You can thank me later, but I’m pretty sure this Florida road trip plan is one of the best for experiencing all the beauty that the state is known for. From tip to tip, Florida has some of the most unique and fantastic sights in America. People think of Florida as the land of theme parks and snowbirds, but it’s also the place to to explore unique Florida nature and history. We love to explore this other side of Florida with kids and keep finding fun, new spots to explore each time we leave the house.
So, how do you do a road trip that showcases the unique side of Florida? These are our top tips, top sights, and top experiences for an unforgettable trip along the scenic route of the Sunshine State. We have lots of articles about many of these things to do along this Florida road trip, so be sure to dig in and plan the right adventure for YOU. If you have additional questions or suggestions, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help folks plan unforgettable trips!
Planning an Epic Florida Road Trip
Before you dig in, there are a few things to consider, mainly where to start and how long your Florida road trip will take. We’ll help with all that, but as you start to consider your dates and just how long you want to be on the road, use our handy road trip planning tool to set up a solid plan that is right for your family. As you consider your final plans, keep in mind that Florida really is huge and that any given road trip could expand into a multi-week adventure as a route that goes along the east and west coasts of Florida will cover more than 1500 miles.
You can follow our Florida road trip plan precisely or just use it as a baseline, but either way, as you’re planning, consider the follow types of activities to make time for:
- beaches
- freshwater springs
- wildlife experiences (kayaking, wildlife drives)
- boardwalks – we don’t have a lot of hiking in Florida, so boardwalks in the forests are great to do
- small town sites – the colonization of North America started in Florida, so we have many old towns
I know that coming to Florida for a road trip is a vacation plan and so fun is at the forefront of why you’re here, but there are lots of educational opportunities as you travel as well. Natural science in Florida is fascinating, from the limestone springs to the cypress swamp ecosystems, hardwood hammocks to mangrove islands, there’s a lot to learn about. Add to that historic sites like De Soto National Memorial, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and the whole towns of St Augustine or Tarpon Springs and it’s non-stop learning. Plan you time to get a little educated as you explore.
Where to Stay during a Florida Road Trip
Depending on your travel style and budget, you’ll find a wide variety of hotels, resorts, campgrounds and vacation rentals as you drive through Florida. You can literally go high-brow for the entire trip or you can totally rough it, and the activities you enjoy are usually located very near both types of stays. Florida is great for staying in national travel brand hotels like Best Western Plus (our preferred BW brand) or Holiday Inn Express (our IHG pick) so you can track all of your accommodations in an app and earn points along the way. It’s also great for going luxe and enjoying high end hotels wherever you go. The high end experiences are more along the beaches, but you can find them in Central Florida too.
To put together a good itinerary that includes a few fancy stays along the way, plan out the spots where you know you want to enjoy a hotel/resort environment more than the activities of the area. For example, if you’re planning on staying at the beach instead of in the historic downtown of St Augustine, you can book nights at the Embassy Suites directly on St Augustine Beach and pay a little more to wake up and walk out onto the sand and then enjoy drinks by the pool later. And then if you’re adding Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World to your road trip, choose to stay at one of the countless budget options near the parks instead of a fancy place since you won’t be spending my time at your hotel.
When it comes to places like Fort Myers Beach / Sanibel or Miami Beach, staying somewhere beautiful with lots of character is a great choice and is very much worth it. The ability to step out of your accommodations into a vibe is really something. I love ending a trip and looking back to remember my mornings and waking up excited to simply exit the hotel into the new world I’ve been exploring. That’s why a Florida road trip is so great; each day is something special and new.
Browse hotel, resort and vacation rental options here:
Packing for a Florida Vacation
We are a super low-maintenance family when it comes to packing for a warm weather trip. We make sure that we have plenty of swimwear and that each person has a least one pair of pants and a light jacket. Besides that, you truly do not need to stress packing everything you think you might need for a Florida road trip. Our state is NOT fancy, nobody cares how you’re dressed, and you’re going to be HOT if you aren’t used to our weather. Pack light and cool outfits for everyone. If you think you’ll be having a few nice meals during your trip, pack for those, but if there’s no chance that you’ll need to look nicer than beach-chic, then don’t stress it at all.
