The best road trips from Miami are spectacular, and it’s really tough to pick a winner. Shorter road trips from Miami show you the best of tropical Florida, while longer Miami road trips take you past the Sunshine State. No matter if you look for a weekend getaway or a month’s vacation, these are mouth-watering road trip ideas from Miami.
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Florida Keys, FL – Unlimited road trip ideas from Miami
- Driving distance: 67+ mi / 108+ km
- Driving time: 1.5+ h
If you turn your head south, the Florida Keys is a great source of inspiration for road trips from Miami. The Miami to Key West road trip is an iconic drive with many fun stops along the way.
It’s just 67 miles (108 km) from Miami to Key Largo, the gateway to the Florida Keys island chain. From there you can continue from one beautiful key to another on the Overseas Highway all the way down to Key West.
Key West is known to be the capital of quirkiness. Fun things to do in Key West include the Ernest Hemingway Home, Key West Lighthouse and above all to explore the unique quirky vibe.
Where to stay
The best road trips from Miami to the stunning South Florida island chain depends on your mood. But no matter if you look for seclusion or liveliness, there are charming places to stay in Florida Keys including Key West Old Town hotels.
- Islander Resort – Oceanfront in Islamorada.
- Almond Tree Inn – In Old Town of Key West.
Are you heading south? See our ultimate guide to Florida Keys.
Everglades City, FL – A truly wild road trip from Miami
- Driving distance: 84 mi / 135 km
- Driving time: 1.5 h
Where Miami ends the Everglades begins. From the alligators to the airboats there are many reasons to visit Everglades.
Everglades City is just a small town that’s located right at the western border of Everglades National Park. In the gateway town you find the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, airboat operators and an old Florida swamp ambience.
Of course you can just do a shorter Miami road trip to Everglades and not go as far as to Everglades City. But if you want to see more and venture deeper into the swamp, it’s a great idea to take the road trip from Miami to Everglades City.
Where to stay
You find unique places to stay at Everglades National Park in Everglades City. To make the best road trips from Miami to Everglades even better there even is waterfront lodging.
- River Wilderness Waterfront Cabins – Unique waterfront lodging.
- Everglades Adventures Hotel Suites – A modern option.
Naples, FL – The best road trips from Miami don’t have to be long
- Driving distance: 112 mi / 180 km
- Driving time: 2 h
Time is a luxury and sometimes you simply don’t want to take a longer road trip. Luckily one of the best road trips from Miami is the around two hour drive across the state to Naples.
Naples Beach offers the perfect environment for quiet beach days. On the beach the historic pier extends 1,000 feet (305 m) into the blue ocean.
A stone’s throw away you find both exclusive shops and renowned restaurants on the well-polished Fifth Avenue South. Naples is a charming Florida destination that never gets old.
As a bonus you easily can visit both Naples and Everglades on the same road trip from Miami. Then you make two great road trips from Miami into one, a stunning Naples and Everglades road trip.
Where to stay
The best base on a road trip from Miami if you want to have most things to do near is the Old Naples area. Places to stay in Old Naples give you great access to both Naples Pier and Fifth Avenue South.
- Cove Inn on Naples Bay – Pretty marina views.
- Hotel Escalante – Exclusiveness in Naples.
Sanibel Island, FL – A Miami road trip back in time
- Driving distance: 168 mi / 270 km
- Driving time: 3 h
Sanibel Island on the Gulf Coast of Florida offers something completely different than the electric Miami buzz. It’s one of the most appreciated Florida Islands and a superb option if you look for unwinding road trips from Miami.
When you make entrance on Sanibel Island, it’s like you arrive in a different world. No buildings are permitted to be taller than the tallest palm tree, and the island has no street lights. Life really is with nature on Sanibel.
The best things to do on Sanibel Island are all about relaxation and appreciating nature. If you want to see wildlife, a great Miami road trip idea is to explore J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. In the refuge more than 200 bird species have been sighted.
Where to stay
On a road trip from Miami to Sanibel you find beautiful nature everywhere your eyes go. But look towards Sanibel Island places to stay in the Mid Island area if you want the ultimate island access.
- Island Inn – Central and peaceful.
- West Wind Inn – Tranquil in the Mid Island area.
Orlando, FL – The best road trips from Miami for theme parks
- Driving distance: 235 mi / 378 km
- Driving time: 3.5 h
The best road trips from Miami for the theme park enthusiast are definitely the ones to Orlando. The Central Florida city is America’s undisputed theme park capital.
Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, home to favorite characters and breathtaking rides, are the two most famous entertainment destinations. They are so big that it’s hard to imagine if you haven’t been there. Just Disney World, with its over 25,000 acres, is about the same as the city of San Francisco.
