You land at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The humidity hits you like a warm, wet blanket the second you step out of Terminal 3. You’re headed south. Key Largo is the goal. It’s the gateway to the Florida Keys, that first taste of salt air and Jimmy Buffett vibes. But honestly? The stretch from FLL to Key Largo can either be a breezy ninety-minute cruise or a three-hour soul-crushing crawl through suburban sprawl and SunPass confusion.
People think it’s just one straight shot. It isn't.
Depending on when you touch down, you’re either fighting the nightmare that is I-95 south or navigating the constant construction on the Florida Turnpike. Most travelers make the mistake of just following Google Maps blindly. Big mistake. If you hit the Golden Glades Interchange at 4:30 PM on a Friday, you might as well find a diner and wait it out.
The Reality of the FLL to Key Largo Drive
Let's talk logistics. From the FLL rental car center, you're looking at roughly 70 to 75 miles. If the gods of traffic are smiling, you’re there in about an hour and fifteen minutes. But south Florida traffic is a fickle beast.
Most people assume they should just take I-95 all the way down. Don't. Unless you enjoy watching the brake lights of a thousand commuters, you want the Florida Turnpike. It’s a toll road, yeah, but it bypasses the absolute chaos of downtown Miami.
Tolls, SunPass, and the "Rental Car Trap"
Here is where they get you. Florida’s turnpikes are almost entirely electronic now. There are no booths to throw quarters into. If you're driving from FLL to Key Largo, you’re going to hit multiple toll gantries.
Rental companies like Hertz or Enterprise will offer you an "all-inclusive" toll package. It sounds convenient. Usually, it's a rip-off. They might charge you $10 or $15 a day just for the privilege of using their transponder, plus the cost of the tolls. If you’re staying for a week, you just spent a hundred bucks to save five minutes of administrative work.
Pro tip: Buy a SunPass PRO or a Uni transponder at a Publix or Walgreens once you leave the airport. It costs about $15, works in 19 states, and saves you a fortune in "administrative fees" from the rental agency.
Choosing Your Path: The Three Main Routes
You have options. Not all roads are created equal when you're heading toward the 305 and beyond.
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- The Turnpike (The Fast Way): Take I-595 West from the airport to the Florida Turnpike South. This is the smoothest ride. It dumps you out right at "The Stretch"—that's the 18-mile run of US-1 that connects the mainland to Key Largo.
- US-1 / South Dixie Highway (The Local Way): This is for people who hate themselves or have way too much time. It's stop-and-go. It’s traffic lights every block through Coral Gables and Pinecrest. Avoid it unless you really need to stop at a specific shop in Miami.
- Card Sound Road (The Scenic Way): About 20 miles south of Florida City, you can veer off the main road onto Card Sound Road (CR 905). It costs a small toll (separate from SunPass sometimes, though they've updated the tech recently), but it takes you through the high mangroves.
Why Card Sound Road is the "Secret" Winner
If you take Card Sound Road, you aren't just driving; you're transitioning. It feels like the old Florida. It’s a two-lane bridge with a massive arch that gives you your first real view of the turquoise water. Plus, it leads you right to Alabama Jack’s.
It's a dive bar. It’s on a canal. The floor is slightly slanted. They serve conch fritters that are probably 40% breading and 60% magic. If you’re making the trek from FLL to Key Largo, stopping here is basically a rite of passage. It sets the tone for the whole trip.
The "Stretch": Where the Vacation Actually Begins
Once you pass Florida City (the last place to get cheap gas, by the way), you hit the 18-mile stretch of US-1. This is the umbilical cord of the Keys.
It used to be one of the most dangerous roads in America. Head-on collisions were constant because people were too excited/drunk/impatient. Now, there’s a concrete median for most of it. It’s safer, sure, but it means if there’s a wreck, you are stuck. There is no turning around. There is no "side street." You are part of the island chain's ecosystem now.
Check the Florida 511 app before you leave Florida City. If there's a "Signal 4" (accident) on the 18-mile stretch, take Card Sound Road instead. Seriously. I've seen people sit for four hours because a boat trailer flipped over.
Essential Pit Stops Between FLL and the Keys
You're hungry. I get it. Airplane pretzels don't count as a meal.
- Robert Is Here: Located in Homestead, just before you hit the Keys. It’s a fruit stand that turned into a local empire. Get a milkshake. Key Lime or Soursop. Don't ask questions, just order it.
- Casita Tejas: In Homestead. If you want authentic Mexican food before you pivot to a week of mahi-mahi sandwiches, this is the spot.
