Are you thinking of going on a road trip through Florida? This is the ultimate Florida road trip itinerary you need. Relax at the stunning beaches, do some extravagant shopping, go on historical adventures, and more.
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Florida is located in the southeastern part of the United States. It is known as The Sunshine State and has the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Florida is a very popular vacation destination for many North Americans because of all there is to do.
Florida is known for its hundreds of beaches, Latin-American culture, luxury shopping boutiques, exquisite art scene, and so much more. This ultimate Florida road trip itinerary will take you through all that Florida has to offer in each city for a memorable vacation.
On this Florida road trip itinerary, you can explore the South Beach area of Miami, do an airboat tour in Everglades National Park, relax on the beach in Key Largo and Key West, walk the Naples pier, enjoy the amusement parks at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, and more.
This post is all about the ultimate Florida road trip itinerary.
To start your ultimate Florida road trip itinerary head to the south of Florida and start in the Florida Keys. The Florida Keys is best known for Key West, Islamorada, and Key Largo. Start at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys at Key West. Key West is full of history and culture, and there is so much to do. Visit the Hemingway Home and Museum. See the Southernmost Point Buoy which is one of the most photographed landmarks in the US. Enjoy the entertainment district of Duval Street. Do some boutique shopping, and have a nice dinner at one of the amazing restaurants. To finish the day head to Mallory Square to see the famous Sunset Celebration.
For day 2 of the ultimate Florida road trip itinerary head to Islamorada which is the sportfishing capital of the world. Spend the afternoon at the Theater of the Sea which is a marine mammal park. Here you can actually swim with the dolphins, sea lions, and the rays. Have some drinks at Isamorada Brewery and Distillery. Finish your day by having dinner at Morada Bay which is a beachfront restaurant with beautiful views of the water.
For the next day of your Florida road trip head to Key Largo. Key Largo has many wonderful things for you to explore. Start by exploring the underwater world at John Pennakamp Coral Reef State Park. This is a great place to snorkel and see some coral reefs and amazing marine life. Then you could head to the beach and enjoy some swimming and sunbathing on one of of Key Largo’s beaches.
The Florida Keys have many great places to stay including lots of beachfront properties as well. Stay at The Capitana Key West in Key West Florida. This amazing hotel is located right on the beachfront and has a private beach area. It also has an outdoor pool and many other great amenities.
Another great place to stay in the Florida Keys is Atlantic Bay Resort in Key Largo. This resort has beach access, an outdoor swimming pool a sun terrace, and a beautiful garden terrace for you to enjoy. Great stop while traveling the Florida Keys.
Miami is a must-see on your Florida road trip itinerary. This amazing city has so much to offer including a relaxing beach atmosphere, vibrant city life, amazing cuisine, world-class shopping and so much more. To start your first day in Miami head to the famous South Beach. South Beach is known for its golden sands, stunning blue waters, and lively fun atmosphere. This is a great place to relax and soak up some sun. Next head to Lummus Park this is a great place to enjoy a nice walk along the path and take in the amazing ocean views.
Start the next day by enjoying a sunrise at South Beach. This is a very popular place to see the best sunsets in Miami with the ocean background. You can also explore the Art Deco Welcome Centre, and enjoy some beach activities. In the afternoon take a walk along Ocean Drive. Enjoy the bustling atmosphere with many fun things to do here. Head to the Villa Casa Casuarina which is the Versace Mansion. Once the home of fashion designer Gianni Versace, it is now a hotel and restaurant where you can enjoy an amazing lunch or dinner. To finish off your time in Miami head to the Collins Avenue Shopping area. This is a great place to enjoy some amazing high-end luxury shopping and trendy boutiques.
While in Miami stay at The Palms Hotel & Spa. This amazing hotel is located right in the middle of South Beach and is divine. It has a pool, located right on the beach, loungers by the pool, a restaurant, and a lounge, and has a true Caribbean feel. Great place to relax and stay while in Miami.
The Everglades National Park is a great place to stop on your Florida road trip. There is lots to do here for everyone whether you’re looking for an adventure or just nature. There is an airboat ride that is a fan favorite, it takes you through the wetlands with speed and excitement. While here you can see alligators in their natural habitat, and you can enjoy some birdwatching where you can see many different and unique types of birds. There are also manatees and other wildlife that you may encounter as well. This is a really cool and unique experience. After you enjoy your time at the Everglades National Park, head to Fort Lauderdale which is about an hour away to stay for the night.
Another one-of-a-kind stop on your Florida road trip itinerary is Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America because it has many beautiful canals surrounding the city, a lively cultural scene, and lots of relaxation and adventure. Start your day by heading to Fort Lauderdale Beach which has beautiful white sand and clear water. You could do some sunbathing, beach activities, swimming, enjoy a nice cafe for coffee or even just people-watching.
After enjoying the beach head to Las Olas Boulevard where you can enjoy some wonderful shopping, art and culture, and great dining options. There are many art galleries, boutiques, and designer shops to enjoy. There are local galleries and public art installations that you can see as well. Fort Lauderdale always has events and festivals going on in this area as well. You could also enjoy a boat ride through the canals for some relaxation. Finish the day off with an exquisite dinner and drinks.
Some great places to stay in Fort Lauderdale are The Westin Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood Beachside Boutique Suite. Both of these hotels are close to water and have a pool, and comfortable rooms, and are close to many attractions.
The next stop on your Florida road trip itinerary is Naples. Naples is on the Gulf Coast and has some amazing sunsets, high-end living and amenities, stunning beaches, and lots of culture. Start the day off by heading to Naples Beach and enjoy the calm waters and pristine white sand. This beach is miles long and there are many spots for sunbathing or beach activities. This is a great place to take a walk along the beach since it is so long. There are also many dolphin sightings along the famous Naples Pier. Another great beach to check out is Vanderbilt Beach, which is in north Naples and is less crowded than Naples Beach.
