Flying into Miami, as you exit the airport, take 836 West to the Florida Turnpike. If you fly into Fort Lauderdale,
get on 595 West to the turnpike as well. The Turnpike ends in Florida City where it merges into US 1. There are
about$4.00 in tolls on the Turnpike.  Have $1.00 bills - it makes it easier.

The toll road ends in Florida City.  From there you merge onto US 1.  Once the turnpike and US 1 merge, you'll
come to a stoplight where you can turn right to go to "Robert is Here" (see the attractions page for what this is).
Or go straight to the Keys. If you go straight to the keys, once you pass the last gas station on the left, you'll go
past the "Last Chance Saloon" on the right.

From here take the very next left.  This is Card Sound Road

If you stay on US 1 at this point you will be on the infamous 18 mile stretch.  Next stop Key Largo.  The speed
limit is 55.  People drive between 55 - 65 MPH.  There are three passing lanes where everyone goes 150 MPH so
no one passes anyone.  
US 1 will merge with Card Sound Road in Key Largo.

Be safe and drive smart - you're only 90 minutes away, this is no time to get killed

If you took the Card Sound Road rather than the 18 mile stretch, after a bit you'll come to a wide spot
in the road where a nice little rest stop called Alabama Jacks is located.  Stop in have a refreshment.  
Try the crab cakes or anything else that catches your eye.

When leaving Alabama Jacks, go through the toll booth (it'll cost you another $1.00)  Follow the road up over a
huge bridge,until the road comes to a "T".  Turn Right.  After about 5 miles or so Card Sound Road will meet up
with US 1 in Key Largo.

US 1 has some of the most scenic views of the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  
ANYWHERE !  The beauty of the road really starts after Key Largo.

Driving US 1 is easy if you follow the speed limit.  The Monroe County Sheriff Department does not look kindly at
DWI, nor do they like speeders.  (see above black bold sentence).

Going through Key Largo will take about 15 minutes.  It's like any other large city that you drive through anywhere
in Florida.  Past Key Largo is where the beauty begins.  At this point in time you are probably thinking that
everyone who has said the drive is so beautiful is full of CRAP.  Just wait it gets much better.

It's about a 25 minute drive to Islamorada.  In Islamorada, you will begin to see the beautiful blue waters of the
Atlantic Ocean.  Traveling bridges, and roads through narrow strips of land will make the previous hour of your
trip melt from your mind.

It takes about 20 minutes to drive through Islamorada.  See the info on the Islamorada page about places to see
and places to eat.  From here you've got about a 30 minute drive to Key Colony Beach.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To get to our home go past mile marker 54 to the traffic light at Sadowski Causeway. Sadowski Causeway is the
second stoplight AFTER you leave Islamorada. Turn left on Sadowski Causeway, go over the small bridge and our
house is the fifth on the left we are house numbers #39 & #40.
The distance from Miami Airport to our house is approximately 110 miles.
Directions
Getting


Here
U.S. 1 is the only road from the mainland to Key West. When traveling on U.S. 1
you will see small green signs called mile markers, often referred to as "MM". The
Keys begin in Key Largo at MM 113 and end at MM 0 in Key West.

While you're visiting you will also hear people say "oceanside" and "bay side". If
you're headed south (toward Key West from Miami) , the Atlantic Ocean is on the
left and the Gulf of Mexico is on your right. Obviously it is the opposite if you are
headed north.

MM and the references to oceanside and bay side are used instead of addresses to
describe locations. Keep in mind there are no partial mile markers, so if you are
told that a restaurant is located at M.M. 87.5, this means it is about half way
between MM 87 and MM 88.
Click the Yellowtail above
to get printable directions