Day Trip From Miami to Key Largo

Key Largo, Montego, baby why don’t we go…

No seriously, you have to. Florida in general is one of the most popular destinations in the United States and whether you live in South Beach, Miami or are visiting on vacation, making a day trip from Miami to Key Largo is totally doable. The Florida Keys are located at the southernmost point of Florida and should be visited if you want to check an iconic location off your bucket list.

Day Trip From Miami To Key Largo

How Far Is Key Largo From Miami

While the Florida Keys are a must-see at least once, it’s quite far from Miami, taking about 3 hours and 15 minutes to get to the very tip. Key Largo is much closer, taking only about 1 hour and 15 minutes. And is also an amazing destination to visit! If you enjoy short road trips where you get to spend a day commuting with nature, then you will love making a day trip from Miami to Key Largo.

Key Largo is known as “Upper Florida Keys” and is actually the largest section of the keys, running 33 miles long. Key Largo is also known as the diving capital of the world and is home to the world’s largest artificial reef and the famous John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. In Key Largo, you can experience scuba diving, boat tours, marine life, delicious food and waterfront views. Spending a full day here is a must as you want to get the very most out of your experience.

Best Time To Visit Key Largo

The best time of year to visit Key Largo is between December and March. During these months, you’ll find warm, dry weather. Weather during this time is really ideal. It’s not too hot, but it’s still warm enough to participate in all the fun outdoor activities. No rain to hold you back from all you want to see.

Is Key Largo Worth Visiting

Key Largo, Florida is one of the most unique places in all of the United States. If you’re used to living in a colder climate up North, Key Largo is the perfect mid-Winter tropical getaway. The nature in Key Largo is simply unmatched, and when it comes to food and culture, there really is something for everyone. If you’re even considering heading down to Key Largo sometime soon, I hope this guide makes your decision clear. Do it! With a tropical destination this ideal, you won’t regret it.

Pin It For Later

How To Get To Key Largo From Miami

Key Largo is so convenient to get to that if you’re pressed for time, you don’t even have to worry about staying overnight. It will be your very own day-tour & island getaway. You can make your way from Miami to Key Largo for a day trip in many ways. If you’re flying first, you can land in Miami International Airport and rent a car or take one of the shuttles. If you happen to fly to Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, it would just add an hour onto your road trip tine, getting you to Key Largo in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

If you drive from Miami as suggested, the best way to get to Key Largo is to take LeJeune Road south to 836 West, take the Florida Turnpike south toward Key West where the turnpike will end at Overseas Highway US 1 in Florida City. Follow U.S. 1 south to the Keys. Shuttles like Greyhound Lines and Key Shuttles are also available in Miami Beach if you don’t want to drive.

Day Trip From Miami to Key Largo

While there’s so many activities and options to choose from, my personal suggestion is to pick 1 or 2 activities and make sure to hit a waterfront restaurant as I’ll share below.

Best Things To Do In Key Largo

Visit Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and is home to some rare and endangered species like the manatee, crocodile, and the Florida panther. Here you can do things like climb the observation tower, go kayaking, biking, paddling, bird-watching, camping, fishing, or simply watch the sunset. Theres a plethora of things to do and wildlife to see as it’s truly an epic place to visit in Florida. While the Everglades National Park is a little over an hour away from Key Largo, it’s absolutely worth the visit as it is in the top 4 best national parks.

You can schedule a day visit and either drive through it for $30 per vehicle or $15 per person to walk around. These passes are available for 7 days so you can also come back and visit if you plan to stay in the Key Largo area for more than one day. It’s also important to know that the Everglades National Park operates on a dry and wet season which greatly affects your experience. December through April is typically wet season lasting from May to November and can be quite raining with a lots of mosquitos. Dry season is the busiest season because of the warm winters that attract the variety of wading birds and their predators. Either way, it will be a super cool and unique experience.

If you really enjoy interacting with nature and getting an up close look at Florida’s wildlife, you might also enjoy visiting the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center.

Visit JOHN PENNEKAMP CORAL REEF STATE PARK

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is renowned as the county’s first undersea park, encompassing 70 nautical square miles. The manager of the park himself suggests this park is the perfect place to get out of the house and enjoy Florida’s outdoor treasures. Here, you can see amazing colorful coral reefs, beautiful marine life on a glass-bottom boat tour, join a scuba diving lesson or go snorkeling to see the marine life up-close. Canoeing, kayaking, fishing and swimming are also popular activities you can do at the park for some quality time on the water. There are walking trails, tropical hammocks, picnic areas, large saltwater aquariums and theaters with interesting nature videos.

The park has 4 different types of boat tours with opportunities to experience the park’s coral reef system. But the most popular is the glass-bottom boat tour that departs from the park’s docks three times per day, 365 days a year, weather permitting and is about 2.5 hours long.

If you’re up for more of an active adventure, a snorkel tour might be your thing. It’s $29.99 per person + all the equipment you may need to purchase for your journey. This is a great way to get a workout in while seeing and immersing yourself in the blue waters of Key Largo. If you’re looking for a more relaxed marine experience, visit the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Located in the sanctuary you will also find the USS Spiegel Grove wreck, which you can snorkel if you’re up for it.

Kayak Through the Mangrove Tunnels

If you’re looking for an adventurous outing on the water and in nature down in Key Largo, then kayaking through the Mangrove Tunnels might be an excellent choice for you. At Florida Bay Outfitters located at 104050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037, you can enjoy kayaking and paddle-boarding whether you’re interested in 2, 4 or 8 hour sessions. Rentals for sessions and days vary greatly so check the rental sheet for the best estimate based on your personal preference.