Explore 5th Avenue South, which is in the center of Naples. This Avenue is filled with high-end boutiques, great art galleries, gourmet restaurants, local stores, and much more. You could also explore the Naples Botanical Gardens. The gardens are full of lush vibrant landscapes making for a very quiet, and peaceful atmosphere. There is also the Naples Zoo where you can see many animal exhibits including tigers, lions, monkeys, and lots more wildlife. Naples also has a boat tour that you can take to the Gator Lagoon to see alligators and other animals well. There is lots to do in Naples so make the most of it and plan your 2 days here accordingly.
The best places to stay in Naples, Florida are the Inn at Pelican Bay and Hyatt House Naples 5th Avenue. These are both higher-end hotel options and are both located on the water. In addition to being along the water, they both have an outdoor swimming pool, loungers, and fitness centers and are located close to many attractions.
Next on your ultimate Florida road trip itinerary head to Sarasota. Sarasota is a cute town that’s filled with relaxation, culture, nature, beaches, history, and so much more. First, you need to go to Sarasota’s most famous beach, Siesta Key Beach. Siesta Key Beach is known as being one of the best-ranked beaches in the United States. It has luscious powdery white sand made of 99% quartz and is super unique. It keeps cool on hot days making a perfect spot for a walk along the beach. The Siesta Key Beach has many beach activities for everyone to enjoy including paddleboarding, swimming, snorkeling, and so much more. Lining the beach are cafes and shops that you could also visit.
After spending the morning and early afternoon at the beach there are many other attractions to visit like the Ringling Museum of Art, Ca d’Zan Mansion, the Circus Museum, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and the Tropical Conservatory. These are each unique things to do making it a very cool experience. To finish off the day you could check out a performance at the Sarasota Opera House or watch a sunset at Lido Key and enjoy some amazing gourmet dinner options.
A great place to stay in Sarasota is Lido Beach Resort – Sarasota. This resort is located right on Lido Key Beach and has a private beach area as well. The rooms are very modern, and the resort as a whole gives off a very Caribbean feel. It has restaurant and bar options and many great amenities. Great for relaxing.
Another amazing place to stay in Sarasota is Hyatt Regency Sarasota. This hotel is very unique as it features an outdoor pool with waterfalls and a hot tub, a private 32-slip marina with boat docking facilities, a swimming pool, and many other fabulous amenities.
As you’re heading north on your Florida road trip itinerary you have to stop in Orlando. Orlando is one of Florida’s most famous destinations since it is home to the wonderful Disney World and Universal Studios. Along with both of these theme parks, Orlando has so much more to offer like rich culture, and lots of nature. For your 3 days in Orlando, I would spend one whole day at Disney World. There is so much to see at Disney World in this location. It is definitely one of the best Disney Resorts and there are so many fun attractions to see, fun rides to take, and lots of food and games, and is a must-see for everyone.
On the second day and third day in Orlando, I would recommend going to another theme park like Universal Studios Orlando which has The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Marvel Super Hero Resort. Other Disney Resorts like Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Other theme parks are SeaWorld Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida Resort, and Gatorland.
Orlando has many other things to do in case you don’t want to spend 3 days at theme parks. Other options include visiting the Orlando Museum of Art, Loch Haven Park, and Harry P.Leu Botanical Gardens, experiencing Park Avenue, and Winter Park, doing some shopping, and enjoying some gourmet dining options.
Orlando has many places to stay that are Disney-related like the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, and many more. All of these hotels and resorts are associated with the Disney Theme Parks and are great to stay at for a no-hassle trip. This means you can buy your theme park passes here, there is a shuttle to the theme parks, and there are meal plans that you can purchase as well. These hotels and resorts tend to be more expensive just because of the convenience of them.
If you are looking for a cheaper hotel and resort option these are the best ones. Stay at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, Evermore Orlando Resort, and more. These are great cheaper options but still really good places to stay. With these hotels and resorts, you may have to find your own way to these theme parks and have to buy tickets when you get there but that is super easy as well.
Here is the final stop on your Florida road trip itinerary St. Augustine. St. Augustine is one of Florida’s oldest cities. This city has a blend of old-world charm, one-of-a-kind architecture, stunning beaches, and so much more. First head to St. George Street where you can enjoy the historic district and see the amazing architecture, cute shops, art galleries, and many local restaurants and bars. After strolling through St. George Street you could check out the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, then head to the Mission Nimbre de Dios and the Great Cross. This is where the first Catholic Mass was held in the United States. The Great Cross commemorates the city’s founding.
Another famous landmark in St. Augustine is the St. Augustine Lighthouse which has just over 200 steps you can climb to get to the top and see stunning views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy the Maritime Museum, do a Ghost Tour, and be sure to enjoy some amazing dining options here in St. Augustine.
While in St. Augustine stay at the Marker 8 Hotel and Marina, or the Best Western Historic Bayfront. These are both great hotels with swimming pools, great rooms, fitness centers, views of the Atlantic Ocean, and more.
Make sure before heading on your road trip that you have checked the weather of all your destinations, and make sure your car is serviced and safe to embark on a road trip across the state. Ensure you have a plan for each city you visit so you’re not wasting time trying to figure it out while there. It is a good idea to have hotels booked for each night that way you know there is going to be availability for sure. Also, check out the post “THE BEST FAMILY ROAD TRIP CHECKLIST YOU NEED“. This post goes over everything from what essentials to bring, what to bring if you’re traveling with kids, entertainment items to bring, and so much more.
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