Key west

Hwy 42 aka the TaMiami Trail was the main road before the interstates. I is a good two lane highway and has a lot of interesting sights along it including the Shark Valley unit of Everglades NP. Stop and take the tour.
One warning, do not speed thru the Seminole reservation, you will get a ticket, not a speed trap but they are serious about it.

Agree. The Tamiami Trail is really an interesting drive. Lots to see and do along the way. More of a relaxing drive. Good highway.

We took US 41 on both our trips to the Keyes. Good two-lane road. Some nice places to stop for scenery and side trips.
Big Cypress Wayside has a good campground with partial hook ups.

I travel from Tampa to Key West several times a year. I take I 75 to exit 101, Naples, go about 6 miles on 951 to US 41.( North of this area, US 41 is a very urban road.) Go 82 miles and turn right on Krome Ave ( 997) for 22 miles and it'll put you right on US 1
41 is , to me , a much more pleasant drive than Alligator Alley ( I 75) and taking the route I do, you avoid all the crazy Miami area traffic.

Before I 75 was put in, I used to drive Tampa to Key West all the way on US 41.

"Before I 75 was put in, I used to drive Tampa to Key West all the way on US 41."

..... except for that stretch of US-1 for the last 3 hours of the trip, eh?

RetiredRealtorRick wrote:
"Before I 75 was put in, I used to drive Tampa to Key West all the way on US 41."

..... except for that stretch of US-1 for the last 3 hours of the trip, eh?

Yep -- 41 thru tampa, gibsonton, ruskin,sarasota,punta gorda,etc all the way to Krome Ave, then to US 1

JoeH wrote:

RetiredRealtorRick wrote:
"Before I 75 was put in, I used to drive Tampa to Key West all the way on US 41."

..... except for that stretch of US-1 for the last 3 hours of the trip, eh?

Yep -- 41 thru tampa, gibsonton, ruskin,sarasota,punta gorda,etc all the way to Krome Ave, then to US 1

. . . . so you really didn't drive "all the way to Key West on US41", did you? :W

Pro tip, don't do that route at night, with a new moon, and rain.