I knew I wanted to visit Key West for a quick spring getaway, but when I looked at plane tickets that flew directly from MSP to Key West, I was a little shocked! Tickets to Miami are usually fairly cheap, so we opted to fly into Miami and drive down to Key West instead. And I’m so glad we did! We found so many fun stops to make from Miami to Key West and made a day of the road trip!
Without stops, the trip from Miami to Key West takes just over 3 hours, but we took our time taking just over 5 hours. Here are our favorite stops along the way!
Stop #1: The Rain Barrel
One of the first things you’ll notice on your drive from Miami to Key West is the crazy amount of art and knick knack shops. These beachy little shops give you something to look at as you drive by, but make sure to pull over for The Rain Barrel. This spot is full of local art, decor, and gift shops – all located in a unique grove that is really fun to wander around. There’s even a snack shack if you need a treat while you take advantage of all the photo ops!
Stop #2: Florida Keys Brewing Company
After an hour or so on the road, it was time for a cold one. (Don’t worry, we only had one…and so should you if you’re driving :)) We love exploring local breweries when we travel somewhere new so we had to stop at Florida Keys Brewing Co! Their new location screams “island life” wherever you look, from the fun colors, to the hula hoops, to the backyard to relax in. We officially felt like we were on vacay after this stop!
Stop #3: Robbie’s
If you’re only going to make one stop on your way from Miami to Key West, make sure Robbie’s is it! This place has it all: shops with local art, a restaurant, and best of all, tarpon. For $3, we bought a bucket of fish and walked out onto the docks to feed the tarpon. And oh my gosh, they are HUGE! Just hold the bait over the water a few inches and these 4 foot tarpon will jump out of the water and snatch it out of your hands! So crazy! This was a highlight of our trip overall…such a fun experience!
Stop #4: Keys Fisheries
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We stopped at Keys Fisheries in Marathon for a late lunch and some beautiful views of the ocean. Keys Fisheries is a marina and fish market, along with being a restaurant. Fresh seafood is not in short supply! We ate at the second story raw bar overlooking the water and ordered fish tacos and coconut shrimp to satisfy our seafood craving. This is such a relaxing spot away from the highway!
Stop #5: The Perry Hotel Key West
This was our final stop from Miami to Key West and our home for the long weekend! This hotel is the CUTEST and we had the best time hanging out at the pool and enjoying the view. Read all about my 7 reasons to stay at the Perry Hotel Key West here!
BONUS Stop #6: Islamorada Beer Company
Still looking for more ideas? On our way back we stopped at Islamorada Beer Co. to try a flight of their beer. We spotted this place on our way down and decided to stop by on our way back to Miami! My favorite was the coconut key lime blonde – so perfect for the Florida Keys!
BONUS Stop #7: Corks & Curds
Once we hit Key Largo on our way back we were hungry for some food that wasn’t seafood being we ate so much of it over the weekend in Key West! I started searching google maps for something different when I came across Corks & Curds. This is definitely not an island-feel spot, but if you’re into charcuterie boards and a dark ambiance, it will blow you away. Corks & Curds was filled with locals and has crazy good wine and snacks!
Next time, we for sure want to try some snorkeling at John Pennekamp State Park. Until then, happy road tripping and check out our video from our drive from Miami to Key West!
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