Half the fun of a Florida Keys road trip is stopping at the roadside attraction and finding fun things to do between your nightly accommodations. Whether you’re somebody that just wants to get the drive through the Keys done so you can check into your Key West hotel or if you want to take your time enjoying all the quirky things to see and do, you’ve got lots of options for how to make your vacation in the Florida Keys fun and memorable.
We’ve put together a list of the best roadside attractions and unique spots in the Florida Keys that you can either just stop by for a quick photo or you can have a full, fun experience. Getting to drive the Overseas Highway is a real treat and it would be a shame to not make at least a few stops to enjoy the quirky nature of this amazing place. If we missed your favorite roadside attraction or quick stop on the Florida Keys road trip, please leave a comment or send us a note so we can add it. We’re always happy to share more and help others plan an awesome time exploring the Keys!
KEY LARGO (Mile Markers 100-106)
Key Largo is kind of my favorite of the Florida Keys for just hanging out and playing (maybe it’s because I’m a local Floridian and don’t always want to drive the full Overseas Highway), but if you are driving through there are some great roadside attractions and fun stops to make along the way. I like to set aside at least a day for enjoying the sites and beauty of Key Largo when possible and if we can’t hang out for long, we still make fun stops.
Whaling Wall #95 Mural
This is one of my favorite murals in the whole of the USA, not just in the Florida Keys. Whaling Wall #95 is one of Wyland’s best pieces. It surrounds an entire building of the Scuba Fun Dive Center in the middle of the Overseas Highway and is really beautiful. Featuring manatees, rays, dolphins, turtles and more, it’s such a cool scene and is worth stopping at. It’s a fantastic roadside attraction. Map link here
Jules’ Undersea Lodge
Of all the cool and unique places to stay in the Florida Keys, Jules’ Undersea Lodge is perhaps the more unusual and most exclusive. Visitors must dive 21 feet with full scuba gear to reach their underwater motel room, with portals facing the ocean. This is the only underwater hotel in the continental United States and it’s only accessible if you’re a scuba diver. It’s a bucket list stay for me! Map for Jules’ Undersea Lab here
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
The first underwater park in the United States, established in 1963 to protect the only living coral reef in the continental United States, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is both a roadside attraction and a whole day’s experience. There’s a small aquarium with lion fish, kayaking trails, swimming areas and of course, the famous Pennekamp Glass Bottom Boat. Full of fun, you need to give yourself a few hours to visit. Map link here
Christ of the Abyss (6 miles offshore from Key Largo)
This is more of an island-side attraction vs a roadside attraction, but it’s a really unique thing to see in the Florida Keys. Christ of the Abyss is a nine-foot-tall bronze statue of Jesus placed in 25 feet of water in 1965, with arms uplifted as a symbol of peace. It’s accessible by snorkel or dive tours and is one of the most photographed underwater sites in the world.
Book a snorkel tour from Key Largo here!
African Queen (Key Largo Marina)
You either need to be an older person or a film geek like me to appreciate it, but the African Queen, the actual boat from the Humphry Bogart and Katharine Hepburn film, lives in Key Largo, and I’ve been on it. That’s right, this piece of film history has been lovingly maintained and gives tours out from the Key Largo Marina as you hear stories of the filming, lots of film history bits, and fun photo ops. It’s a great roadside attraction, and even if you don’t have time to go out on the tour, you can still see the boat when it’s in the marina. African Queen boat tours are special, and there are few other film-nerd experiences like it in the Keys. Map link here
3D Great White Shark Mural
Just off the Overseas Highway on the side of Mrs Mac’s Kitchen (the little one) is one of the most fun murals in the Florida Keys, and as definite roadside attraction. The 3D Great White Share mural is pretty cool and the perfect Florida Keys kitschy photo op. It’s easy to miss as you’re driving, so pay attention on the North/West side of the Overseas Highway. Map Link here
Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary
Located at the end of Key Largo, the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary is a great stop with kids and bird lovers. It’s also called the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. This is a free wildlife center but they greatly appreciate donations. Here you’ll find all kinds of birds from the Florida Keys and South Florida that have been injured and are no longer able to live in the wild. You’ll see everything from owls to pelicans, hawks to cormorants. It’s a really good roadside attraction that doesn’t take a lot of time.
