From South Beach to Sunset Pier… Our iconic Florida Family Road Trip!
By Jenna Brown, Senior Travel Editor, Holiday and Cruise Magazine
Sun, sea, sand & the open road… Driving the iconic route from Miami to Key West has been on our bucket list for YEARS. But having young children meant putting this adventure on hold for a little while – until this year, when we finally went all in with booster seats and buggy in tow and turned our dream trip into a reality!
Don’t get me wrong, travelling long haul to do a road trip with a 3-year-old and a 7 year is still a bold move but would I do it again? In a heartbeat! No regrets, just magical memories made every minute.
In the words of Will Smith; “I’m going to Miami!”
We started our road trip in the vibrant city of Miami. After deliberately choosing a late afternoon flight from the UK, I was a little apprehensive about arriving in Miami at 9pm (2am UK time!) with the kids, but it was the best decision we made. After dinner on the plane, the girls slept a little and on arrival to our hotel meant they could go straight to bed without any painful hours trying to keep them awake!
Before hitting the road to start the iconic road trip down to the Keys, we took a few days to unwind and enjoy everything Miami has to offer. We hired some bikes and biked to South Pointe Pier, we played crazy golf at Brickell (and did a little shopping), we spent some time enjoying South Beach, did a boat tour, followed the TikTok trail to an amazing Cuban sandwich shop at Bayside Marketplace and even took a trip to the Everglades Alligator Farm where we got to hold a baby alligator! An unforgettable few days.
On the Road: Overseas Highway
After a few days exploring Miami, then came the main event. We packed up and picked up our car from
Sixt, ready to drive one of the most iconic routes in the US from Miami to Key West!
I can’t overstate how important the right vehicle is when travelling with kids. Comfort, space & safety is really all that matters – but when the vehicle feels like part of the holiday experience itself, rather than just a way to get from A to B, you know you’ve got it right!
When we arrived at the Sixt branch on Collins Avenue to pick up our car for the trip we could not have been more pleased with our choice to use Sixt. With a wide range of vehicles to suit anyone’s needs and a branch team that were friendly and so helpful, the team at Sixt really did make the whole process was super easy; even with us being from the UK. The car we ‘adopted’ for the week was a GMC Yukon Denali — a luxurious beast of a vehicle that had plenty of room for our suitcases, pram, and the usual toddler paraphernalia! This car really was part of the family for those few days and we could not have been happier.
With the car packed, the air con humming and the girl’s choice of music blaring out from the speakers, we hit the road leaving the high-rises behind; eager to find out whether driving the Overseas Highway really does live up to the hype….
A slice of Florida
The journey from Miami to Key West is roughly 165 miles and should take just under 4 hours; making it easily do-able in just 1 day, even with 2 kids in the back! But my advice… make sure you allow more time than you’ll need because you’ll definitely want to take it slow and allow time to stop en-route… even if it’s just for a slice of key lime pie from The Key Lime Pie factory; which I can confirm did not disappoint!
Once our stomachs were full with our first taste of the Florida Keys’ most famous food, it wasn’t long before we hit Betsy the Lobster; located just outside the entrance to Rain Barrel village in Islamorada. Measuring over 9metres long, Betsy is quirky, colourful and completely impossible to ignore, making her a perfect photo opportunity! We didn’t stop long here but it was these kinds of quick, memorable stops that made the journey feel more like an adventure rather than ‘a drive’!
From there, the drive became increasingly impressive until we reached the Seven Mile bridge. With nothing but blue either side, it honestly felt like the road was suspended between sky and sea and is easily the most picturesque road I’ve ever driven!
The end of the road
We arrived in Key West late afternoon and checked into the Margaritaville Beach House Resort, located perfectly just a short walk away from Smathers Beach (perfect for young children) and a short drive away from the bustling Duval Street.
As our trip to the Keys coincided with our 10-year wedding anniversary, on arrival our room was kindly upgraded to a King Suite with an Ocean view…. And WOW! The views of Smathers beach from our balcony were simply breath taking and confirmed instantly we’d made the right choice booking the Margaritaville! The room itself was spacious, clean, and inviting, whilst tastefully decorated in island-inspired décor.
Once settled in, and the kids had discovered the resort’s lagoon-style pool, it was then time for us to hop onto the resort’s complimentary shuttle to explore Duval Street, the heart of Key West.
As soon as we stepped off the shuttle, the laid-back island vibe hit us straight away – flip flops, golf carts, bikes and chickens freely wandering the street! The perfect place to slow down and unwind.
The Scenic Route Home
After a couple of days experiencing Key West and enjoying good food; from lobster mac and cheese to bacon topped banana bread (and of course copious amounts of Key Lime Pie), it was time for us to head back up North to Fort Lauderdale. Although we were returning our hire car to a different Sixt location, returning the Yukon was just as smooth as picking it up
Final Thoughts
This road trip had everything we hoped for and more — stunning scenery, wildlife encounters, delicious food, and countless family moments.
Travelling with small children isn’t always easy but doing it with them turned out to be the best way to experience it. Driving the overseas Highway with the sea sparkling either side, the sunroof open and two giggling voices in the back is a memory I’ll treasure forever
FACTBOX
Sixt Car Rental - www.sixt.com
Everglades Aligator Farm - www.everglades.com
Margaritaville Hotels and Resorts - www.margaritavilleresorts.com
Florida - www.visitflorida.com
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