Hollywood, FL to Key Largo, FL is 82.7 miles and takes about 1h 52m via Dixie Highway and Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the bustling South Florida region down towards the Florida Keys. Expect a mixed drive profile as you navigate through urban and suburban areas before transitioning to more open stretches. With only one recommended day, this trip is ideal for a quick getaway or as the first leg of a longer journey south. It's a straightforward route, perfect if you're looking for minimal fuss and a direct path to your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Hollywood, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dixie Highway
19.2 mi
26m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
16.7 mi
20m
Palmetto Expressway
11.5 mi
15m
Overseas Highway
9.4 mi
16m
Express Lanes
9.1 mi
9m
Don Shula Expressway
7.5 mi
9m
I 95
6.3 mi
8m
Hollywood Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dixie Highway
— 19.2 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hollywood, FL and Key Largo, FL.
1
Start on SR 820
216 ft·12 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on SR 820
0.8 mi·1 min·Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820
0.4 mi·56 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 95 South: MiamiUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 95
6.3 mi·8 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East, SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike TollUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike TollUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto SR 826
348 ft·6 sec·SR 826
9
Take the exit onto SR 826
0.2 mi·41 sec·SR 826
Toward SR 826 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto SR 826
8.0 mi·11 min·Palmetto Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Lanes
9.1 mi·9 min·Express Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto SR 826
3.5 mi·4 min·Palmetto Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 874 Toll
7.5 mi·9 min·Don Shula Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
17 mi·20 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
16
Merge onto US 1
19 mi·26 min·Dixie Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 1
9.3 mi·15 min·Overseas Highway
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 1
454 ft·28 sec·Overseas Highway
19
Turn right onto Harbor Drive
308 ft·13 sec·Harbor Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Harbor Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 2 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving Hollywood, FL in the morning to avoid peak traffic or later in the afternoon for a sunset arrival in Key Largo. Your fuel cost is estimated at around $13, so ensure you have enough gas before heading out, especially as you'll cover 19.2 miles on Dixie Highway. While there are no mandatory stops suggested, keep an eye out for potential rest areas along the Turnpike if needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.4 miles from Hollywood, FL, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Key Largo, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hollywood, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hollywood, FL
This is one driving day of about 82.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Hollywood, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dixie Highway for about 19.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 8.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 820 / Hollywood Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820 / Hollywood Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Turn left toward I 95 South: Miami
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 South: Miami
8
7.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East, SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12
Toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East, S...
7
7.9 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
7
8.4 mi into trip|~12m in|SR 826
Take the exit onto SR 826 toward SR 826 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 826 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.16 one way
$26.33 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$14.32
$28.64
premium
$4.72
$15.38
$30.76
diesel
$5.61
$18.26
$36.52
Estimated Tolls: $1.00
Homestead Extension
(16.7 mi)$1.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.68
$3.97
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.24
$3.31
EV Truck/SUV
33.1
0
$11.58
$5.29
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Hollywood, FL
Morning
in Hollywood on Tuesday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Key Largo, FL
Morning
in Key Largo on Tuesday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 42.8
Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and anima...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
$35
near mile 57.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a varied driving experience, with 51% of it being on highways. You'll encounter stretches of Dixie Highway, which can feel more local and potentially slower, interspersed with faster sections on the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike and the Palmetto Expressway. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 19.2 miles on Dixie Highway. This mix means you'll experience both the rhythm of city driving and the ease of highway cruising, keeping the journey engaging without being overly demanding.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.2 mi on Dixie Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near SR 820 / Hollywood Boulevard.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.7 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (SR 820 / Hollywood Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Hollywood is a city in Florida, located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. With a population of 153,000 people (2022), Hollywood is a relatively small city that retains an old, laid-back, Florida feel to it compared to the larger cities in the area.
Top landmarks
•Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District — human settlement in Hollywood, Florida, United States of America
•Hollywood Garden Club — clubhouse in Hollywood, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 82.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.2 miles on Dixie Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.00 in tolls one way, starting with Homestead Extension. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Key Largo, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (SR 820 / Hollywood Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Key Largo, FL before heading back.