Note: the Wild Bird Sanctuary is only accessible from the southbound side of the Overseas Highway, so if you’re heading north you’ll need to use the median legal U-turn route to get here.
ISLAMORADA (Mile Markers 80-90)
No doubt that Islamorada has the most roadside attractions in the Florida Keys. It’s the hub of fun, party-type trips and also the place for some interesting history, both with historic sites and cool museums. Islamorada always takes us the longest to drive through because of all the cool things to do and see, so we like to actually stay here for a few days when possible (the Casa Morada Resort is our favorite)
Big Betsy the Lobster
I think Betsy is the best roadside attraction in the Florida Keys. A 30-foot-tall, 40-foot-long sculpture of a Florida Keys spiny lobster said to be the world’s largest lobster sculpture, it’s one of the most photographed landmarks in the Keys. Betsy the Lobster is found at the Rain Barrel Village, so when you stop to get a picture with the giant lady lobster, be sure to pop into the souvenir shops and galleries, and maybe get a snack too. Map link here
History of Diving Museum
Gosh I love this place. I really enjoy all things underwater and history, so the History of Diving Museum is a great stop. If you’re not into a museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying artifacts, antiques, books, and documents relative to the history of diving and celebrating the role South Florida and the Florida Keys played in diving history, then if nothing else you can stop for the beautiful murals that cover the whole building. The History of Diving Museum is fascinating and really is a special place for anyone interested in scuba. Map link here
Hurricane Monument
As you stop at the different State Parks and when you ready about the history of the Florida Keys, you’ll see the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 mentioned a lot. In the middle of the Overseas Highway in Islamorada there’s a monument commemorating the devastating 1935 Labor Day Hurricane that killed over 400 people and destroyed much of Flagler’s railroad to Key West. It’s one of the more somber roadside attractions in the Florida Keys, but it’s an important part of their history. Map link here
Ernest Hemingway’s Boat, the Pilar
Whether you like Ernest Hemingway’s books or not, you can’t escape how he’s woven into the Florida Keys. One of the coolest roadside attractions off the Overseas Highway is actually Hemingway’s boat, the Pilar. It’s in the most random spot. You ready? It’s inside the Bass Pro Shop – Worldwide Sportsman Islamorada. The whole store is actually pretty cool and there’s a vintage cocktail bar upstairs, but the real gem is the Pilar. You can even go on it and see photos and just imagine yourself out at sea drinking rum with Ernest Hemingway. Map link here
Robbie’s Marina
If there’s one stop you have to make, this is the roadside attraction that offers the most fun and is purely a Florida Keys icon. Robbie’s of Islamorada is a conglomeration of food, art shops, souvenirs, boat rentals and more. Famous for feeding tarpon, with over 100 tarpons that hang out in the marina, visitors can feed massive tarpon from the dock for a kind of wild hands-on experience. There are also snorkeling and sandbar tours that leave from Robbie’s, so even if you’re not intentionally visiting, you may find yourself here anyways.
Florida Keys Brewing Company
There aren’t a ton of breweries in the Florida Keys, but the Florida Keys Brewing Company is cool enough to make up for a lack of other breweries. A local brewery in the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District, the Florida Kyes Brewing Co has tastings in a beer garden with games and pet-friendly atmosphere. It’s a fun stop if you’re having an afternoon drive. Map link here
Theater of the Sea
One of the oldest marine mammal facilities in the world, the Theater of the Sea is very different from other aquarium type places. From the Overseas Highway you can’t miss its giant conch shell or waterfall entrance. It’s filled with exhibits of fish and other animals, and the offer dolphin and sea lion encounters and shows. If you are interested in a visit, do your research to see if the Theater of the Seas is the right experience for you to do a dolphin encounter. Not all dolphin experiences are created equal and we haven’t done this one, so cannot say for certain how their process and procedures are. Dolphin Life Key Largo is amazing for a dolphin encounter, and Theater of the Sea is great for all other things (and maybe dolphins too). Map link here
MARATHON (Mile Markers 47-53)
Marathon is the mellowest of the Florida Keys, but that doesn’t mean it’s shy on roadside attractions. Marathon is both a great place to visit and where a lot of Florida Keys residents call home. It’s a wonderful community with lots of fun things to do.
