"Are we crazy to consider riding in Florida in July??! A family event will take us to Ponte Vedra Beach in early July and we are considering riding a loop down to Key West and back immediately afterwards. What can we expect weather-wise? Temps? Any route recommendations-either roads to take or avoid- would be appreciated. We can credit card tour or camp. Which would you advise & why? Thanks in advance for your recommendations!"
In one word "YES!" July is not a good month to ride in Florida. We live in Tampa but use to live in Ft. Lauderdale. If you take the Atlantic Route from St. Augustine to Key West it is 533 miles, each way. You will be a little north of it so say 550 miles. I do not like cycling through Miami. It can be very congested and in spots not safe. It is definitely doable. I rode from Ft. Lauderdale to Tampa, almost 300 miles, in July.
I have a few questions for you. You say it is a family event, I would not recommend this trip with kids. How much time, do you have, for this trip? How many miles a day, do you plan to ride? How experienced a bicycle tourer are you and those who may accompany you?
I have an alternate route. First let's address the weather in July. As stated above, it is very hot. 88-97 day, 72-80 nights. Humidity is also high, 90+%. UV index is very high, 10+. The sun is not like the sun up north, very intense. We have severe thunderstorms, in the afternoon. There is another factor, winds. In July, they come out of the south, southwest and can be strong mid-day.
Here are our suggestions:
1. Start no later than 5:30am. It will be dark but not for long. You will make your best time between 5:30 to 11:30 am. Anything after
that is a bonus. I have encountered thunderstorms, as early as 1:00 pm. I do not like lightening.
2. Purchase some good front and rear lights.
3. If you don't already have one, purchase a Camelback 100 oz hydration system. You will need a lot of water. Fill up frequently.
4. Plus 45 sunscreen is important. Put it on every two hours, religiously.
5. I would keep your weight as light as possible. Unless you want to camp. (Keep plenty of snacks for riding)
6. Plan very carefully, I would stay on an Adventure Cycling Routes. Florida is not always rider friendly, know where you are going and
what to expect.
Now to my alternate route. Since you go through St. Augustine, which in itself is beautiful, why not consider the ACO Florida Connector. It will take you south west through Lake Wales, not far from Disney, down Route 17 through Watchula, Arcadia, Port Charlotte into Rt 41 Punta Gorda and on to Ft. Myers. Once in Ft. Myers you can bike around Santa Bell and Captiva Islands or go direct, by ferry to Key West. It will take you through a beautiful part of Florida. It will be less congested. You could check with local churches, in advance, if hotels are not available. They almost always let you stay in their fellowship hall. (bring a sleeping pad, bag, and inflatable pillow) Even some Adventure Cycling members may help you. Best of all, it will cut your cycling down by almost half and cut your wind exposure. (If you cycle 65 miles a day you can do it in 4 to 5 days) This route will save you almost a week if you take it both ways. The ferry ride to Key West is very nice. I would call in advance and make sure the ferry is running and that there is room for you and your gear.
Last time, we were in Key West, we stayed at the Hyatt, but it was expensive. (Although $100 less a night, with a walk in rate) It was one block from Duval Street. Once in Key West, you might want to do a day excursion north on Rt 1 and see if you like it. You will see if you can handle the heat, traffic and experience the wildlife. If you have the time and really want to ride Route 1 and A1A, you can do it on the way back. The winds will be in your favor, you will be rested, in better shape, and more Florida savvy. One thing to check, from Key West to Key Largo, there may not be as much shelter from the intense heat. Preparation is everything. Give yourself 25% more time than you plan, you may need it in July.
If you need help planning, let us know, and we will give you our email address. We have some suggestions of things to do in Key West, if interested, we will save that for another post. Good Luck:)