You're standing in Fort Lauderdale, maybe grabbing a coffee on Las Olas, and you think, "Hey, let's just run down to Key West for lunch." It sounds easy. Florida looks skinny on a map. But if you’re asking how far is Key West from Ft Lauderdale Florida, you’re actually asking two different questions: how many miles is it, and how much of your life are you about to spend in a car?
The short answer is roughly 189 miles.
The long answer involves a two-lane highway, aggressive iguanas, and the soul-crushing reality of Florida City traffic. It’s a trek. Honestly, it’s one of the most beautiful drives in the United States, but it’s also a test of patience that can take anywhere from four to seven hours depending on whether a boat is stuck under a bridge or if it’s a holiday weekend.
The cold hard numbers on the distance
Let's look at the actual geography. If you take the most common route—Florida's Turnpike down to US-1—you are looking at about 190 miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale to the Southernmost Point buoy. If you’re flying a Cessna, it’s only about 140 nautical miles. But you probably aren’t flying a Cessna.
Most people leave Fort Lauderdale and head south through Miami. This is the first mistake. If you leave at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday, you’re hitting the teeth of Miami’s rush hour. That 189-mile trip doesn't feel like a road trip; it feels like a parking lot. Once you pass Homestead and hit "The Stretch"—that 18-mile span of US-1 that connects the mainland to Key Largo—everything changes. The road narrows. The water turns turquoise. You realize you’ve officially left the "real world" behind.
Breaking down the segments
It’s easier to think of the trip in chunks rather than one long haul.
First, there's the Fort Lauderdale to Homestead leg. That's about 60 miles. Then you have the 18-mile "Stretch" to Key Largo. From Key Largo to Marathon, you’ve got another 45-ish miles. Finally, the home stretch from Marathon to Key West is about 50 miles, including the iconic Seven Mile Bridge.
Why the travel time is a total wildcard
Timing is everything. If you Google "how far is Key West from Ft Lauderdale Florida," it might tell you three hours and forty-five minutes.
Google is a liar.
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Well, maybe not a liar, but an optimist. To hit that time, you’d need green lights through every single town in the Keys—Tavernier, Islamorada, Layton, Duck Key—and you’d need zero tourists trying to turn left into a tiki bar.
The speed limits in the Keys are strictly enforced. Monroe County Sheriff's deputies don't play around. In many spots, the limit drops to 35 or 45 mph. You’re going through residential areas and protected deer habitats. Big Pine Key, for example, is home to the tiny Key Deer. If you speed through there, you aren't just getting a ticket; you're risking a federal offense because those little guys are endangered. So, while the distance isn't massive, the velocity is low. It’s slow-motion travel.
Then there’s the "Overseas Highway" factor. It’s a single road. One lane down, one lane up for huge stretches. If a delivery truck breaks down or there’s a minor fender bender, the entire chain of islands effectively shuts down. You’re stuck. You might as well turn off the engine and go for a swim.
Alternative ways to bridge the gap
Driving isn't the only way to cover the distance. People forget that Florida is basically a giant pier surrounded by water.
- The Private Boat Option: If you have a decent center console, you can run from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. It’s roughly 160 miles by water if you stay on the Atlantic side. It's faster than the car if the seas are flat, but it's a beating if the wind is out of the east.
- Flying: Silver Airways and occasionally other regionals run "puddle jumpers" from FLL to EYW. It takes 45 minutes. You spend more time in the security line at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International than you do in the air. It’s pricey, but the view of the reefs from 5,000 feet is unbeatable.
- The Bus: There are shuttle services like the Keys Shuttle. It’s fine. It’s cheap. But you’re at the mercy of the driver’s schedule and other passengers' bathroom breaks.
Key stops that make the distance worth it
If you just drive straight through, you’re doing it wrong. The distance from Fort Lauderdale to Key West should be measured in snacks and sights, not just miles.
Stop at Alabama Jack’s on Card Sound Road. It’s slightly off the main path, but the conch fritters are legendary. It’s a biker bar/family joint/local haunt that sits right on the edge of the mangroves.
