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Everglades and the Florida Keys Oct. and Nov.

Replies: 4 - Last Post: Oct 25, 2012 1:27 PM Last Post By: VinnyD

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jtoutloff

jtoutloff avatar

Sep 23, 2012 7:39 PM
Posts:  1

Everglades and the Florida Keys Oct. and Nov.

Looking to travel soon around the U.S. and Canada again, for two months. Want one of the focus points to be the Everglades and Florida Keys this time. Any info as how to get around, as I am hoping to catch on to the great, but ending deal on Greyhound bus. 550 USD pass anywhere they go in North America for 2 months. Want to camp and hike, but still fit alot in with no car. Is a cheap bicycle the way to go and give it away later or another way ?? Trying to do this on the cheap if possible. Along with visiting NY, Chcago, Toronto, SF,Vancouver, Seattle and elsewhere. The bus situation is not good, but for the price, can't be beat. Did something like this last year, but stuck to the major cities in N.A.. Any input would be appreciated or travel mates welcomed.

zeldasdad

zeldasdad avatar

Sep 23, 2012 8:37 PM
Posts:  968

1

Welcome to Thorn Tree.

There are only four Greyhound stations in the Florida Keys. One is in Key West and another is 98 miles to the northeast on Key Largo. The towns if Marathon , 55 miles northeast of Key West, and Islamorada, 81 miles northeast of Key West also have facilities of one sort or another. Good luck finding any tours of Everglades National Park. (Hint: Any tour in the "Everglades" that involves an airboat, does not take place in Everglades National Park. Airboats are illegal inside the national park.) There do not seem to be any greyhound facilities near the entrance to the national park in Homestead.

Towns like Marathon and Islamorada, though small, are not "walkable." They tend to be 100 yards wide and 10 miles long due to the narrow islands on which they rest. From the entrance to Everglades National Park, it is almost 50 miles to Flamingo inside the park at the other end of the road. Be aware that you do not want to be caught out of doors after dark in the everglades. There are no overnight facilities at Flamingo unless you bring your own camping gear. The mosquitoes can resemble something out of a B-grade horror movie after dark. I'm not joking. Bring lots of DEET.

In short, you need a car in the Keys and Everglades National Park. The Florida Keys are not the place to go if you are looking for "cheap."

Good luck to you.

bzookaj

bzookaj avatar

Sep 24, 2012 5:18 AM
Posts:  5,341

2

In case you didn't catch it, there is no transit to xEverglades National Park.

Buckingham1

Buckingham1 avatar

Oct 24, 2012 9:41 AM
Posts:  3

3

Nothing cheap in the Keys- you can take cabs- not cheap- rent a car- no better way to get around- in Marathon- the airport serves as our Greyhound Station and you can also get a rental car there- but reserve ahead of time as thay sell out fast!

VinnyD

VinnyD avatar

Oct 25, 2012 1:27 PM
Posts:  32,382

4

The place I stayed in Marathon had free bikes for the use of customers, and a bike was a reasonable way to get around Marathon. But I have no idea how I would have gotten there without a car.
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