7 AMAZING DAY TRIPS FROM MIAMI, FLORIDA (2026)

Day trips from Miami can make your Florida experience even more exciting. In this blog post I will tell you which day trips you need to include in your itinerary!

We’ve visited Miami a few times, and we always try to include as many day trips as possible so we can explore the area as much as we can. These 7 day trips are the ones I swear by, and each is absolutely worth the journey. Some are closer to Miami and some are quite far, but they can still all be done in one day. Keep reading to find out which day trips from Miami are my favourites!

KEY BISCAYNE

If you want a really easy day trip from Miami, visit Key Biscayne. Key Biscayne is an island located just across the Rickenbacker Causeway, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Miami. You can reach it by car, by bike, or even by Uber or Lyft. There’s also the Metrobus (route 26), which can take you well into Key Biscayne, though it doesn’t reach all parts of the island.

Key Biscayne is known for its calm, clear beaches, gorgeous nature, and relaxing atmosphere, and there are quite a few interesting things you can do there. I would recommend relaxing on the family-friendly beaches of Crandon Park, and if you don’t mind spending a few dollars, continue south to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.

The state park is absolutely beautiful, and there you can tour the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse, enjoy beachfront picnics, bike the coastal paths, or eat at casual seaside cafés. This is truly the best day trip if you just want to relax. It’s easy and stress-free to reach from Miami, and it’s much calmer than Miami Beach. We love Key Biscayne, and I would definitely recommend visiting. Even if you don’t have a full day, you can still see a lot in just a few hours!

FORT LAUDERDALE

Another easy day trip is up north to Fort Lauderdale. This charming beach town is located just 35 to 45 minutes from Miami by car, so you can reach it easily without any difficulties. If you don’t have a car, you can take a bus or a train!

Fort Lauderdale is often called the “Venice of America” because of its network of canals, but it’s also known for its wide golden-sand beaches and a more relaxed atmosphere compared to Miami. There are many great things to do in Fort Lauderdale, but these are the ones you must do: enjoy Fort Lauderdale Beach, explore and shop along Las Olas Boulevard, and walk the scenic Riverwalk. If you have time, book a Water Taxi tour, which lets you cruise past mansions and mega-yachts while stopping at restaurants and neighbourhoods along the canals.

Fort Lauderdale is truly a charming place where you can enjoy all the perks of a gorgeous beach town without the insane crowds you sometimes see on Miami Beach. I definitely recommend stopping by!

KEY LARGO

If you love enjoying the ocean and water activities, this is the perfect day trip for you. Key Largo is the first of the Florida Keys, just 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes from Miami. You can easily reach it by car or by bus, and it’s pretty inexpensive.

The main attractions in Key Largo are all tied to incredible water activities. Here’s a guide to the best things to do in Key Largo, but let’s go through them briefly! The first must-do stop is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. It’s the first underwater state park in the U.S., and it’s all about snorkeling or scuba diving in vibrant coral formations.

Above water, you can go mangrove kayaking, encounter wildlife at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, and enjoy fresh seafood and sunset views. Key Largo will truly be an unforgettable day trip from Miami.

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

For a really unique day trip, go to Everglades National Park. The Everglades is one of the most iconic day trips from Miami, and you can get there in just 45–60 minutes west or south of the city, depending on which entrance you choose. The best option is to go by car to one of the three entrances: Shark Valley, Ernest F. Coe, or Gulf Coast. We started our tour at Shark Valley, but you can also start at the Ernest F. Coe entrance if you’d like to combine a visit to the Everglades with a trip to the Florida Keys.

The most popular activity in the Everglades is definitely the airboat tour. These tours are a thrilling way to glide through the sawgrass prairies and mangrove tunnels, and it’s something you won’t forget. You can also do a lot of wildlife spotting, from birds to alligators, as well as walk through some stunning mangrove trails. I definitely recommend visiting the Everglades. It’s so different from Miami, yet so close.

KEY WEST

Key West is the ultimate Florida Keys day trip from Miami. Not only is it the best one, it’s also the longest, so many people actually turn it into a 2-day trip. From Miami to Key West, the drive takes about 3.5 to 4 hours each way, so it’s not for the weak. However, the drive is along the stunning Overseas Highway, so even though it’s long, the drive itself is incredible.

I’d suggest doing a day trip only if you have a car. If not, try to make it a 2-day trip, since you probably wouldn’t want to spend that many hours on a bus in a single day. We did the road trip from Miami to Key West and back in one day, and while it was definitely tiring, it was still very nice. However, I have to admit that I preferred staying the night on our most recent trip. It’s just much more relaxing that way.

When you get to Key West, spend your day exploring the island’s highlights, such as Duval Street, the Southernmost Point, the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, and Mallory Square. If you have an extra day, relax at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, where you’ll find one of the Keys’ best beaches for swimming and snorkelling. Here’s my 2-day itinerary for Key West! I really love Key West, and it’s definitely worth visiting, even if just for a day!

BIMINI, BAHAMAS

If you want an international day trip, Bimini is one of the easiest options. It’s a tiny Bahamian island chain about 50 miles east of Florida. You can reach it in about 2 hours by high-speed ferry from Fort Lauderdale or in about 35 minutes by small plane. Both options are pricey, but if you want to see the Bahamas for a day, it’s worth it.

Once you get to Bimini, you can explore and enjoy its perfect beaches, crystal-clear water, and different snorkeling sites like the Sapona Shipwreck. You can also go swimming with stingrays or dolphins on guided excursions. We haven’t been to Bimini yet, but we’ve been to Nassau and loved it, so I would recommend visiting any Bahamian island you can!

SAWGRASS MILLS

If you love shopping, this will be the best day trip you could possibly take. Sawgrass Mills is one of the largest outlet malls in the United States, and it’s located in Sunrise, Florida. It’s about a 45–60 minute drive from Miami, and it’s absolutely worth visiting. This massive shopping complex is a dream day trip for anyone who loves a good bargain, with more than 350 stores. You’ll find high-end outlets like Prada, Burberry, Versace, and Nike, plus value favourites such as Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Primark.

You can easily spend the whole day here, and it’s much better than Dolphin Mall near Miami. Sawgrass Mills is the ultimate shopping escape from Miami and a must-visit for anyone who loves shopping. Every time we visit Miami, we reserve a whole day for Sawgrass and that will never change!

MY PERSONAL TAKE ON DAY TRIPS FROM MIAMI

I love Miami, but I love the day trips from Miami just as much because there are some truly amazing ones. The easiest and closest option is definitely Key Biscayne, so that should absolutely be on your itinerary.

Key West is pure paradise, and if you can spare two days for it, I highly recommend going. And finally, as someone who thinks about shopping at Sawgrass Mills on a daily basis and can’t wait to go back, that’s another stop I highly recommend from Miami!

CONCLUSION: GREAT DAY TRIPS FROM MIAMI

Miami offers some really good day trips, and it’s quite hard to even choose which one is the best for you. I loved our day trip to Key West, but if you think that’s too much for you, at least check out Key Largo or Key Biscayne. And if you’re a shopaholic, do not miss out on Sawgrass Mills!