Over the years, my family and I have lived all over Florida, which means we were always road tripping across the state to visit each other.
We’ve lived everywhere from Tampa to Orlando to Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale to Punta Gorda, so we’ve spent a lot of time figuring out what’s actually worth seeing and what’s not.
When I started bringing JP along on these trips, I wanted him to experience more than just one city at a time.
The best way to do that was to turn it into a full, week-long Florida road trip itinerary that hits all the highlights.
So that’s exactly what we did.
This itinerary follows a scenic route down the east coast, takes you all the way to Key West, and loops back through the Gulf Coast.
Along the way, you’ll stop in historic cities, beach towns, national parks, and a few of our favorite food spots that we make a point to visit every time we’re in the state.
It’s a fast paced trip, but it gives you a real feel for how different each part of Florida is without wasting time on stops that aren’t worth it.
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Day 1: St Augustine
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in what is now the contiguous United States.
You can see all of the highlights from our day in St. Augustine in this video on our YouTube Channel, and check out our in-depth one day itinerary from our day in St. Augustine to get even more details.
Morning: Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
We like to take carriage tours in historic cities like this because it’s a great way to see the whole city quickly and get some insider tips from the tour guides.
We’ve done these in New Orleans and Charleston too and they’re usually only about an hour long.
Lunch: Meehan’s Irish Pub & Seafood House
Meehan’s is a great place to stop for lunch.
It has all the best Irish Pub favorites like Fish n Chips and Bread Pudding.
I love my carbs, so I also tried their Mac n Cheese.
Afternoon: Explore St. George Street
This is the main area of St. Augustine to explore and my favorite part is that it is pedestrian only!
There are shops, attractions, restaurants, hotels, really just a little bit of everything.
One of the highlights is City Gate Spirits Distillery which has a free moonshine, vodka, and rum tasting (you just have to pay a tip).
The apple pie moonshine is a fan favorite!
Castillo de San Marcos
Castillo De San Marcos is a historic fort right along the water.
The fort offers tours, but you can also just walk around the moat for free.
Dinner: Tini Martini Bar & Isabela’s Bar Cuba
For dinner, I recommend the Tini Martini Bar at the Casablanca Inn.
But you also want to make sure to save time for Isabela’s Bar Cuba before your day is over.
We came here just for the Sangria, which comes in a pretty large glass, so I recommend just getting one (or even just sharing one).
Evening: Take A Stroll Through A Historic Cemetery
The haunted cemetery in St. Augustine is a popular landmark.
We didn’t have time to take a tour during our visit, but I highly recommend one of their ghost tours.
We’ve been doing ghost tours on more of our trips recently because it’s a good evening activity, especially for towns that don’t have much to do at night.
Click Here To Book Your Afterlife Tours – Beyond The Grave 90 Minute Tour Today!
Where To Stay In St. Augustine: Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront
Hilton has a beautiful historic property right in the middle of St. Augustine that I highly recommend.
It’s nothing like you’d expect from Hilton’s city center properties.
Click Here To Book Your Stay At Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront Today!
Day 2: Kennedy Space Center + The Space Coast
Day 2 of your Florida road trip itinerary takes you to Florida’s Space Coast.
The Kennedy Space Center is a popular tourist attraction on Florida’s east coast.
This area also includes Port Canaveral, one of the most popular cruise ports in Florida.
You can see our full day at Kennedy Space Center in our in-depth review and in this video on our YouTube Channel.
Morning: Drive A1A From St. Augustine To The Space Coast
A key element of this road trip is driving A1A the entire way down the Florida coast.
It’s much more scenic and fun than just driving down I-95.
This is about a 3 hour stretch of the coast, so this is what most of your morning will consist of.
Lunch: Sonny’s BBQ
Sonny’s BBQ is a popular restaurant chain in Florida (and beyond) that we love to visit when we’re there.
I recommend sharing a sampler of pulled pork, ribs, and chicken.
For sides, our favorites are their cornbread, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes, but we usually switch it up each time we visit.
They also have a variety of BBQ sauces you can try with your food from sweet to smoky to hot.
Afternoon: Kennedy Space Center
This place really reminded me of a theme park.
It was so well put together and thought out.
There are many indoor and outdoor exhibits, as well as interactive activities for adults and kids.
You can even splurge for lunch with an astronaut and extra guided tours!
Dinner: Port Canaveral
There are a handful of restaurants in Port Canaveral where you can watch all the cruise ships that are coming and going.
Across from the Exploration Tower there are a few restaurants to choose from.
