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Day Trips from Miami to Key West & Beyond

A day down the Overseas Highway to Key West, or out to the Everglades, Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Keys.

How to choose a day trip from Miami

Key West and the Florida Keys

The classic day trip runs down the Overseas Highway, which hops from island to island over the sea: Key Largo, Islamorada, the Seven Mile Bridge and finally Key West, about 160 miles from Miami. That is roughly four hours each way, so tours leave around 6–7 am and return late in the evening, with three to four hours on the island — the Southernmost Point, Duval Street, Hemingway's house and the sunset at Mallory Square on the longer tours.

Small-group vans of up to about 14 people stop along the Keys for photos and breakfast; private tours with a driver let you choose the stops and the pace.

North: the Space Center, Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale

The Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral is about three and a half hours north, so the trip takes around 12 hours; the visitor complex has the Saturn V and Space Shuttle Atlantis, and you may see a launch if one is scheduled. Palm Beach, an hour and a half away, is a calmer day: the mansions of the island, the Flagler Museum and The Breakers hotel, often combined with Fort Lauderdale's canals and beach.

For the Everglades, which are less than an hour away and take half a day, see the Everglades page.

Small group or private?

Small-group tours are the cheaper option and include the transport and a guide; entrance tickets, meals and activities in Key West or at the Space Center are often extra, so compare what is included. Private tours cost much more but are priced for the whole car or SUV, so they become reasonable for a family or a group of friends.

Wear comfortable clothes for a long time in the car, bring snacks and a swimsuit if your tour stops at a beach, and check the pickup point and time the day before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a day trip from Miami to Key West worth it?

If you can't stay overnight, yes — the drive over the Keys is part of the experience. But it is a long day of about 12 hours with eight in the car; with more time, spending a night in Key West is more relaxed.

How far is Key West from Miami?

About 160 miles, or roughly four hours by road on the Overseas Highway without stops. Tours take longer because they stop in the Keys on the way.

Can you visit the Kennedy Space Center from Miami in a day?

Yes, tours from Miami take about 12 hours: around three and a half hours each way and five to six hours at the visitor complex. Check whether the entrance ticket is included.

What is included in a day trip?

Transport and a driver or guide are always included; entrance fees, meals and activities vary from tour to tour. Each tour page lists what is and isn't included.