Article Summary: Florida Itinerary, Florida Road Trip, Florida National Parks Itinerary
There’s so much to see in Florida that I’ve barely scratched the surface, even after living there for 20 years. One of my favorite ways to explore my home state is an epic Florida road trip.
Growing up, we explored all over, including annual trips to the Florida Keys for Spring Break. Even after going back to many of the destinations below more times than I can count, I’m never disappointed.
In this 12-day Florida road trip itinerary, you’ll see some of the best of what Florida has to offer.
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Table of Contents
Florida Road Trip Itinerary: 12-Day Road Trip from Orlando
Fly in/out: Orlando (McCoy International Aiport)
Orlando has incredible options for things to do. If you love theme parks, add some time to check out Disney World or Universal Studios. There’s also a bunch of water parks and, of course, Sea World.
If these (in my opinion, unnecessary) attractions aren’t your thing, don’t fret: there are a ton of other things to do in Orlando besides theme parks.
It’s a great place to start your Florida road trip, focusing on the national parks in Florida.
Day 1: Florida’s Space Coast
Relax with a day on the beach at Canaveral National Seashore in either the Apollo Beach area near New Smyrna or the southern district and Playalinda Beach on Florida’s Space Coast. Here, you can also find the Kennedy Space Center and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
If you choose to follow this Florida itinerary, I would head to Playalinda Beach near Titusville from Orlando. From here, it’s easy to jump on I-95 and head south toward Miami.
Drive Time: Playalinda Beach is about 1 hour from Orlando.
Where to Stay: TownePlace Suites, Hampton Inn, The Riverview Hotel, Night Swan B&B
How to Get There: Playalinda Beach is located near Titusville (28.6450, -80.6834). For more directions, click here.
Fees: $20 per vehicle or $10 per person, valid for 7 days, to enter Canaveral National Seashore. It costs $57/adult per day to visit the Kennedy Space Center.
Day 2: Shark Valley in Everglades National Park
One of my favorite areas in Everglades National Park, Shark Valley has incredible access. With one 15-mile paved loop road, there’s so much to see.
You can take the tram tour ($27/adult) or rent bicycles from the Shark Valley Visitor Center to journey on the road. You may also hike or bring your own bike.
Along the way, expect to see tons of wildlife, including alligators and wading birds. Halfway through the loop, you’ll have the chance to climb Shark Valley’s Observation Tower.
Drive Time: It will take about 4 hours to drive from Playalinda Beach to Shark Valley.
Where to Stay: Miccosukee Resort, Best Western Plus, Holiday Inn, Courtyard, DoubleTree
How to Get There: Head south on I-95 from Titusville, then head West on US-41. For detailed instructions, click here.
Everglades National Park Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle or $15 per person, valid for 7 days
Day 3: Royal Palm & Flamingo
If you have to shorten the itinerary and limit your time in Everglades National Park to just one day, this is the area I would focus on.
By driving the park’s main road from Homestead to Flamingo, you’ll see an incredibly diverse ecosystem protected by the National Park Service.
Begin at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and check out the fascinating exhibits there. Then, drive four miles to the Royal Palm Nature Center and walk on the Anhinga Trail, one of our favorite Everglades hikes.
This short walkway includes both paved paths and boardwalks. Along the trail, you may see alligators, birds, and turtles. Another trail in the area, Gumbo Limbo, is worth the short walk as well if you have the time.
Next, drive to Flamingo with stops at any of the interpretive trails or ponds that may interest you. Many of these ponds will be scattered with a variety of birds.
Once you arrive in Flamingo, visit the Marina for a chance to see manatees and crocodiles. Crocodiles thrive in saltier waters, like those found in the Florida Bay, so alligators are more scarce in this area.
Drive Time: The drive from Shark Valley to Flamingo takes about 2 hours, one way, with no stops.
Where to Stay: Long Pine Key Campground: Hoosville Hostel, Best Western, Quality Inn, Travelodge, Baymont, Garden Inn
How to Get There: Head south on US-997 through some fruit farms, then head west on the park road. For detailed instructions, click here.
Everglades National Park Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle or $15 per person, valid for 7 days
Day 4: Biscayne National Park
If you love underwater activities such as snorkeling or scuba diving, Biscayne National Park is your paradise. The opportunities for both here are astounding. You can snorkel or dive among thousands of marine species as well as sunken ships.
If you’re not interested in snorkeling, don’t worry – the water is so clear that you can see to the bottom in shallow areas from a boat. Glass-bottomed boat tours are also offered for land-dwellers hoping to stay dry.
Drive Time: From the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center in the Everglades, it’s only about 45 minutes to get to Biscayne National Park’s main visitor center.
Where to Stay: Hoosville Hostel, Hampton Inn, TownePlace Suites
How to Get There: Drive east through Florida City toward the Atlantic Coast. The visitor center address is 9700 SW 328th Street, Sir Lancelot Jones Way, Homestead, FL 33033.
Day 5: Florida Keys
Next, spend the day making your way to Key West along US-1. Most Florida road trip itineraries focus on this area of the state, and for good reason.
Enjoy the beauty of the waters, stop for some seafood along the way, and drive safely. Be sure to abide by the posted speed limits; there are police officers everywhere.
Some highlights of the drive include Robbie’s on Islamorada, the Seven-Mile Bridge, and Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge in addition to a plethora of Florida State Parks.
Drive Time: The drive from Homestead to Key West takes about 3 hours without stopping.
Where to Stay: Seashell Motel & Hostel, Knowles House, Garden House
How to Get There: Head South on US-1.
Day 6: Dry Tortugas National Park
Whether you plan a Dry Tortugas day trip or have the incredible opportunity to camp on Garden Key, this national park is sure to amaze you.
