Check out a road trip through the main cities of Florida, the sunny state that is full of beautiful places. Because it has great and well-signposted roads, it is very easy to drive through Florida and reach each city. We have separated 12 of them for you to get to know one by one, stopping and enjoying the main attractions – from St. Augustine to Key West. Check out:
After reading this article, check out our tips about how to save a lot of money on your trip to Orlando and how to save a lot of money on your trip to Miami. They are the most accessed articles on our blog and will help you with all the trip planning. There are several unmissable tips that will save you A LOT of cash and set up your entire trip to Orlando or Miami.
1. St Augustine in Florida
Our Florida Road Trip starts in the city of St Augustine. It is the oldest city in the United States, from 1565, that is why it’s a place with a lot of history. St Augustine has a beach, which is very beautiful and pleasant to enjoy during the day, and many old sights. There is, for example, the Castillo de San Marcos, which is the oldest fort in the USA, from 1672; the famous Our Lady of la Leche church, which welcomes mothers and pregnant women who pray for the health of their children; an old mill, many nice restaurants etc.
The city is about 170 km away from Orlando, and in our itinerary it is the northernmost part of the state of Florida.
2. Daytona Beach in Florida
Our next city on the car route is Daytona Beach in Florida. It is just an hour away from Orlando, and is a super cool beach town to visit. Its beaches are beautiful and it is a great option to spend a day or more enjoying the beach. Daytona Beach is home to NASCAR, which is the association that controls the US stock car championships.
The Speedway Daytona Beach, which is located there, is the main car circuit in the United States. Therefore, the city is ideal for those who enjoy the speed of cars, but also like to relax on the beach, visit the pier, which is full of events, shop in the stores and enjoy a lot.
3. Orlando in Florida
When it comes to the state of Florida, the city of Orlando is one of the most outstanding, along with Miami. Orlando doesn’t have beaches, but on the other hand it has so many attractions, tours and things to do that you could spend weeks there to get to know everything. Orlando’s theme parks are the city’s main attraction, especially Disney World (where you will find the famous Magic Kingdom park, home to Cinderella’s castle) and Universal Studios (it has the world of Harry Potter).
Apart from the more than 30 parks, there are also several museums in Orlando, which are quite interesting, and there are options for children and adults. Finally, there is shopping in Orlando, which attracts millions of tourists every year in search of outlets and malls with unbeatable prices. Orlando is a complete city, and the itinerary is one that you can book more days to get to know as much as possible.
4. Cocoa Beach in Florida
Cocoa Beach in Florida is yet another beach town tip for your car trip. It is after Orlando, going down the state towards the south, and is very popular for surfers. Cocoa Beach main tourist point its pier, which is super trendy, full of shops, bars, restaurants around, food stalls and an incredible view of the sea. The city has several shops for surfers’ articles, has campsites that are a different option for spending the night, and also has small hotels.
5. Tampa in Florida
The city of Tampa in Florida is bigger compared to some of the previous ones. It is 100 km away from Orlando and 320 km from Miami, and has no beaches. Many tourists stay there, because the city is well developed and has theme parks like Busch Gardens in Tampa, which is that famous park with only extreme roller coasters.
Accommodation there is cheaper than in Orlando and Miami, for example, and that is why some tourists choose to sleep in Tampa, enjoy the city’s attractions and then travel by car to the rest of the state. Tampa has many dining options of all types, and there you can also go to the Lowry Park Zoo, Florida Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry and several other attractions.
6. Clearwater Beach in Florida
Located in the west of the state, bathed by the crystal clear sea of the Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater Beach in Florida is a paradise city. Its differential is precisely the sea that bathes it, which unlike other cities, is not the Atlantic, but the Gulf of Mexico. It has a very famous pier, which is a tourist spot and can be visited at any time of the day, especially at sunset, which yields beautiful photos.
The city is small, but has paradisiacal beaches, some shops on the boardwalk and is a tranquility place. The city is just over an hour away from Orlando, and its beaches are among the best beaches in Florida.
7. Palm Beach in Florida
Palm Beach in Florida is the next city on our itinerary of Florida Road Trip. It is already much closer to Miami than to Orlando, and is very little explored by tourists, so we consider it quiet and pleasant for those looking for a little more tranquility. It has beautiful beaches, museums, restaurants and great bars.
In Palm Beach there are dozens of huge mansions, which show how luxurious and expensive the city is for those who want to live there or have a beach house. A very beautiful region that we recommend is Worth Avenue, which has incredible patios with fountains and super luxurious decor, where people go to shop and see. The stores in the city are, for the most part, of luxury brands and very expensive. There is also the Four Arts Gardens, an art gallery with gardens and trees of all kinds, which is very beautiful. And even though it is a luxurious city, you can visit Palm Beach for a little money.
