We are arriving in Ft. Lauderdale at 5:00pm and driving to Key West. Thinking about only going part way that evening. Does anyone know the drive time from FLL to KL and then from KL to KW? This is in December so it will be dark earlier.

You'll hit some traffic on the interstate at 5:00 PM. So, depending on how heavy, you should be able to make it to Key Largo in about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Key West (with average traffic) takes 4 to 4 1/2 hours. Personally, I'd stay in Islamorda the first night (only about another 30-45 minutes or so south of Key Largo.) Islamorada is really a group of Keys. But to me it's a prettier area than Key Largo and has some nicer places to stay and eat. The advantage, though, to staying at Largo is that you could get up first thing in the morning and take a snorkeling trip out to the reef at Pennecamp.
Have fun.

I've flown into Miami and drove to Key West and it took about 3 hours. It was during rush hour but once you get about 1/2 hour from the airport traffic lets up.

Fl Lauderdale is about 20-30 minutes north of Miami, via Interstate. Traffic, even NOT during rush hour, is horrible. The traffic doesn't really ease up until just north of Homestead. Then, once you get into the Keys it becomes a two-lane road (mostly). If you get behind a slowmoving truck, you're really stuck, although they do have passing lanes like every 10 miles (this is on the road into Key Largo.) If you do drive into Key West at night, pay particular attention around Big Pine Key. All the little Key Deer will be out and about, and many get killed on the road at night. They STRICTLY enforce a 45 MPN speedlimit at night (or is it 35 MPH at night?).

For Ben

Thanks for topping this useful info.
Ben