Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale Airport to Key Largo-Best Route?

[netmage]

Turnpike....

 

[LowVizWiz]

Bah!!! Take the scenic route and get some cuban coffee to keep you awake on your drive down, maybe run over a dead nurse shark in the middle of the street. Or if you just want a the same old boring direct route take the turnpike

 

[BettyRubble]

Bah!!! Take the scenic route and get some cuban coffee to keep you awake on your drive down, maybe run over a dead nurse shark in the middle of the street. Or if you just want a the same old boring direct route take the turnpike

Whatever you do, don't stumble into south beach at the wrong time of night . . last time I did that I saw a grown man in a pink diaper wearing pink tennis shoes carrying a bottle . . no kidding . . I only wish I'd had a camera with me!

 

[netmage]

Whatever you do, don't stumble into south beach at the wrong time of night . . last time I did that I saw a grown man in a pink diaper wearing pink tennis shoes carrying a bottle . . no kidding . . I only wish I'd had a camera with me!

I did wave....

 

[DebbyDiver]

Tim, you owe me a new monitor, dammit.

 

[BettyRubble]

Me too Tim!

 

[grassyknoll]

Originally Posted by LowVizWiz
Bah!!! Take the scenic route and get some cuban coffee to keep you awake on your drive down, maybe run over a dead nurse shark in the middle of the street. Or if you just want a the same old boring direct route take the turnpike



Whatever you do, don't stumble into south beach at the wrong time of night . . last time I did that I saw a grown man in a pink diaper wearing pink tennis shoes carrying a bottle . . no kidding . . I only wish I'd had a camera with me!

Ya'll are starting to make me think I should have paid the extra for refundable tickets....

 

[Chugwhump]

OK here is my opinion and what I tell folks to do that meet me in the Keys after a flight.

Come out of the airport and go NORTH on US1 for about 1 mile, to I-595 and proceed WEST.
You will have a 5 mile or so ride to the Florida Turnpike exit.
Go South on the Turnpike.
Go down past the Hollywood Boulevard exit and then bear right to what is known as the "Homestead Extension". This part of the road runs about I dunno 7-10 miles due west and then makes a slow left turn and you will be going south again.
Just stay on this road all the way to Florida City where the Turnpike drops you down onto Federal Highway/US1.
Just stay south to the Keys.
The only option you will have after hitting Florida City is whether or not to take the Card Sound Road route.
I Reccomend US1 as if you need help, there will always be good cell phone signal along US1.
I have done well with Nextel /Sprint and Verizon on this stretch.

Get back to me if I can help.

Chug

 

[F106A]

Depart the airport and follow the well marked signs to to I-595 WEST.
You will have a 5 mile or so ride to the Florida Turnpike entrance (around Turnpike MM 55). Go South on the Turnpike.
Take exit 47, aka the "Homestead Extension". Stay on the turnpike to Florida City (MM "0") where the Turnpike merges onto Federal Highway/US1.
Twenty-one miles later you'll enter K.L. And Bob's your uncle. The only option you will have after hitting Florida City is whether or not to take the longer Card Sound toll Road route. Don't.

Take 4 $1 bills for the turnpike, each way. Don't know the ETE southbound at 1900 on a Monday but my experience has been 2.0 hours from FL City (NOT K.L.) to FLL on weekday mornings at 0600.

(I took liberties in editing Chug's excellent post mainly for semantics; my remarks are in bold face.)

 

[weaponeer]

Another thumbs-up on taking the Turnpike (toll road) south from FLL. I think it costs 3 bucks for the whole trip. My wife and I take this route every time we go Keys diving and it's always been a good ride.