I will say though, you should FOR SURE bring the following when you’re packing for your Florida road trip:
- flip flops
- active sandals – Keens or Tevas are great
- tennis shoes / walking shoes
- brimmed hats and sunglasses for everyone
- swimwear – bring swimsuits that are good for the beach, pool or waterpark
- waterproof phone cases
- small umbrellas for the most sun-sensitive people
Keep in mind that Florida gets an absolute ton of rain. You cannot fight it and you can’t really plan for it. Pack clothing that dries quickly and shoes that don’t make you miserable if they get wet.
First Leg of the Florida Road Trip: North Atlantic Coast
This is the part of the state where we live, so we always start here. It’s easy for others to start here as well. If you’re driving from another state on either I-95 or I-10, you’ll be coming to Jacksonville anyways. If you’re flying to Florida, you can fly into Jacksonville (JAX) from any major city east of Denver, and in the coming years flight have been announced to be starting from a few California locations. If you don’t want to fly into JAX, you can also do the road trip in reverse by flying into Miami or Orlando. These are easy airports to get direct flights into.
Casa Marina and Jacksonville Beach
North Florida is beautiful in its own way. It’s more quiet and feels a bit like the California beach neighborhoods like Mission Beach in San Diego or Seal Beach in Orange County. Jacksonville Beach has wonderful sand and lots of beach access points. Start your Florida road trip with a solid dose of the beach.
Back when New York and Hollywood were all flash and glam, Jacksonville Beach was the spot for the elite to escape to, and the Casa Marina Hotel hosted them all. Starting your trip along the Scenic Route of unique Florida, spend a day or two in Jax Beach enjoying the chill vibes of the now trendy beach town while staying in a vintage hotel room at the Casa Marina just over the dunes. Is the Casa Marina haunted? Hard to say, but the kids loved the roaring twenties feel… and there were footsteps in the hall.
Travel plan: 1 or 2 nights relaxing in town and maybe even taking a surf lesson. Jax Beach has mild to medium waves and it’s perfect for beginners. Stay at the Casa Marina Hotel for a quality, unique, historic Florida experience.
Historic St Augustine and the Castillo
We encourage our friends to returning to St Augustine not just to visit us, but because it’s the most captivating city we’ve been to in Florida. St Augustine is the oldest city in the USA and includes a 16th century Spanish fort (the Castillo de San Marcos), an actual city wall, delicious fusion food (think seafood/Cuban/Spanish), and great museums for kids (the Lightner Museum is awesome).
We work history into our travels whenever possible, and history is one of the aspects that makes the Scenic Route through Florida so unique. Even for the non-history traveler, St Augustine is sure to fascinate and be a favorite destination. And an added bonus to spending time in St Augustine: ecotourism. From kayaking to boat expeditions with marine biologists, we’ve had some incredible encounters with wildlife, all handled in a professional, conservation-first way. Florida’s unique nature is alive and well here and there are many ways to enjoy it before moving onto your next destination.
Travel plan: 2 nights in St Augustine is ideal with equal time for exploring the old city as well as getting into nature. A day trip from Jax Beach or Daytona is also an option.
Ponce Inlet: Beyond Daytona Beach
Just south of Daytona Beach is the Ponce Inlet. This may be our kids’ favorite place in all of Florida. While there’s not a lot to the town, there are some fun, unique experiences to be had. Ponce Inlet has the tallest lighthouse in Florida and it’s open to the public to climb. With 203 steps to the top, kids and adults love the challenge (and the view is gorgeous too!).
Also near the lighthouse is the Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center. From rays and fish to sea turtles in the turtle recovery unit, visitors get to check out a unique blend of an aquarium and hospital. And the volunteers are very passionate about their Florida wildlife! You’ll find some beautiful places at Ponce inlet for kayaking opportunities and beach access. There are so many things to do here and in the Daytona area.
