Route #21 Florida City - North Key Largo

This route marks the transition between mainland Florida and the Keys, connecting Florida City with North Key Largo through the main access corridor to the islands. The ride follows one of the most important transportation routes in the southern part of the state, historically used for commerce, evacuation, and tourism.

For decades, Florida City was the last significant town before entering the Everglades and the Keys, serving as a supply point and a link to the southern peninsula. The stretch toward North Key Largo runs through mangrove areas, marshlands, and shallow waters, in an environment where infrastructure is elevated above an extremely vulnerable landscape.

Along the route, remnants of former railroad lines and structures associated with the Overseas Railroad can be seen, the ambitious project promoted by Henry Flagler in the early twentieth century. The route offers a clear view of the historical challenges involved in connecting this archipelago by land with the rest of the state.

The complete route and its historical context are part of Discovering Florida – Volume 1.