Travel to the Florida Keys and Key West
Air Transportation
Direct flights or connections to Key West International Airport are available from many cities. Please check with the airlines for the latest flight and route information.
Airport Codes
- EYW — Key West International Airport — Visitors can fly to Key West International Airport via connections or direct flights from a host of Florida cities. The airport offers a host of ground transportation options, including local shuttle buses and rental cars. Getting around Key West is fun and easy! Taxis and Key West Transit buses serve Key West International and are conveniently located curb side at the terminal.
- MTH — Florida Keys Marathon International Airport — Visitors can now fly into Florida Keys Marathon International Airport aboard on-demand small charter aircraft. 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.
- FLL — Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International
- MIA — Miami International Airport
By Land
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. Toll rates are $1.60 for two axle vehicles (cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles), $3.15 per vehicle with three axles and $1.05 per each additional axle after three.
All tolls are collected electronically. Motorists must use either SunPass®, an interoperable transponder or TOLL-BY-PLATE.
What does this mean for U.S., Canadian and international visiting motorists? The cash-less system is intended to make toll roads on this stretch of the Turnpike safe and efficient to drive, as well as more convenient for travelers. Rental car companies have programs that allow customers to use lanes that utilize SunPass, a pre-paid toll program already in place for travel on toll roads. The tolls, plus a minimal service fee, are charged to the credit card used to rent the vehicle.
Resident motorists without a SunPass utilize TOLL-BY-PLATE. A picture is taken of the registered driver’s license plate and a monthly invoice mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner. A $2.50 administrative fee will apply, per monthly invoice.
Canadian citizens can purchase SunPass by ordering online at www.SunPass.com, contacting the SunPass Customer Service Center at 1-888-TOLL-FLA (1-888-865-5352) or by purchasing at thousands of retail locations, including Florida Welcome Centers.
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.
An All-American Road
The Florida Keys Overseas Highway, from north of Key Largo to Key West, has been designated an All-American Road. The Keys highway is the only All-American Road in Florida. It's the highest recognition possible under the National Scenic Byways program established by the U.S. Congress in 1991. Only 30 other roadways in the nation have earned the prestigious title.
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. Visitors can also fly directly into the Keys. Regularly scheduled commercial flights are available into Key West and Florida Keys Marathon Airport accommodates charter and private aircraft. Group shuttles, public buses and a boat ferry are also available to access the Keys.
Launch the narrated Northbound or Southbound Driving Tours in the App to learn fun facts, uncover new spots in the beautiful Florida Keys to explore scenic, iconic or historic points of interest as you safely drive along the Overseas Highway.
Ground Transportation
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. 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 our 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.
Florida Keys Express Shuttle provides shuttle service from the Florida Keys to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale airports. Mercedes full size vans are equipped with free WiFi for a relaxing commute with the best technologies available. (Maximum 11 passengers) Open Monday - Sunday, 24/7. (305) 743-7454.
Train Services — Amtrak takes you as far south as Miami, where you can transfer to the Keys Shuttle bus discussed above. Amtrak: 1-800-USARAIL.
Miami to Key West Bus provides daily one way and roundtrip transportation from Miami to Key West, and Key West to Miami. Travel time approx. 4 hours. Departure from Miami 7:45 a.m., arrival at noon. Departs Key West 5:45 p.m., from the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum (corner of Whitehead St. and Greene St.) Complimentary hotel pickup within Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach & Downtown Miami. Schedule hotel pickup times direct. 1-305-423-9045.
By Sea
Photo courtesy of Key West Express
Key West Express operates high-speed passenger ferries from Ft. Myers Beach and Marco Island. The ferries dock at the Key West Bight Ferry Terminal in the heart of the Historic Seaport District with its many fine restaurants, bars and shops. Passengers can walk to Duval Street, the heart of old town Key West, in about 15 minutes. The ferry ride takes approximately 3.5 hours.
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.
Know Before You Go: Vacation Rental Booking Tips
Legally licensed vacation rentals offer visitors great options to stay and play in the Florida Keys & Key West and accommodate various budgets and travel party sizes.
Always select a legally licensed vacation rental.
The cities and villages in the Florida Keys have vacation rental license processes in place to ensure visitor safety and comfort, including mandatory, locally-based property managers available to assist 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Click for more information on verifying a vacation rental license and avoiding scams.