Miami is a lively city with plenty to see and do, but to get a better feel for Florida, you may be interested in branching out on a day trip to one of the many nearby towns, beaches, state parks, or neighboring countries. This way, you can see the countryside, meet the locals, and indulge in some of the state’s pristine natural areas. While some of the best day trips from Miami can be visited with a day tour, most will require a vehicle. If you don’t have your own car, we highly recommend checking out Rentalcars.com, as the site filters hundreds of rental websites to ensure you get the best deal. Having your own car also allows you to customize your itinerary, and in a state as large as Florida, you might find roadside attractions or want to group some of these places together into an ultimate full-day road trip.
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is easily one of the best places to visit from Miami. Its stunning canopy trees and swamp waters offer a unique beauty found only in southern Florida. There are several activities and tours available in the park for all types of interests. If you fancy exploring the waterways, consider booking an airboat tour or a kayaking tour of the subtropical wetlands and mangroves. Water-based tours offer a unique view of the waterways and creatures of the Everglades, and they are easily the most relaxing way to explore the park.
For those who prefer to explore on dry land, you could walk the popular Anhinga Trail and Gumbo Limbo Trail, a family-friendly loop that takes roughly 20-30 minutes to complete. Another great attraction in the park is Shark Valley. Here, you can climb the observation tower for a bird’s-eye view of the park or hop on a tram or bicycle for a 15-mile ride through the Everglades.
Several other cool tours can also be booked during the dry season (December to April) for ranger-led experiences. One of the most popular ranger tours is the slough slogging tour, also known as the swamp walk, where you’ll sport swamp-friendly long pants and immerse yourself in the murky waters while searching for snakes and gators.
Everglades National Park is located roughly a 50-minute drive from downtown Miami. There are three entrances to Everglades National Park, so trip duration will depend on which visitor center you choose.
If you don’t want to rent a vehicle but do want to explore Everglades National Park, check out this guided tour of the Everglades. The package includes pickup and drop-off services in the Miami area, along with two boat rides, a naturalist guide, hiking, lunch, and a visit to the remote Miccosukee tree island village.
Biscayne National Park
Biscayne National Park offers one of the most unique places to visit from Miami. As the largest underwater park in the United States and home to one of the world’s largest reef systems, it’s a must-see destination. Located just off the coast of Homestead, south of Miami, 95% of the park is covered in water, so the best way to truly experience and appreciate this gem is by exploring Biscayne by boat. With vibrant corals, incredible shipwrecks for snorkeling and diving, and diverse ecosystems hosting creatures like turtles, dolphins, and even American crocodiles, it’s no wonder why so many locals and tourists enjoy spending time here. The park is divided into several areas with four ecosystems: shoreline mangrove swamps, a coral limestone key, the shallow waters of Biscayne Bay, and the Florida reef. It also includes parts of the mainland near Homestead and the northern key islands of Islandia. Biscayne National Park also features an underwater Maritime Heritage Trail, which connects six sunken shipwrecks for scuba divers to explore.
Tourists can start their day at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, located on the mainland area of the park near Homestead, roughly a 45-minute drive from downtown Miami. Here, you can enjoy a leisurely 30-minute walk around the Convoy Point Jetty Trail and bird-watch, book a kayaking or boat tour of the bay, learn more about the park through interactive exhibits and videos, or enjoy some shore fishing. Biscayne National Park Institute is the main tour operator within the park, so most tours, including snorkeling, diving, swimming with dolphins, fishing, and SUP tours, are conducted through them.
As mentioned earlier, the best way to truly get the most out of your visit is by boat, whether rented or as part of a tour. With a boat, you can explore one of the many key islands, like Boca Chita Key, Adams Key, or Elliot Key (once inhabited by pineapple farmers). Perhaps the most unique area to explore among the keys is Jones Lagoon, located behind Totten Key. Here, a colorful lagoon filled with mangrove trees and tunnels awaits, with calm waters ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding, along with excellent fishing for anglers. Another interesting area of the park worth visiting is Stiltsville, a collection of buildings constructed during the Prohibition era to house bars, casinos, and other illegal activities. Unfortunately, Hurricane Andrew destroyed many of these buildings, but a few still stand, weathering the sands of time.
Florida Keys
Famous for its incredible white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and colorful coral reefs, the Florida Keys make for a fantastic multi-day or day trip from Miami. Whether you’re looking for boutique beach shops, fresh seafood, or water activities, you’ll find it all in the Keys. For a full-day guided tour of the Florida Keys with free time in Key West, check out this Key West Bus Tour from Miami. The tour offers pickup from select hotels in the Miami area and will take you from Miami and Key Largo, through Islamorada, to the very tip of Key West, and back. You can opt to just book the transport or add a snorkeling or glass-bottom boat tour to your package as well.
