Florida Road Trip: Beaches, Theme Parks, and the Keys
Florida packs three completely different road trips into one state: the tropical island-hop down the Overseas Highway to Key West, the theme-park corridor around Orlando, and the white-sand Gulf Coast. Distances are short by American standards, roads are flat and fast, and every route ends at water.
The Big Three Drives
| Leg | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Miami → Key West | 165 mi | ~4h |
| Miami → Orlando | 235 mi | ~3h 30m |
| Orlando → Tampa | 85 mi | ~1h 30m |
| Jacksonville → Miami | 345 mi | ~5h |
Miami to Key West: The Overseas Highway
The 165-mile drive down US-1 is the best road trip in the eastern US: 42 bridges strung across the Keys, including the Seven Mile Bridge at Marathon. Stop at Key Largo's John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (glass-bottom boat tours), Islamorada's sandbar restaurants, and Bahia Honda State Park — the best beach in the Keys. Leave Miami before 9 AM; the two-lane stretches crawl by afternoon, especially on weekends.
Miami to Orlando
The 235-mile run up Florida's Turnpike takes about 3.5 hours. Break it at Palm Beach or Lake Okeechobee. Orlando itself is a hub-and-spoke base: Disney World, Universal, and Kennedy Space Center (an hour east at Cape Canaveral) all make easy day trips.
Orlando to Tampa and the Gulf
85 miles on I-4 — Florida's busiest highway, so avoid rush hours — puts you on the Gulf Coast. St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach, and (two hours south) Sarasota's Siesta Key have the powder-white sand the postcards promise, plus sunsets over water.
When to Go
December-April is the dry season: 75-85°F, low humidity, peak prices. May and November are the value windows. June-October is hot, humid, and thundery, with hurricane risk peaking August-October — fine for a deal-hunting trip if you stay flexible and insured.
Practical Notes
- Tolls: The Turnpike and Orlando expressways are cashless — use SunPass or your rental's transponder program.
- Gas: Cheapest along I-95 and the Turnpike service plazas; the Keys run 30-50¢/gallon higher, so fill up in Florida City.
- Summer storms: Afternoon thunderstorms are near-daily June-September. They pass in 30-60 minutes; pull over rather than drive through zero-visibility rain.
Frequently Asked Questions
About 165 miles and 3.5-4 hours via the Overseas Highway (US-1), crossing 42 bridges including the famous Seven Mile Bridge. Allow a full day with stops — traffic on the two-lane sections backs up on weekends.
December through April brings dry, warm weather and the biggest crowds. Hurricane season officially runs June-November, with peak risk August-October — trips then are cheaper but buy travel insurance and watch forecasts.
Yes — Florida's Turnpike and many Orlando-area expressways are tolled, and most have gone cashless. A SunPass or a rental car's toll transponder saves fees; the drive to Key West on US-1 is toll-free.