Miami is the best base for exploring southern Florida, with many incredible day trips to choose from!
The city has endless adventures for any type of traveler, just a few hours away. From the underwater trails at Biscayne Bay to the famous Everglades, there are so many ways to spend a day trip from Miami.
Get your bikini, your sunscreen, and your bug spray, this post is Florida-tastic.
Here are the best day trips from Miami, Florida:
1. The Everglades
The Florida Everglades are 2 million miles of protected wetlands, filled with gators and fun (always keep those two things separate).
Until you visit, it’s hard to conceptualize how massive the Everglades are. While the Everglades are 2 hours from Miami, making them the perfect day trip, they cannot be fully explored in a single day.
Everglades National Park
- Airboat Tour. An airboat is an ideal way to learn about and see alligators up close (bonus, the boat itself is super fun!).
- Wildlife. The Everglades is also home to rare species like the manatee, crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther, which you might be so lucky to see!
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
- Manatees. The best way to experience the manatees is via tour. This small-group tour takes you through the harbor, bay, and mangrove forest in search of manatees! Use binoculars for the best views.
- Cypress Trees. These swamps have the biggest collection of old-growth cypress trees (cousins of the Giant Redwood) on the planet. Cypress trees can measure 150 feet tall and 40 feet wide!
Check out my Everglades Guide
2. The Florida Keys
We’ve all heard of the famous Key West- but did you know it’s a 4-hour drive from Miami? While I’m in the ‘everyone should visit Key West at least once camp,’ I wouldn’t necessarily do it on a day trip.
Other Keys Closer to Miami
Key Largo
Nicknamed the Dive Capital of Florida, Key Largo is only an hour’s drive from Miami. As the first undersea park in the US, John Pennekamp State Park has 70 miles of world-class coral reefs, perfect for snorkeling.
What To Do on a Day Trip to Key Largo
- John Pennekamp State Park is 70 miles of tropical paradise.
- Snorkel Key Largo, where the gentle waves are perfect for beginners
- Kayak through the Mangroves with a guided tour
Islamorada
Islamorada is a village encompassing 6 of the Florida Keys.
What To Do on a Day Trip to Islamorada
- The History of Diving Museum has a 16th-century treasure chest
- Indian Key Historic State Park is a tiny island with ruins from the 1800s
- Florida Keys Brewery is the first microbrewery in the area and one of Florida’s best
3. Biscayne Bay National Park
Pack for a beach day-1.5 hours from bustling Miami lies a National Park that is 95% percent underwater! This means that getting beyond the visitor center area requires a boat.
What To Do on a Day Trip To Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay National Park is a boat situation.
- Join guided boat tours
- Ranger Programs
- Jet Ski Tours
4. Bimini, Bahamas
Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to the US, once frequented by Ernest Hemingway and steeped in myths and legends involving The Lost City of Atlantis and the Fountain of Youth. It’s a cool island ok.
How To Get to Bimini from Miami
- The Ferry: The ride lasts about 2 hours and leaves from Miami Port. You’ll be dropped off in Alice Town, Bimini, which is stocked with delightful food stands and beach artists
- Guided Tours: These tours typically include the price of transportation to Bimini plus extras like cage diving with sharks or dolphin cruises
- Flying: The flight is short and incredibly beautiful
What To Do on a Day Trip To Bimini
- Radio Beach for a quiet day with crystal clear water
- Sapona is a concrete ship built by Henry Ford in WWI, now a cool place to snorkel
- Bimini Road, which supposedly outlines the lost city of Atlantis
5. Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is one of the best day trips from Miami for those wanting a low-key, minimal driving, and family-friendly adventure.
Explore museums, an arts district, and a riverwalk, and enjoy a big city’s amenities in one of Miami’s most laid-back ‘hoods.
What To Do in Fort Lauderdale
- A sightseeing cruise through the City is an inexpensive and relaxing way to learn about Fort Lauderdale’s history
- Las Olas Boulevard is known for its festive good vibes, shops that sell art and fashion you won’t find in chain stores, and authentic Cuban food, all with scenic ocean views
- Hugh Tayler Birch State Park is a tropical paradise complete with palm trees and iguanas
6. West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach is another one of those day trips from Miami that everyone should do at least once.
Once an exclusive haven for the rich and elite, West Palm Beach isn’t just for socialites anymore. Although it’s still filled with mega-mansions, private beaches, and yachts, West Palm Beach is also an urban hub.
My favorite thing about West Palm Beach is that it’s only a 2-hour drive from the city and offers a major vibe change from Miami or Fort Lauderdale.
What To Do in West Palm Beach
- Antique Row has over 40 antique shops with 17th to 20th-century finds
- Manatee Lagoon is a manatee viewing area built alongside the Florida Power and Light Plant
- Del Ray Beach is close to downtown and has been known to have turtle sightings
7. Naples
Naples is known for being mild- a mild climate, gentle and calm beaches, and a relaxed vibe, an excellent option for an affordable, low-key day.
What To Do in Naples
- Celebration Park Food Trucks. Look, as someone who has lived in Portland, Oregon, I admit to having an absolute unending love affair with food trucks
- The Naples Pier has been a symbol of the town since 1889 and is lovely for sunset
- 10,000 Islands is a chain of islands and mangrove forests with so much to do, from paddle boarding to swimming at beaches with few crowds.
8. Bill Baggs State Park
Bill Baggs State Park is my favorite day trip on the list for so many reasons.
Sunsets at Bill Baggs are prime, there are tons of iguanas and wildlife, and the shaded trails are perfect for any level of hiking.
Bill Baggs is also part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Heritage Preservation Program, which preserves the history of groups of escaped slaves in the British Bahamas.
What To Do at Bill Baggs State Park
- The Lighthouse is an excellent place for photos, and you can (pretty rarely) tour the top
- Snorkeling. Consider this incredible tour where it’s possible to run into seahorses! Or bring your own snorkel gear (I like this inexpensive and durable set from Amazon)
Frequently asked questions
Where can you travel to from Miami?
You can travel to so many fantastic places from Miami! Most visitors take day trips from Miami to Key West, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and the Florida Everglades.
What Caribbean island is closest to Miami?
Bimini is only 44 miles from the coast of Miami. Although Bimini is the closest island to Miami, that’s still about 9 hours via a sailboat or 45 minutes on a plane. The best way to get to Bimini is by flying directly.
What is the best island to visit from Miami?
The best island to visit from Miami depends on how much time you have. If you’re talking about a few days in a different country, Nassau, the famous pirate capital of the Bahamas, is about an hour’s flight and has plenty of beaches, culture, and good food.
If you’re talking about a day trip from Miami, Key Largo is beautiful and only about an hour’s drive away, traffic pending.
Pin it for Later
Check-in
Which of these Miami day trips have you done or planned to do?
Comment below or tag me on social media and tell me how your trip went!
Beautifully put together blog and information. I used to live in Florida and have traveled to several parts, as well as currently have familia beautiful Naples. I thoroughly enjoyed the keys when I visited and have fond memories! Lovely photos and information on your travels! 🙏🏼
Author
Thank you so much! I’m so glad that you found value. Naples is beautiful, you must love visiting family members there!