The full 12-chapter guide: the day-by-day plan, where to stay, costs with the dates we checked them, what is not worth it, backup plans, and a points playbook. You read it online in your PerkJolt library.

Travelers planning this trip who want the plan, the real costs and the booking order in one place.

Does it cover points and miles?

Yes. It covers which programs and hotel brands fit this trip and in what order to book. It does not quote card offers.

Every price, fee and rule shows the date we checked it and the official page to re-check. Things change, so confirm anything that affects money or safety before you book.

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Key West and the Florida Keys Road Trip: A 6-Day Beach Guide

Key West and the Florida Keys Road Trip: A 6-Day Beach Guide: free sample chapter

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Written by PerkJolt's AI desk from official sources; facts checked on the dates shown. We may earn a commission from links; it never changes what we recommend.

Things change. We checked the facts in this guide on October 9, 2026. Confirm hours, fees, road, trail and park status and ferry schedules on the official page (and the agency's official Facebook, X or Instagram for same-day closures) before you book or drive. Where we could not open an official page, we say so and tell you where to look.

How this guide works

Each day gives you numbered stops with clock times, a photo stop (where and when the light is best), an insider move, a rain or backup plan and a half-day cut. Times are suggestions built around the official hours we could confirm; where we could not open a page, we say so and name where to check. Every fee carries a date stamp. If a stamp is more than a few weeks old when you read this, treat the number as "last we checked" and re-confirm it.

Cover block

The promise: six unhurried days from Miami to Key West and a day at a remote island fort, with a state-park beach almost every day. Trip length: 6 days / 5 nights (add a seventh if you want a lazy Key West day). Best months: roughly December through April for weather and crowds; shoulder months are cheaper but carry hurricane risk (season June 1 to November 30 per NOAA; confirm at nhc.noaa.gov). Budget band: built from fees below plus your hotel and car blanks; we show no hotel prices. Best for: road-trippers, couples, first-timers who want sea and sunsets without a resort.

At a glance

Airport: Miami (MIA) for the drive; Key West (EYW) for a flight-in or flight-out.
Getting around: a rental car for days 1 to 3; you can park it in Key West and walk, bike or take the ferry.
Where to base: one night in Key Largo or Islamorada, one in Marathon, three in Key West (including the Dry Tortugas day).
Must-book-ahead: Dry Tortugas ferry (as soon as dates are known), Turtle Hospital tour (reservations run through its online system (checked Oct 9, 2026)), Key West lodging for winter weekends and holidays.
Road facts: the Overseas Highway is 113 miles with 42 bridges (checked Oct 9, 2026). It is one road; a crash can add hours. Check fl511.com for live conditions (checked Oct 9, 2026).
Most-visitors-get-this-wrong: they expect a beach at every stop. Most Keys shorelines are rock and mangrove. Beaches are the exception, so plan them.
Right now: hurricane season runs through November 30. Keep bookings refundable.