Travel plan: Ponce Inlet is a great day trip as it’s very close to Daytona Beach where you’ll find most of the family and budget friendly hotel options. 1 night, maybe 2 is fine.
Central Florida Road Trip Stops
As you head inland from Daytona Beach you very quickly come into the start of the freshwater springs of Florida. They start here, about 40 minutes from Daytona and actually stretch westward into the Panhandle. We’ve got a few springs to stop at that aren’t far out of the way and you’ll love spending time here. Central Florida also includes time at the theme parks if you’re interested. You don’t have to include Universal or Disney on your Florida road trip, but many families try to add a day or two at one of the parks.
De Leon Springs and pancakes at the Old Sugar Mill
We always love visiting any of the more than 1000 freshwater springs in Florida, but De Leon Springs has something extra special and totally unique. Pay attention because this may be one of the only restaurants we ever tell anybody they’ve got to go to, but you’ve got to go to the Old Spanish Sugar Mill. Located just off the ACTUAL FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, the Sugar Mill is just the coolest family dining in Florida.
You sit down at your griddle/table, you cook your own breakfast as you sit in the mill, and then you can head out for a hike through the Florida forest or take an ecotour from the headspring down the St Johns River, scoping out manatees, alligators, all kinds of bird and who knows what else.
Travel plan: book your table at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill in advance and plan it out to be able to either rent kayaks or do the naturalist-led boat tour. Stay in nearby historic DeLand for a night in what looks like Main Street USA in Disneyland.
Blue Springs for Manatees and More
It seems that no matter how many times we visit Blue Spring State Park we’re always thinking about our next visit. If you’re in North Central Florida during the winter months, you’ll no doubt see manatees in the springs and rivers, but at Blue Spring you’ll see hundreds of them. Manatees are a unique Florida treasure and there’s no better place to observe or encounter them than at Blue Spring State Park.
Visiting in the off-season (non-manatee time of Spring through Fall) is also wonderful. Florida’s freshwater springs are always warm, with Blue Spring being a consistent 73 degrees F, so swimming in the off-season is awesome! The kids did get a little spooked by the enormous Florida Gar in the springs (large fish) but splashing and watching turtles makes it all worthwhile for them.
Travel plan: book a kayak rental for a unique, respectful experience observing manatees in the water. You cannot swim with them at Blue Spring, but they are very curious and friendly creatures that love to say hello to visitors. If you don’t want to paddle, try the Blue Spring Ecotour boat instead.
Universal Orlando for Volcano Bay Water Theme Park (and another park)
We’ll be the first to tell you that Universal Studios and the whole Universal Orlando Resort is crazy fun, but the best parts are actually Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay. As you explore Florida on your road trip you’ll drive through Orlando… and you MUST stop. If theme parks aren’t your thing, that’s fine. That’s what Volcano Bay is for.
For just one day at a Universal park, we would choose Islands of Adventure, as it has the most and best attractions outside Epic Universe. And then if you have another day or want as different experience, how about a waterpark designed with adults (and kids) in mind? Volcano Bay offers a great mix of waterslides, raft rides, sandy beaches and even a water coaster. Adding a day at Volcano Bay is the perfect way to break up the cross-state drive, even though it’s not that far, and will bring a totally different element to the travels you’ve been having. And don’t worry, even on the hottest days when Volcano Bay is at capacity, it’s still both fun and relaxing.
Travel plan: stay 2-3 nights at Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort which is directly adjacent to Volcano Bay. It’s one of Universal’s budget friendly properties, is the coolest vintage 60s themed, and staying on property gets you into Volcano Bay an hour before the general public.
Lakeland and the Lakes: REAL Florida
It’s easy to do Orlando and just head to the Gulf Coast for Tampa and the sugar sand beaches, but before you do, spend a day in old Florida if you can swing it. Lakeland is a cool city and it’s surrounded by really beautiful nature and some fun places. Bok Tower and Gardens is a Florida icon, Circle B Bar Reserve is epic for nature and learning about the unique ecosystems of Central Florida, and then Lake Kissimmee State Park is a blast for fishing and wildlife watching.
