Spanning 127.1 miles, your journey from Marathon to Miramar takes approximately 2 hours and 32 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it doesn't require an overnight stay to manage the distance comfortably. You will primarily navigate via 39th Street Gulf, the Overseas Highway, and the Dixie Highway. Budgeting around $21 for fuel should cover your travel costs for this Florida excursion. Because this route stays entirely within the state, you can expect a transition from the unique island geography of the Florida Keys toward the more urbanized landscape of the mainland. It is a straightforward drive that offers enough flexibility for you to arrive at your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.4 miles from Marathon, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Overseas Highway
59.1 mi
1h 32m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
45.3 mi
52m
Dixie Highway
19.4 mi
26m
Miramar Parkway
0.9 mi
1m
South University Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Bahama Drive
0.4 mi
1m
39th Street Gulf
0.1 mi
<1m
Louisa Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Overseas Highway
— 59.1 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marathon, FL and Miramar, FL.
1
Start on Louisa Street
396 ft·19 sec·Louisa Street
2
Turn right onto 39th Street Gulf
0.1 mi·29 sec·39th Street Gulf
3
Turn left onto US 1
59 mi·1 hr 32 min·Overseas Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 1
19 mi·26 min·Dixie Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
13 mi·15 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.6 mi·4 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
2.5 mi·3 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
26 mi·29 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 47Toward SR 817: Northwest 27th Avenue, University DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
518 ft·16 sec
Toward SR 817 North: MiramarUse the left lane.
12
Turn left onto SR 817
0.7 mi·1 min·South University Drive
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto CR 858
0.9 mi·1 min·Miramar Parkway
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Bahama Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Bahama Drive
15
Arrive at destination
Bahama Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2-hour and 32-minute drive, plan for at least one strategic stop to stretch your legs and break up the turn-heavy segments. Since the route relies entirely on local roads, avoid departing during peak local traffic hours to prevent unnecessary delays on the Dixie Highway and Overseas Highway stretches. Keep your fuel gauge in check before leaving Marathon, as the $21 estimate is a baseline that can fluctuate based on idling in local traffic. Given the nature of the road, prioritize steady, defensive driving over speed. Use the flexibility of this short trip to your advantage by checking your GPS frequently, as the lack of long highway stretches means you will be making frequent turns to stay on track.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.4 miles from Marathon, FL, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.1 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 28 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.4 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Miramar, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marathon, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Marathon, FL
This is one driving day of about 126.7 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Marathon, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Overseas Highway for about 59.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 124.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1 / Overseas Highway
Turn left onto US 1 / Overseas Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
6
92.2 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
124.3 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward SR 817: Northwest 27th Avenue, University Drive
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 47
Toward SR 817: Northwest 27th Avenue, Universit...
7
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 817 North: Miramar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward SR 817 North: Miramar
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.17 one way
$40.33 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$21.94
$43.88
premium
$4.72
$23.56
$47.12
diesel
$5.61
$27.97
$55.95
Estimated Tolls: $2.72
Homestead Extension
(45.3 mi)$2.72
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
$20
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38
0
$13.30
$6.08
Efficient EV
31.7
0
$11.09
$5.07
EV Truck/SUV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Marathon, FL
Late night
in Marathon on Tuesday
Local time
4:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Miramar, FL
Late night
in Miramar on Tuesday
Local time
4:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 58m 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 87.4
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 74.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 0 miles on 39th Street Gulf. The road demands your full attention due to the frequency of turns and the nature of the local thoroughfares. Unlike a monotonous highway cruise, this trip requires you to remain engaged with constant maneuvering as you transition between the primary roads. It is a practical, ground-level look at the regional infrastructure that connects the southern tip of the state to the Miramar area.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.1 mi on Overseas Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.2 miles in near US 1 / Overseas Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 126.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 1 / Overseas Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.2 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Marathon, FL and Miramar, FL, road signs point toward Miami, Orlando and Florida's Turnpike North.
Marathon is a city in the Florida Keys, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay on the other. It is on somewhat of a long narrow island (Vaca Key). You will find all of the amenities of a small town including an excellent hospital, shopping and small airport. Mosquitos are less common than in some parts of the Keys, as they spray them. The waters are warm, clear and inviting. If you are visiting the Florida Keys, Marathon is a great choice to make your base. Marathon has more of a permanent population than some of the other Keys and a good base of services.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 126.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). 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 59.1 miles on Overseas Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.72 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.
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 Miramar, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 1 / Overseas Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.2 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Miramar, FL before heading back.
