Day trips from Miami
The Top Day Trips from MiamiIn addition to being one of the world’s great destinations for beaches, art, and nightlife, Miami is also a great jumping-off point to explore the nature and cities of South Florida. Whether you want to hike in the Everglades or dive in the Keys, it can all be done in an easy day trip.
Even if you’ve been to Miami a dozen times, you will always find more to explore. This is especially true if you take advantage of its location in the heart of South Florida, offering easy access to vibrant cities like Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, as well as short drives to the Everglades and the Florida Keys. Even the Gulf Coast of Florida is less than two hours away, meaning you can watch the sunrise over the Atlantic, set over the Gulf of Mexico, then be home in time for a night out in South Beach. Though driving is always an option, traversing South Florida has gotten easier with the high-speed Brightline train, which makes day trips to cities along the Atlantic coast easy. Whether you want to drive or ride the rails, here’s a look at some of the best side trips to make from Miami.
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The Florida Keys
When you cross the bridges along the Overseas Highway to the Florida Keys, you’ll instantly feel the stress melt away and calm take over your body. This chain of islands south of Miami are the stuff of Jimmy Buffet legend, where you can enjoy a rum runner at the place it was invented at the Postcard Inn, or snorkel above underwater statues at John Pennekamp State Park. While the 3.5-hour drive to Key West might be a little ambitious for a day trip, you can hit the Pennekamp State Park beach in Key Largo, or venture a little further south to Sombrero Beach in Marathon.
Jimmy Buffet wasn't exaggerating when he sang about the Keys. They're just a special place where sunsets and warm waters make you feel like everything is right with the world.
No trip to the Keys is complete without some fresh seafood, which you’ll find in abundance at the Fish House – a funky fish market and family restaurant in Key Largo. You can drink at the spot where Humphrey Bogart filmed “Key Largo” at the Caribbean Club, or ride on his boat from the African Queen not far away. Divers will delight in the Keys too, as a bevy of dive shops in the upper and middle Keys take you out to the wrecks and reefs lying offshore.
How to get there: From downtown or Miami Beach, take SR-836 west towards Florida’s Turnpike. Take the Turnpike south to the end, then jump on US-1 south, which turns into the Overseas Highway. That’s the lone road in and out of the Keys, and one of the most scenic drives in America.
West Palm Beach
The old-money glamor of Palm Beach is only about 70 miles north of Miami, where you can wander the couture shops along Worth Ave. before stopping in for a drink at the iconic Breakers Hotel. Henry Flagler’s grand resort still stands along the shores of the Atlantic, and it’s worth stopping in for a drink at the HMF bar to see the ornate ceilings and fine art. After, stop for dinner at Buccan, which many will say is the best restaurant in all South Florida.
While Palm Beach Island is a beautiful place to immerse yourself in luxury, across the water in West Palm Beach you’ll find a vibrant city full of culture and fantastic food. The Norton Museum of Art is an accessible showcase of everything from Renaissance to Asian and modern art. And the nearby Ann Norton Sculpture Garden is like wandering into Mayan ruins in the Central American jungle. Bar hop along Clematis Street before ending for an outdoor cocktail at E.R. Bradley’s, a landmark that draws locals from all over the Palm Beaches. You can also hit the rooftop scene at The Ben, which has become a West Palm social spot. Or do some shopping at The Square, an upscale mall near downtown.
How to get there: West Palm Beach is about 75 miles north of Miami on I-95 and takes about 90 minutes to drive with no traffic. You can also reach West Palm Beach via the Brightline train in just over an hour. TRI-Rail also runs to West Palm Beach, though its stop is considerably west of downtown.
Ft. Lauderdale
Miami’s spunky neighbor to the north has forged an identity of its own over the past decade, shedding its Spring Break image and molding itself into a cultured, modern city. Sure, you can still cruise landmark beach bars like the famous Elbo Room and Dirty Blondes for a taste of what old Ft. Lauderdale felt like. But that same strip also offers bars at the Ritz Carlton and W hotels that offer upscale places to enjoy fruity drinks by the water.
Ft. Lauderdale is far more than a beach town, though, as the NHL’s Florida Panthers play a bit west of the city at FLA Live Arena. You can also stroll down Las Olas Blvd. and pop into one of its destination eateries, then grab a drink by the river at The Wharf. Ft. Lauderdale also boasts a fantastic local food scene of its own, highlighted by Chef Timon Balloo’s The Katherine, gourmet southwestern specialties at Canyon, and Stephen Starr’s El Vez at the W. Ft. Lauderdale Beach.
The Broward Center for Performing Arts hosts touring Broadway shows, and it sits just steps from the historic Stranahan House Museum, where you can see how Ft. Lauderdale’s founding pioneers lived. Ft. Lauderdale is also home to one of the best beer bars in America at Riverside Market, a converted convenience store where every space once filled by sodas and bottled water now holds a hard-to-find craft beer.