The Sea Turtle Hospital
The Marathon Sea Turtle Hospital is a great place to stop on your Florida Keys road trip. Located at the south end of Marathon, you can stop in for a guided tour of this rehab center where visitors meet rescued sea turtles and learn how they’re cared for and released back into the wild. This is a non-profit so your ticket fee goes to keeping the turtle hospital running and taking care of these amazing creatures. Map link here
Whaling Wall #87 – Florida’s Radiant Reef
I think of all the roadside attractions in the Florida Keys, this is the most epic. Florida’s Radiant Reef, a huge mural by Wyland, was originally painted on the K-Mart on Marathon. With humpback whales and a variety of other creatures, it’s always been cool. In 2022 a project started to expand the mural and now it’s even bigger. The building is now a beach store, Surf Style, with a FlowRrider indoor surfing location and the mural stretches even further and includes even more creatures! Map link here
Seven Mile Bridge and Fred the Tree
One of the most beautiful stretches of the drive on the Overseas Highway is on the Seven Mile Bridge. It’s a ROAD attraction. Among the longest bridges in existence when it was built, connecting Knight’s Key to Little Duck Key as part of the Overseas Highway, you get some beautiful views of the turquois water as you drive. Featured in the movieTrue Lies, the Seven Mile Bridge is an icon of the Keys. As you go, watch for the famous rogue nature on the old bridge next to where you’re driving. Fred the Tree is a random Australian pine tree that’s growing out of the old arched section of the original Seven Mile Bridge. You cannot safely visit him, but you can wave a snap a photo as you drive by. Fred the Tree map link here
Old Seven Mile Bridge
Part of Henry Flagler’s historic Over-Sea Railroad from 1912, a good portion of the Old Seven Mile Bridge is now restored as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge after a $44 million renovation. You might think “That’s a weird roadside attraction…” but it’s actually really cool to stop at and enjoy the walk over the beautiful waters of Marathon. It’s a great opportunity to watch for dolphins, sharks and spotted eagle rays from the bridge, and a great way to stretch your legs if you’re doing the full Florida Keys road trip to Key West. Map link here
Old Seven Mile Bridge Mural
Located on the most random building, the Florida Keys HVAC Service building, the Old Seven Mile Bridge mural is really beautiful and the perfect street art to take your picture in front of. With a huge iguana, biker, palm trees and mangroves, and of course the iconic Old Seven Mile Bridge, it’s one of my favorite murals. Map link here
Pigeon Key (via Old Seven Mile Bridge)
Pigeon Key is more than just a little island in the middle of the Florida Keys. It’s a great roadside attraction that’s full of history and even a wonderful place to snorkel. A historic island that served as a railroad construction camp while Henry Flagler was building the railway to Key West, now operates as a marine research facility and historical tourist attraction with several original buildings from 1908. When you visit, you get to ride a tram on the Old Seven Mile Bridge and then have a guided tour of the grounds, and then some free time to enjoy. Pigeon Key is a fun place to stop as you drive the Overseas Highway. Parking area map link here
Big Pine and the Lower Keys (Mile Markers 30-40)
So many people driving to Key West just breeze through the Lower Keys because they’re eager to get to the biggest town in the islands. There are some cool roadside attractions and beautiful views to take in during this part of the drive on the Overseas Highway though, so allow yourself some time to make a few of these fun stops.
