Florida Keys

[Leona_t]

Hi, has anyone drove from Orlando to the Keys? How long does it take to get to Key Largo and then onto Key West and what did you do whilst there. We are off to Orlando in September and thought it would be nice to spend a couple of days in the Keys. Is a couple of days enough? Any ideas would be great, thanks.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Hi, it is a LONG drive...

From Orlando to the "BEGINNING" of the Keys, you are talking 6 hours (http://www.fla-keys.com/drive.htm). That will probably just about get you to Key Largo. Key West is another 100 miles beyod that (which due to type of road and speed restrictions takes another 2.5 hours - http://www.pistolandenema.com/activities/gethere.htm).

So Orlando to Key Largo = 6 hours
Orlando to Key West = 8.5 hours.

You are looking for a day each way really (one to get there, one to get back) and an awful lot of driving. I would probably look to do a Gulf Coast trip instead (less driving) OR fly into Orlando, do all your Disney stuff, drive down to the Keys, then fly back from Miami.

Boo

 

[JohnnySharp2]

As already said it's a very long drive.

I would consider stopping at Miami for the night personally if going to Key West.
We went there several years ago before Joshua was born - I would say 1 night is enough yes.
KW is totally different to most parts of Florida, personally although long I felt the drive was the best bit - naturally you have to make your own mind up however KW wasn't really for me to be honest.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

KW is totally different to most parts of Florida, personally although long I felt the drive was the best bit - naturally you have to make your own mind up however KW wasn't really for me to be honest.

I have done Key West as part of a cruise (so a day there) - that was about right for us (did a trolley tour and a walk around). To be honest, I prefered Naples. Key West is ok and have heard good things about the other islands in the Keys, but - like Johnny - there are other places I would rather be.

Best Wishes,
Boo

 

[wayneg]

Same here 1 day on a cruise last Oct. No desire to go back, BUT everyone likes to see and do different things on holiday, We did 1 week at Clearwater and was bored and wished we had stayed in Orlando. Other people love it. Its something you need to research and decide yourself how long you want to spend in the area.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Same here 1 day on a cruise last Oct. No desire to go back, BUT everyone likes to see and do different things on holiday, We did 1 week at Clearwater and was bored and wished we had stayed in Orlando. Other people love it. Its something you need to research and decide yourself how long you want to spend in the area.

Completely agreed

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Leona and welcome to the Dis

That is a very long drive for a couple of days away. Have you thought about something a bit closer to Orlando?

If it is a beach trip you would like then I have been to Clearwater, Sarasota and St Pete Beach and thought they were all great (and under 2 hours' drive from Orlando).

 

[Rascal1003]

We drove from Key Largo to Key West for a daytrip when we checked out of our Largo hotel.
We were on a tour and booked into another hotel in Miami, so went Key Largo to Key West then all the way back to Miami.

Wow, what a long day that was! The big problem is speed limits. In the UK we would happily sit at 70mph+ and do the journey in good time, but there are so many different speed limits through the Keys (40mph at times) that it takes ages.
We had a State Trooper following us all the way back so had to stick to the limits, otherwise would have put my foot down a bit more.
There is no way I would really want to do it from Orlando to be honest.

We stayed at a few resorts on the Gulf Coast on our way down (Clearwater, St Petes, Sarasota & Naples) and the drive from Naples to Key Largo was an enormous journey right through the Everglades. Fabulous scenery, but exhausting!