Tamiami Trail
This is one of the optional routes for you to take when driving to or from the Florida Keys.
The Tamiami Trail is so named as a contraction of Tampa (Ta) and Miami, as it was the "old" route to get from Tampa to Miami, or the reverse.
The Tamiami Trail lost some of it's notoriety when I-75 was completed across the Florida peninsula, as this stretch offers faster driving between Naples and Miami.
This east-west section of I-75 is known as Alligator Alley, though when we've driven it, alligators were never seen. It's also a toll road.
We prefer driving the Tamiami Trail. Though it's a longer drive when heading from Florida's west coast down to the Florida Keys, the Tamiami Trail offers more to see (like the fellow swimming along beside the road - shown in this photo), and we take advantage of it's more leisurely pace.
Getting To The Tamiami Trail
As you are driving south on I-75 through Naples, to get to the Tamiami Trail, watch for either Pine Ridge Road (westbound) or Golden Gate Parkway (westbound). Take either exit from I-75. Drive west for about 3 miles on either of these roads.The road signs for the Tamiami Trail might say Tamiami Trail, or they might say highway #41 or 9th St. N.
When you get to the intersection of the Trail, turn left, and drive south. You are now on the Tamiami Trail.
As you drive down the Florida Peninsula to the Florida Keys why not make the Tamiami Trail part of your trip? To see some of what we have seen along the trail, have a look at the slideshow below. All photos are ours. Only one of the alligators in the photos was behind a fence!
