Planning a drive from Miami to Key West got me thinking about maintenance before hitting the road. Did a quick check on oil, brakes, and tires to avoid any surprises, since long trips can really rack up wear. It’s wild how much some service departments charge, but a little prep and knowing what you can do yourself keeps costs reasonable. The car’s feeling solid, so it should be a smooth cruise down the Keys without breaking the bank on unexpected repairs.
Miami , FL to Key West , FL ? That is not even 200 miles not what I would call a long trip.
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+1
According to Google Maps, it is ~166 miles. If someone’s vehicle is up-to-date with maintenance, no special precautions should be necessary, other than checking the tire inflation and… maybe… checking the oil if that task hasn’t been done in a while.
While most of my driving is more or less local, it’s not unusual for me to do a 200+ mile drive on a Saturday, and I don’t know anyone who would consider that to be a “long trip”.
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Your “long trip” is less than 2 days of my regular commute to work.
While it is certainly important to keep your car in good maintenance, worrying about making through the next half a tank of gas without a breakdown seems a bit much. I would hope you have your car maintained (or do it yourself) well enough that you don’t expect to be on the side of the road within the next couple hundred miles.
I’ve been hearing that service departments charge too much for 35 years. But I’ll add that the most expensive oil change is the one you skip.
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I have driven this route…. While not very long it is quite slow, especially in season. It takes quite a while to drive.
And you do not want to break down as you would likely require a tow back to Homestead for service.
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Yeah I can do that in a weekend. The orices were a little surprising. I paid $32 for a couple waffles at a Waffle House. $4 for a coke, etc. I had cash but no one takes it anymore, just tap and go. Tolls were another issue. Florida is very confusing with a half dozen options. I brought my own transponder and seemed to work. Trying to figure the difference in I psss and ez pass. Finally dawned on me that I pass is Illinois toll pass, call me dense but not late for dinner.
Nut just loose on wiper. No parts needed. I remember the year when the blower was just aimed straight up to Lear the piles. No fun so good luck.
I can understand your concern, that is a lot of 2-lane bridge travel. A tow in the Keys can easily exceed $200–$500+ depending on distance, as many calls require transporting a vehicle 30 to 50 or more miles to the nearest qualified repair shop.
However, the drive from Miami to Key West over the Overseas Highway driving about 100-miles on the 42 different bridges that connect various islands. The Longest Bridge, is just under 7 miles long. The entire trip takes about 4 hours.
This is a preview of what to expect… A lot of nothing if you do not like seascapes, bring lots of stuff to keep the kids busy (Are we there yet? 
) And don’t forget the Dramamine…
And finally, there are no official, dedicated state-run rest areas with picnic tables or bathrooms directly on the Overseas Highway (US-1) in the Florida Keys. However, the route passes through numerous towns, offering abundant private options for restrooms, food, and scenic spots.
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