Orlando to the Keys, I-95 vs Turnpike

[mike656]

Going on a trip to the Keys from Orlando this summer and noticed there are several travel options, but after going to the Florida turnpike site and calculating a round trip, it would cost almost $37 ($18.44 exactly each way)!!! Rather than spending a nice dinner for two on road tolls, I came up with this:

Starting from Narcoossee Road:
528 to 95 to 826 Palmetto Expy to 874 Don Shula Expy to 821 turnpike, only $3.62 each way

I am familiar with Orlando but not the greater Miami area, how is traffic through the region? I would be leaving Orlando on a weekday in the morning and returning probably late at night also on a weekday. If that route isn't worth the hassle ill pay the $37 but would rather not, Orlando's tolls are enough as it is.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Oh BTW I have a SunPass, got sick of throwing quarters

 

[TechBoyJK]

Have you driven to the Keys before?

Regardless of which way you take.. once you hit the keys. it's SLOW.

I swear when I drove from St. Louis to Key West, the entire trip down the Florida Coast (from savannah, GA) was quicker than the drive down the keys.

 

[mike656]

Have you driven to the Keys before?

Regardless of which way you take.. once you hit the keys. it's SLOW.

I swear when I drove from St. Louis to Key West, the entire trip down the Florida Coast (from savannah, GA) was quicker than the drive down the keys.

Been there once when I was around 10, so I have rode but not driven, don't remember much about the drive.

 

[bigrash]

I always take the 95. Just seems easier. And yes, it'll be slow once you hit the keys.

 

[Kaido]

Keys are awesome. Get fried conch if you haven't had it yet. Weekend evenings are pretty weird on Key West, but there's a lot of awesome fishing & diving all over the place.

It's the only place I've ever been to that actually looks like the postcards :thumbsup:

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

You won't have to worry too much about Miami traffic using that route since you'll be staying north and west of Miami. Most of the bad Miami traffic is further south on 95 towards the city proper. During rush hour even the toll roads will suck though.

And yes, US1 is slow down to the Keys but they have been improving it recently with passing lanes every 5 or 10 miles so you can finally blow around that jerk in front of you that seems to be stuck at 45mph.

 

[TheVrolok]

As said above, traffic around Miami won't be terrible as you're skirting the city. That said, traffic can be abysmal randomly on roads like the Palmetto. US 1 through the keys ia probably the most painful part, how far into the keys are you going?

Oh.. Also, Ziggy and Maddogs on Islamorada has some of the best food I've ever had. Place was delicious.

 

[Dedpuhl]

I drive from Melbourne/Palm Bay to the Keys all the time for work. I take I-95 to 821 to US-1.

Traffic between Homestead and Islamorada isn't too bad. The people that usually complain about slow traffic are the ones that want to do 80 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. I do the speed limit and usually end up with a train behind me.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

1 vote for the turnpike/toll road. There is a lot less traffic. Less on, and off ramps, and the people who do drive it are much better drivers. One of the few times where I have been able to set my cruise control at 80.:biggrin:

 

[mike656]

We are planning on staying in Key West, and maybe do a few excursions to other parts of the Keys, still preliminary as I haven't booked anything yet. Sounds like getting up real early (2 am) to leave might be necessary, how early in the day does US-1 turn into a parking lot? I hate sitting in traffic, as I am one of those who will go 80+ when possible (Valentine One ).

 

[bigrash]

We are planning on staying in Key West, and maybe do a few excursions to other parts of the Keys, still preliminary as I haven't booked anything yet. Sounds like getting up real early (2 am) to leave might be necessary, how early in the day does US-1 turn into a parking lot? I hate sitting in traffic, as I am one of those who will go 80+ when possible (Valentine One ).

Don't do it at night. The best part about the drive to Key West is the view during the last hour of the drive.

 

[highland145]

Snap....lurker.



Would love to go there. Pics when you get back, please.