I’ve been to all of them over the years and you can really go to any of them – just check the menus and see which ones have the foods you like (and fits your budget).
Evening: Golf N Gator Mini Golf
They have a Mario Kart Go-Kart track, 2 mini golf courses and small gators and some other animals you can feed.
The mini golf courses were unique too because a handful of the holes had a wheel to spin and it would give you either advantages or disadvantages for that hole.
Some of them included picking a player to stand anywhere on the course when you make your first putt.
There was also always one option on the wheel where you play the hole normally.
I even spun one that gave me a 1 putt advantage on the hole.
Where to Stay In Cocoa Beach: Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral
Between Cape Canaveral being a popular cruise port and Cocoa Beach being a popular beach spot, there are plenty of hotels to choose from.
Hampton Inn is always a favorite of ours when we road trip due to usually being a more affordable option while also providing free breakfast.
Click Here To Book Your Stay At Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral Today!
Day 3: Explore Florida’s Treasure Coast
Florida’s Treasure Coast consists of areas like Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Jensen Beach.
My grandmom lives in this area, so we’ve visited many times over the last 15+ years.
I have a great in-depth itinerary for 2 days on the Treasure Coast that you can check out for more specific things you can do while driving through this area.
Morning: Drive A1A To The Treasure Coast
Once again, I recommend sticking to A1A instead of going inland to I-95.
This portion of the drive is only about 2 hours.
If you have time, I recommend checking out the Navy SEAL Museum before going to lunch.
Lunch: Manatee Island Bar & Grill
I’ve been to about a dozen restaurants in the Treasure Coast area and this one is my favorite!
I go here on pretty much every trip and it’s right along A1A, so you don’t even have to take a detour to get here.
They have a little bit of everything when it comes to seafood (shrimp po’ boys, coconut shrimp, gumbo, and fish & chips) but their chicken lettuce wraps and plantains are actually my favorite.
And then obviously key lime pie is a must.
Afternoon: Hutchinson Island South Beach & Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens
There are a few things you could do here depending on weather and what’s more appealing to you.
You could even do all of these if you plan out your timing right.
Hutchinson Island South Beach is my favorite beach area to go to because it’s much quieter than other Florida beaches and still pristine.
The Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens are also a short loop trail where you can see a variety of tropical plants and flowers.
Another fun activity in this area is Summer Crush Winery where you can do wine tasting, enjoy outdoor live music, and play games on the lawn like giant checkers and corn hole.
Dinner: Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House
For dinner I recommend the Dolphin Bar and Shrimp House in Jensen Beach, since it’s on the southern end of the Treasure Coast.
They have a great variety on their menu.
When we went here we were with a bunch of family and all ordered vastly different meals, so we have lots of pictures!
There’s a variety of shrimp, po-boy’s, pasta, calamari, and several types of fish.
Where To Stay: Home2 Suites By Hilton Stuart
It gets a little pricey to stay oceanfront every night, so it doesn’t hurt to just get a classic room.
We love staying at Home2Suites properties when we’re traveling because it’s a newer part of the Hilton brand and always spacious.
Click Here To Book Your Stay At Home2 Suites By Hilton Stuart Today!
Day 4: Drive A1A To Miami
We LOVED driving by all of the mansions around Palm Beach and finding all of the places where we could see the ocean along the way.
We actually have a shorter Florida road trip itinerary that only covers A1A and it has more details about places you can stop along the way from Palm Beach to Miami and things to do once you get to Miami.
You can see our full day of driving A1A in this video on our YouTube Channel.
Morning: Drive A1A To Fort Lauderdale
The drive from the Treasure Coast to the Fort Lauderdale area is about 4 hours.
Along the way, you’ll be driving by all the Palm Beach and Boca Raton mansions!
There will also be stretches where there isn’t much real estate, so you’ll get to see more of just the pure Florida coast.
Lunch: Skyline Chili
Once we made our way toward Fort Lauderdale, we stopped for lunch.
One of my favorite restaurants of all time is Skyline Chili, which is out of Cincinnati, Ohio.
But some amazing people have decided to open a handful of locations in Florida.
Whenever we go we like to share a Chilito (which is a small tortilla filled with chili – you can also get cheese, sour cream, or even spaghetti in it), a Cheese Coney (small hot dog with chili, cheese, onions, and mustard), and we each get our own Chili Spaghetti.
I always get a small 3-Way which is just spaghetti, chili, and cheese.
JP always gets a 5-Way which adds onions and beans.
You can also get a 4-Way where you choose to add onions OR beans.
It is a great, cheap restaurant where everything on the menu is good.
