Florida Keys?

[TonyHuntimer]

Has anyone driven the Florida Keys? Is Key West the best place to stay? Or are there better Keys to stop at for a night?

Thanks,
Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[protour73]

I Love the Keys.....it's one of my favorite places to go.

Key West is great but there is Marathon Key, Islamorada, the lower Keys (a little less populated) Islamorada is my favorite...some nice restaurants there...try Uncle's for dinner, Island Grill for lunch.

Key West will have the most choices for accomodations, though, and of course Duvall Street bars and restaurants!!

dammit.............now I want to go there

[TonyHuntimer]

I Love the Keys.....it's one of my favorite places to go.

Key West is great but there is Marathon Key, Islamorada, the lower Keys (a little less populated) Islamorada is my favorite...some nice restaurants there...try Uncle's for dinner, Island Grill for lunch.

Key West will have the most choices for accomodations, though, and of course Duvall Street bars and restaurants!!

dammit.............now I want to go there

How many hours does it take to get from Miami to Islamorada? I think it's 4 hours just to get to Key West.

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[protour73]

How many hours does it take to get from Miami to Islamorada? I think it's 4 hours just to get to Key West.

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

about an hour and a half from the airport..........it's about 75 miles..of...2 lane road!!

it about 150 to 160 mi drive to Key West, about 3 1/2 hours

[wills55]

Yeah, what he said... Being that I live in Miami, I get down to the Keys pretty often. Miami is a big place, so it kinda depends on where in "Miami" you are coming from. I would say that from the airport, it would take you about an hour to get to Florida City. Thats where the Turnpike ends and the 18mile stretch begins. From there you have about 30 minutes to drive the stretch ( be carefull, its one of the most dangerous roads in the country). After that its about 40mph the whole way to Key West. DONT SPEED, the Monroe County cops are pretty tight on speeding down there. Its a great ride, for sure. If you have never been, its really nice. Obvious beachy tropical feel. Key West has lots of bums. If I were staying in the Keys overnight at a hotel, I would stay in Islamorada. To me, it has more of a Keys feel to it. Plus you have the Whale Harbour Seafood buffet right down the road. A favorite of mine!! Have a good time.

[Jim Nilsen]

Don't forget your snap action center punch to break the glass of your car in case you go over the side.

I remember the cars that were just totally freaked out and the ones that were swerving to get pictures. Very dangerous road so be careful.

[Chicken Coupe]

Yeah, what he said... Being that I live in Miami, I get down to the Keys pretty often. Miami is a big place, so it kinda depends on where in "Miami" you are coming from. I would say that from the airport, it would take you about an hour to get to Florida City. Thats where the Turnpike ends and the 18mile stretch begins. From there you have about 30 minutes to drive the stretch ( be carefull, its one of the most dangerous roads in the country). After that its about 40mph the whole way to Key West. DONT SPEED, the Monroe County cops are pretty tight on speeding down there. Its a great ride, for sure. If you have never been, its really nice. Obvious beachy tropical feel. Key West has lots of bums. If I were staying in the Keys overnight at a hotel, I would stay in Islamorada. To me, it has more of a Keys feel to it. Plus you have the Whale Harbour Seafood buffet right down the road. A favorite of mine!! Have a good time.

Ditto on what he said. A few more things to keep in mind.

Find out if there are any boating/fishing events taking place when you are going as there are a lot of drawbridges en route. Boats have the right-of-way over cars, so that 3 1/2 hour trip can be doubled in time (like mine was) waiting for the local armada to pass by.

There are not a lot of "beaches" in the Keys and there is quite a lot missed if you are not in a boat. You can't just pull over and jump in the water when the urge strikes you either. Damn parking laws and salt water crocs!

Key West is a very unique place to visit, but if you are traveling with young ones, there's not a lot for them to do.

If I recall correctly, the ride is "littered" with smaller and charming hotels and there are a lot of mid-priced chain hotels just outside of Key West proper on the trek back off the island.

[Surfer]

We used to have a house in Key Largo, IMO Key West is too touristy and always the busiest place. I like the other keys better lol, Islamorada, Marathon etc

[keypilot]

i live here. marathon. these posts are funny, the dangerous roads, saltwater crocs, etc...
the roads are just like anywhere else and we are very good at clearing them in case of accident.
key west is very busy with fantasy fest this week (marti grais) so everything is expensive this week. some hotels are up to $800 per night.
i would be happy to answer any questions. email me as i am usually on camaros.net and not here as much.

[Shiro666]

Read a Tim Dorsey book before you go. Start with Florida Roadkill.

Best Florida themed books EVER!

[jy211]

go to hawaii

[hivewax]

i'll be going to Fantasy Fest, but i won't be driving the Mustang. a visit to South Beach is a must... a lot of topless hotties.

[MickMc]

Tony

I was sitting behind you at the Pro-Touring dinner, wish we had of talked, I was in KeyWest a little while back. Two lane road, slow or fast just depends on whats going on, I agree with most eveyone else, great place to hang out, just bring your wallet. Wish I had bought a house a few years ago, I'd be in high cotton now...

Mick

[Jim Nilsen]

i live here. marathon. these posts are funny, the dangerous roads, saltwater crocs, etc...
the roads are just like anywhere else and we are very good at clearing them in case of accident.
key west is very busy with fantasy fest this week (marti grais) so everything is expensive this week. some hotels are up to $800 per night.
i would be happy to answer any questions. email me as i am usually on camaros.net and not here as much.

In the regargds to the road not being any more dangerous than anywhere else.

Have you ever been through Nebraska? LOL

[BMF Machine]

i'll be going to Fantasy Fest, but i won't be driving the Mustang. a visit to South Beach is a must... a lot of topless hotties.

of the topless HottieS!