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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

florida road trip

36 replies

mumlel · 20/02/2025 11:11

Hi, does anyone have any advice for a Florida road trip?
We fly to Miami, then was thinking of hiring a truck to drive down to key west?
Any car hire recommendations or places to stay or visit?

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/02/2025 11:45

How long is your holiday?.

Two or three days stay in KW would be nice to do. Would not hire a truck (?).
Parking in Key West can be a real PITA. Most of the road nearing Key West is single lane and it can take 3 plus hours to drive there from the centre of Miami.

Original poster
mumlel · 21/02/2025 09:37

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/02/2025 11:45

How long is your holiday?.

Two or three days stay in KW would be nice to do. Would not hire a truck (?).
Parking in Key West can be a real PITA. Most of the road nearing Key West is single lane and it can take 3 plus hours to drive there from the centre of Miami.

Thank you.
We have 6 nights, so was thinking one night Miami, then down to key west for 2 or 3, then do a day trip with stops up to cocoa beach to have a day at the space centre before going to disney for 10 nights.
Was think a large suv/truck as we are a family of 5 with lots of luggage!

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/02/2025 09:49

I would skip KW altogether because it's a very long way from there to Cocoa Beach. You do not want to spend the first six days of your holiday driving from place to place and or looking for somewhere to park the car. The kids will grow to hate the car and they will only see the back of your head.

Have a look online in advance what the car hire companies offer.

I would just head northwards from Miami up towards Fort Lauderdale (this is a nice city with a decent beachfront area) for a couple of days and from there to Cocoa Beach (its just under 200 miles from Fort Lauderdale), Cape Canaveral and Orlando.

bestbefore · 21/02/2025 09:50

Alison Hammond just just a programme with her son about travelling in Florida, BBC I think - was v inspiring and worth a watch as she did loads!

bestbefore · 21/02/2025 09:52

This

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00272gy

Original poster
mumlel · 21/02/2025 10:45

bestbefore · 21/02/2025 09:50

Alison Hammond just just a programme with her son about travelling in Florida, BBC I think - was v inspiring and worth a watch as she did loads!

Amazing thank you!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
mumlel · 21/02/2025 10:46

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/02/2025 09:49

I would skip KW altogether because it's a very long way from there to Cocoa Beach. You do not want to spend the first six days of your holiday driving from place to place and or looking for somewhere to park the car. The kids will grow to hate the car and they will only see the back of your head.

Have a look online in advance what the car hire companies offer.

I would just head northwards from Miami up towards Fort Lauderdale (this is a nice city with a decent beachfront area) for a couple of days and from there to Cocoa Beach (its just under 200 miles from Fort Lauderdale), Cape Canaveral and Orlando.

Thank you for this, we are going to have a look and plan this weekend, Key west has always been on my list, but you are right, a lot of driving.....

OP posts:
HorrorFan81 · 21/02/2025 10:50

Personally I would go to a beach on the gulf side rather than cocoa - I've been to both.

Absolutely love Sanibel, Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key (bit more lively)

CurlewKate · 21/02/2025 10:54

We did an amazing road trip Miami to Key West- but it was a long time ago, and I do think some things have changed a lot. One thing that won't have changed-it's much further than you think!!!!

DaveWatts · 21/02/2025 10:57

Puzzled by all the people saying it's a long way from Miami to KW, it's only a few hours! And a lovely drive over the bridges and the ocean. Plus loads of places to stop if you want a coffee or something. I did it a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.

DuchessDissasster · 21/02/2025 11:35

Book your car hire here in the UK . I've just used British Airways to book as they were cheapest . SUV 621 pounds for 20!nights. You can also look at Holiday Autos.

DuchessDissasster · 21/02/2025 11:37

Key West is lovely but not massive. It's really more of an adult place but the drive down over the Keys is impressive.,

Original poster
mumlel · 21/02/2025 11:39

DaveWatts · 21/02/2025 10:57

Puzzled by all the people saying it's a long way from Miami to KW, it's only a few hours! And a lovely drive over the bridges and the ocean. Plus loads of places to stop if you want a coffee or something. I did it a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.