For those who want to explore the isles, bridges, and attractions on their own, jump in a rental car and decide how far you want to explore. If you want to drive to the southernmost point in the continental United States (Key West), the drive will take just over three hours one way. Key West has numerous attractions beyond its beach and water activities. Travelers can learn more about the famous American novelist and short-story writer at the Hemingway House, discover more about American heritage at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, or shop at Mallory Square.
If you don’t want to drive all the way to Key West, several Keys before it offer great activities. The closest isle to explore is Key Largo, which is known for its incredible snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Plus Bayside, and plenty of nice walking trails. Key Largo is just over an hour’s drive from Miami. The isle of Islamorada is popular for its fantastic fishing along with its vibrant downtown area filled with art galleries, spas, and shops. If you want to escape the crowds of tourists, plan to go to Big Pine Key, which is the least populated isle of them all. Here, nature lovers will enjoy the lush ecosystems and walking trails, not to mention the beautiful beaches. Another popular spot for those who want to immerse themselves in nature away from busy towns is Bahia Honda State Park. This state park is situated on its own island with plenty of activities like swimming, snorkeling, and paddle boarding.
Fort Lauderdale
If you’re looking for a short day trip from Miami, consider visiting Fort Lauderdale, also known as the Venice of North America. Located just a half-hour drive north of downtown Miami, this beachside town offers plenty for tourists to enjoy and is well-known for its over 100 miles of waterways. Sawgrass Recreation Park is an excellent place to go on an airboat tour and explore the swamplands of Florida without having to drive too deep into the Everglades. You could also take a boat tour down the mansion-lined canals of Millionaire’s Row, spend a day at the beach paddleboarding and parasailing, take the kids to Butterfly World, or explore the wildlife of the freshwater lagoon at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. Fort Lauderdale Beach boasts a vibrant beach crowd and stunning white sands, while the town area is known for its lively nightlife scene.
You don’t need a vehicle to visit Fort Lauderdale. Several bus lines connect to the town, and you can get there in roughly an hour by public transit.
Bimini, Bahamas
Fancy a day trip to another country while visiting Miami? It might come as a surprise that the Bahamas is so close to Miami that you can actually take a day trip there. The island of Bimini is located just over 50 miles off the coast of Miami and is perfect for a day boat adventure. With this day trip to Bimini from Miami, you’ll get roundtrip ferry service to the island, which takes roughly two hours each way, and about 12 hours of free time to enjoy the crystal-clear waters and pristine sands. Several activities can be added to the package, including snorkeling around shipwrecks, jet skiing, swimming with dolphins, parasailing, and more, or you can opt to explore Bimini on your own. Another option is to fly to South Bimini Airport from Miami with Silver Airways, which is a 45-minute flight, but this is only worth doing if you want to spend a night or two on the island.
Bimini has an interesting history and folklore surrounding it, with many tales claiming that the Lost City of Atlantis and the Fountain of Youth are located in Bimini’s waters. In fact, the famous Spanish explorer and conquistador Juan Ponce de León set sail to find Bimini Island in 1513 after hearing tales of the Fountain of Youth. While he was successful in finding the island, he never found the fountain. You may have even heard of the Bimini Road, a mysterious underwater pathway formed by limestone rocks. Many believe this was part of Atlantis, but you might have to dive down yourself to see what you believe.
This vibrant paradise also boasts excellent deep-water fishing, with many referring to it as the Big Game Fishing Capital of the World. Anglers can head out on the waters and find plenty of exciting game, like yellowtail snappers, barracuda, bluefin tuna, tarpon, grouper, and many more rod-bending fish.
Homestead
Homestead offers several quirky and fun attractions for tourists and is ideally located with Biscayne National Park to the east, Everglades National Park to the west, and the gateway to the Keys just south. There’s something for everyone in Homestead, and it’s only a 40-minute drive from downtown Miami or a 90-minute public transit ride.
If you’re keen on sampling delicious fresh fruits and vegetables (and maybe even a cool milkshake), be sure to visit the Robert is Here Fruit Stand. This family-run establishment offers a large selection of fresh local produce along with exotic foods, key lime pies, tacos, Cuban sandwiches, and many more tasty treats. After nibbling your way around the market, you can head out back to the market’s petting zoo and get friendly with cows, emus, tortoises, and more quirky and fun-loving animals. If you really have a hankering for fresh fruit, also check out Fruit & Spice Park. This 37-acre botanical garden is truly one-of-a-kind, featuring over 500 varieties of vegetables, spices, herbs, nuts, and fresh fruit, like jackfruit and starfruit, along with winding trails through jungle-like flora and fauna. You and your group can even join in on a fruit tasting and experience the juicy sweetness of a freshly picked mango. Another great family-friendly attraction in the area is Coral Castle. As the name suggests, this interesting building and garden have been hand-crafted out of coral by one artist. It’s a beautiful and unique sight to see in person, and the gardens make for a great backdrop for holiday photos.