8. Fort Lauderdale in Florida
Fort Lauderdale in Florida is a very famous tourist city, which has one of the largest ports in the United States and the world. It is already bigger compared to Palm Beach, and comes close to the size of Miami. It is from Fort Lauderdale that many cruises leave from Miami and the Bahamas, and there are about 40 km of sand there, meaning the beaches are a major attraction in the place.
After spending a day relaxing on the beach, if you like art, visit Fat Village, a hipster neighborhood that has several architecture offices, as well as studios and street art murals with graffiti and other paintings. Las Olas Boulevard, on the other hand, concentrates bars, restaurants, galleries and shops in a very pleasant wooded space. Another cool tip in Fort Lauderdale is to go to Riverwalk Park and take a boat or water taxi known as the “Water Taxi”, which drops you off at any of the city’s clubs, restaurants, shops and resorts.
9. Naples in Florida
Driving through the state of Florida, you will reach Naples. It is approximately 2 hours from Miami and 3 hours from Orlando. Being a beach town, Naples is smaller and less busy than Miami and Fort Lauderdale. It is more like Clearwater Beach, which is in the Gulf of Mexico, so the sea waters are very blue and very clear, reminiscent of the Caribbean.
Naples is considered a haven for many people looking for more peace of mind, but who require a good structure. The city offers good shopping malls, golf courses, very luxurious condominiums and several beautiful beaches. If you want to shop, visit Fifth Avenue South, an avenue full of designer stores, art galleries, restaurants, cafes, hotels and more. The beaches near this part of the city tend to get much more crowded, so if you want even more calm look for the beaches in the southern part of Naples. The city’s Botanical Garden is also a good option for a stroll, if you don’t enjoy the beach so much.
10. Miami in Florida
Miami in Florida is, like Orlando, a huge and over-developed city, full of attractions. There you will see some incredible beaches, some very trendy, others more paradisiacal. There are also several museums and open nature parks, shopping malls and huge outlets. The city also has a super busy nightlife, with some of the best ballads in the world. And be sure to visit Miami’s main avenues, Lincoln Road, Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive – in all of them you will find dozens of restaurants, bars, shops and galleries, all facing the sea.
11. Coral Gables in Florida
Other city tip for your Florida Road Trip is the Coral Gables region. In fact, it is considered a historic neighborhood, not a city, at the south of Miami. It is an ideal place to spend a day, knowing its architecture and Mediterranean style. There you will see many galleries, shops, mansions and some luxurious hotels. You can have lunch or dinner in one of the several restaurants, and enjoy the charm of the fountains, squares and arches.
Coral Gables was planned in the 1920s and became known as the American Riviera. Among the main historical points there, we recommend that you visit the Biltmore Hotel, which is a super luxurious hotel with an incredible swimming pool and leisure area, used by residents as a club.
12. Key West in Florida
The last city tip on our Florida Road Trip is the island of Key West in Florida. It is located in the very south of the state, and is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and impressive places to visit in Florida and the United States. The drive there is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, because Key West is part of the famous Florida Keys, which is a set of paradise islands, and to go there you will pass through many of them. The trip is made on bridges that connect one island to another, and that have a surreal view.
Key West is about 3 hours away from Miami. There you can relax on the beach, practice water sports, visit parks and nature reserves, and enjoy the Mallory Square in Key West, where the sunset is celebrated every day.
Tips to make the most of your trip to Florida
Now that you’ve seen everything about Florida Road Trip, a great tip that makes the difference on your trip is to rent a car. Florida parks, beaches and outlets are very far apart, which is why the tourists always choose to rent a car there. With a car, you will be able to enjoy your trip even more, visiting everywhere and shopping with peace of mind. If you want, see our article how to find cheap car rentals in USA, where we give you all the information that you need to know about this subject, with tips about how to find unique prices using comparators. It ‘s much cheaper than people think, and it is worth it – you can even explore near cities by car!
How can I use my phone in Orlando and Miami?
Being able to use your cell phone on your trip is something extremely useful. With it working, you can search about all the spots, access the discount coupons and park apps, check the weather and even use the GPS, saving the rent of this equipment for the car. Besides, of course, being connected to the various social networks!
We have selected the best tips about how to use your phone in USA, where we indicate the cheapest way to use it all day long and anywhere in the entire country. With the mobile internet, you can search everything about Florida Road Trip!
Don’t forget about the Travel Insurance!
A very important tip is to have an International Travel Insurance before traveling to Florida. No one should travel without it, so you can avoid major problems abroad! It ends up being cheaper than people think, and in our article of International Travel Insurance for USA you check everything you need to know about it: which are the best insurance companies, and tips for hiring excellent coverage for a lower price, saving a lot.
Must-see articles from Orlando and Miami:
- Best things to do in Orlando: must-see places and sights in Orlando.
- Where to stay in Orlando: best areas to stay in Orlando.
- Orlando’s Best Parks: all the main parks in Orlando.
- Best things to do in Miami: must-see places and sights in Miami.
- Where to stay in Miami: best areas to stay in Miami.
