Overseas Highway to Key West

42 bridges hopping across turquoise water to the southernmost point of the continental US.

Florida
182 km
2 min read

Photo: Shanbin Zhao · CC BY-SA 3.0

Distance: 182 km · 113 mi
Difficulty: Easy
Time needed: 3–5 days
Suggested days: 4 days
Best season: December–April (dry season)

Florida Keys RV road trip on the Overseas Highway: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, the Seven Mile Bridge, Bahia Honda campgrounds and Key West tips.

The Overseas Highway follows US-1 for 113 miles from Key Largo to Key West, hopping from island to island on 42 bridges. It was built on the remains of Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad, which a hurricane destroyed in 1935, and opened as a highway in 1938.

With an RV, the Keys are about slowing down: snorkeling on the coral reef, watching tarpon jump, eating key lime pie and fresh fish, and watching sunsets over the Gulf. Mile markers along the road count down to zero in Key West, and locals give directions by them.

Stops along the way

1

Key Largo

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first undersea park in the United States.
2

Islamorada

The “Sportfishing Capital of the World”. Feed the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina.
3

Marathon

Visit the Turtle Hospital and stay a night in a waterfront campground.
4

Seven Mile Bridge

One of the longest bridges in the Keys. Walk or bike the old bridge to Pigeon Key.
5

Bahia Honda State Park

One of the best beaches in Florida and a historic railroad bridge. The campgrounds book up months ahead.
6

Key West

Sunset at Mallory Square, the Southernmost Point buoy and Hemingway’s six-toed cats.

Good to know

Florida state park campgrounds can be booked 11 months ahead; do it early for winter.
Parking for RVs in Key West is very limited; stay on Stock Island and take a bike or bus.
Hurricane season runs June to November; check the forecast.
Use reef-safe sunscreen to protect the coral.