This 113-mile Highway Was Named One of the Most Scenic Road Trips in the U.S.—and It's Nicknamed 'the Road That Floats'

Overseas Highway is America's Scenic Drive through the Florida Keys

Overseas Highway – The Florida Guidebook

The southernmost section of U.S. Route 1 that travels through the Florida Keys is known today as the Overseas Highway. This 113-mile stretch is famous for its 42 bridges connecting the various islands, including the iconic Seven Mile Bridge. Before it was a continuous car road, the path through the Keys was dominated by the Florida East Coast Railway's remarkable Over-Sea Railroad. Millionaire Henry Flagler completed this "railroad that goes to sea" in 1912, connecting Key West to the mainland.

The Flagler Overseas Railroad, an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway, was a monumental vision that connected the Florida mainland to Key West. Conceived by industrialist Henry Flagler in the early 1900s, it aimed to capitalize on the trade opportunities offered by the upcoming Panama Canal and establish Key West as a major deep-water port. Construction began in 1905, deemed "Flagler's Folly" by skeptics who believed spanning over 100 miles of open water and islands was impossible. It re