Kayaking through the Mangrove Tunnels is high on the bucket list for Key Largo adventurers and weekend warriors. Florida Bay Outfitters offers 3-hour tours that allow you to experience the mangroves off Key Largo where you’ll get to kayak through crystal clear waters, see birds, fish, turtles and manatees, all while learning more about the ecosystem of the area. They even allow snorkeling under the mangroves for anyone interested in seeing the underwater world.

Reel it in at Key Largo Fishing Adventures

Key Largo is certainly the place to be if you’re interested in an epic fishing adventure as it’s also known as one of the fishing capitals of the world. Key Largo Fishing Adventures has been operating for over 20 years offers two types of fishing experiences; Deep Sea & Offshore and Reef & Wreck Fishing. For Offshore & Deep Sea fishing you’ll be able to board either the No Fear charter or the Fin Chaser where you’ll have the chance to catch dolphin, tuna, wahoo, sailfish, marlin and kingfish. If you’re more into the Reef & Wreck Fishing then you’ll climb aboard the SOZ and catch fish like grouper, snapper, hogfish, amberjack, cobia, shards, mackerel and barracuda.

For these types of fishing trips you can expect a professional yet relaxed atmosphere with a great environment suitable for children, families, small groups and business travelers. One tip when looking to go fishing is to research the time of year you plan to go as species vary and will be more plentiful or less plentiful depending on the time of year. Prevent disappointment by knowing what fish you are and aren’t likely to catch!

As a hotel lover myself, I had to also include an added bonus when booking charters with Key Largo Fishing Adventures. They offer discounted room rates for Bayside Inn, Holiday Inn Key Largo, Marriott Courtyard Key Largo, Marina Del Mar Key Largo, Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort, Key West Inn (Key Largo).

Have Lunch at Alabama Jack's

Located right on the water at 58000 Card Sound Rd, Key Largo, FL 33030 is Alabama Jacks which actually overlooks the mangroves and is a popular outdoor restaurant offering delicious seafood, famous conch fritters, lively music and a breezy atmosphere. This open-air fish shack attracts locals and tourists from all over, to enjoy the amazing food, waterfront views and live music for all groups and families. If you want to be a part of the in-crowd in Key Largo, this is the place to go. It attracts all types of crowds from bikers, antique car collectors, yacht owners or local house owners. It’s one of the most authentic places to visit in Key Largo and will certainly entertain you during your meal.

The restaurant offers a truly laid-back and casual ambiance with amazing views of the water, birds chirping and flying around as well as hundreds of fish swimming beneath you. Because of the location, the restaurant closes at 7pm daily in order to go home before the mosquitos come out to play. The street where the restaurant is located is also 13 miles of very dark roads going both directions. So the owners want to make sure costumers don’t have a hard time driving in the dark because of the lack of light.

Visit Islamorada

Islamorada is a must for anyone looking for a beautiful and break-taking location in The Florida Keys. This 6-village area in Key largo is known for its iconic coral reefs, sports, acquatics, fishing, outdoor recreation and family-friendly events. Not only is there a ton to do but it has some of the whitest sands and bluest waters to see.

Popular activities you can experience in Islamorada include The Theater of the Sea, Florida Keys History and Discovery Center, History of Diving Museum, Morada Way Arts and Cultural District, eco tours and kayaking, Long Key State Park, Indian Key Historic Park, Alligator Reef Lighthouse and so much more.

I highly recommend checking out Morada Bay for appetizers and margaritas. As it’s just an atmosphere you can’t beat or experience anywhere else. Morada Bay is a luxury dining and event destination that definitely encompasses a laid-back lifestyle combined with the beauty of the area. Located directly on the water, with colorful tables and chairs, it truly makes you feel like you’ve been transported to the Caribbean.

Have Dinner at Snook's Bayside

Snook’s, not Snooki, this isn’t the Jersey Shore. Snook’s Bayside Restaurant & Grand Tiki is a highly rated open-air restaurant with a waterfront patio, specializing in seafood and tropical drinks. The dinner menu offers an array of choices including starters like scallops wrapped in bacon, tuna nachos, lobster & shrimp cakes and coconut shrimp. As for entrees, they have mahi mahi, yellowtail, mussels, crab claws, lobster tails and much more. Of course, if you’re interested in dessert, they have plenty to choose from including the classic key lime pie. The tropical drink menu will overwhelm you with so many delicious mixtures, you won’t know which to try first. They even have a signature fresh coconut drink where you can drink out of a real coconut with rum haven and coconut punch.

One fun evening tradition at Snook’s Bayside is to sounding the horn at sunset. If you volunteer to sound the horn when the sun sets, you’ll receive a complimentary coconut drink! I had the honor of sounding the horn and it was so much fun. I was glad I wore a cute dress for my shining moment and definitely enjoyed my coconut drink afterward!

Book a Cruise on the Atlantic Ocean

The Key Largo Princess offers boat cruises with different experiences, depending on what you’re looking for and what time of day you want to go. The cruises allow you to go through the waters of the famous John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, a must-see while you’re in Key Largo.

Getting out on the water is definitely a great way to spend your day. Key Largo Princess has glass-bottom boats, sunset cruises, parasailing and private charters available. The Key Largo Bottom Boat Cruise comes recommended as it’s one of the coolest experiences you can have on a boat. The luxurious 75-foot, 140 passenger, glass bottom aluminum motor yacht allows you to have a panoramic view of the ocean floor and coral reef with all its changing colors and marine life below. This 2-hour journey allows you to relax, have some adventure and sip cocktails as the sun is setting.