Florida
Most British visitors see Florida from a theme-park hotel, but it's a good state for a road trip too. The Overseas Highway runs 113 miles across 42 bridges to Key West, the Everglades are a short drive from Miami, and on the Space Coast you can watch a rocket launch from a public beach. Add Cuban food in Miami and quieter towns on the Gulf coast, and a ten-day loop covers a lot of variety with no long driving days.
Route Overview
Miami → Key West → Everglades → Space Coast (loop)
- Total Distance: ~800 miles (1,290 km) as a loop
- Minimum Time: 6 days (8–10 recommended)
- Best Season: November–April (dry season; summer is hot, humid, and hurricane-prone)
- Key Roads: US-1 (Overseas Highway), Tamiami Trail (US-41), A1A
Suggested Itinerary
Days 1–2: Miami and Miami Beach
| Stop | Highlight | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| South Beach | Art Deco Historic District, Ocean Drive, Lummus Park beach | Start |
| Little Havana | Calle Ocho, Versailles restaurant, domino park | 20 min |
| Wynwood | Street art, Wynwood Walls, craft breweries | 15 min |
| Design District | High-end shopping and architecture | Adjacent |
| Key Biscayne | Bill Baggs beach, Stiltsville views | 20 min |
Stay: South Beach or Mid-Beach. Budget: Freehand Miami (~$80/room, ~$35/bed in dorm). Mid-range: The Plymouth (~$200).
Days 3–4: The Overseas Highway to Key West
| Stop | Highlight | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Key Largo | John Pennekamp underwater park (snorkelling/diving) | 60 min from Miami |
| Islamorada | "Sportfishing Capital of the World," Robbie's (feed the tarpon) | 30 min |
| Marathon | Turtle Hospital, old Seven Mile Bridge (now a walking path) | 30 min |
| Seven Mile Bridge | The crossing — open water on both sides, extraordinary | En route |
| Bahia Honda State Park | Best beach in the Florida Keys | 15 min past bridge |
| Key West | Duval Street, Hemingway House, Mallory Square sunset, southernmost point | 45 min |
Stay: Key West — expensive but unforgettable. Budget: Not Quite Right B&B (~$140). Mid-range: The Marker (~$280). Stay 2 nights minimum.
The Overseas Highway (US-1)
This is the centrepiece of any Florida road trip:
- 113 miles from Key Largo to Key West across 42 bridges
- The Seven Mile Bridge is the longest — nothing but open ocean and sky
- Speed limit: mostly 45–55 mph. Don't rush it — windows down, music up
- Frequent pull-offs for photos. The water colour is Caribbean-blue
- Watch for cyclists — the road is popular with touring cyclists
Key West: 2 Days Minimum
| Experience | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mallory Square sunset | Street performers, food stalls, Key West's nightly ritual |
| Hemingway House | Six-toed cats, writing studio, the man's bourbon-soaked legend |
| Duval Street | Walk its 1.25 miles from Gulf to Atlantic. Bars, galleries, chaos |
| Fort Zachary Taylor | Best snorkelling beach in Key West, Civil War fort |
| Blue Heaven | Breakfast under the trees where Hemingway watched boxing. Lobster benedict |
| Dry Tortugas (optional) | 70-mile ferry or seaplane to Fort Jefferson — stunning and remote |
Days 5–6: Everglades
| Stop | Highlight | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Key West → Everglades | Retrace the Overseas Highway north | 3.5 hrs to Homestead |
| Homestead | Robert Is Here fruit stand, known for tropical fruit milkshakes | Gateway |
| Everglades NP — Main Road | 38-mile road to Flamingo. Anhinga Trail (alligators very likely, especially in the dry season) | Park day |
| Shark Valley | 15-mile tram or cycling loop, observation tower | Northern entrance |
| Tamiami Trail (US-41) | Miccosukee village, Big Cypress National Preserve | Cross-state |
Stay: Homestead or Florida City (affordable, Gateway to both Everglades and Keys). Budget: motels (~$80). The Everglades has no hotels inside the park — camping only (Flamingo Campground, ~$30).
Days 7–8: Gulf Coast and Old Florida
| Stop | Highlight | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Naples | Millionaires' Row, pristine beaches, Naples Pier sunset | 2 hrs from Everglades |
| Sanibel Island | Shelling capital of the US, Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge | 90 min |
| Sarasota | Ringling Museum, Siesta Key Beach (consistently rated US #1), St. Armands Circle | 90 min |
Stay: Sanibel or Sarasota. Both offer classic "old Florida" charm.
Days 9–10: Space Coast
| Stop | Highlight | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-state to Cape Canaveral | I-75 to FL Turnpike to I-95 | 3.5 hrs from Sarasota |
| Kennedy Space Center | Shuttle Atlantis, Apollo/Saturn V Center, launch viewing | Full day |
| Cocoa Beach | Ron Jon Surf Shop, beach, pier | Adjacent |
| Playalinda Beach | Pristine, uncrowded, launch pad views in the distance | 20 min |
Stay: Cocoa Beach — surfer town atmosphere, affordable. Budget: motels on A1A (~$80). Mid-range: International Palms Resort (~$140).
Practical Notes
Weather
- Dry season (Nov–April): Ideal. Warm, low humidity, rare rain
- Wet season (May–Oct): Hot (32°C+), very humid, daily afternoon thunderstorms, mosquitoes
- Hurricane season: June–November. Monitor forecasts and have flexible plans
Mosquitoes
The Everglades and Keys have serious mosquitoes, especially in summer. Bring repellent with DEET. Long sleeves at dawn and dusk.
Tolls
Florida has extensive toll roads, most with electronic-only tolling (SunPass or Toll-by-Plate). Your hire car should have a transponder — confirm with the rental company. Tolls add up ($15–25/day on heavily tolled routes).
Driving
- Florida drivers are... assertive. Stay alert on I-95 and I-4
- The Overseas Highway is straightforward but single-lane in many sections. Patience required behind slow traffic (there will be slow traffic)
- Speed limits on A1A are low (25–35 mph through towns). Police enforce them
Accommodation Budget (per night, approximate)
| Type | Miami | Keys | Everglades | Space Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campground | N/A | $30–55 | $20–30 | $25–40 |
| Budget | $80–140 | $130–200 | $70–100 | $70–100 |
| Mid-Range | $200–350 | $250–400 | $100–150 | $120–180 |
Don't Miss
- The Seven Mile Bridge — the moment you realise you're driving across open ocean
- Mallory Square at sunset — Key West's daily celebration of the setting sun
- Anhinga Trail in the Everglades — alligators basking within two metres of a boardwalk
- A cortadito in Little Havana — strong, sweet, and life-affirming
- A rocket launch from Cocoa Beach — space travel from a beach towel
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