Driving Tampa to Key West: A Perfect Road Trip Itinerary
A road trip through the Florida Keys is easily the most scenic (and fun) drive in Florida. Plus, if you are headed from the Gulf Coast, you’re in luck because driving from Tampa to Key West is full of fun places to stop, things to do, and of course – beautiful views!
I recently completed this exact road trip from Tampa to the Florida Keys in 4 nights/5 days. While I wish we would have had 1-2 extra days, it was still a perfect long weekend.
In this post, I’ve detailed the best route to take for going to Key West by car, places to stop along the way, and alternate ways of getting from Tampa to Key West.
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How Far is the Drive from Tampa to Key West?
The drive from Tampa to Key West is a 425-mile journey that takes about 7.5 hours, depending on traffic and the route you take.
I highly recommend spending a night somewhere half-way like Fort Myers or Naples, and that way you have time to make stops along the way. You could also stay a night in Key Largo to maximize having a whole day to make stops in the Florida Keys on the way to or from Key West.
Best Route for Driving Tampa to Key West
If you are driving from Tampa to Key West then I highly recommend taking I-75 south to Naples, then taking the old US 41 Route (the Tamiami Trail) through the Florida Everglades to Homestead.
The US 41 Route will only take about an extra 25 minutes vs. continuing on I-75 towards Miami (sometimes less depending on traffic). This is a scenic road that will pass through the Everglades, and you’ll see plenty of swampland and likely some alligators along the way.
Plus, there are tons of places to stop to do an Everglades Airboat Tour, which is a unique way to experience Florida’s largest National Park.
Once you get out of the Everglades, you’ll hop on Route One for a scenic drive through the Florida Keys!
Alternate Routes for Tampa to Key West by Car
The other main route option for driving from Tampa to Key West is to go south on I-75, then continue on I-75 towards Miami. This part of I-75 is popularly known as Alligator Alley, however you will actually see more alligators taking Route 41! Plus, you avoid Miami traffic.
We took Route 41 on the way to the Florida Keys, then took I-75 (Alligator Alley route) on the way back.
Personally, I preferred Route 41 because it avoided some of the Miami traffic and was more scenic.
Best Places to Visit While Driving Tampa to Key West
425 miles is a lot of ground to cover, and of course there is so much to see & do along the way.
However, here are the best places to stop while driving from Tampa to Key West – along with some of the top things to do in each place.
Sarasota
Only about an hour south of Tampa, Sarasota is home to some of the most beautiful beaches along the gulf coast, such as Siesta Key Beach.
There is also lots to do around the Sarasota area, including visiting the Ringling Museum. I also recommend stopping for a bite to eat along Sarasota’s main street.
Sarasota is a good stop for those who aren’t local to the Tampa Bay area. For locals, I’d recommend to keep driving and visit Sarasota on a different weekend since it’s so close.
Road Trip Stops in Sarasota
Siesta Key Beach
The Ringling Museum
Downtown Sarasota (main street)
Fort Myers
Fort Myers is about 2 – 2.5 hours south of Tampa. It has a great downtown area with lots of fun bars & restaurants. There is also the nearby Fort Myers Beach, which is definitely worth a visit!
On our road trip to the Florida Keys, we spent the 1st night of our drive in Fort Myers and explored the downtown area that evening.
It’s a good place to stop for the night if you are leaving Tampa later in the day or spending some of the day in Sarasota or at one of the beaches.
Road Trip Stops in Fort Myers
Fort Myers Downtown River District
Fort Myers Beach
Historic Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Naples
The city of Naples is about a 2.5-3 hour drive south of Tampa. It’s more ritzy compared to Fort Myers (in my opinion) and has less bars/breweries and more upscale restaurants.
In downtown Naples, you’ll find the beautiful 5th Avenue, which is known for its luxury boutique shops, cocktail bars, and plethora of classy Italian restaurants.
Naples also has beautiful beaches, a botanical garden, and a zoo for the kiddos. It’s also close to Marco Island which is a popular beach vacation spot.
We stayed in Naples for the night on our way back north from Key West to break up the drive.
Road Trip Stops in Naples
Downtown Naples – 5th Avenue
Naples Beach
Naples Botanical Garden
Naples Zoo
The Everglades
The Everglades is Florida’s largest national park and is home to lots of wildlife, most popularly – American Alligators.
The Everglades covers 1.5 million acres, however most of it is swamp and wetlands.
The Everglades is a huge part of Florida – and one of the best ways to get a taste of the Everglades is to drive right through it along the Tamiami Trail (Route 41) which leaves from south of Naples and heads towards Homestead/Miami.
Along the way, there will be plenty of pull off spots for photos of the swampy wetlands and alligator sightings.
Will you see Alligators? Yes, most likely. However, it isn’t easy to get photos unless you are stopped (please only stop in designated pull off stops).
If you have time I recommend stopping at one of the Airboat spots. This is a good way to see gators up close. There are several along the route, with most of the boat tours taking only around 30 minutes to 1 hour. It’s the most popular way to get out and explore the Everglades!