Thank you, I have seen a few things we can do on the way down and way back, so will definitely break it up

OP posts:
Original poster
mumlel · 21/02/2025 11:40

DuchessDissasster · 21/02/2025 11:35

Book your car hire here in the UK . I've just used British Airways to book as they were cheapest . SUV 621 pounds for 20!nights. You can also look at Holiday Autos.

Thank you will take a look

OP posts:
Original poster
mumlel · 21/02/2025 11:41

DuchessDissasster · 21/02/2025 11:37

Key West is lovely but not massive. It's really more of an adult place but the drive down over the Keys is impressive.,

We have to older boys and one younger, I was thinking a few chilled out beach days with maybe a boat trip?

OP posts:
StiggyZardust · 21/02/2025 11:52

We went last year, absolutely loved the drive to Key West. It really wasn't too far to do in a day. Make sure you've booked parking with your accommodation.

Sadcafe · 21/02/2025 11:53

mumlel · 20/02/2025 11:11

Hi, does anyone have any advice for a Florida road trip?
We fly to Miami, then was thinking of hiring a truck to drive down to key west?
Any car hire recommendations or places to stay or visit?

Yep, go somewhere not ruled by an orange moron

Thethruththewholetruth · 21/02/2025 12:04

We did Miami up to palm beach for a couple of nights, then Delray Beach which I loved,
The st Augustine, we carried up to South Carolina rather than Disney but loved all those places.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/02/2025 12:09

The thriller speedboat ride that leaves from the Bayside Marketplace in Miami is worth it.

tanstaafl · 21/02/2025 22:14

DuchessDissasster · 21/02/2025 11:35

Book your car hire here in the UK . I've just used British Airways to book as they were cheapest . SUV 621 pounds for 20!nights. You can also look at Holiday Autos.

Similar, we’ve booked car hire with Virgin holidays even when travelling with other holiday companies (this was pre covid), and at the car rental desks there was a specific desk for Virgin bookings.

tanstaafl · 21/02/2025 22:17

We’ve stayed on Marathon Key a couple of times.
The 7mile bridge heads south from Marathon key.
Agree with pp that Key West is really for adults but we took a daytime trip down there to have a look around and get the picture at the most southern point of mainland USA.

JingsMahBucket · 22/02/2025 04:02

Rent a minivan instead of an SUV. You’ll get better mileage but still have a lot of room nd modern features.

SchoolDilemma17 · 22/02/2025 07:00

DaveWatts · 21/02/2025 10:57

Puzzled by all the people saying it's a long way from Miami to KW, it's only a few hours! And a lovely drive over the bridges and the ocean. Plus loads of places to stop if you want a coffee or something. I did it a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.

And then drive from KW to Cocoa Beach?? That makes zero sense

SchoolDilemma17 · 22/02/2025 07:03

mumlel · 21/02/2025 09:37

Thank you.
We have 6 nights, so was thinking one night Miami, then down to key west for 2 or 3, then do a day trip with stops up to cocoa beach to have a day at the space centre before going to disney for 10 nights.
Was think a large suv/truck as we are a family of 5 with lots of luggage!

Show quote history

This seems massively ambitious and tiring for 6 days and most of the time will be spent in a car. Not sure I would do this w 3 kids and jet lag. One night Miami is not enough. South Beach is more fun for the kids than Key West.
Kennedy Space Centre will take a full day (if not two and entry for two days is not much more). Cocoa Beach is ok, not that amazing.
you will all be tired before you even start the Disney stuff.

my experience has also been that driving anywhere in Florida takes a lot longer than google maps tells you. There was lots of traffic everywhere.

Sadsadworld · 22/02/2025 07:07

-you don't have to go ask the way to key west for a taste of the keys, you could go just to key largo or islamorada

The city of Miami is giant, sprawling and takes hours to drive N-S or vice versa.

The everglades is worth a look? You can do in just a half day stop, boat or kayak your

Check out the scheduled launches that you can watch from anywhere in the space coast, they often get moved short notice but amazing to see-

https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

Have fun!