Traveling Miami to Key Largo

Miami is surrounded by over 800 keys, Key Largo is the largest of them. The Keys are something you absolutely can’t miss if you’re visiting South Florida. Almost as impressive as the Keys are getting to the Keys, as you get to see the Straits of Florida as well as the beautiful coastline.

Connecting between Miami and Key Largo is easy and a must-do, you’ll see the various ways you can connect as well as when to travel and how long it’ll take.

Distance from Miami to Key Largo

The straight line distance from Miami to Key Largo is just under 50 miles with the most direct driving route taking close to 60 miles to connect. Various modes of transportation will take different distances but expect most commutes to be around the 60-mile marker. For those driving, let’s explore how long it’ll take and what it’s like.

Driving from Miami to Key Largo

The drive from Miami to Key Largo takes just over an hour without traffic, making a day trip from Miami to Key Largo possible. Even with this, the route is known for congestion. The portion between Miami and Florida City is usually the bottleneck and can make the commute almost two hours.

If you’re making the commute by car, I’d avoid peak rush hour times as it can be a slow and often stressful drive. There are plenty of other alternatives to driving that are quicker during these peak times.

There are several routes you can take to get out of Miami, but each route will ultimately connect to Route 1. The road goes from three lanes on each side to one lane after Florida City, but the traffic volumes also significantly decrease.

Renting a Car

Like most people, you’ll probably be traveling to Miami by plane. If you’re driving to the city, then you can skip this section; otherwise, listen up. Car rentals are located right outside of Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports, with no hassle to reach.

The most popular companies include Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise. Car rentals can be as low as $50 per day, so keep this in mind when comparing to other alternatives.

What to Do Between Miami and Key Largo

The drive between Miami and Key Largo is breathtaking, and there are several places you have to check out on the way. Let’s start with the most famous!

Everglades National Park

The Everglades deserve a trip of its own, as there is just so much to do. If you’re short on time and this is the only way to visit the park, then I’d say go for it!

I’d recommend entering via the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, as entering this way makes for the shortest detour. If you want to know more about the Everglades, I recommend clicking here to see a comprehension guide.

Biscayne National Park

The interesting aspect of this park is that it’s only accessible by boat. This means you’ll have to drive to Homestead Bayfront Park and take the Homestead National Parks Trolly to reach the park.

This experience is extremely fun and so worth it. It’s the perfect daytime activity between the Miami to Key Largo commute. The park has a diverse range of wildlife, history, and unmatched snorkeling and scuba diving. If you want to learn more about this park, check it out here.

Coral Castle

This small landmark is directly on your route to Key Largo, meaning it takes no extra time to visit. Coral Castle consists of 1,000 tons of rock, carved by only one man. The rocks took 28 years to carve and now consist of furniture, walls, and even mini rooms. An incredible feat accomplished by a single man.

How to get from Miami to Key Largo without a car?

If you’re in Miami and you don’t have a car, that’s no problem as there are several options regarding commuting to Key Largo. These alternatives are so good that some with a car should consider these options as they could be faster at peak rush hour times.

1. Shuttle

The Keys Shuttle is a decent option for connecting to Key Largo. The shuttle starts from Fort Lauderdale and Miami International Airport, connecting to all the Florida Keys via a Mercedes Sprinter Van.

The shuttle connects to and from Key Largo three times per day with the schedule here. The biggest problem with this service is that it costs $95, which is quite frankly unreasonable. With that price, I’d recommend renting a car or seeing one of the other alternatives on this list.

2. Boat

Although a ferry system doesn’t exist between the two destinations, you can easily charter a boat. This is not a cheap option, costing upwards of $500, but it’s certainly the quickest and most enjoyable option. If you have the money and you’re ready for the experience, I would certainly recommend this. Otherwise, keep reading for some more affordable options.

3. Bus

Although not the most glorious, the bus is by far the cheapest way to connect between the two locations. Flixbus and Greyhound both have buses running for just $15, which is an absolute steal. These buses run every day from Miami International Airport right into Key Largo making it convenient and cheap, but not necessarily the most fun.

4. Uber / Lyft

The easiest alternative to a car has to be Uber and Lyft. There’s no meet-up spot, set time, or hassle. Due to the distance, you won’t find a ride for under $100, which isn’t necessarily a good deal but better than the shuttle.

5. Day Tours

Day tours are something I recommend considering. They’re fun, stress-free, and not absurdly expensive. Day trips cost between $70 and $150 per person and the price varies depending on what you want to do. These tours are a great way to meet new people and have fun, all for cheaper than many of these other alternatives.

Best Time to Visit Miami and Key Largo

There is no wrong answer, as no season is a bad season. But as a Washington DC native, I find the summers in Miami and Key Largo too hot. My favorite season to visit these two locations has to be between January and March as it’s a perfect 75°F, making it the perfect escape from the freezing temperatures in Washington DC.

Folks preferring the warmer weather might want to visit in spring. Aside from spring break, crowds are low and temperatures are a bit warmer. I’d recommend visiting before June as hurricane season starts then and temperatures get too warm.

Summary

If you’re traveling to Miami, Key Largo is somewhere you have to visit. This island is full of charm, culture, and fun experiences. The drive from Miami to the Keys is stunning and Key Largo is a great halfway stop to Key West.

Don’t let the lack of a car stop you from making the trip, as there are many alternative ways to connect. As usual, I hope this helps you with your trip planning, and enjoy your travels!