Road Trip Stops in the Everglades
Big Cypress Preserve Oasis Visitor Center
Shark Valley Visitor Center & Tram Rides
Jungle Erv’s Everglades Airboat Tours
Lots of other Airboat tours along Route 41!
Key Largo
Welcome to the Florida Keys! Key Largo is the 1st key you’ll drive on and you’ll officially start your way down Florida’s famous Overseas Highway.
There is a cute little Florida Keys Visitor Center here, which is a great stop to start your Florida Keys adventure. There are also plenty of food options, and some things to do like visiting the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Other than that, Key Largo is going to seem pretty similar to the mainland, but don’t worry – the scenic ocean views will come!
Road Trip Stops in Key Largo
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Florida Keys Visitor Center
Dolphins Plus Bayside
Islamorada
Islamorada is a village that includes 6 small keys, which are best known for their coral reefs. It is also known as the sport fishing capital of the world.
In my opinion, Islamorada is where you really start feeling like you’re in the Florida Keys. It has that tropical, laid-back vibe and is a must-visit during your road trip to Key West.
There are a few different places to stop here, but my favorite road trip stop is a place called Robbies. One of the most popular things to do at Robbies is to feed the Tarpon, which are these gigantic fish. There are also some cute outdoor shops, a restaurant with a waterfront patio, and water activities and boat trips available here.
If you like breweries, I also highly recommend a stop at the Islamorada Brewery & Distillery!
Road Trip Stops in Islamorada
Robbies
Islamorada Brewery & Distillery
Theater of the Sea (dolphin show)
History of Diving Museum
Marathon
Marathon is a city in the Florida Keys that is spread out over 13 small keys. It is best known for its beautiful beaches, watersports, and marine life sanctuaries.
If you only have time for a quick stop in Marathon, a must visit is the 7 Mile Bridge Vista Point. This is where you’ll get a great view of the famous 7 Mile Bridge and the historic ruins of the Old 7 Mile Bridge.
The old bridge was originally built in 1912 as a railroad bridge by Henry Flagler (who you may have heard about if you’ve visited St. Augustine). At its time, it was considered an 8th world wonder of the world and was one of the longest bridges in existence.
At the 7 Mile Bridge Vista Point, you can also visit historic Pigeon Key, which can only be reached by walking, bicycling, or by a cute little train.
If you have a little more time, I also recommend stopping at Sombrero Beach to enjoy the beautiful Caribbean blue waters that surround the Florida Keys.
Road Trip Stops in Marathon
Sombrero Beach
7 Mile Bridge Vista Point
Pigeon Key
Dolphin Research Center
Curry Hammock State Park
Sunset Park
Florida Keys Aquarium
Alternative Ways to get from Tampa to Key West
If this road trip seems like a bit too much, or you only have a weekend to travel then I recommend looking into either flying or taking the ferry to Key West!
The Key West Express Ferry from Fort Myers
If you don’t want to drive the entire way to Key West from Tampa or Orlando, you can opt to drive to Fort Myers and then hop on the Key West Express Ferry!
The Key West Express Ferry takes around 3.5-4 hours (depending on weather conditions). You can book a one-way or roundtrip fair.
The ferry is a great option for those who prefer not to drive and like to be out on the water. It’s a large, comfortable ferry with indoor & outdoor seating and food/drinks are available.
We opted not to take the ferry on our recent trip because we wanted to explore the other Keys in addition to Key West and the tickets were a bit pricey at $185 per person.
However, if you are short on time, the Key West Ferry is a unique way to get to Key West!
Fly from Tampa to Key West
The quickest way to get from Tampa to Key West is to fly. Tampa International Airport offers several direct flights to Key West with Silver Airways or Breeze.
You can also get direct flights with Allegiant from St. Pete/Clearwater Airport (PIE) to Key West.
These flights are only about 1 hour 15 minutes, so it’s a quick way to get to drinking Pina Coladas and enjoying some famous Key Lime Pie!
Plus, depending on the time of year and how far in advance you book – you can get some pretty good flight deals (as low as around $85 per person for a basic fare).
Check flight prices here from Tampa to Key West!
FAQ: Tampa to Key West Road Trip
Key West is 425 miles south of Tampa. The drive from Tampa to Key West takes around 7.5 hours, depending on traffic.
If you are short on time and only have a weekend, it is better to fly to Key West. However, if you have at least 4 or 5 days, than driving to Key West is a better option because you can see more of the Florida Keys and other parts of Florida like the Everglades.
Absolutely! Driving the Overseas Highway to Key West is the best road trip in the state of Florida. It is a very scenic drive, with lots of places to stop along the way in the Florida Keys.
Wrapping Up the Journey: Tampa to Key West by Car
While there are a few different ways to get to the Florida Keys, I highly recommend going from Tampa to Key West by car if you have at least 4 nights or more. Driving to Key West is easily the best road trip in Florida, and there is so much to see and do along the way.
