Calling Miami / South Fl. residents ???

[clm3]

We're heading to Marathon for 3 days after USO. Mapquest shows it to be about 350+ miles about 6 hrs or so. Is this pretty realistic? How bad is traffic heading to that area .... it looks like its straight Turnpike ??

 

[Aurora63]

6 hours sounds about right to me. You will need to get on US 1 after the turnpike, though.

 

[Talking Hands]

Sounds about right to me. You follow the turnpike south to the end of the turnpike extension which will be Florida City and drop into US1. You take that south to Marathon.

 

[Peter Pirate]

We live in Marathon and have a place in Celebration so this is a trip we do often.

6 hours is the average though of late it has been longer due to the influx of tourists (season). It is a straight turnpike shot but this road is getting crazier all of the time (from Ft. Pierce thru Homestead) with lots of construction. Make sure you avoid rush hour if at all possible (in Ft. Lauderdale & Miami) or your time will be up 1-1.5 hours unless there are accidents, then more.

Once you leave Florida City you'll hit the 18 mile stretch (connecting the mainland to the Keys). This is the most dangerous road in the Keys as people want to pass and will often do extremely stupid things in order to get by. Be very careful.

Once in the Keys traffic will generally be slow 45-55 mph and the police patrol dilligently so be careful. Watch out for slow traffic ahead of you, rear end accidents are frequent.

Gas prices are cheapest between Key Largo & Islamorada so fill up here.

If you have any other questions, just ask.

 

[clm3]

If you have any other questions, just ask.

Thanks !! We were planning on staying at the Continental Inn, do you know much about them? From their website it looks really nice for our family to hang out and relax. We were wanting a beach property for the kids and fishing for DH.

Thanks Again.

 

[Peter Pirate]

The Continental Inn is in Key Colony Beach, right? It's a condo that's run like a hotel and it is on the nicest beach in the middle Keys so that was a very good choice. I don't know anything of the rooms except that they're still standing (which is a good thing after last hurricane season)!