STARTING FROM MIAMI
Day 1: Arrival in Miami
With this Tour, you will have two options depending on whether you are already in Miami or you will be arriving today.
Arriving in Miami on this day? Head over to the
Rental Car office at the Airport to pick your car up and
start driving South towards Homestead.
Already in Miami? You can pick up your car in the morning and
head South towards the Keys. We recommend
spending half a day in Key Largo (or similar) where you can do
some snorkeling or a boat excursion at sunset!
Night: Key Largo Holiday inn key Largo*** or similar
Day 2: Homestead > Key West
Head down to Key West. Depending on where you start today, you will have approx. 2 h 48 min (128 miles (ca. 206 km)) of
scenic roads to drive. The Overseas Highway is considered one of the most memorable roads to travel on. You will encounter
42 bridges connecting 44 islands.
Arrive in
Key West by early afternoon and enjoy time at your disposal to sightseeing the Island; you can visit the
Hemingway House, the
Little Truman House, the
Lighthouse, and Duvall Street.
Don't forget that Key West also features a great (yet relaxing)
night-life with
local bars, live music, and Island-vibes!
Night: Key West Best Western Hibiscus Motel** or similar
Day 3: Key West > Everglades City > Marco Island
You can spend a couple of hours in the morning to finish up your Key West explorations before heading back north.
After driving back along the scenic coastal Overseas Highway, you will start
heading West on "Alligator Alley" towards the
Gulf of Mexico. In the afternoon, you can enjoy your time exploring the
Everglades National Park, maybe ride the airboat, learn many interesting facts regarding this precious natural ecosystem and
maybe see some Gators!
Night: Marco Island Marco Beach Ocean Resort*** or similar
Day 4: Marco Island > Sanibel > Sarasota
Today, you will explore the Gulf-side of Florida with its beautiful pristine water and long white-sand beaches. The difference between this side of Florida and the Atlantic one is so striking.
From Marco Island, you can head north toward
s Sanibel which is approx. 65 miles (ca. 105 km) (1h30) by car and later continue towards the
lovely Sarasota for another 1h49 by car (104 mi (ca. 167 km)).
We highly recommend
driving the local sea-side roads (when possible) even if it will take you longer, the
scenery is worth the extra hours behind the wheel. Plus, this way you can stop anywhere you like to explore these beautiful places.
When you arrive in Sarasota, you can enjoy a walk in the city center and then head over to one of the
many good restaurants.
Night: Sarasota Hampton Inn Sarasota - I-75 Bee Ridge*** or similar
Day 5: Sarasota > Longboat Key > St Petersburg > Clearwater
Another day dedicated to the Gulf coast. From Sarasota to Clearwater there is not a long way to go, about a 76 miles (ca. 122 km) (1h54 min) in total, but you will have many things to see -
- You can opt for the scenic road by the sea passing through Longboat Key and maybe reach the beautiful Anna Maria Island.
- You can spend half a day at the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg and stroll around the center.
- You can go to Fort De Soto Park to admire white beaches and crystal clear water.
- Don't miss the Sunset on Clearwater beach.
Night: Clearwater Magnuson Hotel Clearwater Central*** or similar
Day 6: Clearwater > Crystal River > Orlando
Today, you will do a mini detour north before reaching Orlando. This route is recommended especially for those that are
interested in swimming with the Manatees.
You will go
north towards Crystal River which is approx. 90 miles (ca. 145 km) 1.40 Hour by car. There are a couple of State Parks and attractions you can visit along the way as well.
Once in Crystal River, you can enjoy
one of the excursions to swim with the Manatees and learn more about this incredible animal and in the afternoon start heading towards Orlando. Don't worry, you won't have much to drive, as it's approx. 90 miles (ca. 145 km) altogether. Less than 2 hours by car.
Night: Orlando Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista - Disney Springs Area**** or similar
Day 7 & 8: Orlando
Spend the next
2 days in Orlando visiting the
famous Theme Parks.
You can choose to do
Disney or Universals (or both), we can also tailor this Itinerary to include a couple of extra nights if you want to stay in Orlando a bit longer, especially if you are traveling with Kids.
Night: Orlando Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista - Disney Springs Area**** or similar
Day 9: Orlando > Kennedy Space Center > Meritt Island
Today, you will head
back East towards the Atlantic ocean stopping by the
Kennedy Space Center (NASA) first to
learn more about space explorations and see where most
rockets are launched from.
In the afternoon, we recommend visiting
Merritt Island Park, a
beautiful natural preserve with lots of
Florida animals and incredible scenarios.
Night: near Melbourne Comfort Suites Palm Bay *** or similar
Day 10: Melbourne > West Palm Beach > Miami
Head South back towards Miami, 180 miles (ca. 290 km). You can opt to drive the Interstate or the local roads by the ocean and stop along the way. One option could be to stop in
West Palm Beach and explore this town famous for its millionaire and billionaire residents.
Arrive in Miami by late afternoon and drop off the rental car.
End of Service.
* Possibility to add 3-Day vacation in Miami at the end of the Tour.