Sometimes the journey really is the destination—and that’s exactly what inspired this time-lapse drive from Miami to Key West. Kicking off on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach and ending in Old Key West, this video compresses one of Florida’s most iconic road trips into just over three minutes, set to the perfect soundtrack: “A Fi Wi Country” by Max Romeo.
The real star here is the drive itself. As the bus heads south, the scenery shifts from neon-lit streets to open water and endless sky, rolling through the Everglades, island after island, and eventually onto the legendary Overseas Highway. The highlight, of course, is the breathtaking Seven Mile Bridge, where the road seems to float above turquoise water in every direction—a stretch that never gets old, no matter how many times you cross it.
Inspired by a time-lapse video of a cross-country drive, Brad A. Schenck created this sped-up version of our own Miami–Key West journey. Normally a three-hour ride, the trip flies by thanks to the magic of video—without skipping any of the classic sights. The result is pure fun, and clearly it struck a chord: the video has been watched over 175,000 times.
This is also the very route traveled by our Miami Beach 411 bus service to Key West, offered in partnership with The Miami Tour Company. If you like what you see on screen, you can experience the real thing—minus the time-lapse, plus a front-row seat to one of America’s most scenic drives.
Editor’s Note: Originally published in June 20, 2019 and updated in 2026.
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