Perhaps one of the most popular attractions in the area is the Blue Lagoon Farm Miami. This freshwater lagoon features intense cool blue water that is refreshing for a swim and even more incredible for photos. Unlike other springs in Florida, Blue Lagoon Farm Miami has more of a man-made tropical garden design with cabanas, colosseums, waterfalls, and lush vines that will transport you to a paradise resembling the swimming holes of Indonesia and Thailand. The lagoon can be rented out for events like birthday parties or photoshoots, but if you just want to visit and swim, you’ll have to go during their open swim time, which is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
While in the area of Homestead, you could also book an exhilarating ATV tour through the countryside and Everglades with a one-hour off-road quad bike tour. The experience is suitable for all levels of ATV riders and includes pictures/videos, safety equipment, a safety briefing on ATV riding, and a tour guide.
Big Cypress National Preserve
This national preserve is the perfect place to visit from Miami for those who want to enjoy the beauty of Florida’s interior nature. Big Cypress National Preserve stretches over 729,000 acres of freshwater swampland and jungle, serving as a vital ecosystem for the preservation of Everglades National Park. It’s also one of the only places where you can find the endangered Florida panther.
There are plenty of outdoor activities and ranger-led programs to enjoy here, including hiking trails, canoe and kayak rentals, ranger-led off-road vehicle tours, scenic drives, and discovery hikes with rangers. The park is also a designated International Dark Sky Place, offering clear views of the sparkling stars and solar systems from campsites and trails throughout the park. To learn more about scheduled events and activities, visit Big Cypress National Preserve’s official website.
West Palm Beach
If you want to explore a beachside town with an incredible art scene and fun attractions, spend a day in West Palm Beach. Known for its performing arts and the world-class Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach has plenty to offer. Take the kids to Manatee Lagoon to see manatees up close while learning more about their habits, or head to Peanut Island Park for a day of beach activities and swimming. For those interested in antique furniture and historic homes, be sure to add the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum to your itinerary. Here, you can explore the former home of an oil tycoon and discover exquisite pieces from the Gilded Age. For a great photo opportunity, visit the Worth Avenue Clock Tower where you can snap a picture in a historic clock tower with the sand and sea in the background. The area around Worth Avenue Clock Tower has plenty of boutique stores and restaurants, making it the perfect spot to stroll and window shop. You could also visit Mounts Botanical Garden, located on the other side of West Palm Beach Airport, to explore over 7,000 species of beautiful flora and fauna from around the world in a 20-acre garden.
Naples
If you’re exploring Miami and the East Coast of Florida, why not head west and check out Naples on the West Coast? The clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the laid-back atmosphere of Naples are vastly different from Miami. While Miami is more urban and international, Naples offers a local Florida feel with fewer tourists and boat traffic. It takes roughly two hours to get to Naples from Miami, or about two-and-a-half hours by Greyhound bus.
This stunning seaside city offers plenty of high-end shopping along with incredible parks and beaches to enjoy. Spend an afternoon lounging at Lowdermilk Park on the beach and enjoy volleyball, swimming, food trucks, and more. For those who want to get out on the water, we recommend this sunset cruise of the Everglades and 10,000 islands, as you’ll have a good opportunity to spot manatees, dolphins, and alligators along the way. If you’re craving a bit more adventure, consider booking this jet ski tour of 10,000 islands and Marco Island. Besides the beach and the water, there are plenty of other great attractions to check out, such as Glassblowing in the Garden by Conrad Williams, where you can create your own bowls and mugs, the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida where you can learn more about local ecosystems through tours and interactive exhibits, and Naples Beach Wharf, where you can explore the famous Banyan Tree and the Third Street South Farmers Market. Oh, and did we mention that Naples is popular with golfers? This means there are plenty of top-notch golf courses around to test your skills in a new environment!
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee is Florida’s largest freshwater lake and the 10th largest in the US. It’s well known for its excellent largemouth bass and speckled perch fishing, along with its lush hiking trails and freshwater activities. Those interested in fishing the lake can book anywhere from a four-hour to a two-day fishing trip with a local guide from Lake Okeechobee Fishing Guide, which offers charters from multiple locations around the lake. You could also opt to explore the waters on your own with a boat rental from Jolly Roger Marina or rent a canoe or kayak from one of the many marinas around the lake. On the north side of Lake Okeechobee, you can sign up for an airboat tour from Eagle Bay Airboat Rides and learn more about the lake, its animals, and the nearby marshlands while whipping around on an exhilaratingly fast boat. Other activities in and around the lake include hiking the 110-mile Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, camping at one of the many campgrounds, horseback riding at Wagon Wheel Horse Farm, and paragliding above the canopy trees with the Florida Ridge Airsports Park. Depending on what you plan to do and see while in and around Lake Okeechobee, it will take anywhere from one-and-a-half hours to two-and-a-half hours to drive from Miami.
Now that you’ve got the best day trips from Miami in your pocket, all you have to do is decide which of these awesome places to visit first. Wherever your adventures take you, just remember to pack lots of water and sunscreen, as that Florida sun doesn’t let up!