Florida's 30A area is a stretch of white-sand beaches, Gulf of Mexico views, and quaint beach towns that runs for 24 miles along County Road 30A.
How to get to the Florida Keys and navigate the islands
20.12.2024 - 15:51 / lonelyplanet.com
Dec 20, 2024 • 7 min read
Look at a map of the US and you'll see the islands of the Florida Keys dangling down from the southern tip of Florida in a 113-mile-long chain. At a glance, figuring out the best ways of getting around Key West and the rest of the Florida Keys might seem complicated, but in reality, traveling across the archipelago is surprisingly straightforward.
In fact, it can be easier to travel here than in a lot of other places in the US, and that’s because this is an island chain, not in spite of it. One long road connects the main islands of the Keys to the rest of Florida – unless you have a boat or a plane or are a very keen swimmer, that’s how you get from tropical island A to tropical island B.
It may help to note that the Keys are divided into three zones. Running from the mainland to Key West, these zones are:
the Upper Keys (Key Largo to Long Key Bridge)
the Middle Keys (Conch Key to the Seven-Mile Bridge)
the Lower Keys (everything else, including Key West)
Here are the six best ways to get around the Florida Keys.
The 113-mile long Overseas Highway is the southernmost portion of US Route 1, the great north-south highway running all the way from Fort Kent in Maine to Key West in Florida (that’s a distance of 2370 miles for any trivia lovers out there). As it winds its way across the Keys, the Overseas Highway crosses 42 bridges, including the huge Seven Mile Bridge, joining Marathon and Big Pine Key. These bridges add artificial elevation to a road that otherwise traverses a completely flat landscape, offering occasional glimpses across the archipelago.
In light traffic, it takes a little over 2 hours to drive from Key Largo, the northernmost Key, to Key West, the southernmost city in the contiguous United States. But at weekends and during festivals and busy holiday periods, tourists stream into or out of the Keys, and the Overseas Highway can get pretty choked. The width of the road is limited by the width of these skinny islands, and when the highway is congested, travel times can be doubled, or more.
Distances on the Overseas Highway are designated by mile markers, usually abbreviated to MM in addresses. The markers start at MM 113 in Key Largo and tick down to MM 0 in Key West. If a business lists itself with a decimal point – say, "MM 70.5" – that means it lies halfway between MM 70 and MM 71. You may also see the side of the highway indicated in addresses: "Oceanside" means towards the Atlantic Ocean, while "Bayside" or "Gulfside" (used in the Upper Keys, and Middle and Lower Keys respectively) means towards the Gulf of Mexico.
The best way to experience the Overseas Highway is to take your time. Stop by Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada to feed the tarpon and browse the open-air
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
matadornetwork.com
08.01.2025 / 10:36
Get The Most Out of Sacramento At These Guest Favorite Airbnbs
Certain destinations in the US have a particularly hot Airbnb scene. Many of these are in California. San Diego, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and rentals near Palm Springs come to mind, but Sacramento Airbnb rentals are challenging Californian hosts with a focus on detail and offerings of amenities that will make a vacation to the state unforgettable. These properties sizzle with generous outdoor spaces with pools, beautifully furnished patios, backyard games, and interiors, which will have you planning your Pinterest board for a home renovation on your return. These are some of the best Airbnbs in Sacramento and the surrounding area that you need to bookmark now.
matadornetwork.com
08.01.2025 / 10:36
7 Unique Experiences You’ll Love in Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida is a vacationer’s dream. That comes as zero surprise to anyone who’s had the pleasure of digging their toes into the warm, white sands that stretch from Fort Myers to Sanibel Island and beyond. You could happily spend your vacation trawling for seashells and building pint-sized castles, but there’s a lot more to this region than its beaches — including some unique experiences that you might only find here.
matadornetwork.com
08.01.2025 / 10:36
Whether You’re in Cleveland for a Game or a Getaway, These Are the Best Airbnbs in the City
Cleveland, Ohio, is undergoing a renaissance. Once an industrial powerhouse, the city has transformed itself and is no long only drawing sports fans. With its cool neighborhoods, excellent museums, and burgeoning food scene, Cleveland offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a history buff, into rock and roll, a foodie, an art lover, or you’re looking for a destination for a reunion or bachelorette, you’re sure to find your niche here. It’s also one of the best cities in the US to explore on foot, so don’t get too hung up on what area to base yourself. That said, if you want to be in the heart of the action, Downtown is the best choice. For a more laid-back experience, Ohio City or Tremont are great options. Here we have gathered some of the best Airbnbs in Cleveland for those looking for a one bedroom studio or apartment, and large options more suitable for families and groups.
insider.com
04.01.2025 / 15:35
I lived in New York City and London. The British capital was cheaper and more welcoming, so I could plan my life long-term.
For as long as I can remember, I've always had two cities in mind when I thought about the most bustling business hubs in the world: New York City and London.
cntraveler.com
03.01.2025 / 17:57
The Most Punctual Airlines in the World in 2024
Airline meltdowns were one of the unfortunate travel trends of 2024, with technical issues and winter storms causing hundreds of flight delays and cancellations across the US. That's why this year, it's more important than ever to book flights with carriers that have a track record of on-time departures and arrivals.
travelandleisure.com
03.01.2025 / 15:49
With New Ways to Get to Florida, Arizona, Mexico, and More — Here Are the Airline Routes We're Most Excited About in January
The holidays are past and Old Man Winter is here to stay. It’s a good time to get away.
insider.com
02.01.2025 / 16:45
I get injectables and laser skin therapies during layovers outside of the US — and it's saved me $3,955 already
As a travel writer, I'm privileged to take many trips, and hitting the spa during a lengthy layover has always been a no-brainer.
thepointsguy.com
01.01.2025 / 17:33
A Delta Sky Club crackdown and 11 other airline storylines we'll be watching in 2025
2024 was an eventful year in the U.S. airline industry. It started early when a door plug explosively separated from an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft last January, renewing scrutiny of the U.S. plane-maker and ultimately fueling a shake-up of its leadership.
lonelyplanet.com
01.01.2025 / 15:13
The 12 best drive-in theaters in the US
Dec 31, 2024 • 5 min read
insider.com
31.12.2024 / 04:25
The Boeing 737 model in the South Korea crash has a stellar safety record — and is flown by nearly every airline in the world
The Boeing plane that crashed in South Korea on Sunday, killing 179, has a remarkable safety record.
insider.com
28.12.2024 / 11:35
An American living in Greece who has visited around 30 countries described why she doesn't want to move back to the US
Kathleen O'Donnell, 39, doesn't think she will ever move back to the US.