Key West is the southernmost city in the continental United States, and the journey there from Miami is one of the great American road trips. From Miami International Airport (MIA) it is about 160 miles (260 km) south along the Overseas Highway, a drive of roughly 3.5 to 4 hours in normal traffic that crosses more than 40 islands and the famous Seven Mile Bridge. This guide explains every way to get from Miami to Key West, what each costs and how long it takes, plus the best places to stop in the Florida Keys along the way.
Quick comparison
- Rental car: 3.5 to 4 hours, the most popular and most scenic option. Total freedom to stop. Pick up right at MIA.
- Shared shuttle van: about $80 to $110 per person, 4 to 5 hours, door to door.
- Bus (Greyhound/FlixBus): roughly $30 to $55, about 4.5 hours, several departures a day.
- Flight (MIA to EYW): about 1 hour in the air, the fastest but priciest option, with several short hops daily.
- Ferry: there is no scheduled passenger ferry directly from Miami (see the note below).
Driving the Overseas Highway (the classic choice)
For most visitors the drive is the trip, not just the transfer. The Overseas Highway (US Route 1) runs the length of the Florida Keys, hopping island to island on a chain of bridges with water on both sides. You can rent a car straight from the airport; see our Miami Airport car rental guide for deals and pick-up tips. Allow a full half day if you want to stop, and watch the green mile markers (MM) on the roadside: they count down from around MM 126 near Florida City to MM 0 in Key West, and locals use them as addresses. Fill the tank before the longer bridges, and book parking or a hotel with a space in advance, because Key West itself is small, walkable and tight on parking.
Best stops along the way
- Key Largo (around MM 100): the self-styled diving capital, gateway to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and its glass-bottom boat and snorkel trips.
- Islamorada (around MM 82): a string of islands known for sportfishing, sandbars and waterfront seafood restaurants.
- Marathon (around MM 50): home to the Turtle Hospital, Sombrero Beach and the start of the Seven Mile Bridge.
- Bahia Honda State Park (around MM 37): often rated among Florida's finest beaches, with calm turquoise water and views of the old railway bridge.
- Big Pine Key (around MM 30): watch your speed here, as it is home to the tiny, protected Key deer that wander near the road.
Shared shuttles and private transfers
If you would rather not drive, several shuttle companies run door-to-door vans between the Miami area and Key West for roughly $80 to $110 per person each way, taking about 4 to 5 hours with a rest stop. They are comfortable and hassle-free, though you lose the freedom to linger at the stops above. A private transfer costs more but gives a fixed price and a vehicle to yourselves, which can work out reasonably for a family or group. Book ahead in winter and around holidays, when the Keys are busiest.
Taking the bus
Intercity bus operators including Greyhound and FlixBus serve the Miami to Key West route, with fares commonly between $30 and $55 one way and a journey of about 4.5 hours. It is the cheapest way down the Keys without driving, and a relaxed way to enjoy the views, but you will then rely on walking, cycling or local transport once you reach Key West, which is easy since the old town is compact.
Flying from MIA to Key West
If time matters more than budget, you can fly. Short hops connect Miami International Airport with Key West International Airport (EYW) in about one hour, with several departures a day on regional carriers. Fares are usually well above the bus or your share of fuel, and once you add airport time the door-to-door saving over driving is smaller than it looks, but it is the quickest option and useful if you are short on days.
A note on the ferry
Many visitors expect a ferry from Miami, but there is no scheduled passenger ferry directly from Miami to Key West. The well-known Key West Express service sails from Fort Myers Beach and Marco Island on Florida's Gulf coast, not from Miami. From the Miami side, plan to drive, take the bus or a shuttle, or fly.
When to go and what to expect in Key West
The Keys are a year-round destination, but the peak season runs roughly from December to April, when the weather is driest and prices and crowds are highest. Summer is hotter, more humid and cheaper, with afternoon storms, and the official Atlantic hurricane season runs June to November, so watch the forecast. Once you arrive, Key West rewards a slow pace: the pastel old town and Duval Street, Ernest Hemingway's home with its six-toed cats, the nightly sunset celebration at Mallory Square and the buoy marking the Southernmost Point in the continental United States.
Planning your trip around your flight
If you are flying into Miami first, give yourself a sensible buffer before heading down the Keys, especially if you land late, since the drive is long and there is little point starting it tired. Many travellers spend their first night near the airport or in Miami and set off the next morning. For getting into the city instead, see our Miami Airport to Downtown guide, and if a cruise is part of your trip, our companion guide on getting from MIA to the PortMiami cruise terminal covers every option.
Distances, fares and schedules are approximate and current as of 2026; always confirm with operators before you travel. Useful references: Florida Keys & Key West tourism, Bahia Honda State Park and Greyhound. Image credits: photographs via Wikimedia Commons, used under their respective public-domain, CC0 or Creative Commons (CC BY / CC BY-SA) licences; the photographer and licence for each image are listed on its Wikimedia Commons file page.
