Florida keys drive question.
 

Hoping to do a March trip to the Keys to Hawks Cay Resort. Flights to Fort Lauderdale are alot cheaper than to Miami. What would you recommend as a starting point for the drive to the Keys, FLL versus MIA? Besides the longer distance, does it matter? Is the distance and/or hassle minimal from FLL versus MIA? Is a Friday going to be a heavy traffic day for that drive? Should a Friday be avoided? Thanks, C.

Go to google.
Enter "Fort Lauderdale airport"
When the map comes up, click on it.
When you see the "directions" option, choose it.
Enter "Miami International Airport"
Choose "Get Directions"

You will see they are 29.6 miles apart and 40 minutes - without traffic.

That's the diffeence between the two. MIA is closer but if the flight to FLL is a lot cheaper, it would be worth the drive.

What time of day on Friday?

While there is about 30 - 45 minutes added onto your trip, I lean towards FLL. You may still run into traffic, but are much less likely to on the route from FLL to Hawks Cay. Oddly enough, the majority of traffic jams on the way to and from MIA seem to happen in the 15 miles closest to the airport, and they can really tie you up.

The other perk of flying in and out of FLL is a less hectic and congested airport. Your other option is to fly into Key West (just 60 miles from Hawks Cay), which is the ideal; however, it's sometimes difficult to get direct flights into Key West.

Friday and Sunday are definitely the high traffic pattern days for heading in and out of the Keys, but if you start your drive by or around lunchtime you should be ok.

Go for FLL... enjoy the day... put on some lotion and music and cruise down the keys... wish I was there!!!

Car rental is also much easier at Ft. Lauderdale. Much less confusing getting in and out of the airport. If fares are cheaper to Ft. Lauderdale, that's where I'd fly into.

FLL is less congested than MIA. Quite possible that the move through baggage and on site car rental could be 40 minutes faster than Miami. Unless you are arriving at rush hour, the drive over to the turnpike and down to Florida City is usually full speed ahead. I always select FLL for this trip regardless of fare.

Thanks for everyone's input so far. Looks like I will go thru FLL.