The 113-mile driveway...

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June 1, 2026

Hey Keys lovers! Summer is officially here, the water temperature is hovering around a perfect 83 degrees, and the mahi-mahi are practically jumping into the boats. This week, we are looking at the fury over a last-minute fishing closure, a record-breaking invasive species hunt, and the tiny island under the bridge where 400 men lived while building the railroad that changed the Keys forever. But first, let's talk about the road itself.

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❓ Keys Trivia

What is the speed limit on the Overseas Highway through most of the Florida Keys?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 The Mile Marker Roundup

😡 Snapper Season Shut Down: Charter captains are furious after federal regulators abruptly closed the recreational red snapper season in South Atlantic waters just days before it was set to open. The closure, driven by NOAA stock assessments, means state waters will only open for two days this summer, leaving many captains scrambling to rebook clients. Read more → https://keysweekly.com/42/seeing-red-captains-incensed-over-last-second-snapper-closure/

🦁 Record Lionfish Haul: The recent REEF Lionfish Derby removed a record number of the invasive, venomous fish from Florida Keys waters. The event drew divers from across the state to help protect native reef fish populations from the voracious predators. Read more → https://keysweekly.com/42/derby-removes-record-number-of-invasive-lionfish-from-florida-keys-waters/

🏳️‍🌈 Rainbow Flag Repaired: More than 20 volunteers gathered at the Key West Woman's Club to repair Section 93 of the famous sea-to-sea rainbow flag. The 100-foot section, which originally stretched down Duval Street in 2003, was damaged in a windstorm and has now been mended just in time to fly in Orlando for the 10th anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Read more → https://keysweekly.com/42/key-wests-rainbow-gets-reinforcements/

🦌 Key Deer Protections Continue: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that protections for the endangered Key deer, Lower Keys marsh rabbit, and Eastern indigo snake will remain in place after the current Habitat Conservation Plan expires on June 30. A new permit review process takes effect July 1, maintaining the strict limits on development in Big Pine Key. Read more → https://www.facebook.com/MonroeCountyBOCC/posts/big-pine-key-the-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-usfws-has-issued-a-letter-confirmi/1448715673967247/

🐟 Barracuda Bust: FWC officers stopped two Key West men returning to Stock Island with 56 barracuda — well over the two-per-person limit. The men face multiple charges for the massive haul of a fish that locals rarely keep due to the high risk of ciguatera poisoning. Read more → https://keysweekly.com/42/into-the-teeth-of-the-law-key-west-men-busted-with-56-baracuda/

🤝 Partner Spotlight

The Summer Snorkeling Guide

The water is warm, the visibility is crystal clear, and the summer crowds haven't peaked yet. If you are planning to snorkel the Keys this month, here is what you need to know.

First, go early. The afternoon thunderstorms and winds usually kick up around 2:00 p.m., so book the morning trips for the calmest water. Second, you must use reef-safe sunscreen — it is the law in Key West and highly encouraged everywhere else to protect the coral.

Our favorite spots right now? John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo for beginners, Looe Key in the Lower Keys for massive fish and dramatic spur-and-groove coral formations, and the shallow, clear waters off Bahia Honda State Park if you want to swim right off the beach.

🤿 DEEP DIVE

The 113-Mile Driveway

The biggest mistake first-time visitors make in the Florida Keys is treating the Overseas Highway like an interstate.

It is not a highway to get you to your destination. It is the destination.

Stretching 113 miles from Florida City to Key West, US-1 is the only road in and out of the island chain. It crosses 42 bridges, connects four distinct regions, and is entirely measured by the famous green Mile Marker signs on the side of the road.

The highway was built on the bones of Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad after the devastating Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed the tracks. The state bought the right-of-way, paved over the old railroad bridges, and opened the highway as a toll road. In 1954, the tolls were removed, and the modern Overseas Highway was born.

The crown jewel is the Seven Mile Bridge, completed in 1982 to replace the narrow original span. When it opened, it was the longest continuous concrete segmental bridge in the world.

If you are driving down this summer, remember the golden rule: slow down. There are no HOV lanes, very few passing zones, and the scenery is too good to rush. Stop at the quirky roadside diners, pull over for a slice of pie, and watch out for Key deer at dusk.

🏴‍☠️ LORE & LEGENDS

The Island Under the Bridge

If you drive across the Seven Mile Bridge today, you will see a tiny, five-acre island nestled beneath the old, rusted span. That is Pigeon Key.

From 1908 to 1912, this speck of coral rock was the bustling, chaotic epicenter of the greatest engineering feat of the 20th century. It served as the construction camp for the men building Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad.

At its peak, more than 400 workers lived on the island. They slept in wooden dormitories that housed 64 men each, ate in a massive dining hall that fed 100 at a time, and worked grueling shifts in the brutal sun to build the bridge that connected the Keys to the mainland.

After the railroad was finished, Pigeon Key became a maintenance camp. From 1912 to 1935, it was a small town of about 40 residents, complete with a school and a post office.

Today, the island is a museum and education center. You can take a ferry from Marathon, walk through the original 1909 Section Gang Quarters, and stand exactly where the men who built the Keys once lived. Read the full history here → https://pigeonkey.net/pigeon-key-history/

✅ Trivia Answer

45 mph.

Through most of the Florida Keys, the speed limit on the Overseas Highway is 45 mph. It drops to 35 mph (and sometimes 25 mph ) when you pass through the commercial centers of Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, and Big Pine Key.

There is only one passing zone in each direction between Key Largo and Marathon, and local law enforcement is notoriously strict about speeding. So set the cruise control, roll the windows down, and enjoy the view.

Until next week, keep your windows down and your watch off.

The Florida Keys Road Trip Team

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