Travel to the Florida Keys and Key West

• MTH — Florida Keys Marathon International Airport — Visitors can fly into Florida Keys Marathon International Airport aboard on-demand small charter aircraft or their own private plane. No commercial air service is currently available at the Marathon airport. Ground transportation is available in Marathon including airport shuttle buses, taxis and rental cars. General aviation enthusiasts and corporate jet operators will also find plenty of services. Be sure to coordinate with the fixed base operator – Million Air General Aviation.
• FLL — Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
• MIA — Miami International Airport

Driving Directions to the Florida Keys

From Miami International Airport, take LeJeune Road south to 836 West. Take the Florida Turnpike south toward Key West. The Turnpike ends at US 1 in Florida City. Follow U.S. 1 south about 22 miles to Key Largo and you are now in the Florida Keys.

From Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, exit the airport and follow the signs for 595 West. Take 595 to the Florida Turnpike and follow the signs for the Florida Keys.

From the north, take the Florida Turnpike south to just below Ft. Lauderdale, where Exit 4 joins the southern portion of the Turnpike. The Turnpike ends at US 1 in Florida City. Follow U.S. 1 south into the Florida Keys.

From Florida's west coast, take 1-75 Alligator Alley east to the Miami exit, and south to the Turnpike Extension.

Florida’s Turnpike Extension (FTE) operates on an all-electronic toll system (no physical cash tollbooths) on the Turnpike between Milepost 0 in Florida City and Milepost 47 at the Miami-Dade/Broward County line.

Card Sound Road also operates a cash-less, electronic tolling system. 

All tolls are collected electronically. Motorists must use either SunPass®, an interoperable transponder or TOLL-BY-PLATE.

What are Mile Markers? Once you're in the Keys, U.S. 1 becomes the Overseas Highway, designated with little green mile-marker signs on the side of the highway. They begin just south of Florida City with number 127 and run all the way down to zero in Key West. Locals use them as address references — here's a quick guide:

• Key Largo: Mile Marker 108-90 (58 miles from Miami)
• Islamorada: Mile Marker 90-63 (76 miles from Miami)
• Marathon: Mile Marker 63-40 (111 miles from Miami)
• The Lower Keys: Mile Marker 40-4 (135 miles from Miami)
• Key West: Mile Marker 4-0 (159 miles from Miami)

Traveling the Florida Keys & Key West by car, visitors drive along the only All-American Road in Florida, a beautiful, scenic route featuring 42 bridges. As the only road in and out of the Keys, at peak travel times traffic can become congested. Plan ahead and travel during off-peak hours and allot enough time to reach your destination. 

• FlixBus passengers can ride comfortably from the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports to stops in Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key and Key West. The transportation service operates six days per week and utilizes single-level motorcoaches with seating for 56 passengers. Buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi, an on-board entertainment portal, power outlets for charging phones and other devices, reclining seats with extra legroom, ample luggage space and a restroom. Book tickets online or through the company’s app, available free at the Apple App Store or Google Play.
• National Charter Bus Miami offers 18-, 20-, 25- and 56-passenger bus rentals in the Florida Keys region. Each bus can take you to any destination of your choice and comes fully equipped with amenities such as free WiFi, on-board entertainment systems and restrooms if requested in advance. 305-330-4453.
• Miami Charter Bus Company provides easy-to-use group transportation for families, corporate travelers, tourists, weddings and educational institutions anywhere in Florida. 305-742-0966.
• Greyhound Lines’s bus service makes scheduled stops along the route between Miami International Airport and the Florida Keys and Key West. Book tickets online or through the company’s app, available free at the Apple App Store or Google Play. 1-(800) 231-2222 or (305) 296-9072.
• Keys Shuttle provides three trips daily, with door-to-door shuttle service from the Florida Keys from/to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale airports, seven days a week. New, clean, comfortable, full-size vans carry a maximum of twelve passengers. In addition to door-to-door service, Keys Shuttle provides private charter services to/from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale airports. Call 305-289-9997 or 888-765-9997.

• Private Boaters — Experienced boaters can navigate to Key West along the Atlantic side of the Keys or by traveling on the Gulf of Mexico side. The first part of the trip takes you through the specially-marked Intracoastal Waterway. After Long Key, however, international markers apply. Consult the appropriate Coast Pilot and Light List manuals. Numerous marinas are waiting to entertain you, but you should make reservations ahead.