i would advise to stop and get a hotel early and not make the ride to KW in the dark.......maybe get to Homestead or Key Largo and stop for the day.......the ride to KW should be made in daylight, not for safety but for scenic reasons....

as far as "very very busy with traffic"........you are going on a weekday which is good......get started by around 9'ish am and you will likely have a very nice ride down.......the traffic is usually bad on friday afternoon going down and sunday afternoon comming back ( thats when Floridians go down for the weekend).......we go 2-3 times a year and very rarely encounter bad traffic......

we take card sound road to get to Key Largo instead of US1......alittle more relaxin ride but there is a 1 dollar toll......

KeyWest is a mix of almost anything you can think of......well worth the trip and dollars it takes to stay there.......we find a place to have a drink that overlooks Duval St (the main drag) and people watch.....lol......for a hotel, we stay at Harborside.....about a mile walk to Duval and has good bike parking........

 

Good info from fellow member IM= This is what I have done in the past and NEVER speed in the keys many , many drop downs in speed:
If starting from Miami Airport you can stay on the 836 west/Dolphin which becomes the turnpike as you head west and eventually turns south..two choices #1 (faster) continue going south on turnpike until it ends at US1 at the start of keys or #2 (slower & about 40 minutes more/ for daylight only) get off at Kendall Drive (88 street) and go west to (997) krome south (this is a farming area) to the end were it will merge with US1 at the very beginning of keys. It will spit you out very close to the last chance saloon ”biker bar” and card sound road entrance. *Miami Dade County is toll by plate(bill you later) once on the turnpike. Broward is cash..
Consider using the Free Google Earth download on your computer to see a real satellite image of the route and to "virtually" drive the area/route.
Then :
Two more choices at the start of Keys and both spit you out at the same spot: #1 Turn left onto Card Sound Road(much less traffic, more scenic and relaxing but about 20 minutes longer) or #2 Just stay on US1 (US1 has been greatly improved and now has divided barriers) but it is a high speed race and the passing lanes can get hairy at rush hours.
Places:
Alabama Jack's, Card Sound Rd., On card sound road just before/right next to toll $1 ?(Toll is old school dude in a box )…Alabama Jacks is Place to snack and have a beer. This is the only place to eat/drink on card sound road. mangrove/water in back.
Key Largo : east side of road.. The African Queen ”bogart movie little boat ” - is on view at the Holiday Inn Key Largo Marina..”FREE” it is dry docked and the termites have done a number on it…(P.O.S) can see it(shrug shoulders) and leave with-out getting off bike…on west side of road: A local bar “kinda dumpy”, the Caribbean Club-(i do not think it ever closes) good view from the back and was supposedly used for Bogart movie…Maybe get a beer in a bottle and enjoy view of the water in back.
World Wide Sportsman, Islamorada MM # 82 - ultimate tackle store (now part of the Bass Pro Shop chain) but store has some fake replica history that includes Zane Grey and Papa Hemingway. Good place to eat next door on water at isla morada fish company….use bathrooms at the Big World Wide Sports store next door..(back right corner) by the aquarium…store is kinda cool and has nice free view of water...worth the stop for bathrooms and a break even if you do not eat next door.
Islamorada MM#79 :Cool place.. Hand feed tarpons at Robbies..really easy to miss...just past bridge..west side of road.. I think it is $3 for bucket of fish and $1 dollar per person? nice 15-20 minute stop and they have cold glass bottle cokes to cool down.http://www.robbies.com/tarpon.htm
Island Fish company MM #54 is a nice place on the water to eat,drink or snack.
Seven Mile Bridge MM# 47: used in several movies. Notice old bridge on west side.
Many people cross it and are in such a relaxed state that they miss "seeing it"
No Name Pub MM# 31---NOT on the water but you WILL see the famous and protected wild Key Deer. The bar is different with a ton of dollar bills stapled to walls, roof etc...pizza, wings, beer type of place...very hidden.
KEY DEER BLVD/CR-940 stay straight on WILDER RD./ AVENUE A to dead end (1.2 miles)Turn LEFT onto POINCIANA RD/POINCIANNA RD. (0.1miles) then Turn RIGHT onto AVENUE B. (0.2 miles)AVENUE B becomes FL-4A/WATSON BLVD. go over bridge (0.8 miles)…bar on left.
key west: Mallory Square,Hemingway House
Best fish sandwich : BO's fishwagon (not on the water), fresh everyday, on caroline and William..dump at corner of intersection..park bikes a few feet away(meter)..do internet search
http://www.keywesttravelguide.com/bos-fish-wagon.html.
Definitely get your picture taken at the Southernmost Point., Consider a sunset sail cruise and/or a Bi-plane ride(cool).
Schooner Wharf Bar Key West on William Street- on the water (food in a basket).
The parking meter maids do not play..make sure to pay for parking in Key West (meter/public/whatever).
Forgot the Hurricane monument/memorial between Mile Marker 81 and MM 82-a quick stop..will not change your life but most people miss the landmark.. FREE 5 or 6 minutes rest to read signs. There are about 3 or 4 parking spaces FREE almost touching monument.
This is a link to a 360 degree view of the keys..works rather odd because you need to hit the (-) whenever you wish to click the top left corner (Florida keys tab) to select a different mile marker view..But rather cool...can even do a full screen
http://360floridakeys.com/things-to-...cane-monument/