Bahia Honda State Park
Whether you want to rent kayaks or have a beach day, Bahia Honda State Park is a great spot to stop on your Florida Keys road trip. It’s very popular, so if you can time it to arrive when a lot of people are leaving in the early afternoon, you should be able to get right in. Bahia Honda State park features mangrove and palm-lined beaches, wonderfully clear waters in the protected area, and part of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge trail that offers spectacular views. Map link here
Old Bahia Honda Bridge
The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 had a huge impact on the Keys, and when the Old Bahia Honda Bridge got damaged, that was the end of that. Not all of the original railway or road was able to be repaired and many parts of it are still standing, but you cannot access them. The Old Bahia Honda Bridge is now a beautiful backdrop to the best tide pools in the Florida Keys. Between the trails to the edge of the old bridge to the shallows filled with fish and rays, this is one of our favorite roadside attractions on the Overseas Highway. Map link here
Blue Hole on Big Pine Key
The building of the railroad through the Florida Keys left lots of scars and stories. One of them is the Blue Hole on Big Pine Key. It’s a cenote-like pond and it is the largest body of fresh water in the Florida Keys, formed in a quarry where rock was mined for the Overseas Highway. You can visit the Blue Hole to see wildlife these days, as it’s now home to alligators, lots of birds, and Key deer. Map link here
National Key Deer Refuge
Established in 1957 to protect habitats for the tiny, shy Key Deer that are about the size of a large dog, the National Key Deer Refuge is kind of fun to drive through and see what you can see. With over 9,000 acres of protected land, this is the best place to see Key Deer. People have taught the deer that they tend to have food in their cars, so the deer are unfortunately not shy. DO NOT FEED THE DEER. They’re a protected wildlife species and it’s against the law, so don’t get in trouble or endanger the deer. There is a Key Deer Refuge visitor center that is actually pretty cool to visit too, so if you have the time and it’s open, be sure to stop into this roadside museum. Map link here
Grimal Grove
I love farm tours and there aren’t many you can do here in the Florida Keys. The Grimal Grove is a historic tropical fruit grove with breadfruit trees and lots of other interesting produce. You do need to book a tour to visit, but if you just stop in during open hours, you may get lucky and be able to join one. Book the Grimal Grove Fruit Tour here! Map link here
No Name Pub
I’m not a huge fan of bars and divey joints, but the No Name Pub is a Florida Keys fixture. It’s a quirky establishment famous for its pizza and unique decor of walls covered in dollar bills. Located on No Name Key just off Big Pine Key, it’s not along the Overseas Highway so you do have to be intentional looking for this fun roadside attraction of a bar. Check out the No Name Pub on Tripadvisor here! Map link here
Key West (Mile Marker 0-5)
Key West is such a fun town with so much to do and see. Even though we’re now at the end of the road (literally the end of US Highway 1), there are still some things to do and see that I would call roadside attraction. The Conch Republic is pretty cool and you’re going to see why.
Southernmost Point Buoy
Let’s start with the absolutely most overrated sight in all of the Florida Keys, and maybe in all of Florida: the Southernmost Point Buoy. It’s just a large painted concrete buoy marking the Southernmost Point in the continental United States, just 90 miles from Cuba. This isn’t even the most southern point in Key West, which is actually in Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. And then the actual Southernmost Point of the USA is on the Big Island of Hawaii… but that’s not the Continental US. This is one of the most photographed spots in Key West and if you want to stop and get your picture, you’ll likely have to wait in a long line. Not a fan; I’d skip it. Map link here
Ernest Hemingway House
We do enjoy visiting the Hemingway House in Key West, and it is indeed a worthwhile roadside attraction to visit. A National Historic Landmark where Ernest Hemingway lived from 1931 to 1939, it’s now home to over 50 polydactyl (six-toed) cats descended from Hemingway’s original cat. Touring the house and the property can be done on your own or as part of a guided tour. The home features Hemingway’s writing studio, the first swimming pool in the Keys, and lots of original furnishings. And you get to meet a lot of cats. Map link here
Key West Lighthouse
I’ll always visit a lighthouse, whether it’s a roadside attraction or if we have to trek to it. The Key West Lighthouse is interesting because it’s not on the water, but is located in the neighborhood very near the start of US Highway 1. There is a museum with lots of history to learn about, an amazing banyan tree to explore, and you can climb to the top of the lighthouse. It’s worth your time, I think. Map link here
Mallory Square
Famous for nightly sunset celebrations, Mallory Square always has something going on. Throughout the day there are performers, sometimes there are markets, there’s always a photo op or two, and then the Sunset Celebration is just good fun. Everyone shows up to toast the end of the day and enjoy being in Key West together. It’s nice and there’s a real sense of community, even though it’s mostly tourists. Map link here
Duval Street
Duval Street is itself an attraction, especially during Key West Pride. Full of historic buildings, great restaurants and crazy bars, it’s a spectacle. Duval Street is a quintessential Key West sight and even if you don’t plan on exploring it in depth, chances are that you’ll end up here at some point. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t wrapped up a long day on Duval Street unintentionally more than once… Map link here
These roadside attractions and sightseeing spots represent the most iconic and frequently visited places along the 113-mile journey through the Florida Keys on the Overseas Highway. Each stop offers a unique glimpse into the beauty, quirky culture, and fascinating history of the Keys. If you have any questions about any of our recommendations or would like to add your own, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan an epic adventure through the Florida Keys!
