How to Not Get Lost in the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys stretch out for over 100 miles, but the islands are linked by a single road, the Overseas Highway. Forty-two bridges link the islands together. Once you've become familiar with the basic layout of the highway, you will understand why it's hard to get lost in the Florida Keys.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Vehicle
• Patience

1. Be a patient driver. The Overseas Highway is largely a single lane roadway and can become quite inundated during the winter season and over holidays.
2. Understand the Mile Marker System. Mile Markers appear as short green and white signs along the side of the road and designate where along the highway you are currently located. For instance, Jewfish Creek Bridge is at Mile Marker 108 in Key Largo. Mile Marker 0 is just around the corner from Ernest Hemingway's house in Key West.
3. Bayside/Oceanside. The Overseas Highway divides the islands into two halves, the Bayside (BS), or Florida Bay/Gulf of Mexico side and the Oceanside (OS), or Atlantic Ocean side.
4. Physical addresses tell exactly where along the highway you are going. The address, 10350 Overseas Highway means that where you are going is exactly half-way between Mile Marker 103 and Mile Marker 104. 10350 translates into Mile Marker 103.5.

Tips & Warnings

• Directions are typically given in terms of Mile Markers. Ask where Lazy Days restaurant is and you will be told Mile Marker 80, Oceanside.
• Be cautious and alert when driving because travel writers call the Overseas Highway one of America's Top 5 Scenic Highways and it can be easy to get distracted.