The bragging rights alone are worth it.ДЇinally, a word about parking in Key West: it's difficult! A good alternative is to make use of the first-rate Key West Park N' Ride service, located out of the Old Town Garage on Grinnell and Caroline Streets. If you're not driving your own vehicle, you'd do well to consider picking up a car rental at either Miami or Key West and do at least one one-way journey by road.

Marathon is home to the Dolphin Research Center, which offers a variety of unique feeding and swim experiences, as well as the fascinating Turtle Hospital. Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key, for example, boasts two great beaches and the National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center. If you have even more time to spend along this iconic route, consider a stop at one or more of the larger communities along the Florida Keys, some of which offer a variety of great tourist attractions. (Be sure to set your satellite navigation just for the thrill of seeing yourself surrounded on all sides by ocean on your digital map.) While the journey takes an average of just over three-and-a-half hours without a break (longer if it's a weekend or rush hour), you'll want to add at least an hour or so extra for photo stops.

The scenery along the Overseas Highway (US1) is simply stunning, with a great deal of this iconic 113-mile-long route (170 if you count the stretch from Miami to the start of the Overseas Highway) being above water. Since a taxi or Uber ride in Miami can be costly for those traveling in and out of the city, and traffic can be heavy, consider using public transit, such as the efficient Metrorail and Tri-Rail services (buses are available but subject to congestion during rush hour). While not an issue in Key West given the airport's proximity to the downtown core around Duval Street вЂ“ it's only a short ride away вЂ“ getting in and out of Miami's much larger facility can be more challenging.

They also offer a variety of fun sightseeing flights. Reputable charter companies worth considering include evoJets and Air Key West.ДЄ more affordable option than a private jet, Keys Seaplanes offer floatplane services that can get you to pretty much any point around Key West вЂ“ even directly to your resort. Fares cost upwards of $200 depending on the time of year.ДЇor those for whom money isn't an issue (or who can share the expense among friends or family), private charters also operate along this route. Although a short flight, be sure to factor in additional time at the airports while there are no customs or border facilities to navigate for internal flights like this, security checks can take some time, especially in the busier travel seasons. Taking just under an hour for a direct flight from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Key West International Airport (EYW), the route is served by a number of airlines, including American Airlines.

Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues.Д«y far the fastest means of getting to Key West from Miami is by flying. Also known as the Overseas Highway, this spectacularly scenic route offers no end of stunning vistas.ДЇor more on this and other best ways to get to Key West from Miami, read our guide. While it's accessible via a variety of means of transport, you should certainly take the dramatic US1 Highway at least once. Getting here can be part of the fun, too. It's also the most Caribbean-like travel destination in Florida, and it has something of an 'anything goes' reputation for its laid-back attitude to, well, pretty much everything.ДЇor these and so many other reasons вЂ“ a lovely climate for most of the year, plenty of attractions and fun things to do, along with a great food scene вЂ“ Key West is very much the kind of place you'll want to visit time and time again. Located 160 miles southwest of Miami, Key West has the distinction of being the southernmost city in the United States. We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

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