It’s just 10 miles inland once you reach Fort Lauderdale, so it’s not much of a detour at all!
Afternoon: Continue Driving A1A To Miami
This portion of the drive could take up to 3 1/2 hours depending on traffic.
For us, the most traffic congestion was Miami’s South Beach area and crossing the bridge back inland toward Downtown Miami.
It was rush hour time for sure, so that definitely contributed, but in my experience it’s kind of always congested through here, so expect delays the closer you get to Miami.
Some highlights of this portion of the drive are the Art Deco buildings, which is a popular architectural style in Miami.
Dinner: Versailles Cuban Restaurant
One of the main reasons we stopped in Miami was for some Cuban food.
I mostly just wanted a Cuban sandwich.
So we did a quick online search to narrow down our top food options.
It was a little later than the usual dinner time, so we also had to make sure we picked out a place that would be open until 8 pm or so.
Our search turned up Versailles Cuban Restaurant “The World’s Most Famous Cuban Cuisine”.
Most tables were full, which for us was a good sign that the food would be good.
For this meal we decided on a Cuban sandwich (obviously), and Roast Pork Cuban Style which comes with Boiled Yuca with Mojo.
We were also served garlic bread as an appetizer.
For dessert we went to the take out window and picked out a few fruit filled empanadas to take back to the hotel later for a midnight snack.
Where To Stay In Miami: Homewood Suites By Hilton Miami Downtown/Brickell
After passing through the Art Deco District, we eventually made it to our hotel.
We had decided to stay at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Miami Downtown/Brickell because it was one of the cheaper options that was close enough to everything we wanted to do.
We booked a studio room, which isn’t as typical for the Homewood Suites properties, but it was all we needed.
Click Here To Book Your Stay At Homewood Suites By Hilton Miami Downtown/Brickell Today!
Day 5: Biscayne National Park + Key West
Just an hour south of Miami is Biscayne National Park, which is almost entirely underwater.
The only way to explore the park is through booking an excursion.
We opted for an all-day adventure (6 hour tour) that included snorkeling, a picnic lunch on one of the keys, and stand-up paddle-boarding.
There are more leisurely and shorter tours available through the Biscayne National Park Institute if you prefer!
You can see our full experience at Biscayne National Park in this video on our YouTube Channel and we have a deep-dive guide on our Biscayne itinerary!
Morning and Lunch: Biscayne National Park Excursion
Our tour started at 10 am, so we had to be up at 6 am to get there on time.
I recommend stopping at Publix for a pub sub, bottled water or electrolytes, and some chips to have for your picnic lunch.
Be sure to bring and apply lots of sunscreen all day and bring a hat, sunglasses, and anything to cover your shoulders and any other sensitive spots that tend to burn easily.
We had SPF 30 and we still got 2nd degree burns on our hands even with re-applying throughout the day.
Click Here To Book Your Biscayne National Park Excursion Today!
Afternoon: Drive to Key West
After our excursion wrapped up at 4 pm, we drove A1A to Key West, which took about 3 hours.
We got to our hotel at around 7:30 pm, so we checked in first to drop off our bags, and then we took the free hotel shuttle into town, which was about 15 minutes away.
Once we got dropped off in Mallory Square, it was about 8:15 pm, so we put our name on the wait list for dinner and enjoyed watching the sunset while we waited.
I have a full one day itinerary for Key West for more recommendations on things to do while you’re in Key West.
Dinner: Conch Republic Seafood Company
For dinner we went to the Conch Republic Seafood Company because I had been there before with my grandparents, so I knew it was a safe bet and we didn’t have to wait very long.
We had to try their Award-Winning Conch Chowder, so we started off our dinner with Conch Chowder and Coconut Shrimp.
For our entree we split the Fried Shrimp Platter and shared a Strawberry Mojito.
Then for dessert, which I was so excited for, we tried the Hot Pineapple Upside-Down Rum Cake.
Where To Stay In Key West: Doubletree Resort By Hilton Hotel Grand Key – Key West
Staying near Mallory Square is quite expensive, so staying somewhere about 10-15 minutes away can save quite a bit of money.
The Doubletree has a free shuttle down to Mallory Square or you can take the trolley stop next door, so it’s pretty convenient even without being in the center of town.
Click Here To Book Your Stay At Doubletree Resort By Hilton Hotel Grand Key – Key West Today!
Day 6: Key West + Everglades National Park
Today is a mix of exploring Key West and driving back up toward the Everglades.
I mentioned previously that I have a Key West one day itinerary for more ideas on things to do while you’re there, but I also have a full Everglades National Park itinerary too!