Kennedy Space Center is not in Orlando but in Cape Canaveral. A stop there can easily be added when you road trip from Miami to the theme park capital. The space center is a Florida highlight that’s both fun and educational.
Savannah, GA – Experience southern hospitality in Georgia
- Driving distance: 491 mi / 790 km
- Driving time: 7.5 h
Savannah in Georgia, founded already in 1733, is a historic city that has managed to keep its charm throughout the years. The Georgia city less than 8 hours from Miami is known as one of the prettiest cities in America.
The charming old buildings, majestic oak trees and peaceful Spanish moss put a spell on visitors. When you wander the adorable Historic District in Savannah, it’s easy to enjoy yourself.
As Tybee Island is only 18 miles (29 km) from Downtown Savannah, it’s also easy to fit in beach days when you do the road trip from Miami to Savannah. The nearby barrier island is the perfect place to spend lazy days in the Georgia sun.
Pensacola Beach, FL – Panhandle road trip ideas from Miami
- Driving distance: 678 mi / 1091 km
- Driving time: 10 h
The distance from Miami to Pensacola Beach in Northwest Florida shows just how big the state of Florida is. When you take the road trip from Miami to Pensacola you drive for 10 hours and still don’t even get out of the state of Florida.
But Northwest Florida is a region well worth driving for. Pensacola Beach is located on the stunning Santa Rosa Island. Mile after mile on the 40 miles (64 km) long island all you see is the blue ocean, white sand dunes and the clear Florida sky.
The best road trip ideas from Miami for beach lovers need to include picturesque beaches, and in the Panhandle area you really find that. Venturing further north in Florida is also an exciting contrast to the famous South and Central Florida beach destinations located closer to Miami.
Where to stay
Places to stay in Pensacola Beach offer all you need for a great vacation in Northwest Florida. But slightly off the beaten path Navarre Beach further east on Santa Rosa Island is another great option for the best road trips from Miami.
- Margaritaville Beach Hotel – Just steps from Casino Beach.
- Portofino Island Resort – A peaceful island resort.
New Orleans, LA – Let loose in the easy-going NOLA
- Driving distance: 863 mi / 1389 km
- Driving time: 12.5 h
An appreciated extension to the Miami to Pensacola Beach road trip is to continue along the Gulf Coast through Alabama to Louisiana’s famous New Orleans. There is no other city quite like the free-spirited NOLA.
In the French Quarter the loud Bourbon Street is the perfect street to forget all problems and have a late night out.
On the parallel Royal Street you find a more sophisticated scene with antiques, galleries and fine dining.
Or a short ride away the inviting Garden District with its impressive mansions is a great area for quiet walks.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC – Road trip from Miami to the Appalachian mountains
- Driving distance: 867 mi / 1395 km
- Driving time: 13 h
Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the North Carolina and Tennessee border. It’s the most visited national park in the US and a real contrast to the tropical beach life in Miami.
Black bears, dense forests, historic cottages and ancient mountains. With such jaw-dropping features the best things to do in the Smokies offer a lot to write home about.
Cades Cove, an isolated valley surrounded by rugged mountains, is one of the most famous spots in the park. Entering the Tennessee valley is like traveling hundreds of years back in time.
Great Smoky Mountains is the ultimate road trip destination from Miami if you want to experience mountain life. But look towards other road trip ideas from Miami if you rather remain on lower altitude.
Where to stay
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are popular towns with Great Smoky Mountains lodging. Alternatively, if you prefer to be closer to Cades Cove the so called peaceful region offers places to stay at Cades Cove.
- Marshall’s Creek Motel – Rustic in the heart of Gatlinburg.
- Dancing Bear Lodge – Cabins in the peaceful region.
New York, NY – A legendary Miami road trip along the Atlantic coast
- Driving distance: 1394 mi / 2243 km
- Driving time: 23.5 h
A road trip from Miami to New York is a legendary drive to take. In around 24 hours of driving you get from the buzzing Ocean Drive in Miami to the mighty Big Apple.
But the route along the Atlantic coastline calls for many stops along the way.
Orlando and Savannah have already been mentioned as some of the best road trips from Miami. Other interesting destinations further north on the way to the city that never sleeps include Charleston, Wilmington and Washington D.C.
San Diego, CA – The ultimate road trip from Miami across the US
- Driving distance: 3072 mi / 4944 km
- Driving time: 45.5 h
Shorter drives from Miami have their charm, but a road trip between Miami and San Diego is something else. The southern route to California takes you across the US all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
It takes you past the pristine white Florida beaches, through the Lone Star State and lets you explore many beautiful national parks. However, with a driving distance of 3072 miles (4944 km) the ultimate road trip from Miami across the US requires several weeks to be fully enjoyed.
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