Know Before You Go Overseas Highway & Florida Keys

Start Planning! 

You’re about to go on an epic adventure through the Florida Keys along Overseas Highway! Here’s what you need to know before you go. 

• This tour can be done in two directions: east to west - Homestead to Key Largo, and west to east - Key West to Key Largo. 
• The tour has two starting points:
  • Homestead, Florida
  • Key West, Florida 
• Multiple stops on the tour require entrance fees to visit, check out the budgeting section below for more information. 
• Advance reservations are suggested at the Turtle Hospital, Dolphin Research Center, and Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters. 

Budgeting and Hours of Operation 

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Budget

How much you spend truly depends on what you do along the tour route, but here’s a breakdown of some costs. 

• John Pennekamp Coral State Park
  • $8.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
  • $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
  • $4.00 Single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle.
• The African Queen
  • $59 Adult
  • $25 Children
• Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park - $2.50 per person
• Theatre of the Sea
  • $47.95 Adult 11+
  • $29.95 Child 3-10
• The History of Diving Museum - $15 per person
• Long Key Park
  • $4.50 per person
  • $6.00 for two or more people plus 50 cents per additional person
• The Dolphin Research Center
  • $35.00 Adults
  • $25.00 Children 4-12
  • Free ages 3 and under
• Curry Hammock State Park - $4.50 per person
• The Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters
  • $27.50 Adult
  • $19.50 Child
• Crane Point Hammock State Park - $14.95 adults
• The Turtle Hospital
  • $35.00 Adult
  • $17.50 Children
  • Free children under 4
• Bahia Honda State Park - $8 per car

Hours of Operation 

There is so much to see and do on this tour! Check out the hours of operation for stops on the tour below so you don’t miss a thing: 

1. John Pennekamp Coral State Park - year-round dawn to dusk
2. The African Queen - 9 am-8 pm daily
3. Laura Quinn Wildlife Bird Sanctuary - 7 am-7 pm daily
4. The Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory - 9 am-8:30 pm daily
5. Rain Barrel Village - 9 am-5 pm daily
6. Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park - Thurs-Sun 8 am-5 pm
7. Theatre of the Sea - 9:30 am-5 pm daily
8. Holiday Isle Tiki Bar - 8 am-12 am daily
9. The History of Diving Museum - 10 am-5 pm daily
10. Robbie's of Islamorada - 7 am-9 pm daily
11. Anne's Beach - open daily dawn to dusk
12. Long Key Park - 8 am-8:15 pm daily
13. Duck Key Scenic Area - open
14. The Dolphin Research Center - 9 am-4:30 pm
15. Curry Hammock State Park - 8 am-dusk daily
16. The Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters - 9 am-5 pm daily
17. Crane Point Hammock State Park - 9 am-5 pm (Mon-Sat)/ (12 pm-5 pm) Sun
18. The Turtle Hospital - 9 am-6 pm daily
19. Bahia Honda State Park - dawn-dusk daily
20. The National Deer Key Refuge - 10 am-3 pm (Wed-Sat)

Get Packing!

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​​Here’s our packing list for this tour. It may seem a little long, but remember, what you bring depends on the activities you choose to do for the day. 

• Car Charger
• Lightweight clothing
• A change of clothes 
• Towels
• Swimsuit
• Sunscreen
• Snacks
• Hats/Sunglasses
• Camera/phone cleanser
• Bug repellant
• Cash

Safety Information

Do not approach or feed wildlife. Do not drive while impaired or tired and follow posted speed limits and obey traffic laws.

Best Time to Visit 

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The best time to take a scenic drive along Overseas Highway and visit the Keys are the fall and winter months - October to February. This is when the weather is less temperamental, staying around 80 degrees and sunny most days.

This is also the busy season and you’ll find the most crowds at this time. June through September is generally considered “hurricane season”, with the weather becoming very hot and humid.

Leave No Trace 

While exploring, we encourage you to abide by the leave-no-trace principles. Embrace the outdoors responsibly with our commitment to preserving natural wonders.

Respect wildlife habitats, minimize your footprint, and carry out memories, not waste. By following Leave No Trace principles, you contribute to the longevity and beauty of our planet's most stunning landscapes.

Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Overseas Highway Tour!

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.

For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Overseas Highway Tour Itinerary!

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