The total distance covered by the scenic drive through Joshua Tree National Park is about 70 miles if you drive straight through, but you should allow at least four hours because you will want to stop frequently to take in the breathtaking scenery, climb the massive rock formations, stroll through the cactus garden, marvel at the oasis, and find the perfect Joshua Tree for your photographs.
You can get to the park from a number of places, but for simplicity's sake, we'll assume you're coming from Palm Springs. Take I-10 east for roughly an hour until you reach Cottonwood Springs Road (exit 168), which leads to the park's southern entrance. Starting at the Visitor Center to pick up a map, you'll make your way across the low-lying Colorado Desert. Ocotillo are present, with its towering branches topped with vivid red flowers. Take a phrazle stroll around the Cholla Cactus Garden, but beware of the thorny plants!
You'll be able to see the "tree" that inspired the park's name in no time, according to the analogy made by early Mormon settlers. Visit Keys View, a scenic overlook at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Traveling west from Joshua Tree Village on Highway 62, you'll pass through campgrounds, picnic areas, and animals before reaching the park's higher elevation and the cooler Mojave Desert climate. Here you may access I-10, which will take you west to Los Angeles or east to Palm Springs.
It's around a 150-mile journey with the top down, but it might take more or less time depending on how many pit breaks you make. Travel south on US-1, passing through Coconut Grove and the University of Miami before reaching the Homestead fields. From there, continue on South Dixie Highway (US-1) or the Ronald Reagan Turnpike (toll road) to Florida City, where US-1 South connects with the Overseas Highway. If you're trying to figure out how far it is to Key West, you should stop at Mile Marker 126. As the northernmost of the Keys, Key Largo may serve as your starting point.
Pennekamp, John The first underwater park in the United States, Coral Reef State Park is a great place to go snorkeling, scuba diving, or take a glass-bottom boat trip. Located at the start of the middle Keys, Islamorada is a popular destination for anglers and tourists looking to pick up some unique mementos. The next stop is Marathon Key, a group of 13 islands best known for the Dolphin Research Center and loggerhead turtles. The Seven Mile Bridge, which connects Marathon to the Lower Keys, is located to the south of Marathon on US-1.
As you drive over the bridge, take in a panoramic view of the surrounding waterways and gaze over at the old railroad bridge, which was badly destroyed during the 1935 hurricane season and is now memorialized at the Islamorada Hurricane Memorial. Bahia Honda State Park may be found on the far side of the bridge. Prior to arriving in Key West, you may wish to stop by the National Key Deer Refuge to check out the local wildlife. Take in the local flavor with a walk along Duval Street or a trip to the Ernest Hemingway Museum and Home.
