MIAAirport Guide

Miami airport to Islamorada and Key Largo

MIA to Key Largo and Islamorada by rental car or the Keys Shuttle van: the route, shuttle times, where to board at the airport, tolls and the county bus.

The wooden boardwalk at Anne's Beach in Islamorada beside shallow water
Anne's Beach, Islamorada

Key Largo is the first of the Keys you reach from MIA, about 22 miles past Florida City, and Islamorada is next down the road. The Keys’ official tourism office routes you there by Florida’s Turnpike and US 1. If you won’t want a car on the islands, the Keys Shuttle runs vans from MIA three times a day and reaches Key Largo about an hour and 15 minutes after it leaves.

A rental car or the Keys Shuttle?

Rental car Keys Shuttle
Where it starts at MIA The Rental Car Center, one free MIA Mover ride from Level 3 Ground level at baggage claim, out through Door 11
Leaves MIA Whenever you’re ready 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Reaches Key Largo About an hour from Miami to the start of the Keys, by the tourism office’s drive times About 1 hour 15 minutes after leaving MIA
Reaches Islamorada About 18 miles past the start of Key Largo, with no published drive time About 1 hour 45 minutes after leaving MIA
Landing late The Rental Car Center is listed as open around the clock, but some operators close between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The last van leaves at 7 p.m.
Best for Exploring the Keys, diving and fishing trips with gear A resort stay where you won’t drive

The drive takes the Turnpike and US 1

From any terminal, take the MIA Mover from Level 3, between the Dolphin and Flamingo garages, to the Rental Car Center. Head down Florida’s Turnpike to US 1 in Florida City. Once you reach the Keys, US 1 becomes the Overseas Highway, and green mile markers count down toward Key West. Key Largo comes first, and Islamorada starts at mile marker 90.

The Turnpike in Miami-Dade County collects tolls only electronically, by SunPass or TOLL-BY-PLATE, and TOLL-BY-PLATE isn’t available to rental-car customers. Ask the counter about charging tolls to the credit card you rented with. Our guide to tolls and SunPass in a rental car covers the service fees to ask about, and our guide to driving the Overseas Highway from MIA follows the road to the rest of the Keys.

How the Keys Shuttle pickup works

The vans carry up to twelve passengers, and every ride needs a reservation, online or on (305) 289-9997. Give a cell number when you book, because the shuttle needs a way to reach you after you land. On the 11 a.m. van, you reach Key Largo about 12:15 p.m. and Islamorada about 12:45 p.m. The 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. vans keep the same spacing. Going home, the vans reach MIA at about 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

To board, leave baggage claim on the ground level through Door 11. Cross the taxi and private-vehicle lanes to the median, walk through the corridor, and turn left to the Keys Shuttle sign. The Keys Shuttle listing has the same route with the full stop list. If you land after the last van has gone, the hotel inside Central Terminal E is the one bed you can walk to, and our walk-to hotels guide covers it. The 11 a.m. van runs the next morning.

Miami-Dade Transit also runs Route 301, an express bus from the SW 344 St Park and Ride to Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada and Marathon. It doesn’t start at MIA, so you first have to get to the park and ride.

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