You can see our full day in this video on our YouTube Channel.
We woke up bright and early to catch the first shuttle into Key West at 9 am.
For this itinerary, we had to be driving up north by 1 pm at the latest to catch the last airboat ride of the day, so we had to get as much done as we could before then.
We checked out and loaded our luggage into the car so that we would be able to leave right away after taking the shuttle back.
Morning: Conch Train Tour
When we got into town we decided to take a walk until the Conch Train started running at 10.
We were able to get a bit of sightseeing done, checking out Sloppy Joe’s Bar (where Ernest Hemingway used to go), we walked down Duval Street, and ended at the Southernmost Point.
Luckily since it was still early, there was no line to get our picture here.
When we passed by again later on the Conch Train the line was all the way down the block.
After getting this photo we circled back to the closest stop on the Conch Train and took the first tour out.
A couple highlights you want to be sure to visit in Key West are the Little White House and Ernest Hemingway’s House.
If you have an extra day, be sure to take an excursion out to Dry Tortugas National Park!
Lunch: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
After our tour we had just enough time to squeeze in lunch before our long drive.
Of course we had to have lunch at Margaritaville!
We started with Margaritas and then decided to share a Cheeseburger in Paradise and a Key Lime Pie for dessert.
Afternoon: Coopertown Airboat Rides
After leaving Key West, you’ll make your drive up to the Everglades, which takes nearly 4 hours.
The scenic drive along the keys makes it feel like it’s not that long though!
Once you’ve arrived in the Everglades, you’ll take an airboat tour with Coopertown Airboat Rides.
The last tour of the day is at 4:30 pm, which is the tour we took.
You’ll spend about 40 minutes on the airboat portion of the tour and then 20 minutes either before or after your tour on the educational portion around the property.
After your tour, you’ll continue driving up the Gulf Coast of Florida toward Tampa, which takes about another 4 1/2 hours.
Dinner: Salt Rock Grill In Indian Shores
When I lived in Tampa, we used to eat here all the time, so I knew I had to take JP here for his first visit.
We started with the Shrimp Louie Salad, Coconut Shrimp, and complimentary Garlic Bread, then shared a side of Truffled Mac & Cheese with their Scallop Crusted Sea Bass and Mashed Potatoes.
Where To Stay: The Don CeSar In St. Petersburg
If you’ve ever been in this area before, you’ve probably seen this huge pink hotel.
It’s a historic, classic hotel you have to visit at least once.
Click Here To Book Your Stay At The Don CeSar In St. Petersburg Today!
Day 7: Tampa
On this day of our trip, I took JP to where I went to college (Saint Leo University), then we made our way to Orlando to fly out from there the next day.
However, I know the average person has no interest in that itinerary.
So this day we have a few suggestions.
Explore Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Clearwater Beach if you want to stay local.
Maybe even go to Busch Gardens for the day.
You could also make your way to Orlando and go to Disney Springs or City Walk.
Lastly, you could drive a couple hours north to Crystal River and go swimming with the manatees.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the most frequently asked questions we see about planning a Florida road trip.
How Many Days Are Needed For A Florida Trip?
We actually did the above itinerary in 9 days instead of 7 days because we started and ended our road trip with an extra day in Orlando at the beginning and at the end.
There were a couple things we missed like Dry Tortugas National Park because no excursions were available.
We also could have taken it a little slower with some more down time built in.
But in general anywhere from 7-10 days would be enough time to visit all the places we listed.
What Is The Most Scenic Drive In Florida?
A1A, the coastal highway, is the most scenic drive in Florida.
You can drive it from Fernandina Beach all the way to Key West.
The most scenic section of A1A is definitely when you’re driving along the Florida Keys.
How Long Does It Take To Drive The Full Length Of Florida?
The driving time across Florida from north to south depends on the route you take.
The shortest route is along I-95, which takes about 8 hours and 30 minutes without stopping.
However, this route can be congested during peak travel times.
A more scenic route is along the A1A, which takes about 10 hours.
You could also take a road trip along the Gulf Coast.
This route takes about 12 hours and passes through some of Florida’s most popular tourist destinations, such as Naples, Fort Myers, and Tampa.
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Conclusion: The Ultimate One Week Florida Road Trip Itinerary
We had such a fun time on this road trip, especially because JP got to go to so many new areas of Florida he had never been to before!
The entire drive was scenic, we enjoyed so much good food, and the excursions and tours were so much fun.
We love a Disney World vacation as much as the next person, but getting outside of Orlando every once in awhile is always a great idea!
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