bonus in the area is the famous Muscle Beach South Beach.

I keep telling my wife I want to work out there one day, but first I need to gain enough muscles to feel semi-confident walking in there. Haha.

Still, something about getting a workout in with sand between your toes and ocean views sounds amazing.

We always joke that being attractive must be a requirement to live in Miami because everyone seems fit and tan — although I’m sure living next to the ocean does wonders for the soul too.

If you’d rather cover more ground without sweating as much, there are other ways to explore. Miami has trolley routes that are free that you can take from Ocean Drive, and depending on where you’re staying, they can be a convenient way to move around or simply take a break from the sun.

And please: be adventurous with the food here.

Miami is such a melting pot of Caribbean and Latin American cultures that you can wander into a little mom-and-pop restaurant and find an absolute gem.

You have to get a cafecito and some pastries while you’re here. It’s basically required.

I’m not even going to spend time explaining the water in Miami because everyone already knows it’s gorgeous.

I’ll just insert a picture and let the water be the main character.

Day 2 — Drive Down to Key West

Approximately 3.5 hours without stops

We visited in December, which we personally loved for a Florida beach trip. The cooler season can also mean less sargassum than certain warmer months, although seaweed conditions can change from year to year.

As you start driving south from Miami, the scenery gradually begins to change.

About an hour into the drive, once you start approaching the Keys, that’s when I’d activate top-down mode and get ready to thank me.

Prepare to have your mind blown as you drive from key to key.

The highlight is definitely the Seven Mile Bridge.

It connects the Middle Keys and feels like it stretches forever across open water. When you first get on it, the road almost disappears into the horizon, with ocean on both sides.

It genuinely feels like you’re driving toward paradise.

And yes, some of the Keys have names like Little Duck Key.

You are allowed to giggle.

When we arrived in Key West later that afternoon, we stopped at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park to get in the water.

The turquoise-blue water was beautiful, and Key West also has plenty of wildlife.

I remember sitting on a bench when an iguana about the size of a cat casually walked right past us and climbed a tree effortlessly.

Majestic. Slightly intimidating. Very Florida.

Key West is also a special place to watch the sunset.

It sits at the southern end of the Florida Keys, only about 90 miles from Cuba. You can also stop at the famous Southernmost Point Buoy, one of the most popular photo spots in Key West.

Because of Key West’s location, sunsets here can be absolutely incredible.

Later that evening, we headed to Mallory Square, which really comes alive around sunset.

You’ll find street performers, acrobats, musicians, magicians, vendors, and some of the best people-watching in Key West.

There’s also a cruise port nearby, so the area can get very lively.

We wandered along the waterfront and somehow ended up near a smaller dock filled with beautiful mega-yachts.

A great place for a little dream building.

After that, we walked about a block or two over to Duval Street.

Duval stretches roughly from the Gulf side of the island to the Atlantic and is lined with open-air restaurants, bars, shops, and plenty of nightlife.

If you stay out late enough, the entire street starts buzzing.

We definitely recommend spending the night in Key West so you can experience a full evening without worrying about making the long drive back.

And obviously:

Get the key lime pie.

Day 3 — Explore Key West + Drive Back Toward Miami

If you spent the night in Key West, give yourself some time the next morning to explore before heading back.

There are plenty of historic sites, museums, boat tours, snorkeling excursions, and other activities right in Key West.

Or you can do what any responsible traveler would do and find a brunch spot with mimosa specials before visiting a museum.

The drive back toward Miami is just as beautiful as the drive down.

There are so many islands, beaches, reefs, and stops throughout the Keys that we honestly could have spent several more days exploring.

When we go back, we’d love to return with our scuba certifications and do a reef dive.

A few spots we’ve researched for a future trip include Sombrero Reef, Molasses Reef, and the famous Christ of the Abyss statue near Key Largo.

I’ll admit, diving around reefs and marine life isn’t necessarily for the faint of heart. There are plenty of creatures down there.

But if you’re comfortable in the water and go with an experienced guide who knows how to interact responsibly with marine life, it can be an unforgettable experience.

Day 4 — Hollywood Beach

Approximately 24 miles north of Miami

After several days of driving, exploring, and nonstop activity, you may want something a little more low-key.

Pun absolutely intended.

Hollywood Beach is perfect for that.

The area has a much more relaxed vibe, with the long Hollywood Beach Broadwalk running alongside the beach.

You can bring a couple of chairs, spend the day relaxing by the water, and still have restaurants, bars, shops, and snacks just steps away.

It gives you the convenience of having everything nearby without quite as much of the Miami intensity.

We spent the day bar-hopping and trying different foods, and I’ll say this:

Maybe it was the drinks, but we had some of the best pizza at Sahara International near the beach.

There’s also a Ben & Jerry’s nearby, which obviously doesn’t hurt.

Another fun stop is the FlowRider at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort.

It’s basically an artificial wave machine where you can attempt to surf without actually going into the ocean.

You can either try it yourself or, like me, enjoy watching other people absolutely bust their butts.

Both are equally entertaining.

There are also several smaller boutique hotels around Hollywood Beach if you’re trying to save some money.

At one place we stayed, the owner told us that third-party booking sites take a percentage of reservations, so he encouraged us to call the hotel directly next time to see if they could offer a better rate.

Obviously, that won’t work everywhere, but it’s absolutely worth asking.

And if you’re staying into the evening, head back toward the Broadwalk.

The Hollywood Beach Theatre is an open-air venue near Johnson Street that often has live music and cover bands.

When we visited, it was packed.

The atmosphere was fun, family-friendly, and lively, with people gathered throughout the open area listening to music.

If you want a good seat, I’d recommend arriving early.

There was even a small bar stand selling beer and seltzers that felt surprisingly inexpensive compared with Miami prices.

Final Thoughts

A Miami-to-Key-West road trip gives you a little bit of everything: city energy, incredible beaches, turquoise water, wildlife, island hopping, nightlife, and one of the most beautiful drives in Florida.

You could absolutely rush straight from Miami to Key West, but honestly, that would miss half the fun. Give yourself time to stop, pull over, get in the water, eat somewhere you’ve never heard of, and enjoy the drive itself.

For us, the road trip became just as memorable as Key West.

And if we learned anything from this trip, it’s that sometimes paradise isn’t the destination at the end of the road — it’s everything you find along the way.