Further down, you hit Islamorada. Stop at Robbie’s. You can feed massive tarpon from the dock. It’s touristy as heck, but seeing a six-foot fish jump out of the water to grab a herring from your hand is a core Florida memory.
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By the time you hit Marathon, you’re probably tired. This is where you cross the Seven Mile Bridge. It’s the crown jewel of the drive. The old bridge sits to your right, rusted and broken in places, while you glide over the new span with nothing but blue water on both sides. It feels like you’re driving on the ocean. Because, well, you basically are.
The "Day Trip" Delusion
Can you do a day trip from Fort Lauderdale to Key West?
Sure.
Should you?
Probably not.
Think about the math. If you leave at 7:00 AM, you arrive around 11:30 AM. You eat a slice of Key Lime pie, walk Duval Street, see the buoy, and by 3:00 PM, you have to start thinking about the drive back to avoid getting home at midnight. That’s eight or nine hours in a car for three hours of island time. That’s not a vacation; that’s a commute.
Key West is a place that requires a sunset. It requires a slow evening at Mallory Square watching the performers. It requires a "Painkiller" cocktail at a bar that doesn't have a front door. If you’re making the trek from Broward County, give yourself at least one night. The distance is just long enough that a round-trip in 24 hours feels like a marathon.
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Weather and Seasonal Chaos
The distance doesn't change, but the difficulty does.
During "Season"—roughly January through April—the population of the Keys triples. Snowbirds from the north flock down US-1 in their RVs. An RV doing 30 mph on a one-lane bridge will turn your four-hour drive into a six-hour ordeal.
And then there's the rain. Tropical downpours in South Florida are no joke. They happen fast and they are blinding. When a cell hits the Overseas Highway, everyone slows down to a crawl. You’ll see hazards flashing everywhere.
Technical Logistics: Fuel and Tolls
If you’re taking the Turnpike from Fort Lauderdale, you’ll hit tolls. It’s all electronic now (SunPass), so don't worry about digging for quarters in your cup holder. If you’re in a rental, make sure you know their toll policy, or they’ll hit you with "convenience fees" that cost more than the trip itself.
Fuel up before you leave Homestead. Gas prices in Key West are consistently higher than in Fort Lauderdale. There are plenty of stations along the way—Cudjoe Key, Big Pine, Marathon—but the "Last Chance" gas station in Florida City is usually your best bet for a fair price before you enter the island ecosystem.
Real talk on the "Island Time" transition
The most important thing to understand about how far is Key West from Ft Lauderdale Florida is the psychological distance.
Fort Lauderdale is high-speed. It’s Ferraris on A1A and corporate towers. The Keys are the opposite. The moment you cross that first bridge into Key Largo, you need to drop your shoulders. If you try to drive with "Fort Lauderdale energy," you’re going to be miserable. You’re going to be stuck behind a boat trailer, and you’re going to get frustrated.
Accept the pace. The distance is 189 miles, but the vibe is a thousand miles away.
Actionable Next Steps for your Trip
- Check the Florida 511 App: Before you leave Fort Lauderdale, check for accidents on US-1. If there's a major wreck at Mile Marker 80, grab a sandwich and wait it out in Fort Lauderdale. There is no detour.
- Time your departure: Leave either very early (before 6:30 AM) or after the morning rush (around 10:00 AM). Avoid leaving on Friday afternoons when everyone else in South Florida is heading to the islands.
- Hydrate but be strategic: Public restrooms are surprisingly sparse on certain stretches of the highway. Plan your stops in larger hubs like Key Largo or Marathon.
- Download offline maps: Cell service is generally good, but there are dead zones near the Everglades and certain lower keys. Having a downloaded map ensures you don't miss your turn-off for that hidden beach.
- Pack a physical sunshade: If you park your car in Key West for the day, the interior will reach roughly the temperature of the sun. A simple windshield shade is a lifesaver.
- Check the wind: If you’re considering a boat or a ferry, check the marine forecast. A 15-knot wind from the south makes for a very bouncy, very salty ride.