The open roads are ready to be explored on this spectacular road trip to Niagara Falls from the white beaches of Florida. Start in Miami in Florida and drive through the country all the way to Niagara Falls on the Canadian border. The road trip to Niagara Falls shows you amazing beaches, wild nature, the longest cave system in the world, Amish settlements and much more.
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- Total distance: 2257 mi / 3633 km
- Total driving time: 37.5 h
1. Miami, Florida – The road trip to Niagara Falls starts
Warm weather year-round, amazing beaches and a multifaceted city pulse makes Miami the perfect starting point for the road trip to Niagara Falls.
Much of the nightlife in Miami is centered around Ocean Drive. On the iconic street lined with palm trees you find Art Deco architecture, fancy cars and an amazing buzz. Here you also find one of the most famous beaches in America, South Beach.
Two neighborhoods for a more cultural sentiment at the start of the road trip are Little Havana and Wynwood.
Little Havana is home to many cuban exiles. And it’s a great place to get a feel for the Latin American heritage that has shaped the state of Florida.
Wynwood is known as the number one instagram place in Miami. But no matter if you are on social media or not, the amazing murals that you find in Wynwood are impressive. The art here is art for everyone.
On your Florida bucket list a trip to the Everglades should also be included. The huge wetland takes up a big portion of South Florida, and is home to a great amount of alligators. You can make a day trip to Everglades National Park from Miami, or stay at an Everglades hotel right where the wilderness begins.
When you explore the Everglades just make sure that you don’t tip your feet in the water when no matter how hot it gets. You need them intact as you begin the drive from Miami to Niagara Falls.
2. Orlando, Florida – Exploring Central Florida
- Driving distance: 236 mi / 380 km
- Driving time: 3.5 h
Orlando is a modern city with all entertainment you could possibly ask for. Among the fun Orlando things to do you find Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort.
Walt Disney World is the most famous of the big parks. It’s so big and if you put it in perspective, it with its 43 square miles is as big as Manhattan times two. By every standard that’s just huge.
For Harry Potter fans, a visit to Universal in Orlando is a must. Here you can visit Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade from the famous books and movies.
But Orlando is not only about theme parks. It’s also a great opportunity for some top-class shopping, dining and nightlife before it’s time to continue the road trip to Niagara Falls.
3. Pensacola Beach, Florida – Fantastic beaches on the road trip to Niagara Falls
- Driving distance: 454 mi / 731 km
- Driving time: 6.5 h
You have now made it from South Florida and Miami to Pensacola Beach in the Florida Panhandle. Pensacola Beach is the last destination of three that represents Florida on the itinerary from Florida to Niagara Falls.
Northwest Florida has some of the best beaches in the country. Pensacola Beach is situated on Santa Rosa Island and has a totally amazing beach. It has pristine sugar-white sand and crystal-clear water. And at great convenience you have bars, restaurants and even some shops on the island.
So if you don’t want to you don’t need to leave the island while you’re there. You can just focus on relaxing and unwinding on the beach.
But maybe the historian in you want some stimulation during the lazy days on the dunes. Luckily, you find that on the island as well.
On the western end of the island you find Fort Pickens, an old military fort of major historic importance. So you can even indulge in history during your visit to Pensacola Beach.
4. Atlanta, Georgia – Enjoy the home of Coca-Cola in the Peach State
- Driving distance: 334 mi / 538 km
- Driving time: 5.5 h
Georgia is a state with an interesting mix of historic and modern. Savannah on the East Coast represents the historic Georgia. On this road trip from Florida to Niagara Falls we explore a Peach State representative for its modern side.
Atlanta is a major city with a modern personality. If you fly a lot you have probably seen the city’s airport already, which is one of the most important airport hubs in the entire world.
In the city Atlanta the History Center, Center for Civil & Human Rights, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and Georgia Aquarium are popular places to explore.
The city is a center for entertainment in the South. Apart from fine cultural experiences you in Atlanta also find excellent dining and a buzzing nightlife for those late nights out.
Everywhere you go in Atlanta you are reminded that you are in the Peach State. 71 streets in Atlanta have a variant of “Peachtree” in their name. The locals say that if you make a right and two left in Atlanta you always find a “Peachtree” street.
Atlanta’s biggest mark on the world so far probably comes from being the birthplace of Coca-Cola. And another fun thing to do in Atlanta is to visit World of Coca-Cola. When you visit you get to learn more about the famous drink and taste products from all over the world. Maybe you even find a new favorite?
