Key Largo is about 43 nautical miles from Miami by water, roughly 49 statute miles or 80 kilometers down to the upper keys. A typical on-the-water routing runs about 48 nautical miles depending on whether you drop through Biscayne Bay inside or run Hawk Channel outside. Either way it is a short, easy day and the most popular first hop into the Keys from South Florida.
Miami to Key Largo distance
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Straight-line distance | 43 nautical miles |
| Statute miles | 49 miles |
| Kilometers | 80 km |
| Typical on-the-water routing | about 48 nautical miles |
The run leaves Miami through Government Cut, then you choose your line: down through Biscayne Bay and out past Cape Florida for shelter, or straight out to Hawk Channel and southwest behind the reef. Both land you at Key Largo near Garden Cove and John Pennekamp. The inside bay route is the calm-weather favorite; Hawk Channel is the direct outside line when the wind allows.
How long does it take, and how much fuel, by boat type
These are real numbers from the same engine that powers our boat fuel calculator, run over the 43 nautical mile distance at a steady cruise. They assume one continuous run, so treat them as the underway total. Plug in your own boat in the calculator below to get your exact figure.
| Boat | Cruise | GPH | MPG | Trip time | Fuel | Fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 ft center console (twin 150s) | 28 mph | 17.2 | 1.6 | 1 hr 46 min | 30 gal | $137 |
| 38 ft express cruiser (twin gas) | 26 mph | 43.0 | 0.6 | 1 hr 54 min | 82 gal | $369 |
| 50 ft trawler (single diesel) | 10 mph | 21.7 | 0.5 | 4 hr 57 min | 107 gal | $482 |
Fuel cost assumes $4.50 per gallon. This is a short leg that any of these boats handles on a fraction of a tank, so the choice is really inside bay versus outside channel, not range. Do not just scale from the table: run your own hull, load, and cruise speed.
Estimate the fuel for your own boat
The calculator below is pre-loaded with the Miami to Key Largo run. Change the engine, horsepower, load, cruise speed, and tank to match your boat and it recomputes the fuel, range, and time instantly.
Best season and weather for the run
Best window: year round, with November through May the calmest and bug-free season.
Run Biscayne Bay inside for shelter in a breeze, or Hawk Channel outside for the direct line. A strong easterly stacks short seas on the outside route, so pick the inside bay line when it blows. On a calm day either route is an easy cruise down to the upper keys.
Route notes
- Government Cut (0 nm): the departure inlet out of Miami. Time your exit for fair current and clear the ship channel before you turn south.
- Cape Florida / Biscayne Bay (about 8 nm): drop down through Biscayne Bay for the protected inside line, or stand out to Hawk Channel.
- Hawk Channel (about 20 nm): the protected outside route behind the reef if you took the channel line; hold outside the shoals.
- Key Largo / Garden Cove (43 nm): upper keys landfall near John Pennekamp. Mind the shallow approaches and the reef-park traffic.
Gear to sort before you go
- A fuel system you trust: clean filters and a known tank gauge, so a short run stays a short run.
- Ground tackle sized for the shallow reef anchorages and the backcountry off Key Largo.
- A hull and gelcoat in good repair before a coastal run; fix the soft spots and chips at the dock, not at sea.
Need to get the boat run-ready first? See our fuel tanks and systems and marine gelcoats for the repair and maintenance supplies that keep a Keys run uneventful.
Plan the rest of your trip
Miami to Key Largo: frequently asked questions
How far is Key Largo, FL from Miami, FL?
Key Largo, FL is about 43 nautical miles from Miami, FL, which is roughly 49 statute miles or 80 kilometers in a straight line. A typical on-the-water routing runs about 48 nautical miles.
How long does it take to get from Miami, FL to Key Largo, FL by boat?
A 24 ft center console (twin 150s) cruising at about 28 mph covers the 43 nautical mile run in roughly 1 hour 46 minutes. A slower trawler takes much longer, and a fast express cruiser a little less. Use the fuel calculator on this page to plug in your own boat.
How much fuel does the Miami, FL to Key Largo, FL trip use?
The 24 ft center console (twin 150s) burns about 30 gallons on the 43 nautical mile run at roughly 17.2 gallons per hour and 1.6 miles per gallon. Your number depends on horsepower, load, and cruise speed, so run your own boat through the calculator below.
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