What is truely the fastest way to Key Largo from St. Pete/Tampa?

[Tsalagi]

Tried the turnpike once, but I'm now convinced Miamians have no clue how to go through a toll booth.

Yeah, I figured that out a few years ago...with boat in tow -- YIKES !

Now I take 27 > 997 > 1.

This works well if you can survive the other cars trying to play chicken as they pass on the stretch of 997.

 

[aquaholic901]

Take 75 S accross the Alley then take 27 south to the turnpike (by doing this you can skip most of the bad Miami turnpike traffic that you would encounter by getting on at 75). Take the turnpike south to US 1. I avoid Krome (997) at all costs unless it's late at night, to many slow drivers & crazy people passing. My usual time is around 4 1/2 hrs from TPA to Key Largo, I'm usually able to hit Marathon in 5.5 - 6. I highly reccomend doing the drive at night, there is almost no traffic that way.

 

[divermike1989]

The true secret though is to time your trip so that you avoid traffic at Naples and Ft. Myers in the morning and Miami in the afternoon/evening. If you do that you can take the turnpike w/ no backup AT ALL. (HINT:Leave well before or right after morning traffic)