Where to go between Key West and NYC?

August 21, 2008 12:10 PM

Road trip from Florida to NYC. Where to go, what to do?

I'm flying in to Ft. Lauderdale from San Francisco on September 24th. I need to be in New York City on October 4th. What to see/do in the meantime?

Tips on where to go in New York are readily available, but I'm sort of stuck on the part before that. I've got 1,5 week in which I'd like to see Key West, Washington DC, Miami. But where else can I go and what's a reasonable route to take? I'll be renting a car. Thanks in advance for your tips!

And of course, should you live along my route I'll be happy to buy you a beer!

posted by lodev to travel & transportation (14 answers total)

Savannah.
posted by amro at 12:20 PM on August 21, 2008

Oh, and the reasonable route is I-95.
posted by amro at 12:21 PM on August 21, 2008

This guide to road-tripping on 95 might be hekpful.
posted by amro at 12:25 PM on August 21, 2008

When I took a big road trip, the book ROAD TRIP USA was my Bible. It sticks to the smaller two-lane highways, and instead of going state-by-state, it picks a few coast-to-coast or border-to-border routes and covers the country that way instead. One of the routes he follows IS your route -- he starts north and goes south, but he does follow a route from Atlantic City to Key West.

He actually has a web site based on the book -- the section devoted to that route is here.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:26 PM on August 21, 2008

Get off I-95 on I-26 and detour to Charleston. Then you could go on up the coast to Wilmington or then, hey, be hardcore and take the coast back roads up through the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel, thus avoiding the horror that is I-95 in DC.

If you do stay on 95 all the way (and may the gods have mercy on your soul) be sure to stop at South of the Border, because it's sleazy, depressing and fabulously weird and, really, you shouldn't miss its terribleness.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:27 PM on August 21, 2008

Maybe skip Key West to save time?

Charleston and Savannah.
The Outer Banks of North Carolina: see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse!
Assateague Island.
Gettysburg, if you've never been to a Civil War battlefield.

Here's a map I made showing the route, via the White House. Watch out for hurricanes!
posted by mdonley at 1:03 PM on August 21, 2008

re: South of the Border - do not get the ginger soda. It is quite horrible.
posted by spec80 at 3:07 PM on August 21, 2008

Wow. Thanks for the great tips so far!
posted by lodev at 3:18 PM on August 21, 2008

Go tubing on the Ichetucknee.
posted by Haruspex at 3:40 PM on August 21, 2008

if you don't mind a detour, I81 up through the shenandoah valley is just gorgeous.
posted by thinkingwoman at 5:30 PM on August 21, 2008 [1 favorite]

Savannah! And I have a perfect place for that beer you've promised. =)
posted by thebrokenmuse at 7:45 PM on August 21, 2008

be hardcore and take the coast back roads up through the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel, thus avoiding the horror that is I-95 in DC.

I'm thinking you're referring to the thing that connects Va. beach to Maryland's eastern shore? I beg you not to go that way. There's a reason Md's own governor once referred to the eastern shore as a "shithouse," though ocean city can be kind of fun in a trashy way. But those parts of md. and Va. way down there south of O.C. are literally the worst place I have ever been in my life. Just awful. Don't go there.

As far as "I-95 in DC" - actually 95 is broken up by 495, the capital beltway - just avoid it at rush hour. You'll probably want to spend a day in DC anyway.
posted by drjimmy11 at 8:31 PM on August 21, 2008

Oh and check out the National Aquarium in Baltimore. As a native, I can safely say it's one of the very few worthwhile things to see there. Skip Harbor Place- it's just a mall by a stinky body of water. If you like baseball, Oriole Park is nice- you might be able to catch the very tail end of another losing season. There's Fort McHenry too if you're into American history.

Do not attempt to tour the real life locations of "The Wire."
posted by drjimmy11 at 8:35 PM on August 21, 2008

I'm not sure if I'll actually drive up there after all, as there might not be that much to see. (No offense intended to people living there of course :-)) I might fly up to Washington, and then take the train to NYC.

Anyway, should I drive, and pass through Savannah I'll certainly MefiMail you, thebrokenmuse.
Thank you all for the inspiration!
posted by lodev at 2:43 PM on August 27, 2008