Getting Around the Upper Keys

GREAT NEWS! So you have just decided to spend your upcoming vacation in the fabulous Florida Keys! Both flying and driving are easy and excellent options to get here. Never been here before? No problem, it’s easy!

Some folks choose to drive for the flexibility and convenience of controlling your own schedule. Other folks prefer to fly into one of two major airports to our north. Miami/Ft. Lauderdale is our closest major metro area on the mainland  and is approximately 60-90 miles north of the upper keys. You have several air carriers to choose from when flying into MIA or FLL, however renting a car should also be factored in. Miami International Airport a.k.a. “MIA” is closest to us and approximately 20 miles north of MIA is Ft. Lauderdale International Airport aka “FLL”. There is a small airport in Key West which is 200 miles to our south and is usually MUCH more expensive with fewer flights.

Whether you fly or drive, you will need to head south to the end of the mainland, before entering on to our chain of islands called the Florida Keys. The Florida Turnpike is the recommended way to go which ends in a small town called Florida City. This is the last town on the mainland before entering the Keys! Once you have driven through Florida City, you will continue driving south on US Highway 1, a.k.a Overseas Highway. You will now be driving on a small two lane highway with Florida Bay on your right hand side as you head south.

And last but not least…two more important things you’ll need to know while getting around in The Upper Florida Keys. You will hear it over and over again, as it is our way down here to give directions!

When driving to your dive shop, hotel or favorite restaurant, you will need to know 2 very important things.  What Mile maker is the location at, and which side of the island is it located on. Businesses here in the Keys are referred to by what mile marker (MM) they are located on US-1 or The Overseas Highway.  Key West is the southernmost city of the USA, and is located at MM-0. The mile markers then climb in numbers as the highway heads north.  The Upper Keys consist of MM 80- MM110. So for example, if you are driving south coming from the mainland and your destination is at B/S MM104…that means they are located on the bay side (on your right) at mile marker 104, which is the one hundred and fourth mile on Overseas Highway from Key West. The upper keys are located at the top of the Florida Keys, which is closest to the mainland and offers a very scenic drive as you head south.

So, now you have all the information you’ll need to plan your next vacation here in the Fabulous Upper Florida Keys and get around like a pro and as a Jimmy Buffet song suggests “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes…”