Miami is a great home base, but some of South Florida’s best experiences are a short drive away. Within two hours, you can reach the Everglades, the Florida Keys, the Palm Beaches, and small towns that feel nothing like the city you just left. Within four hours, you can drive all the way to Key West.
The mistake most visitors make is spending their entire trip on South Beach. After three days, the beach starts to look the same. A single day trip to the Everglades, Key Largo, or even Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Boulevard shows you a completely different side of Florida. This guide covers the best day trips from Miami ranked by distance, with drive times, costs, and what to actually do when you get there. For ideas closer to the city, see our things to do in Miami guide.
Drive time: 45-60 minutes to Shark Valley or Homestead entrance
Cost: $30/vehicle entrance fee (valid 7 days)
The Everglades is the day trip every Miami visitor should take. Two million acres of subtropical wilderness, the largest in the country, sitting just 40 minutes from downtown.
Two ways to experience it:
Shark Valley (east entrance): The most popular option. Rent bikes ($10/hour) for the flat 15-mile paved loop or take the narrated tram tour ($29 adults, $15 children). You will see alligators, guaranteed. The observation tower at the halfway point offers panoramic views. Allow 3-4 hours.
Royal Palm Visitor Center (Homestead entrance): Walk the Anhinga Trail (0.8 miles, boardwalk) for incredible wildlife photography. Alligators, herons, anhingas, and turtles are within arm’s reach. Add the Gumbo Limbo Trail for a walk through tropical hardwood hammock. Allow 2-3 hours.
Best season: December through April (dry season; wildlife concentrates around remaining water).
For more details on Everglades activities, see our outdoor activities guide.
Drive time: 20-30 minutes from downtown
Cost: $8/vehicle park entrance
Technically still Miami-Dade County, but it feels like an island escape. Cross the Rickenbacker Causeway (bike or drive) to reach Key Biscayne, then continue to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at the island’s southern tip.
The historic Cape Florida Lighthouse (built 1825) sits on a beautiful beach with views of the Atlantic, Biscayne Bay, and Stiltsville. The park has two restaurants, kayak rentals, a fishing pier, and nature trails through coastal hammock.
Pro tip: Bike the Rickenbacker Causeway for the views, then lock up and explore the park on foot. It is one of the best cycling routes in Miami.
Drive time: 45 minutes to Dante Fascell Visitor Center (Homestead)
Cost: Free entrance; boat tours $50-$70
Ninety-five percent underwater, Biscayne National Park protects coral reefs, mangrove coastline, and 42 islands. Most visitors take a snorkeling or glass-bottom boat tour from the visitor center. The reef is shallow and colorful, accessible to beginners.
Kayak rentals are available for exploring the mangrove shoreline. For divers, the Maritime Heritage Trail features six shipwrecks.
Best season: April through September (warmest, clearest water for snorkeling). Allow 4-5 hours for a half-day boat trip.
Thomas and his girlfriend drove to Biscayne National Park on a whim last May 2025, after a friend mentioned the snorkeling. “We paid $55 each for the afternoon snorkel trip,” he says. “Within 20 minutes of jumping in, we were swimming with a sea turtle that completely ignored us. Then we drifted over a nurse shark resting on the bottom. The reef is only 45 minutes from our apartment in Brickell and I had no idea it existed. We have been back four times since.”
Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Cost: Variable (snorkel trips $40-$60, diving $75-$100)
The first island in the Florida Keys chain and the self-proclaimed “Diving Capital of the World.” John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the main attraction, the first underwater park in the United States.
Must-do activities:
Lunch stop: Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen on the Overseas Highway. A Key Largo institution since 1976. Fish tacos and key lime pie.
Drive time: 45-60 minutes (without traffic; 1.5+ hours in rush hour)
Cost: Free to explore; water taxi $35/day pass
Fort Lauderdale has reinvented itself over the past decade. The Venice of America, named for its 165 miles of waterways, now has a thriving arts scene, excellent restaurants, and a beach that rivals Miami Beach with fewer crowds.
Best things to do:
Drive time: 45-60 minutes
Cost: Variable
The gateway to both Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, but Homestead has its own attractions worth a stop.
Drive time: 3.5-4 hours via Overseas Highway (US-1)
Cost: Gas + activities; budget $100-$200 per person for a full day
The drive alone is worth it. The Overseas Highway crosses 42 bridges connecting the Florida Keys, with the Seven Mile Bridge as the most dramatic, a straight shot over open ocean with nothing but water on both sides.
Key West highlights:
Planning tips:
Lisa planned a Key West day trip with three friends in February 2026. They left Brickell at 6:30 a.m. and arrived at 10:15. “The drive over Seven Mile Bridge was absolutely surreal,” she says. “We spent the afternoon on Duval Street, watched sunset at Mallory Square, and drove back under the stars. Total cost per person: $45 gas split four ways, $12 for the Hemingway House, and $30 for lunch at El Meson de Pepe. Under $90 for one of the best days I have had in Florida.”
Drive time: 1.5-2 hours
Cost: Free to explore; museum admission varies
Palm Beach and West Palm Beach offer a completely different Florida experience. Old money, European architecture, world-class museums, and a famous shopping street.
Worth seeing:
Drive time: 2-2.5 hours via I-75 (Alligator Alley)
Cost: Variable
Cross the state on Alligator Alley (I-75) through the Everglades to reach Florida’s Gulf Coast. Naples offers a completely different beach experience; calm, warm Gulf water with spectacular sunsets.
| Destination | Drive Time | Cost (per person) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everglades (Shark Valley) | 45 min | $15-$30 | Wildlife, nature, cycling |
| Key Biscayne | 20 min | $8 parking | Beach, lighthouse, cycling |
| Biscayne National Park | 45 min | $50-$70 boat tour | Snorkeling, kayaking |
| Key Largo | 1 hr 15 min | $40-$100 | Diving, snorkeling, reef |
| Fort Lauderdale | 45 min | $0-$35 | Shopping, beach, water taxi |
| Homestead | 45 min | $10-$18 | Fruit, quirky attractions |
| Key West | 3.5 hr | $50-$200 | Full day adventure |
| Palm Beach | 1.5 hr | $0-$42 | Museums, luxury, culture |
| Naples | 2.5 hr | $0-$55 | Gulf beaches, sunsets |
The Everglades is the best day trip for first-time visitors. It is only 45 minutes from downtown, costs $30 per vehicle, and offers a completely unique experience you cannot find anywhere else in the country. For a longer adventure, Key Largo’s snorkeling and diving is the top pick.
Yes, but it is a long day. The drive is 3.5-4 hours each way. Leave by 7 a.m. to have 5-6 hours in Key West. Alternatively, many companies offer bus tours ($45-$75) or catamaran day trips ($90-$150) that handle the transportation. A one-night overnight stay is more comfortable.
Shark Valley entrance is 40 minutes west of downtown Miami via US-41 (Tamiami Trail). The Royal Palm Visitor Center near Homestead is about 50 minutes south via the Florida Turnpike. Both entrances cost $30 per vehicle and the pass is valid for 7 days.
Plan your Miami visit with our things to do guide, outdoor activities guide, and best beaches guide. Visit wemiami.com for local tips and travel guides.