| Important Information about Orlando to Miami Road Trip | |
|---|---|
| Duration of Trip | 4-5 Days |
| Best Time to visit | Feb – May |
| Distance | 704 KM |
| What is Famous for | Beaches, Forts, Historic Sites |
Plan a 700 km of Floridian fun on an exciting road trip from Orlando to Miami and explore some of the best attractions and experiences on this route viaI-4 E and I-95 N. Whether you’re on a family trip, a romantic holiday, having fun with friends or solo-traveling the USA’s East Coast, regardless of your road trip style, this journey of about 8 hours will be a memorable trip for you. While you can complete this route in one day, what is fun in that. Take 4-5 days to explore the entire Atlantic coast and enjoy everything this beautiful route has to offer. For this self-drive itinerary, you can book a rental car or a caravan. With our extensive road trip guide, see the best of Miami, the Atlantic coast, and Orlando on this Florida road trip.
Start your Trip from Orlando
Begin your trip by exploring Orlando and the fairy-tale fantasies of the city. Visit the Magic Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom, or take the Disney Monorail and see Epcot Center. It is recommended to spend a few days to experience the Walt Disney World property. You can purchase tickets in advance or schedule fast passes for rides if you are short on time. You can even spend your days visiting Universal Studios. The Universal Orlando Resort comprises two separate parks: Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Both of these parks have Harry Potter rides and other intense roller coasters, including fun activities for young ones.
Orlando to Saint Augustine
- Distance: 168.5 km
- Time: 1 hr 41 min
After soaking yourself in the thrills and spills of Orlando, head towards St Augustine. With just a short 30 min drive outside Orlando, stroll the brick-lined streets of downtown Sanford and watch boaters glide by on Lake Monroe. Continue 1.5hrs along I-95 N until you arrive in St Augustine.
St Augustine claims to be the oldest continuously occupied European city in the USA. The city is known for its Spanish colonial architecture along with Atlantic Ocean beaches like St. Augustine Beach and tranquil Crescent Beach. Take your time exploring the nooks and crannies of the Old City in a trolley, visit the 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos fortress, Anastasia State Park, or marvel at mysteries inside the Pirate & Treasure Museum.
Saint Augustine to Daytona Beach
- Distance: 85.6 km
- Time: 1hr 2 min
Next, drive through the coastal stretch of Highway to reach Daytona Beach. The entire route follows the coast with serene oceanfront views. While there are plenty of sites to see on this route, the sparkling Atlantic Ocean stands out.
Visit Fort Matanzas National Monument located on Matanzas River. The fort was established by the Spanish army in 1742 to guard Matanzas Inlet and the city of St. Augustine. Next, you can head towards Marineland, where you will find the Marineland Dolphin Conservation Center. This world-class conservation center was once home to the first-ever trained dolphin and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has now replaced its dolphin shows with a personalized touch and feed programs.
You can also spend some time at Flagler Beach for lunch at one of the many rooftop cafes or take a photo and walk along the Flagler Beach Fishing Pier. Daytona Beach is best known as the home of the Daytona 500 and has been the center of car racing since 1902. While the most popular activity is visiting the Daytona International Speedway, the city has plenty of things to offer. Relax on its world-famous beach, climb to the top of one of the oldest lighthouses in the US, or visit the historic downtown filled with great shops and restaurants.
Daytona Beach to Fort Pierce
- Distance: 226.8 km
- 2hr 10 min
Catch the sunrise over Daytona Beach in the morning, and continue on your journey to reach the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Appreciate this out-of-this-world NASA facility. You can see the actual Saturn V rocket launch pad, the Atlantis Space Shuttle, 3D IMAX films, and the US Astronaut Hall of Fame At this visitor complex.
After Kennedy Space Center, enjoy the scenic, 90-minute drive along the Atlantic coast towards Fort Pierce. Spend a couple of hours relaxing on the isolated clean white sands of South Beach Park. The water at the South Beach is refreshing, and there are usually very few people around. You can even visit downtown Fort Pierce for a variety of restaurants and bars to enjoy dinner and spend the night.
Fort Pierce to Fort Lauderdale
- Distance: 177.4 km
- 1hr 45 min
Before heading to Fort Lauderdale, catch the sunrise at Fort Pierce, which is often nicknamed Sunrise City. Enjoy a refreshing breakfast on the waterfront, and start the drive towards your next destination. Stop at Palm Beach along the way and visit Dreher Park, which is home to the Palm Beach Zoo and the South Florida Science Center & Aquarium.
Fort Lauderdale is an easy short drive from Dreher Park. The city is best described as a residential resort city with a Venice-like series of canals and waterways. Fort Lauderdale Beach is gorgeous and lies at the heart of the tourist area, where you can walk along the footpaths and view the numerous hotels, restaurants, and shops lining the beachfront. Fort Lauderdale’s nightlife is vibrant as you can relax and unwind yourself at a local wine bar or dance it up.
Fort Lauderdale to Miami
- Distance: 46.4 km
- 0.5hrs
Head to Las Olas Boulevard in the morning, which in true sense is the heart and soul of Fort Lauderdale. This popular thoroughfare stretches from the beach and then rises over the fabulous Intracoastal Waterway, with magnificent views of million-dollar homes and yachts finishing in downtown Las Olas.
The 30 minutes drive from Fort Lauderdale to Miami is easy. While your road trip ends in Miami, It is advised to spend a couple of days in Miami to experience all the highlights it has to offer. Miami has a unique mix of nationalities, cultures, residents, and travelers mingle. Here you can experience the Cuban culture infused in the language, music, art, and food. Make sure to check out Miami Beach, South Beach, historic Art Deco buildings, Ocean Drive, Little Havana, and especially Everglades National Park.
Try authentic Caribbean dishes like Akra (mango fritters) and Griyo (fried pork chunks) at Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant, or sit down to home-style Cuban food at Puerto Sagua Restaurant.