Visit Florida’s East Coast, leaving behind the glamorous Miami to explore small villages, natural reserves, white beaches, inland lagoons, and an incredible flora & fauna.

Itinerary: Florida's East Coast

We depart from Cape Canaveral, Merritt island where the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is located and definitely worth a visit (Car fee is $ 5.00). The whole island is home to multiple natural parks, these are a few:

• Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary recommended for the Bird Watchers
• Canaveral National Seashore, Admission fee with car is $ 5.00
• Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve
• Pine Island Conservation Area

When visiting this part of the coast you will drive along both US-1 and A1A, and in some cases, for instance to stop to visit the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, you’ll have to make a small detour and then go back to A1A. The Lighthouse, declared a national historic monument in 1998 is visited by over 170,000 people each year. Located about 10 miles south of Daytona Beach is open to the public year-round. Make sure to schedule a stop here, if you are exploring the area near Orlando, the historic St. Augustine or the Kennedy Space Center. The Ponce de Leon Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Florida, and second-tallest in the country after the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You can climb the 203 steps to the top to enjoy a magnificent view of the famous beach at Ponce Inlet.

Leaving Ponce de Leon always heading north, you should stop at Daytona Beach for a visit to the Pier and a walk on the spectacular beach. If you are passionate about cars, then you must make the mandatory stop at Daytona International Speedway, home of the Daytona-500, and if you are interested you can take one of the official escorted tour inside the speedway available throughout the day.

The, continue north driving up on US-1 towards St. Augustine, but first a brief stop in Flagler to admire even this beautiful beach. And here we are in St. Augustine, the oldest town in the continental United States, the first Spanish settlement back in 1565. Visit the fort “Castillo de San Marcos”, the Lightner Museum, the Flagler College, former Hotel Ponce de Leon, now part of the university, the Oldest House Museum, and Anastasia State Park. Then walk through the old town, entering the Old City Gates, just outside the Castillo de San Marco, and take the St. George Street to admire the small shops, cafes and restaurants on your way to Constitution Square.

Florida East Coast Map