 

[Drekce]

Take the 417 -> 528 -> I95, but when you get to Fort Pierce jump from 95 to the turnpike. The bad part of 95 is once you get to South Florida proper, so this will save you money but give you the biggest benefit.

 

[mike656]

Don't do it at night. The best part about the drive to Key West is the view during the last hour of the drive.

I agree I defiantly want it to be daylight, at least for the Keys. Getting to the start of the Keys probably around 7am would be near sunrise I think, figuring 4 hours from Orlando to there.

 

[Worthington]

another vote for the turnpike. I-95 isn't too bad when not rush hour but once I-95 turns into US-1 (just on the S. side of downtown) you're screwed. US-1 from that point down to Florida city is a joke, any day, any time.

At the very least take 95 South just shy of downtown (miami) and take the 836 over to the 826 and head south. From there you can jump back on US-1 through the Keys.

 

[Svnla]

OP, if you can get a convertible to drive down to the Keys by Highway 1, hightly recommend. Oh, watch out for speed traps. Try to see the sunset at Key West.

<<--- loves the trip from Miami to the Keys a few years ago.

 

[mike656]

Take the 417 -> 528 -> I95, but when you get to Fort Pierce jump from 95 to the turnpike. The bad part of 95 is once you get to South Florida proper, so this will save you money but give you the biggest benefit.

I see that on the map, looks like a popular crossover point because they are so close. Originally I was looking at FL-786 PGA Blvd further north but south of your suggestion or I-595 further south if traffic became an issue en route. How early does the rush start in the Miami region?

 

[Drekce]

I live in Orlando, not Miami, so I don't know too much about rush hour down there. The issue isn't just Miami though. From West Palm all the way to Miami is effectively one giant city. That whole 60-90 mile stretch is prone to bad traffic.

 

[mike656]

another vote for the turnpike. I-95 isn't too bad when not rush hour but once I-95 turns into US-1 (just on the S. side of downtown) you're screwed. US-1 from that point down to Florida city is a joke, any day, any time.

At the very least take 95 South just shy of downtown (miami) and take the 836 over to the 826 and head south. From there you can jump back on US-1 through the Keys.

Yeah there is no way I would take that, I stick to interstate style highway whenever possible, thats why I originally planned to take 826 to 874 to 821 from I-95 (where they come together with the end of the 91 turnpike).

 

[mike656]

I live in Orlando, not Miami, so I don't know too much about rush hour down there. The issue isn't just Miami though. From West Palm all the way to Miami is effectively one giant city. That whole 60-90 mile stretch is prone to bad traffic.

Yuck, sounds like the LA region on the I-10, except this being north south. Leaving super early is sounding better and better, I don't care much for sitting in traffic or doing that 0-5 stuff, especially when on vacation.

 

[Worthington]

That's how I go home (my family still lives in miami).. 95 South to Ft. Pierce, well actually Jupiter since the Ft Pierce change over is under construction and then the TPK all the way down to S. Miami.

 

[TechBoyJK]

You won't have to worry too much about Miami traffic using that route since you'll be staying north and west of Miami. Most of the bad Miami traffic is further south on 95 towards the city proper. During rush hour even the toll roads will suck though.

And yes, US1 is slow down to the Keys but they have been improving it recently with passing lanes every 5 or 10 miles so you can finally blow around that jerk in front of you that seems to be stuck at 45mph.

It was around 2003 when I drove it. I don't remember seeing many passing lanes. It would really help if they had more of those (which seems you are suggesting they do).

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

It was around 2003 when I drove it. I don't remember seeing many passing lanes. It would really help if they had more of those (which seems you are suggesting they do).

They've been adding passing lanes on US1 for quite a few years now. iirc, most of the construction was on the northern stretch between Key Largo and Marathon which, imo, is the most boring stretch of the drive. I haven't driven it in about a year or so I'm not sure of the current progress but it is much better than it used to be.