Driving the 113-Mile Overseas Highway (US-1): Islamorada & Seven Mile Bridge

Stretching for 182 kilometres (113 miles) across 42 ocean bridges hopping from coral island to coral island between the emerald Gulf of Mexico on your right and the Atlantic Ocean on your left, the Overseas Highway (U.S. Route 1) is one of North America's classic coastal road trips. Originally built between 1905 and 1912 by railway tycoon Henry Flagler as the Overseas Railroad before the 1935 hurricane washed out the tracks, its concrete viaducts became an automobile highway. Allow 5 to 6 hours (see getting to Key West) to stop at these landmarks by Mile Marker (MM) counting down from Miami to Key West.

The Four Best Stops Going North to South Along the Overseas Highway

1. Key Largo, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park & The African Queen (MM 102.5 & MM 100): book a glass-bottom boat or snorkel tour at John Pennekamp State Park (America's first undersea park, home to the submerged bronze statue Christ of the Abyss), and stop at Marina Del Mar (MM 100) to see the 1912 steamboat African Queen from the 1951 film.
2. Islamorada & Robbie's Marina (MM 77.5): pull off at Robbie's of Islamorada before the Indian Key channel bridge. Browse the open-air market, grab lunch at the Hungry Tarpon deck, and walk onto the dock with a bucket of baitfish where over 100 wild, 1.5-metre silver tarpon leap from the water to snatch anchovies from your fingers.

3. Marathon, The Turtle Hospital (MM 48.5) & Old Seven Mile Bridge (MM 47): book a guided tour of the licensed veterinary Sea Turtle Hospital to meet rescued sea turtles. Five minutes south at MM 47, before driving across the modern 10.9-kilometre (6.79-mile) Seven Mile Bridge, park for free to walk or cycle across the restored, car-free 3.5-kilometre (2.2-mile) section of Flagler's 1912 Old Seven Mile Bridge to Pigeon Key.
4. Bahia Honda State Park (MM 37) & Big Pine Key Deer (MM 30): swim on the sandy beaches of Bahia Honda and spot miniature Key Deer on No Name Key before reaching Key West at MM 0.