- The Last Chance Saloon: Exactly what it sounds like. It's the last bar on the mainland. It’s gritty, it’s real, and it’s the perfect place to grab a Gatorade and psyche yourself up for the island life.
Transportation Alternatives: What if You Don't Want to Drive?
Maybe you don't want to deal with the rental car hustle. I don't blame you. Driving in Miami is basically a contact sport.
The Keys Shuttle is the most reliable commercial option. They run vans from FLL to Key Largo several times a day. It usually costs somewhere between $70 and $100 per person. It’s clean, they have Wi-Fi (usually), and you don't have to worry about the tolls.
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Uber and Lyft will take you there, too. Expect to pay anywhere from $120 to $250 depending on the "surge." Here’s a tip: most Uber drivers in Fort Lauderdale hate going to the Keys because they often have to drive back empty. If you find a driver willing to do it, be a decent human and tip them well. They’re basically giving up four hours of their life for your vacation.
Timing is Everything
If you land at FLL at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday, you’re golden.
If you land at 3:00 PM? You’re in for a rough ride. The commute from Fort Lauderdale down to Florida City is one of the densest in the country. You’re competing with everyone working in the Miami-Dade tech corridor and the service industry folks heading home.
The Saturday Morning Rush: This is the one that catches tourists off guard. Every rental in Key Largo has a check-in time around 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM on Saturdays. Consequently, everyone hits the road at the same time. The 18-mile stretch turns into a parking lot. Try to get through Florida City before 10:00 AM or after 6:00 PM.
Arriving in Key Largo: The First Mile Markers
In the Keys, we don't use addresses much. We use Mile Markers (MM).
Key Largo starts around MM 108 and ends around MM 90.
- MM 102: The heart of town. This is where you'll find the grocery stores (Publix/Winn-Dixie) and the big dive shops.
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: Located at MM 102.5. If you came here to snorkel or kayak, this is your Mecca. It was the first undersea park in the U.S.
- The African Queen: Yes, the actual boat from the Humphrey Bogart movie is docked at MM 100. You can take a canal cruise on it. It’s touristy, but hey, you’re a tourist.
Common Misconceptions About the Trip
"It's an island, I'll see the ocean the whole way!"
Nope. Not on the drive from FLL to Key Largo.
Most of the drive is through the Everglades buffer zone or protected mangroves. You’ll see a lot of tall green walls of trees. You won't actually see the wide-open blue water until you get deeper into the Keys or cross the bridge at Card Sound.
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"I can bike it!"
Please don't. While the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail is getting better every year, the section between the mainland and Key Largo is not bike-friendly for casual riders. It’s hot, the bugs are the size of small birds, and the trucks move fast.
Logistics Checklist for the FLL to Key Largo Journey
Before you put the car in drive at the FLL terminal, do these things:
- Check the Spare: Rental cars are notorious for having "temporary" spares or none at all. The Stretch is a bad place to find out you're missing a jack.
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service is usually fine, but it can get spotty in the middle of the mangroves if a storm rolls through.
- Hydrate: It’s not just a suggestion. The Florida sun through a windshield is a dehydrating laser beam.
- SunPass: Check if your car has a "PlatePass" or similar. If it does, find the physical switch to turn it off if you brought your own transponder. Otherwise, you’ll get double-charged.
Actionable Next Steps
Instead of just winging it, here is how you handle the trek from FLL to Key Largo like a pro.
First, check the flight arrival times. If you're landing during peak traffic, book a table for a late lunch in Hollywood or Dania Beach right near the airport. Let the rush hour die down while you eat some smoked fish dip at Le Tub or Tiki Tiki.
Second, verify your toll situation. Don't let the rental agent scare you into a $20-a-day "convenience fee." If you don't have a transponder, just let them bill your plate. Even with the $5-per-day "usage fee" most companies charge, it’s often cheaper than the flat-rate "unlimited" packages for a short trip.
Third, make the choice between speed and soul. If you’re in a rush to hit the hotel pool, take the Turnpike to the 18-mile stretch. If you want the "Keys feeling" to start the moment you leave the mainland, take the slight detour through Homestead and hit Card Sound Road.
Stop at Robert Is Here for a shake, pull over at Alabama Jack’s for a cold one, and roll the windows down. By the time you hit the Key Largo sign, you’ll actually be relaxed instead of stressed from the I-95 madness. That’s how you start a vacation.
Navigate to the Florida 511 website or app the moment you clear luggage claim to see the live camera feeds on the Turnpike. If it's glowing red, take your time getting the car. There's no point in rushing to sit in traffic.