The best way to experience the wildlife here is to actually go out on an airboat. Lake Kissimmee is really big and it’s very unusual. Full of alligators, wading birds, eagles and even… bison. If you’ve never done an airboat, you’re going to love it and it’s the perfect addition to a Florida road trip. We’ve been out with Grape Hammock Fish Camp a few times and they do the best wildlife safari in Central Florida. I love it.
Travel plan: stay just one night here since we still have so many stops along the way. We’ve stayed at Westgate River Ranch twice and it’s a great place for a night or two, and it’s fun in general.
Florida Gulf Coast Road Trip Stops
This portion of our Florida road trip could actually be its own vacation. The Florida Gulf Coast is beautiful, and if you are dreaming of beaches, you’ll have endless opportunities to swim or beachcomb. It’s gorgeous and so much fun, especially if you’ve got kids with you.
Going Greek in Tarpon Springs
Did you know that the largest Greek community in the USA is actually in Tarpon Springs, Florida? True story and it’s an awesome place to visit for a day. We’re all about mixing it up when it comes to food and making sure our kids will eat anything, so having a day of Greek food was just what the travel doctor ordered. Tarpon Springs is a very unique town in that it grew and thrived due to the sponge industry, with a rich history in sponge diving. Weirdly cool, huh?
Today, Tarpon Springs is the perfect spot to eat your heart out, take a boat tour out into the Gulf of Mexico (dolphins anyone?), and you guessed it, buy some natural sponges. Due to the canals and bridges everywhere, getting off the beaten path in town is easy and you may just fall in love with this perfect slice of Greek America.
Travel plan: Tarpon Springs is a great day-stop between Orlando and St Pete. Any day of the week the Greek neighborhood is lively and buzzing, and any time of day you may encounter any number of people dancing in the streets. You’ll find more hotel options to the south around St Pete or Clearwater. Spend a night, maybe two if you want another beach day here or if you want to visit the Dali Museum.
Fort de Soto: birds, dolphins and manatees
St Petersburg is a rather big city between Tampa Bay and the Gulf, but there are some smaller communities and sights to enjoy here too. For us, Fort De Soto in the Tierra Verde area was a slice of unique Florida heaven. Fort De Soto Park is home to mangrove forests, a wild bird refuge (roseate spoonbills!), decommissioned military bunkers, and miles of beaches that, on a weekday, nobody else is on!
Oh, and the wildlife. Have you ever been swimming and accidentally bumped into a manatee? Or have you ever been standing on a pier surrounded by egrets while dolphins jump out of the water below you? We have, right here at Fort De Soto. It’s a picturesque, nearly unknown Florida treasure. I would say that this is going to be a highlight on the Florida road trip.
Travel plan: for a unique Florida hotel experience, the historic Don Cesar Hotel in St Pete Beach is epic, loaded with vintage glamor, and of course, it’s pink. There are also many private vacation rental options in St Pete or Tierra Verde.
Fort Myers and Sanibel Island
This is a great town for another 2-3 night stay. Sanibel Island is super beautiful and has some of the best beach combing for shells we’ve ever done anywhere. There are bike paths all around the island, all the way to Captiva Island. The beaches are awesome and there’s a beautiful lighthouse. The waters here are pristine and the Ding Darling Nature Preserve has some of the most epic birding. Fora really fun tour, head out with the Tarpon Bay Explorers for a guided kayaking trip for even more wildlife and to explore the mangroves.
While you’re staying on Sanibel, do a day trip over into Fort Myers. The Ford and Edison Estate is really cool to explore, especially with kids. The Six Mile Cypress Slough is a really cool forest boardwalk hike with, again, so much wildlife. It’s awesome in the morning and is absolutely worth the time.
Travel plan: 2-3 days based in Sanibel or Fort Myers is great. This area could be a week-long vacation, but for our Florida road trip, we’ll keep it short.