There’s so much to do and so little time, so if you can score a camping reservation I would highly recommend staying out on the island.
On Garden Key, you can tour Fort Jefferson with staff from the Yankee Freedom ferry (or take a self-guided tour), snorkel, swim, walk along the beaches of Bush Key, and so much more.
There are also attractions on nearby islands if you can manage to bring a kayak on the ferry with you.
Where to Stay: Garden Key Campground, Seashell Motel & Hostel, Knowles House, Garden House
How to Get There: Take the Yankee Freedom Ferry from the Key West ferry terminal.
Dry Tortugas National Park Entrance Fee: $15 per person, valid for 7 days
Day 7: Florida Keys
Spend some time in Key West before venturing back toward the Miami area. Some attractions include Ernest Hemingway’s House, the Truman White House, the Southernmost Point in the continental United States, and the Key West Lighthouse, among others.
Sunset at Mallory Square is another popular activity, but you may want to get out of Key West and back to Miami before dark to enjoy the lovely scenery on your Florida road trip.
Drive Time: The drive from Key West back to Homestead takes about 3 hours without stopping.
Where to Stay: Hoosville Hostel, Hampton Inn, TownePlace Suites
How to Get There: Head North on US-1.
Day 8: Big Cypress and Everglades City
After a night in Miami, head west to Florida’s Gulf Coast.
You’ll drive through Big Cypress National Preserve after passing by Shark Valley again. Here, stop at the Oasis Visitor Center for a chance to see alligators and birds (if you haven’t had enough of them yet).
If you have time and the road is in good condition, I highly recommend the unpaved Loop Road in the Preserve.
Next, you’ll arrive in Everglades City where boat tours are offered. Currently, tours take you through the Ten Thousand Islands of Everglades National Park. You have a chance to see much different marine life than before, most notably dolphins and manatees.
After your tour, head to town for some amazing seafood: Everglades City is known as the stone crab capital of the world!
Drive Time: From Homestead, the drive to Everglades City is about 2 hours without stopping.
Where to Stay: River Wilderness Waterfront Villas, Everglades City Motel, Ivey House
How to Get There: Drive West from Shark Valley on US-41. For detailed instructions, click here.
Everglades National Park Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle or $15 per person, valid for 7 days
Day 9: Tampa and St. Petersburg
After amazing seafood and a fun boat tour, this Florida road trip takes you north to Bradenton for a quick visit to De Soto National Memorial. The short walking trail here is worth a few minutes of your time for the beach views and silly figures (you’ll see what I mean).
Next, you can spend some time around the Tampa and St. Petersburg areas or continue north back toward Orlando.
While you’re back in the Central Florida area, consider a visit to Blue Spring State Park for potential manatee sightings. You may have seen a few on your trip already, but this State Park offers an incredible view that could include hundreds of these marine mammals.
There are a few hotels in Orange City or DeLand if you want to stop here for the night.
If you’re up for a longer drive, you could venture on to New Smyrna to see the Apollo Beach area of Canaveral National Seashore (if you missed it when you arrived).
Drive Time: Everglades City and Bradenton are about 2 hours apart. From Bradenton, it takes about 3 hours to get to New Smyrna Beach.
Where to Stay: SpringHill Suites, Hampton Inn, TownePlace Suites, Hampton Inn, The Riverview Hotel, Night Swan B&B
How to Get There: Drive North on I-75 toward Bradenton. From there, you can either stay the night in the Tampa area or head northeast on I-4 toward New Smyrna Beach.
Day 10: St. Augustine
After an evening in Tampa, DeLand, or New Smyrna, head north toward the oldest city in the United States.
On your way to St. Augustine, stop at Fort Matanzas National Monument. This small fortification won’t take long to visit. The boat ride across Florida’s Matanzas River and walking around the Fort are worth the stop.
Next, visit Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in St. Augustine. After Fort Matanzas, this fort will seem more like a Castle to you. Although, if you visited Fort Jefferson earlier in the trip, this fort won’t be nearly as impressive.
Also in St. Augustine, you can visit the country’s oldest schoolhouse, walk along St. George Street, eat yummy seafood, visit the lighthouse, or find the Fountain of Youth.
There’s so much to do in this quaint, scenic little town making it the perfect stop on any Florida road trip.
Drive Time: St. Augustine is 1 hour from New Smyrna Beach and 3.5 hours from Bradenton.
Where to Stay: St. George Inn, Agustin Inn, Spanish Street Inn
How to Get There: Head northeast on I-4 and then north on I-95.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Entrance Fee:$15 per person and is valid for 7 days. There is also a $2.50 fee to park in the large parking area in front of the Castillo.
Day 11: Jacksonville
On your last full day, visit Jacksonville’s wilder side at Fort Caroline National Memorial and Timucuan National Ecological & Historic Reserve.
Fort Caroline is no longer there, but you can walk along the river where it used to be to see some exhibits. What is left of the fort is pictured above. The visitor center is worth a walkthrough.
My favorite part of this area is the Kingsley Plantation. If you can, plan your trip accordingly; tours are offered sporadically. If you can’t take a tour, it’s still worth it to stop here and read about the Kingsley family and their unique story.
Drive Time: Jacksonville is about 1 hour from St. Augustine.
Where to Stay: Amelia Schoolhouse Inn, Hampton Inn, Amelia Hotel at the Beach, Shore House
How to Get There: Drive North on I-95 or A1A.
Day 12: Back to Orlando
After your whirlwind Florida road trip, it’s time to head home. Drive 2.5 hours from Jacksonville back south toward Orlando to depart. You can take I-95 and I-4 to get there.
If heading straight to the airport, FL-417 is the fastest route, but it does include tolls.
Pin Florida Road Trip Itinerary Through Florida’s National Parks
