Florida Keys to Vero Beach

We have done the 997 to 27 often and prefer it to the castle of Miami. It is much more pleasant.
Here are our stops we have made:
Robert is here fruit stand...for a fruit milkshake Robert is here This is in homestead.

Casino at 997 and 41 (we always overnight here on the way down)

South Bay has a parking area (and a campground if interested) where you can walk or
bike up on the dike (not sure if that is what you call it) and we have done that.

We then take 76 east to route 95
Donna

ekirkland wrote:
Thanks for the info about Okeechobee; is there much to see otherwise on 27, 441, 714? I mainly wanted to see what the area looks like as well as miss Miami.

NO Use Google to see it BUT it's only 10 miles further and a lot cheaper than using the Turnpike (toll) to Jupiter and then I-95.
Much of 27 is a two lane with canals on both sides. Atleast 98/441 do not have canals on both sides.
Instead of 714 to I-95 you could us 70 by getting off of 441 at the same place but then a short distance north on 710 to SE 128 Ave to 70.
Yes, I'm a Fla native that grew up in this area.

Two years ago we left Miami Everglades RV Park just off Krome Ave (997) and took that up to US27 and then on to Sebring. You'll definitely miss Miami this route. I was also interested in seeing what it looked like up along 27 and found that there isn't much other than cane farms. It was still interesting to me because I enjoy different landscapes. There wasn't much traffic along 27.

We stayed at Long Point campground, a Brevard County park just north of Sebastian Inlet, last year. Would have opted for the state park, but waited too long. There's a nice little museum south of the state park that's all about Spanish ships that sunk with great treasures centuries ago. I believe it's state operated. We enjoyed the visit, very interesting.

Our trip to Long Point was from the Arcadia area, but we took 70 to Okeechobee and then stayed on 70 up to I-95, then north to the Vero Beach exit. You could always take 27 up to Moore Haven and then 78 up to Okeechobee and 70 east to I-95. Not sure what 78 is like, but 70 was ok for us.

I will again mention that it's not a real exciting route, but you stay off I-95, get to see the levee around Lake Okeechobee, and you won't find a flatter route anywhere. :D

That's Florida Cattle country. Lots of open space with Cattle. If you go further west you'd get to Myakka State Park which is an exceptional park to visit. The lake is just about wall to wall alligators. They have a walk way up in the top of the trees, they only one in Florida that I know of. But that is almost to the west coast.

Have you driven down Hwy 41 across the glades? The loop road is a good look at the Cyprus Swamp with lots of birds this time of year. There are airboat rides too and the Shark Valley unit of the Everglades NP. If you like canoeing then the Peace river in Arcadia is a good spot, the Canoe outpost rents canoes and will truck you north to float back down. It's a good place to find sharks teeth and other fossils. We found a fossilized alligator tooth.

But the area around the Lake isn't very scenic and doesn't have much in the way of attractions. To the south is sugar cane country with vast commercial farms. I see 441 north of the Lake is marked as a scenic drive, why I don't know. That country has been compared to the Veldt in southern Africa but Lions, Zebra and Elephants are lacking.

Speaking of Lions, there is Lion Country Safari just west of West Palm Beach. I think they have African critters wandering around uncaged, you drive thru in your vehicle. I've never been and haven't heard of any reports about what it is like. It's been there for many years tho, so I guess it must be at least interesting.

Thanks for the info about Okeechobee; is there much to see otherwise on 27, 441, 714? I mainly wanted to see what the area looks like as well as miss Miami.

2X on Okeechobee. Not much to see, it has a high dike all around it for one thing.

821/Florida Turnpike to 27. Do not worry about the toll cost as you will get a bill in the mail base on your TT's tag. Not sure why you want to see the lake as there is nothing to see. Big dike/canal around it with some places to get on top... Google maps shows a boat ramp at the South Bay CG (27 & Levee Rd) that would let you turn around and see the lake... mainly swamp looking area. A better choice would be at Pahokee where it looks more like a lake. If you put in LakeView Dr. Pahokee, Fla. and do a street view you can see what I mean. Pretty sure you will be disappointed that you went that far out of the way, but you will get to see a lot of Fla that will never be developed. I would take 441 N to Barlow's fish camp/SE 126 Blvd to get on 714 to I-95N to get to Sebastian.
Good Luck.

US 1 thru Miami! Bad idea. It took us an hour to move less than a mile and that was without a trailer.

I'd try Chrome Ave (997) to US 27. I'm familiar with 997 to 41 and it has a lot less traffic than 1 has. Possibly the Florida Turnpike to 895 west to 27 might work.