Ever ride from Miami to Key West?

LeMon583 · 05-17-2009, 11:02 PM

Hi all, first time poster here.

Any thoughts/comments/opinions/advice for this journey. This would be my first long distance trip, so any help about gas, routes, where to stay, where to stop, etc.. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ryan

Iguana · 05-18-2009, 12:11 AM

It is possible - but it will take some planning.

For one - between Miami and Key Largo lies Biscayne National Park. PWCs are banned from the park. You can not go south in Biscayne Bay past Chicken Key. If you do not know where that is - look for the two blue smoke stacks that are made to look like lighthouses south of Matheson Hammock. This is Old Cutler power plant - which is right next to Chicken Key. That is as far south as you can go in the bay.

So you would need to either trailer to Key Largo OR head offshore. The eastern boundary of the park is the reef line, from yellow marker "N" to the north to whistle buoy red "4" to the south - including Fowey Rocks, to just past Pacific Reef. You have to be outside this line - in theory. In reality you may be able to run Hawk Channel - but the parks service could harass you if they wanted to. Also - watch for the numerous patch reefs that are very shallow at low tide. Some patch reefs are partially exposed at low tide - you can run aground.

Here is a link to a map of the park. Note that the map is not intended for navigation purposes.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/natio...ks/bisc_95.jpg

Once past Biscayne National Park the ride will be easier. You can run along either the ocean side or the bay side of the Keys. I am not aware of any major restrictions there. But you will still need to study charts of the area. You will also have to know about speed restrictions and whatever else there is.

As for places to stay - the keys has a lot of hotels with boat access. There are also a ton of water front restaurants and just as many marinas to fuel up at.

The trip is very possible, and would be a fun run. Plan a couple of days for it. And remember to plan for the trip back to Miami - unless someone is going to meet you in Key West with a trailer.

The distance you can plan to run in a day depends on conditions and your endurance. I would make a few runs from Key Biscayne to Chicken Key and back to Key Biscayne (be careful to keep out of the park!!!) to see how much I can run. This portion of the bay is a good place to run because it can get choppy, and would be a good simulation of a Keys run. The bay side of the keys tends to be calmer than the ocean side, but it can still get choppy in exposed areas.

picaflor · 07-01-2009, 12:16 PM

i would depart from key largo instead....

Spim · 07-02-2009, 01:00 AM

Bring 2 ski's minimum and bringing a boat along would be ideal

Badboyr6 · 07-03-2009, 03:51 AM

Slowstang305 and I were trying to figure out a plan to ride to the keys also. It would he a cool experience. Planning is the main part. I was actual just thinking of trailering my ski down to the keys to ride down there for a change.

intsell · 07-08-2009, 02:07 AM

I will part from Key largo ... Biscayne park will be a hassle to pass tru in the best case you'll get fine for $500 even they can end you trip in jail . I dont think bringing boat along is a must . But I would get some one with a trailer on Key west . Back trip will not be fun unless you want to stay for more than a week .... If you get tired of the ocean wave I would recommended to get the gulf it is very calm and beautiful you may cross on almost any bridge you find after mile 80....Good luck

ncourcy · 07-11-2009, 10:52 AM

Wow. I am a newbie and fascinated with all the information on this site! I own a jet ski co running tours last summer out of Islamorada. Co didnt last long and the skis are in Mass now. I am trying to get the skis back to the Keys in the Fall and was trying to plan the logistics of a Key West run. My ex partner is local to the Keys and knew everything that I didnt so I am so grateful for the information shared on this site.

crickit · 07-14-2009, 11:08 PM

If someone is getting this trip together and would like extra company, please let me know. I would love to take a trip like this...

Slowstang305 · 07-15-2009, 04:25 PM

I would be down for Miami-Key West run.

Bits&Bytes · 07-20-2009, 08:28 AM

We rode from Marathon to Key West (and back) last year... was great fun. We got stuck in some really nasty stuff crossing from the Gulf side to the Atlantic side but that was all part of the adventure...