Big Cypress National Preserve
Being on the northern end of the Everglades, actually bordering Everglades National Park, Big Cypress is one big, beautiful, epic swamp. That sounds totally unappealing, I know, but it’s really magical.
Between the enormous cypress trees creating an otherworldly atmosphere to alligators and even crocodiles below and around the boardwalks, Big Cypress National Preserve is an easy and worthwhile stop along the Scenic Route through Southern Florida. You can experience it just by stopping into a visitors center off the Tamiami Trail or you can be fully immersed in the cypress swap with one of many hikes. WARNING: mosquitoes are also big fans of Big Cypress National Preserve.
Travel plan: visit Big Cypress from Naples on a morning trip or stop off on the drive to Miami. Driving the Tamiami Trail instead of Alligator Alley will take you right through the fringe of the Everglades and Big Cypress allowing quick, simple stops in this unique National Park site.
Everglades and Biscayne National Parks
While the northern side of the Everglades is quite marshy and full of alligators, the other accessible areas are quite different. Either going out of Everglades City or Homestead, you can experience the National Park via boat. It’s an easy drive to the eastern side of the Park which is just outside of Miami, and thankfully it’s not overrun with tourists most days. Kayaking at Flamingo is a fun way to get on the water and you’re highly likely to see crocodiles!
The same goes for Biscayne National Park. Both of these parks are pristine examples of unique Florida ecosystems. While much of the Everglades is composed of grass islands that you can explore through boardwalks, Biscayne is best toured by boat. 95% of Biscayne National Park is underwater, but the sites above the surface are pretty cool too. From the mangrove coastline to Stiltsville out in the Bay, to the lighthouse out on Boca Chita Key. There’s lots to see and do!
Travel plan: book your boat tour as soon as you know you’ll be visiting Everglades National Park, and for Biscayne confirm with the visitors center what days and times the ranger led tours go out. Visiting either or both National Parks takes coordination, but it’s worth it!
Finishing out with Miami
Miami is its own trip, but since you’re most likely flying into or out of Miami there is one thing you must know about and seek out: croquettes. Yes, we’re talking about those little dumpling type tatertotish hushpuppy esque balls of deliciousness. Croquettes are a Caribbean creation and they come in a variety of shapes and fillings. Some just are breaded fried mashed potatoes and some have a little meat and sauce in them. They’re all delicious and perfectly Miami.
How to find: look for any small Caribbean cafe, including coffee shops, that serve breakfast. If you’re lucky, you might even find a street vendor pushing a cart that makes them. Calle Ocho is also a good spot to find them.
Beside my favorite Miami snack, there is so much to do here. The beaches are great and all, but exploring the Art Deco district of South Beach is my favorite. It’s really pretty, it’s fun, and it’s the best people watching in the city. A visit to Calle Ocho is great for more good food or to join in a community dominoes tournament. And then the Viscaya Estate is incredible to visit. I wish I could live there.
Travel plan: 2-3 days in Miami is good, and honestly it’s all I can handle on a good day. It’s easy to end the trip with Miami and just relax when you get here, because you’ve had a very full itinerary and you’re probably tired.
BONUS: Continue into the Florida Keys
If you haven’t had enough of your Florida road trip, you can still add on more. You can go from Miami, or skip Miami and continue onward from Everglades National Park down into the Florida Keys. The Florida Keys road trip is an unforgettable one on its own, with turquoise waters, snorkeling, dolphins and lots of history. Getting all the way to Key West and enjoying one of the most colorful and fun towns in the state is an epic way to end the adventure.
If you don’t want to take a whole week to do the Keys, you can simply drive the whole way to Key West in one day and enjoy being here for 3-4 days. There is plenty to do and see, and the hotels and resorts are amazing. I love traveling in the Keys, and I really love spending time in Key West, and I know you will too.
Check out our Florida Keys website, TheKeysExplored.com for lots more information and travel planning!
Wow! Thank goodness we live in Florida because we get to enjoy the state and its many unique experiences all the time! Each of these fun Florida sites and things to do are characteristic of the fun our family seeks out with each visit to a new part of the Sunshine State.
