The Florida Keys consist of over a thousand islands and islets scattered across more than two hundred kilometers at the southern tip of Florida. They form a dotted arc extending from Florida like a comma, marking the division between the waters of the western Atlantic ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The islands of the Keys are the exposed remnants of an ancient coral reef, extending Florida into the sea, with Key West as the southernmost point of the United States, located just 90 miles from Cuba by sea !

The Keys begin at the southeastern tip of Florida with Key Largo. With so many islands, they have been grouped into archipelagos based on their geographical location, from north to south:

• The Upper Keys, the northernmost islands and the closest to the mainland
• The Middle Keys
• The Lower Keys, including Key West

Like a game of leapfrog, the road takes you jumping from one island to another via a series of bridges, some of which are impressive engineering feats, like the Seven Mile Bridge. These bridges connect the islands and give you the sensation of driving on water !

The remnants of the old railroad track, converted for road traffic after a devastating hurricane in 1935, can be seen all along the route ! Your view seems to split, with the two bridges appearing to merge as one on the horizon !

Rest areas allow you to make a few stops and enjoy the panoramic views that unfold before you. You might even be surprised to spot iguanas basking in the sun ! Otherwise, it's also a popular starting point for fishing enthusiasts !

With Key West, you reach the end of the islands accessible by road. Cuba is only 90 miles away by sea. Beyond that, to reach the most remote islands to the west and the Dry Tortugas National Park, you will need to take either a boat or a seaplane.

The Keys have naturally shifted towards tourism and offer a wide range of sea-oriented activities, including scuba diving, snorkeling, sport fishing, sailing, or simply relaxing under the sun. Bordered to the east by a coral reef, Key Largo even claims to be the world's diving capital !

Since the coastline of most of the islands is lined with mangroves, beaches are sometimes scarce on certain islands and are limited to those developed by hotels !

The Florida Keys offer the wealthiest individuals the chance to own a little piece of paradise! In fact, some of these small tropical islands are available for purchase on the real estate market, with prices reaching several million dollars for the smallest ones, as well as for rent !

• Elliott Key is the northernmost island of the emerging part of the ancient coral reef, while Key Biscayne, despite its name and its location north of Miami, is not part of the Florida Keys: it is a barrier island formed from accumulated sand !
• The mile markers are key landmarks for navigation along the Overseas Highway 1.
• The Overseas Highway 1 includes no fewer than 42 bridges connecting Key West to Miami by road !
• A must-try specialty of the Florida Keys: the key lime pie !
• The Seven Mile Bridge has been the backdrop for numerous action movie scenes, such as in True Lies !

After leaving Miami heading south and passing through Florida City, the last gas stations remind you to refuel before crossing the vast Everglades National Park. An endless stretch of road unfolds before you, with the first island of the Keys, Key Largo, as the only escape. Nature has reclaimed this protected space, with the mangroves being omnipresent. Finally, the sea appears on the horizon, and with it, the first bridges leading to Key Largo.

Now, you're on Overseas Highway 1, and the mile markers, marked as MM on signs planted along the road, gradually count down toward Key West, the last island accessible by road ! The countdown of mile markers will end at Key West with MM0.