How to get there: Ft. Lauderdale is about 25 miles north of Miami on I-95, and with no traffic can be reached in 35-45 minutes. You can also reach Ft. Lauderdale via the Brightline train, which stops downtown just north of Broward Blvd. The TRI-Rail also runs to Ft. Lauderdale, with stops for both the airport and downtown.
Everglades National Park
One of America’s most unique and endangered ecosystems lives on the river of grass in Everglades National Park. Everglades takes a little more intrepidness to explore than most national parks, as its wetlands and marshes don’t lend themselves to paved hiking trails. Try taking a bike trip through Shark Valley. It’s an oddly named spot, since it offers neither sharks nor a valley, but does have a 15-mile bike loop through hardwood hammocks and tall sawgrass. You can also take a short boardwalk stroll at the Royal Palm Visitors Center, then delve into a tropical forest along the Gumbo Limbo Trail.
Water and insect repellent are crucial for any trip to the Everglades. Bring twice as much water as you think you need and cover yourself in the strongest insect repellent you can find before heading into the park.
The park isn’t the only attraction in the Everglades though, as you can take airboat rides or catch alligator wrestling shows at the Miccosukee Indian Village along US-41 on the road out. On the other side of the park, dip into Everglades City and you can find stone crabs fresh from the traps at spots like Grimm’s Stone Crab and City Seafood. Or you can view alligators at the Big Cypress National Preserve’s visitors center, where several live under a boardwalk near the front door.
How to get there: From downtown and Miami Beach, take SR-836 West to the end, then head south to US-41 West. That road takes you straight into the Big Cypress preserve, and to the turnoff for Shark Valley. The park’s southern entrance is near Homestead, accessible from Florida’s Turnpike. Take it to the end, then take W Palm Drive to SR-9336, which leads into the park.
Homestead
Homestead is Miami’s agricultural enclave, a far-flung collection of farms and businesses barely an hour south of downtown. The most popular destination down this way is Knaus Berry Farm, a family-run farm whose cinnamon rolls are the stuff of Miami legend. Budget about 45 minutes to wait in line, then try not to devour them all before you get home. Just down the road, you’ll find Robert is Here, an iconic Miami-Dade fruit stand that mixes the best fruit milkshakes you’ll ever try. Pick up some fresh mangoes and dragon fruit, then walk over to the “petting zoo,” where turtles and goats coexist semi-peacefully.
Homestead is also home to Miami’s only winery at Schnebly Redland’s Winery. To fully appreciate what they’re doing, you’ll need to momentarily throw out what you think wine is “supposed” to taste like and embrace vintages made from mangoes, avocadoes, and other tropical fruits. It’s a tasting adventure to be sure, but also comes with a fantastic restaurant, plus an onsite brewery at Miami Brewing Company.
How to get there: Take SR-836 west to Florida’s Turnpike and take it south. The Homestead exits are near the southern end.
Naples
Not to be confused with Naples, Italy, this Naples sits on the Gulf of Mexico and offers a relaxing, soft sand respite from bustling Miami. Naples’ big draw is its sugar sand beach, which makes for a perfect place to plop down a blanket and watch the sunset. After dark, walk a few blocks to Fifth Street, and peruse its selection of Italian and Asian restaurants.
If you’re looking for more active pursuits, head a bit south to Marco Island. Here, you can stroll behind the JW Marriott and book a jet ski tour into the 10,000 Islands. It takes you from resort paradise into the western fringes of the Everglades, and occasionally you’ll stumble upon rare birds or the odd alligator.
How to get there: Take US-41 West until you get to Naples. It will take you around 2 hours to arrive.
Boca Raton and Delray Beach
Boca Raton and Delray Beach were once synonymous with visits to grandparents and Early Bird specials. Not the case anymore, as these cities on the southern end of Palm Beach County have become young, hip destinations. Boca’s thriving Mizner Park is anchored by the Boca Raton Museum of Art, which regularly hosts large touring exhibitions before they hit larger cities like Miami and Los Angeles. It’s surrounded by cool, chef-driven restaurants like Corvina, Rebel House, and Alley Cat. You can also check out the iconic pink Boca Raton resort, a grand Old Florida resort that was George Mizner’s answer to Henry Flagler’s Breakers.
West of town you can check out Morikami Museum and Gardens, which tells the story of Boca Raton’s former Japanese enclave through manicured Asian gardens and cultural demonstrations. It’s an idyllic spot to meditate by babbling running streams and immerse yourself in foliage not found elsewhere in South Florida. A bit north, stroll down Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach, the bustling main drag of South Florida’s best beach town. You can find a fantastic Italian dinner at Elisabetta’s, or some of the area’s best wings at Bru’s Room. Beachfront beers at Boston’s always offer a relaxing way to take in the surroundings. Or you can try your luck ax throwing at Throw Social.
How to get there: Boca Raton is about 40 miles north of downtown Miami and can be reached in about an hour via I-95 with minimal traffic. Delray Beach is about 10-15 minutes north of Boca. You can reach both cities via the Brightline train, which stops in Boca Raton right across Federal Highway from Mizner Park. From there, a rideshare to Delray Beach will take 10-15 minutes.