Florida Road Trips from Miami

Ninety-five percent water. Glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling reefs, and mangrove islands just south of Homestead. One of the most underrated national parks in the country.

Las Olas Boulevard, the Riverwalk, and some of South Florida's best beach stretches. Easy enough for a half-day, satisfying enough for a full weekend.

Airboat rides, alligator sightings, and the vast River of Grass. Enter via Homestead for the full park experience. Nothing else in the US looks like this.

Mizner Park, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, and Spanish River Park for a relaxed beach day. Cleaner and less crowded than Fort Lauderdale, with better parking.

The sport fishing capital of the world. Casual waterfront bars, fresh seafood, and Theater of the Sea. The Keys in concentrated form, without the Key West crowds.

Worth Avenue shopping, Henry Flagler's Whitehall museum, and the famous Breakers resort. A short drive into a completely different world — manicured, slow, and grand.

Kayak the Loxahatchee River, spot manatees, and explore one of Florida's most ecologically diverse state parks. One of the best-kept secrets on the Treasure Coast.

A small, unhurried town on the Treasure Coast with one of the best undeveloped beaches in South Florida. Sea turtle nesting, low-key dining, and a nature preserve that feels nothing like the rest of the coastline.

Ghost orchids in the Fakahatchee and swamp walks in Big Cypress Preserve. Wild Florida at its most remote — the Everglades without the tour boats.

A 21-mile barrier island on the Treasure Coast with uncrowded Atlantic beaches, sea turtle nesting grounds, and the Elliott Museum. Far less traffic than the Keys or Palm Beach, with a slower, more local feel.

Crescent Beach, dolphin cruises, and a quiet Gulf Coast pace. Noticeably calmer than Naples and equally beautiful. Great for families or anyone who wants a beach without the scene.

Pristine Gulf beaches, an upscale downtown, and Fifth Avenue South for dining and galleries. The Naples Pier at sunset is one of the best free views in Florida.

Ancient bald cypress forest with a two-mile boardwalk. Some trees are over 500 years old. One of the top birding destinations in the Southeast, managed by Audubon.

Drive the levee road around the lake, stop in Clewiston or Belle Glade, and see the Florida most visitors never encounter. Flat, wide, and surprisingly moving.

Consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the US. Turquoise water, the ruins of the old Flagler railroad bridge, and calm clear water for snorkeling.

World-class shelling, the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, and a slow, car-optional pace once you reach Captiva. A beach that feels genuinely earned.

Ringling Museum, Siesta Key's powdery quartz sand, and a thriving arts and restaurant scene. Sarasota punches well above its size as a cultural destination.

The end of US-1, with the Overseas Highway as the journey itself. Sunset at Mallory Square, Duval Street, and the Hemingway House. One of the most singular places in America.

Fort Jefferson and some of the clearest snorkeling water in Florida. The ferry departs from Key West for a 70-mile open-ocean crossing. Remote, pristine, and unlike anything else.

One of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. Airboat tours, massive alligator sightings, and a canopy walkway above the floodplain. Genuinely wild in a way that surprises first-timers.

Kennedy Space Center is one of the most legitimately awe-inspiring places in the United States. Rocket launches, the Apollo artifacts, and Cocoa Beach a few miles away. A full day barely scratches the surface.

An undeveloped barrier island accessible only by ferry from Pine Island. Nine miles of near-empty Gulf beach with no cars, no crowds, and no development.

The Dali Museum, Beach Drive, the St. Pete Pier, and some of the best restaurants on Florida's Gulf Coast. St. Pete has quietly become one of the most exciting mid-size cities in the South. Worth every minute of the drive.

Ybor City, the Tampa Riverwalk, the Florida Aquarium, and some of the best Cuban food in the state. Underrated as a weekend destination and worth the extra drive time.