The tropical metropolis of Miami is a fun, vibrant and exciting place to explore. The Magic City has some of the USA’s best beaches, lively neighbourhoods and world class dining. But what about the areas that surround Miami? Well, these are awesome too. There’s the unique ecosystem of the Everglades, the island paradise of the Florida Keys and the more unusual activities too, such as sampling the tropical fruit wines at Schebley’s. So this guide will detail all of the best day trips from Miami, including what to expect and how to book them!
Day trips less than 2 hours from Miami
The Everglades
Did you know the Everglades, an area of grassy wetlands, near Miami is one of only two places in the world with this unique ecosystem? The Florida Everglades dominate a huge 1.5 million acres of the southern portion of the state.
The Everglades are a wetland preserve, and is one of Florida’s most important ecosystems. Not only are the Everglades home to alligators, but several endangered species too. For example, the West Indian manatee, the leatherback turtle and the Florida Panther.
This day trip here with Big Bus Tours includes an awesome guided airboat tour on the water where your guide will point out alligators and share information on the fragility of the ecosystem here in Florida. The tour also includes a Wildlife Show with alligator experts, and this normally includes the opportunity to hold a baby alligator!
It’s a fascinating day trip and Big Bus also include return transportation by air conditioned bus from Miami Beach and Downtown Miami. Visiting the Everglades is definitely one of the best day trips from Miami and should be on your USA bucket list!
- Duration: Approximately 5 hours
- Distance from Downtown Miami: 45 mins driving
- Cost: £45 (USD $60)
- This price is inclusive of transport to the Everglades, and hotel pick up in Miami. No meals are included.
Book your day trip to the Everglades from Miami here!
Alternatively, you can visit the Everglades on your own steam and just buy entry to the Alligator Farm when you arrive. If you do this, you can also visit a few local stops including my favourite fruit stand ever, called Robert Is Here. This iconic foodie stop displays an incredible array of tropical fruits, and their smoothies are incredible. You can also buy dozens of hot sauces and preserves, and if you leave time, you can enjoy a Cuban Sandwich in the farm area at the back!
Book your entry to the Alligator Farm, with airboat tour, here!
Schnebly Redland’s Winery and the Fruit and Spice Park
Both of these attractions are located in southern Miami, in an area called Homestead. They’re perfect for food and wine aficionados, and for anyone passionate about sampling local foods.
Schnebley’s is a wine farm with a difference! This winery is located in gorgeous countryside and has the USP of creating its wine from tropical fruits, such as lychee, guava, mango and passion fruit. It’s also the southernmost winery in the USA, so it makes for a very unusual outing from Miami.
It has a huge Grand Tasting Room, with wine tasting tours every day. Schnebly’s unique and novel approach to winemaking is pioneering, and the day trip experience is not one to miss! Make sure to also leave enough time for brunch, lunch or dinner, as many of their dishes incorporate locally grown fruit. Delicious!
- Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours for walking around, longer if staying for a meal at its restaurant, The Redlander
- Distance from Downtown Miami: 50 minutes
- Cost: Tastings are $30 per person (£22) and tours are $16 (£12) per person
- Tastings run every day from 12pm onwards and can be book here
- Guided tours run Friday, Saturday and Sunday, every hour from 5-10pm. You can book these here.
Redland Fruit and Spice Park is another must-visit destination in Homestead. It’s located just a short drive from Schnebley’s, meaning the two can be easily combined into one trip.
Its founder, Mary Heinlein came from a family who pride themselves on self-sufficient lifestyle. Mary found the sheer abundance of tropical fruits in the Redlands area inspirational, and she went on to create this beautiful 37 acre subtropical paradise. There are more than 500 varieties of tropical fruits, nuts, herbs and spices from around the world.
- Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours for walking around
- Distance from Downtown Miami: 45 minutes
- Entry cost: $15 per adult (£11), $8 (£6) per child and children under 5 are free
- Guided walking tours run everyday at 1.30pm weather permitting on a first-come, first-served basis. A Garden Tram tour also runs daily at 11am and 1.30pm, and are $8 (£6) for adults and children aged 6 and over.
Naples
Located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, it’s around a 1.5 hour drive from Miami to Naples. Route 41 goes from Downtown Miami to Naples, directly through the Everglades!
The beaches in Naples are absolutely gorgeous, and it’s not uncommon to see dolphins whilst sunbathing. Considered a preferred hideout for wealthy Americans year-round, and particularly during the brutal winter months, nearly everything in Naples is premium.
A walk down its main street, Third Street South, and you’ll stroll by an eclectic mix of modern boutiques, art galleries, tea room and antique stores. Make sure to check out this great guide to shopping in Naples here!
That being said, an arts and culture scene is emerging, including the popular rise of craft beer breweries in Naples. So there’s plenty more to offer in Naples than just fine dining and luxury shopping.
The sunsets on the Gulf side of Florida are mesmerising, in fact they’ve got to be some of the best sunsets in Florida!
I highly recommend staying into the evening for dinner and drinks under the setting sun.
Day trips 2-4 hours from Miami
A Day Trip to Bimini in The Bahamas
Fancy a day trip to another country? That happens to be a collection of tropical Caribbean islands? Well, why not!
Daily tours run from Miami to Bimini in the Bahamas, taking around 16 hours in all. Following complimentary pick-up at your hotel in Downtown Miami or Miami Beach, you head to PortMiami to jump on the high speed ferry. It takes about 2 hours to arrive in Bimini.