5. Gatlinburg, Tennessee – Experience the Great Smoky Mountains on the Niagara Falls drive
- Driving distance: 195 mi / 314 km
- Driving time: 4.5 h
Next up on the road trip to Niagara Falls itinerary is impressive nature in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, also just called the Smokies. The name origins from the natural fog that often appears over the tree tops in the area.
One of the best things to do in Great Smoky Mountains is exploring Cades Cove. Once upon a time the isolated valley was a place where settlers lived. Today Cades Cove is home to a wide range of wildlife, including black bears, skunks and foxes.
Where to stay
In the city Gatlinburg you find both a wide selection of places to stay near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and things to do on rainy days.
6. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky – The road trip to Niagara Falls brings you to the endless cave
- Driving distance: 237 mi / 381 km
- Driving time: 5 h
The next destination on the road trip itinerary from Florida to Niagara Falls is Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. In the Mammoth Cave you find the longest known cave system in the world. It has more than 400 miles (640 km) of passageways. That’s just huge!
And there is a large variety of guided tours to show you the depths of the cave. Just remember to sign up well in advance during peak season to not miss out on the goodies.
Peak months to visit the cave are the summer months. But the impressive cave keeps a constant temperature of 54°F (12°) year-round. So that makes visiting Mammoth Cave National Park a great activity for any month of the year.
Where to stay
To be as close Mammoth Cave as possible you can stay within the park at the Lodge at Mammoth Cave. But there are many more places to stay near Mammoth Cave National Park in the neighboring towns Horse Cave, Cave City and Park City.
7. Shipshewana, Indiana – A step back in time
- Driving distance: 374 mi / 602 km
- Driving time: 6 h
We’re now getting to the endless fields of Indiana on the road trip from Miami to Niagara Falls. Our next stop is the Amish community in Shipshewana in Northern Indiana.
You have probably heard of or seen about the Amish on TV. It’s a religious group that is known to advocate simple lives without much usage of modern technology.
A stop in the large Amish community in Shipshewana is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the different way of life. You can learn all there is to know about the Amish origin at the Menno-Hof Visitor Center in Shipshewana. Another of the interesting Shipshewana things to do is to see the area from a buggy ride.
To take a buggy ride tour is a fun and relaxing way to take in the beautiful surroundings and get to know more about the Amish culture. Just sit back, turn your smartphone on flight mode and experience the old way of life for a while as you slowly travel through the peaceful community.
Shipshewana is probably the most unique stop on the entire Florida to Niagara Falls road trip itinerary. To enter Shipshewana is like stepping back hundreds of years in time.
8. Niagara Falls, Ontario/New York – Arriving to the magnificent wonder
- Driving distance: 427 mi / 687 km
- Driving time: 6.5 h
Finally we have reached the end goal of the amazing road trip from Florida to Niagara Falls. Visiting Niagara Falls is spectacular and the perfect end to any American road trip.
Niagara Falls is located on the border between the US and Canada and can be experienced from both sides. Every minute unthinkable amounts of water passes through the falls.
You can watch it from the many viewing points, take a boat tour to approach it or even visit Cave of the Winds to get as close as to the action as you possibly can. If you choose the latter just prepare to get wet.
An extra memorable end to the Florida to Niagara Falls road trip is to stay at one of the Niagara Falls fallsview hotels. Then you can enjoy the magnificent Niagara Falls from the comfort of your own hotel room.
Road trip to Niagara Falls from Florida FAQ
Here you find the answers to some frequently asked questions about the American road trip to Niagara Falls from Florida.
The Florida to Niagara Falls road trip is 2257 miles (3633 km) long if you start in Miami. To drive the distance takes 37.5 h, not including any stops along the way.
The main stops included on the Florida to Niagara Falls road trip are Miami, Orlando, Pensacola Beach, Atlanta, Great Smoky Mountains, Mammoth Cave, Shipshewana and Niagara Falls. You also find several appreciated additional Florida to Niagara Falls road trip destinations along the way.
It doesn’t matter if you decide to drive Florida to Niagara Falls or Niagara Falls to Florida. But if you start in early summer, it could be smart to go from Florida to Niagara Falls to avoid the sometimes extreme summer heat down south.
It’s recommended to have 3 weeks or more to fully enjoy the road trip from Florida to Niagara Falls. With an estimated driving time of 37.5 hours you drive on average under 2 hours a day if you have 3 weeks to make it. Then you can enjoy the trip to the fullest and arrive at Niagara Falls well rested.
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