Region
Florida
Pick one coast or the Orlando parks — not both. Miami/Keys 4–5 nights, or Orlando 4 + one coast 2.
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Key facts · United States
- Best months
- Mar–May
- Currency
- US dollar (USD, $)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Florida is not one destination: it is a 700 km peninsula of separate trips. Greater Miami and the Keys are a Latin-Caribbean city plus island driving; Orlando is theme parks with no beach; the Panhandle and First Coast are Southern beach towns; the Space Coast is rockets. Choose one, add a second only if you have 7+ nights, and rent a car outside Miami Beach and the parks.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Greater MiamiRegion
Beaches, Art Deco, Cuban food; car not needed on the beach, needed for the Everglades.
- Florida PanhandleRegion
Separate trip: white-sand Gulf beaches, drive from New Orleans or Atlanta.
- First CoastRegion
Jacksonville and St. Augustine, the oldest European-founded city in the US.
- Florida West CoastRegion
Tampa Bay and the Gulf beaches; separate from the east coast by 4 h of driving.
Day trip
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 4 nights
- Miami Beach 4, Everglades as a day-trip
- 6 nights
- Miami 3 + Florida Keys 2 + one night near MIA or FLL
- 7 nights
- Orlando 4 (parks) + Space Coast 1 + First Coast 2
- Miami + Keys + Orlando + Tampa in 5 days is mostly highway.
- Summer afternoons bring lightning storms; plan indoor backup from mid-June to September.
- Do not swim at unguarded Atlantic beaches — rip currents are the main hazard.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everglades National Park | Miami | 60 min | unknown | Car needed; Shark Valley and the Anhinga Trail are the short visits. |
| Kennedy Space Center | Orlando | 75 min | unknown | Allow a full day; check launch dates before booking. |
| St. Augustine | Jacksonville | 50 min | unknown | Historic district on foot; park outside the walls. |
| Key West | Miami | 210 min | unknown | Four hours each way on a two-lane road — sleep there, do not day-trip it. |
Bags between cities
No practical luggage forwarding; a rental car is the usual way to move between regions.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (country-wide) | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Florida and PanhandleJacksonville, Tallahassee, Pensacola | cool | cool | ok | best | best | wet | hot | hot | storm | best | ok | cool |
| Central FloridaOrlando, Tampa | ok | ok | best | best | best | wet | hot | hot | storm | best | best | ok |
| South Florida and the KeysMiami, Key West | best | best | best | best | ok | wet | hot | storm | storm | storm | ok | best |
- North Florida and Panhandle
- Cold fronts reach here in winter; a few nights near freezing.
- Central Florida
- Theme-park summers are 32 °C (90 °F)+ with daily thunderstorms; spring is driest.Theme-park summers are 90 °F (32 °C)+ with daily thunderstorms; spring is driest.
- South Florida and the Keys
- Winter is the season; hurricane risk peaks August–October.
Best months are also the crowd peaks: December–April fills Miami Beach and the Keys, and prices double around holidays.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCO (Orlando International) | Orlando and the parks | Rental car, rideshare or hotel shuttle | ~30–45 min to the parks | Main gateway for Walt Disney World and Universal; no train to the parks. |
| MIA (Miami International) | Miami Beach / downtown | Metrorail + Metromover, or rideshare | ~30–45 min | Best airport for the Everglades and the Keys; heavy international arrivals. |
| FLL (Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood) | Fort Lauderdale / Miami | Tri-Rail or rideshare | ~20 min to Fort Lauderdale, ~50 min to Miami | Often cheaper than MIA for domestic low-cost carriers. |
| TPA (Tampa International) | Tampa Bay and the Gulf beaches | Rideshare or rental car | ~20–40 min | Use for the west coast; 4 h of driving from Miami. |
| JAX (Jacksonville International) | Jacksonville / St. Augustine | Rental car | ~25 min to Jacksonville, ~1 h to St. Augustine | Gateway to North Florida and Amelia Island. |
| New York / Northeast US | Miami or Orlando | Nonstop flight | ~3 h to Miami, ~2 h 45 to Orlando | The default winter escape; book early for December–March. |
| Atlanta | Florida by car | I-75 south | ~6 h to Orlando, ~10 h to Miami | Driving in from Georgia; I-95 serves the Atlantic side, I-10 the Panhandle. |
Regional passes
SunPass / E-Pass transponder
buyRent one with the car if you use toll roads (I-95 express lanes, Florida's Turnpike, Miami–Dade); otherwise the rental company bills a daily admin fee.
Tri-Rail (Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach)
checkCheap alternative to driving between the three east-coast cities; slow and infrequent on weekends.
Amtrak Auto Train
checkLorton (Virginia) to Sanford, near Orlando, with your car aboard; one overnight, book weeks ahead.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Cuban sandwich and croquetas | Miami: Little Havana, Hialeah | Counter shops sell them all day; the classic is ham, roast pork and cheese. |
| Stone crab claws | Miami and the Keys | Season runs roughly October to May; priced by size, sold cold with mustard sauce. |
| Key lime pie | Florida Keys | Everywhere claims the original; portions are large, share one. |
| Apalachicola oysters | Panhandle: Apalachicola, Pensacola | Best in the cooler months; raw bars close early in small towns. |
| Southern and soul food | North Florida: Jacksonville, Gainesville, Panhandle | Lunch specials are the value; many kitchens close by 21:00.Lunch specials are the value; many kitchens close by 9:00 PM. |
| Fresh orange juice and citrus | Inland Florida roadside stands | Stand season is roughly November to April; many stands are cash-only. |
Go next
Greater Miami
plannedFly into MIA or FLL
Start here for beaches, food and the Everglades.
Florida Keys
plannedDrive US-1 from Miami, ~3–4 h to Key West
Sleep over; the drive is the point.
Space Coast
plannedI-95, ~1 h from Orlando
Kennedy Space Center and launch viewing.
Florida Panhandle
plannedI-10 from Pensacola or Tallahassee
A separate trip from South Florida.
First Coast
plannedI-95, ~5 h from Miami to Jacksonville
St. Augustine and Amelia Island.
Florida West Coast
plannedI-75 or I-4 from Orlando, ~1 h 30
Tampa Bay and Gulf beaches.
Treasure Coast
plannedI-95 north of West Palm Beach
Quieter Atlantic beaches.
Inland Florida
plannedCar from Orlando, ~1–2 h
Springs and lakes; go early in summer.
Volusia County
plannedI-4, ~1 h from Orlando
Daytona Beach and the speedway.
Walt Disney World
Rideshare or shuttle from MCO, ~30 min
Book park days and dining well ahead.
United States
Domestic flights from MCO, MIA, FLL, TPA, JAX
Florida is one region of a much larger trip.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 5 bases
- Day trips
- 4, 50 min to 3 h 30
- Nights suggested
- 4–7 nights
- Ways in
- 7 listed
- Best months
- Apr (all zones)
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
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