FT

 

One road from the main land to Key West, that is it. But it is a really nice road with the water, bridges etc. On bikes, if you are willing, you can get around some of the worst RV and truck traffic.

Places to stop on the way, Stuffed Pig, great for breakfast we usually stop on the way home:
http://www.thestuffedpig.com

No Name Pub:
http://www.nonamepub.com

Bobalu's:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/144/9201...ig-Coppitt-Key

Caribbean Club:
http://www.caribbeanclubkl.com

In Key West go to the wrong side of town and search for Cuban places with long lines of locals, you will enjoy.

Bobalu's has another spot in Key West for the tourists, this one is at either MM 10 or 11, all locals and close enough from KW to just ride up for lunch. No Name is a lot of fun with good food. Somebody else mentioned Alabama's Jack, good spot for lunch or dinner on the way down. You will take Card Sound Road and pay a small toll after lunch. Caribbean Club is really dumpy living off a very old reputation, but still a fun stop for a quick one.

Helmets are optional in Florida, but HD rentals make you take one with you from their shop. I had to lug it around for a week.

Have fun the Keys are great in the winter.

 

Merry Christmas Folks from "The Great White North"
Sorry about the delay getting back to you but got a new computer from my kids and it;s taken me awhile to figure it out...lol
So....a few more questions about my trip to the keys in Jan

1.after picking up the bikes in Miami I see that the I could take Ingraham Hwy or Old Cutler Rd or S.Dixie Hwy which meets up with the turnpike then down to South Card Road and over to North key Largo
Which is the most scenic route avoiding lots of traffic and of course the most enjoyable
Should I avoid the turnpike and stay on S.Dixie Rd?

Thanks
Happy Holidays

 

OK if I understand, you are coming in on a Tuesday at 4:30.
After getting the bikes I would go the turnpike route.

What are your plans for the night?
It will be dark by the time you get the bikes and hit the road. I assume about 6:00.

The reason for riding the keys is the view and you won't see it at night.

Send me a note if you want, but give me so more specifics on what your plans are.

I will send you a note with my phone number in a bit.

 

We rode down there in May and had a blast. Take the advise and stay on the mainland for the night and make the trip in the daylight hours. It really is a beautiful ride down. Lodging will not be cheap in Key West but you might find something that will work. The hotels have a concierge (spell check) that have maps and all info for activities. Most have free shuttles to Duval St so you can get loose and not have to drive back. Key West is a drinking town with a fishing problem and they know how to have a good time. We enjoyed one of the sunset cruises while we were there.

I hope you enjoy your trip and have fun. Ride safe

 

KW in January - SWEET!!!!
.
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Have fun

 

i am jealous
the keys have always been on my list

 

Jonesee send me e mail @...dempstertim@gmail.com and we can communicate via e mail

Thanks
Tim "the drifter"

 

cant figure out how to send a "note" send me e mail to dempstertim@gmail.com
heading over to "Biker Bob's this afternoon to discuss more details of our trip, will be back home later this afternoon

Thanks
Tim "the drifter"