Detour #52: Florida Keys Overseas Highway, USA

Road Trips

May 29

Skimming the Florida Keys just metres above sea level, the Overseas Highway links Miami to Key West via a series of spectacular long low-slung bridges.

For the full Florida experience, begin on Miami’s South Beach. Take in the pastel hues of the Art Deco hotels and ogle the slow-moving supercars that parade up and down the strip.

Follow Highway One south passing Biscayne Bay to Florida City. Then you’ll skirt the Southern Glades, so keep an eye out for ‘gators and rare birds like the wood stork and roseate spoonbill before heading out over Manatee Bay towards Key Largo, the first of 43 keys.

Now you’re officially on the Overseas Highway. The road began life as a railway in the early 1900s and it wasn’t until 1921 that the idea of a highway was first mooted. The road officially opened in 1928 after a vast construction project that employed 4,000 workers. The full route to Key West opened to the public in 1938.

If you’re in need of a pit stop, try the conch fritters at Alabama Jack’s or you could even take a ride on the original African Queen steamboat which is docked at Marina Del Mar.

Cross the Tavernier Creek and you arrive in Islamorada - which is actually formed from six keys: Plantation, Windley, Upper and Lower Matecumbe, Indian and Lignumvitae. The key lime pie at the Midway Cafe and Coffee bar comes highly recommended.

Keep travelling for an hour or so and you’ll reach the mid-point of the Keys – Marathon. Then it’s time to enjoy the 360-degree ocean views as you seem to fly across Seven Mile Bridge. To the east you have Florida Straight, to the west the Gulf of Mexico. Everywhere you look is clear aquamarine water. Slow down when you get to Big Pine Key and keep your eyes peeled for the endangered key deer.

Key West is your final destination, where you can park up, ride the trolley buses or visit Hemingway’s Home and Museum to get some additional inspiration for your road trip diary.

Words Nik Berg Twitter | Instagram
Photography Shutterstock / Aaron Burden / Julien Borean / Tobias Negele / Tuan Nguyen / Unsplash