grandpawmoses

Just returned from a 2100+ mile trip from North West Alabama to Key West, FL & back in the Vette. Half of the roads were interstate & the other half was smaller highways like A1A & Highway 1. The Vette loved both. Coolant temp held at 220, oil pressure at 40 psi, no oil consumption or any leaks. Held about 80 mph on the interstate & usually the speed limit on the other roads. Averaged 27 MPG overall.
Not only did the Vette handle great but it was very comfortable, even on a seven hour straight run. Why did I do that? Well, we left Boca Raton at 8AM Saturday, got to Key Largo & found out that there were no vacancies anywhere on the Keys for Saturday night. We drove on to key West then all the way back to mainland Florida before we found a room.
If you're ever in Boca Raton (Delray Beach) be sure to stop by the Wakodahatchee Wetlands. It's about a one mile boardwalk & the admission is free.
On the way home we stopped for the night in Prattville, AL & the Vette got to meet it's sister. Pic attached.

rmorin1249

Nice post. A road trip to Key West is one of my bucket list items along with a cross country trip using Route 66 as much as possible.

C7s

Equipped with mag ride? Did you drive it Tour mode then?

grandpawmoses

Yes to both questions.
While the secondary roads were in very good condition, I95 was under a lot of construction & quite rough. I'd love to do it again.

rm50

Great trip!! Last year we did something similar. We did the Southern California Caravan to BG for their anniversary and then meandered through the South, ending up in Key West, FL for 4 days before heading back to the West Coast. It was 27 days and 7,500 miles in our 2010 Grand Sport Convertible.

Mike Campbell

I'm surprised you took I 95 instead of I 75 from Alabama. However, if you ever do it again, take I 75 down to Naples and then take Rt 41, the old Tamiami trail to Homestead and hook up to RT.1. It's a bit longer but a much nicer ride thru the Glades and the Mikosukee Reservation. Plus you avoid Miami.

VETJAZZ

I made that trip from Phoenix a few years ago in my C5. 6,500 miles - Great fun.

grandpawmoses

Thanks. We went down I 95 to the space center, then A1A to see the Wakodahatchee wetlands in Delray Beach & Miami Beach, then RT 1 to Key West. We returned up through Homestead & took RT 41 through the Everglades (with an airboat ride at Safari Park), then up I 75 through Naples and Tampa, then over to Crystal River to see the manatee's.

I'll edit to add some pictures later today.
Picture 1, Wakodahatchee wetlands
Picture 2, Everglades
Picture 3, Crystal River
Picture 4, Everglades Safari Park

Motohead279

Nice. I'm in Tampa and I keep saying I'm going to do a Key West drive one of these days.

John Ulrich

I did a Key West trip recently in a rental car. I really liked South Beach too. Great car watching at night.

$$$frumnuttin'

We did that trip to Key West in February...I'll never make that drive again!...130 miles at no more than 40 mph will drive you nuts. The locals down there are definitely in 'island mode'....the upper keys are great though. Funny thing, I did see a couple C7s with Michigan plates on Duval Street. I cannot imagine driving in the middle of winter that far in any sports car, let alone a C7 with summer tires..

scottjays

I live just down the road from the Wakodahatchee Wetlands. I saw a huge gator the other day and it roared at me...wow

c6miller

Wife and I made the Key West trip in March from Marietta,Ga. We trailered my Harley FLSTC to Naples and I rode across Tamiami Trail through the everglades to Homestead and Key West while the wife drove the truck. I saw many C5,6 and 7s, so next time we'll take the Corvette. When traveling back north, the Florida Turnpike is a toll road but in great shape. Best vacation we had in a long time.

Boiler_81

Those MI plates are on snowbird cars. They arrived earlier than Feb.

1bdvet

Glad you at least had wonderful trip to our State.

Mike Campbell

Thanks for sharing your great pictures.

ekoppen

Back to the forum after selling my C6 seven years ago. Your trip to Key West caught my eye. We will be doing an open club cruise, (100 cars) in July, in guess what? In our new Torch red, black top. Z51, C7 roadster. I think the only difference on mine is red calipers. Wakodahatchee Wetlands? Surprise, surprise! I'm there regularly practicing camera technique for my annual trips to Africa for wildlife photography. I live in Pompano Beach, FL. WOW! What a small world....good to be back.

Frodo

Sounds like a fun trip. I used to go scuba there sometimes. I gotta ask... did ya have a beer at Sloppy Joe's?

cheapthrills

Your first picture (very nice BTW) is an invasive species, an iguana. They are edible incase you get hungry http://www.cooks.com/recipe/3c9a14dy...-en-pinol.html

grandpawmoses

No but I needed one.
One more piece of advice for anyone planning the trip, don't do it on a Saturday. Lots of traffic and absolutely no available parking places. We did get to cruise Duval Street and get a picture of the Southernmost marker as we slowly rode by. Watch out for the free ranging chickens too. I got a lot of compliments on the car while there but the best one came later at the hotel. During the continental breakfast I overheard a family at the next table discussing the beautiful Corvette in the parking lot.