Florida Keys Road Trip: One-Week Itinerary (2023)

Are you looking for the complete Florida Keys adventure? I spent about four months exploring from Key Largo to Key West on my sailboat and have put together the perfect one-week itinerary.

The Keys are a beautiful place to spend a solo vacation. It only takes about 2.5 hours to drive the 100 miles from end to end. This is a strip of paradise though, so it can be quite expensive. Here’s what I recommend in regards to saving money, places to go, things to do, and where to stay:

Getting There and Transportation

There is an international airport in Miami and one in Key West, so technically, you could get a one-way ticket to Miami and then leave from Key West (or vice versa). This is 100% personal preference. I recommend you rent a car if you are only visiting for a week. But everything is totally doable if you go for the “bus and bike” option and take the pedestrian portion of the historic Overseas Highway. I believe most people will fly into Miami though, so let’s start from there.

Budgeting

The Florida Keys are by no means cheap, but it’s still possible to visit on a budget if you do your research.

If you’re on a budget, like I was, even the more affordable hotels can really tear a hole in your wallet. Just in accommodations, you are looking at $1,200 for the week. So definitely click on our links to accommodations to learn about cheaper places in the area to stay, like camping in parks or sleeping on a boat. Most hotels include parking, so keep in mind that almost all lots, especially in Key West, are paid.

On top of that, expect to spend about $20 at a restaurant, and if you get a drink, tack on another $10. You will spend half as much, though, if you shop at grocery stores and picnic on the beaches (I will go into this in more detail). Most state parks have a small admission fee (around $2.50 for a pedestrian or $5 for a vehicle). Museums will be around $15-$25 (though there are some free ones!). A majority of the partial-day tours and excursions will be around $100. Full-day activities could be closer to $500.

You can save money if you bring your own snorkeling gear and fishing equipment and stay at hotels that offer complimentary use of kayaks or a discount on boat rentals.

The itinerary below starts in Key Largo, but you can start in Key West instead and reverse it.

Day 1: Arrive in Key Largo

Try to arrive in Key Largo just before lunch and then get a morning walk in at the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park,…