As part of this tour, you receive a day pass to the Hilton at World Resorts, where you can make full use of all the amazing facilities at the resort. From enjoying the pristine beaches, renting a jet ski or dining at their beachside restaurant, it’s the perfect day in paradise. And you don’t have to fly!
You get to spend around 6 hours or so at the resort, with a brief stop at Bimini Road which is thought to be home to a section of the “Lost City of Atlantis”.
- Duration: Approximately 16 hours
- Distance from Miami: 2 hours ferry
- Cost: £215 (USD $290)
- This price is inclusive of all port fees and taxes. Lunch and drinks are not included.
- Watersports are an additional cost.
- Essentials to take: Your passport! Plus seasickness tablets if you get sea sick.
Book your day trip to Bimini from Miami here!
Key West and the Florida Keys
This is another amazing day trip that feels like you’re visiting another country, but it is in fact still Florida. The Florida Keys are a chain of paradise islands stretching from the very south of Miami Dade County for 150 miles. In fact, Key West, which is at the southernmost point, is only 90 miles from Cuba!
After a beautiful drive along one of the most scenic routes in the US, you arrive in Key West. The Highway 1 connects to the mainland by an impressive 43 bridges, the longest of which is seven miles long! There are also 31 islands to pass by, some of which are beautiful places to stay if you visit the Florida Keys for longer than a day trip.
Once in Key West, you’ll have around 5 hours to explore this quaint city. From strolling around its Old Town and visiting Ernest Hemingway’s House to snorkelling in the crystal clear waters at Key West’s beaches.
Mallory Square is at the heart of Key West, and is the central hub of all commercial activity. Make sure to have a delicious al fresco lunch in one of Key West’s high end restaurants!
All tour companies are different, but the one I’ve linked below offers an inclusive option of either a glass-bottom boat tour, or dolphin-watching and snorkelling trip!
- Duration: Approximately 15 hours
- Distance from Miami: 4 hours (164 miles)
- Cost: £56 (USD $100)
- This price is inclusive of transport to the Keys, and hotel pick up in Miami. Lunch and drinks are not included.
- A guided tour in Key West is included
- Other watersports in Key West are an additional cost.
- Essentials to take: Car sickness tablets, if you get car sick!
Book your day trip from Miami to Key West here!
Orlando
Fancy a day out at the theme parks in Orlando? Well, with this tour, that’s a possibility! Florida company Big Dave Tours offer a round-trip 1 day transportation trip to Orlando. The team make it super easy with a direct transport from your hotel to the park of your choice, and back again. Onboard their well-equipped bus, you’ll find WiFi, movies, air con and power at your seats.
- Duration: Approximately 13 hours
- Distance from Miami: 3 hours 45 mins (239 miles)
- Cost: £130 (USD $175)
- This price is inclusive of transport to Orlando but entrance to the parks is at your own expense.
- Essentials to take: Car sickness tablets, if you get car sick!
Where to stay in Miami
Broadly speaking, the two main areas to stay in Miami are Miami Beach (including South Beach) or Downtown Miami. Other neighbourhoods are well worth staying in too, but in terms of transport and nearby amenities, Miami Beach and Downtown have everything. I’ve put together a selection here of some of the best affordable, mid-range and luxury stays in each area, which I hope helps if you’re still deciding where to stay in Miami.
Budget – Miami Beach
- Freehand Miami (rooms start from around £82 per night)
- Esme Miami Beach (rooms start from around £95 per night)
- citizenM Miami South Beach Hotel (rooms start from around £84 per night)
- Moxy South Beach (rooms start from around £154 per night)
Budget – Downtown
- Holiday Inn Port of Miami (rooms start from around £73 per night)
- YOTEL Miami (rooms start from around £94 per night)
- citizenM Miami Worldcenter Hotel (rooms start from around £104 per night)
Mid-range – Miami Beach
- National Hotel (rooms start from around £170 per night)
- Marriott Stanton South Beach (rooms start from around £266 per night)
- Andaz Miami Beach (rooms start from around £285 per night)
Mid-range – Downtown
- Hyatt Regency Miami (rooms start from around £175 per night)
- The Elser Hotel (rooms start from around £178 per night)
- InterContinental Miami (rooms start from around £281 per night)
Luxury – Miami Beach
- Loews Miami Beach Hotel (rooms start from around £340 per night)
- 1 Hotel South Beach (rooms start from around £480 per night)
- W South Beach (rooms start from around £576 per night)
- Ritz Carlton Miami Beach (rooms start from around £676 per night)
Luxury – Downtown
- EAST Miami (rooms start from around £300 per night)
- SLS LUX Brickell (rooms start from around £311 per night)
- Four Seasons Miami (rooms start from around £484 per night)
Best Day Trips from Miami
So there’s my guide to the best day trips from Miami. South Florida is an amazing part of the world, and there’s simply so much to do.
The weather is amazing, the beaches are beautiful and there are so many interesting places to explore, especially in Miami which can be explored in a long weekend. If you do have longer in Miami, then I would definitely including some of these days trips!
Feel free to drop me a line if you would like any advice or further recommendations for planning a trip to Miami and southern Florida. I’ve also written a guide to the best neighbourhoods in Miami, as well as the best dates ideas in Miami. If you’ve enjoyed this guide to the best day trips from Miami, then please do share using the below links!
Disclaimer: I paid for my own visits to the above. There was no involvement from the tourism board or a local partner. This is an independent guide.
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