“The road to paradise isn’t paved, it’s suspended over the sea.”
Stretching over 100 miles, the Overseas Highway links the mainland to the southernmost point of the continental U.S. But it wasn’t always this easy to reach paradise. Before cars, there was the ambitious and doomed Overseas Railroad. After the 1935 hurricane shattered the rails, the path was reborn as a highway, carrying sun-chasers and dreamers across coral reefs and cobalt waters.
Today, the Florida Keys offer more than just island views. They hold stories of presidents and poets, pirates and pineapple farmers, tropical storms, and stubborn trees that won’t quit. This is a place where the weird is welcome, and the sunsets are serious business.
Why drive it?
Because there’s no other road like it, you’re not cutting through the land, you’re floating above the ocean, hopping from island to island with the Gulf on one side and the Atlantic on the other. The air smells like salt and key lime. Every mile feels like a countdown to something magical.
This self-guided audio tour lets you explore the entire route at your own pace. From Key Largo to Key West, the stories unfold with the landscape—no tour groups, no cell signal required, just freedom and the open road.
Along the way, you’ll:
Cruise past the African Queen in Key Largo and hear tales of the old Overseas Railroad.
Stop at quirky landmarks like Big Betsy the Giant Lobster and the original dolphin shows at Theatre of the Sea.
Wander through Anne’s Beach, the laid-back charm of Islamorada, and the quieter shores of Long Key.
Cross the iconic Seven Mile Bridge, where you’ll meet Fred the Tree, the Keys’ unofficial mascot of resilience.
Pass historic Pigeon Key before reaching Key West, where things come alive.
Visit Mallory Square, Truman’s Little White House, the Hemingway Home, Tennessee Williams’ House, and the city’s beloved lighthouse.
End your drive at the Southernmost Point, a colorful concrete buoy marking the end and the beginning of something special.
Quick tip: Sunglasses are essential. Not just for the sun but for all the cool you’re going to radiate on this road trip.
Bonus Tour
Experience the magic of Key West like never before with our Bonus Walking Tour of Florida’s breathtaking Key West.
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Know Before You Go
Nearby Tours
Driving
27+ Stories
2 - 3 Hrs
Driving
39 Stories
2 - 3 Hrs
Walking
41 Stories Stories
1-2 Hrs
Map Of Key West Florida
Where To Start?
We recommend Starting From:
Florida Keys – Southbound (Key Largo to Key West): 106342 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037, USA
Florida Keys – Northbound (Key West to Key Largo): 901 Fort St, Key West, FL 33040
How does it work?
Key West Florida Audio Tour
Things to do on the Tour Include:
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Welcome!
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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
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Unique Ecosystem
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The African Queen
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Overseas Railroad
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Bike Path
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Hurricanes of the Keys
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Key Lime Pies
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Birds of the Keys
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Manatee Mailboxex
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Plantation Key
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King of the Wreckers
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Sandal Factory
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Big Betsy, the Giant Lobster
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Palm Trees
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Theatre of the Sea
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Hurricane of 1935
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The Purple Isle, IslaMorada
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Green Turtle Inn
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Fish Habitat
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Indian Key
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Robbie's of Islamorada
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Power Lines
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Anne's Beach
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Residents and Tourists
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Endangered Ecosystems
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Long Key
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Weather of the Keys
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Duck Key
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Dolphins of the Keys
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Dolphin Research Center
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Sharks of the Keys
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Marathon
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Sombrero Beach
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Turtle Hospital
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Seven Mile Bridge
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Pigeon Key
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Fred the Tree
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Little Duck Key
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Missouri Key & Ohio Key
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RV Parks
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Bahi Honda State Park
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Bahi Honda Railroad Bridge
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Mangroves
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National Key Deer Refuge
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Gators of the Keys
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Little Torch Key
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Ramrod Key
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Big Coppitt Key
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Naval Air Station Key West
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Stock Island
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Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden
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Key West
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Dredgers Key/Waterfront
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Key West Yacht Club
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Housing Prices on Key West
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Mallory Square
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Zero Mile
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The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
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Key West Lighthouse
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Southernmost Point of the Continental US
Preview The Tour
Tour FAQs
If you can take the 80-90 degree heat, either June or July is a great time to visit the Keys. Most of the crowds flock to Florida during the colder months, which can result in a little more traffic than anyone wants to deal with.
While it’s hard to go wrong with any of the beaches along the Keys, the best might just be those on Bahia Honda Key. That’s largely thanks to Bahia Honda State Park, which takes up a large swath of this island.
The Florida Keys are 100% worth visiting! With shockingly blue ocean on either side, amazing wildlife, incredible food, and unbeatable beaches, it’s a tropical paradise unlike anywhere else in the United States.
A car is highly recommended during your visit to the Keys. The bike trail which runs alongside the Overseas Highway isn’t yet complete, so you’ll want a vehicle to make it the full 100 miles to Key West.
Key Largo features one of the prettiest tropical parks in the world, complete with the only living coral reef in the Lower 48. But it’s hard to beat Key West at sunset, as the orange rays shimmer on the water and a band plays on the pier.
You can drive to 34 different Keys along the famous Overseas Highway. Although there are over 800 islands in total, this will get you to all the ones most worth seeing.
For safety reasons, there is no stopping on the Seven Mile Bridge. But don’t worry—you’ll still be able to take in plenty of amazing ocean views as you drive!
An absolute can’t-miss experience on any visit to the Florida Keys is the sunset on Key West. As afternoon rolls toward evening, folks gather by the shore, musicians start playing, and street vendors offer mouth-watering food. It’s like a mini festival every single day!
The best way to plan a trip to the Florida Keys is by identifying a few important places where you’d like to stop along the Overseas Highway. This is the main route from Key Largo to Key West, so it’s easy to access anything along this road. Just keep in mind that the drive itself takes 3-4 hours, so make sure you budget enough time to get all the way to Key West!
The Florida Keys mark the southernmost point of the Continental US. This makes them a completely unique environment, which you can’t find anywhere else on the mainland.
The Florida Keys are primarily composed of limestone, left behind by marine animal and plant life long ago. The lower keys actually contain fossilized remnants of ancient coral reefs!
Each Florida Key actually has its own nickname! Key West, for instance, is known as The Conch Republic, thanks to a weird and wild confrontation between a Key West mayor and the federal government, during which the mayor declared the island an independent republic!
There are over 800 Florida Keys in total, but the vast majority of these are completely uninhabited. Temperatures on these islands are generally about 10 degrees lower than on the mainland thanks to constant sea breeze. And the median home price on Key West is $1.5 million dollars as of 2023!
The answer is as simple as it sounds! 7 Mile Bridge gets its name from being about seven miles long. Well, it’s actually 6.79 miles long, but that name isn’t quite as catchy!
The 7 Mile Bridge starts at Knight’s Key near Marathon, Florida, and ends at Little Duck Key in the Florida Keys.
The speed limit on the 7 Mile Bridge is 55 mph. For everyone’s safety, it’s important not only that you don’t speed, but also that you don’t drive too slowly to get that perfect picture.
Yes, a portion of the old Seven Mile Bridge has been converted into a fishing pier and is accessible for visitors to explore and enjoy the scenic views.
Yes, there are several scenic viewpoints along the Seven Mile Bridge where visitors can stop and enjoy panoramic views of the turquoise waters and surrounding islands.
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