How long key west bridge

Eventually the Lower Keys segue into Key West , where the highway ends amid 19th-century charm and modern-day attractions. Today, you can leave the Florida mainland and travel the entire length of the Overseas Highway, through all the Keys to Key West , in less than four hours. But instead, try driving at a more leisurely pace — stopping at tempting seafood restaurants and roadside galleries, following inviting side roads, and taking pleasure in the ever-changing land- and seascapes to be viewed from the Highway That Goes to Sea.

View Larger Image. Share this story! Previous Next. But a few had either left their common sense at home or enjoyed enough tropical cocktails to make them a little hazy on geography and the laws of nature. The Keys are known around the world for their incredible Technicolor sunsets. But trust me — no matter how terrific it is, sunset only takes place once a day.

Swimming with dolphins at a Keys marine mammal center means an unforgettable experience with ocean inhabitants — not football players! Another unforgettable visitor, a rabid Miami Dolphins fan, apparently hoped to interact with his favorite players during his Key Largo vacation.

With a couple of fun stops and a break for a leisurely local lunch, we would recommend eight to ten hours to drive the Overseas Highway. Although if you were powering straight through you could go there and back in one day, the best way to do it is to start in Miami and spend a day driving down, then enjoy a night in Key West sipping cocktails in front of a fabulous sunset.

As we said, there are a whole host of amazing places to stop off at along the Overseas Highway, but which ones you choose and which activities you take part in will influence how long it takes you to drive from one end to the other. Realistically, you'll probably need more than a day if you're going to do justice to all of our favourites listed here, but all of the bigger islands do have some hotels, so if you did want to take your time and make a few days of it then go ahead.

While the traditional lure of the Overseas Highway may lie in the sweeping views of the coast, don't underestimate the magic of what's lurking beneath those crystal clear waters too. If you love being in the sea then you're going to want to stop almost as soon as you start driving, with a visit to Key Largo.

Roughly one hour and 20 minutes from Miami and the first island you come to on the road trip, Key Largo is a haven for snorkelling and diving, with a world-class reputation. In addition to natural reefs, it also offers some phenomenal wreck-diving, as well as parasailing, kayaking and paddle boarding. If you prefer to stay above water or on dry land, there are also glass-bottom boats, wildlife centres and a bit of good old sunbathing to indulge in.

Traditionally the sport-fishing capital of the Florida Keys, Islamorada is now fast gaining a reputation as a foodie-haven - so we can think of nowhere better to stop for a spot of lunch. Actually a series of six small islands incorporated into one 'village,' Islamorada boasts a huge selection of great restaurants serving up fresh seafood and shellfish with stunning views across the very seas that it came from.

If you did want to do some fishing first and catch your own lunch, many of the restaurants will be only too happy to cook it for you afterwards.

Contrary to the name of this stretch of the Overseas Highway, it's not runners but animal lovers that will really enjoy a pitstop in Marathon. In an area of the U. The real highlight of the island though is the totally adorable Turtle Hospital, which rescues, rehabs and releases sea turtles. I lived in Key West during the summer of I grew up in Miami, but the Keys remained my playground, a place to camp and fish and study nature and history.

Just a few grunt and snapper. But it was a great adventure, standing on the long bridge, looking down into water clear enough to see passing sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, endangered sawfish. Panama City is a four-season paradise for water sports enthusiasts. Kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing and kiteboarding are popular activities on A richly personable neighborhood of Tampa, Ybor City retains the Cuban, Italian and Spanish influences that remain from its heyday as the hub of Panama City Beach, featuring 27 miles of white sand beaches along the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico, is home to two state parks St.

The town of Plant City is known as the Winter Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys. Jeff Klinkenberg No need to be scared. Go ahead and drive over the Seven Mile Bridge.

The train arrived too late. Bernie Russell lost more than 40 relatives. The Flagler railroad was lost too. The Overseas Highway, as it still is called, opened in