Best Western Gateway to the Keys

The name says what it is for. The Best Western Gateway to the Keys stands in Florida City at the point where the mainland ends and the road to the Florida Keys begins, and it has long served drivers heading south to Key Largo, Marathon and Key West, as well as visitors to Everglades National Park. It is a straightforward hotel, easy to reach and easy to park at, which suits travelers arriving by car after a long drive. For many guests it is a practical overnight stop between an airport arrival in Miami and the next leg of a trip, and for Everglades visitors it is a convenient and sensible base close to the park entrance.

Use it as a hinge between two trips. A common plan is to arrive the evening before, sleep close to the park, rise early for a walk on the Anhinga Trail and a drive along the main park road, then continue south down the Keys road in the afternoon. The reverse works just as well: a night on the way back from Key West, then a morning in the park before the drive to Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

The nearby roads also lead to Homestead's fruit stands, farm markets and the old downtown, and you are close enough to the park to catch sunrise light and the wildlife that comes with it.

This corner of Florida City is the natural pause between park days and Keys days. The practical case for staying in this corner of South Miami-Dade is timing. The main entrance to Everglades National Park is only a short drive from Homestead and Florida City, so you can be at the Anhinga Trail at opening time, when alligators are still warming on the banks and the birds are most active.

From Miami, the same trip means a long drive before you even reach the park. Staying here also puts the Florida Keys road, the fruit stands and the farm country of Redland within easy reach, so the base works for travelers who want to combine the Everglades with a drive south or a day among the tropical orchards.

Know what to expect. This is a working road-trip hotel rather than a destination resort, and the area around it is practical, with gas stations, diners and fast-food options rather than fine dining. That is part of its value: it is simple, accessible and well placed. Confirm the details that matter to you, including the pool, breakfast, parking, pet policy and cancellation terms, when you book.

The dry season, from late autumn to spring, is the best time to visit the Everglades and the busiest time for the hotel, so book early for winter weekends and holiday periods. In summer, rates are often lower, but plan for heat, afternoon storms and mosquitoes on any outdoor day.