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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
Visa
Depends on your passport
Currency
US dollar (USD, $)
Language
English
Plugs
A · B · 120 V
Time zone
Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10
Month by month hereIn detail ↓
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.

Sleep

Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it

Where to sleep

9 places in this region

Sleep base

  • Greater MiamiPlanned

    Beaches, Art Deco, Cuban food; car not needed on the beach, needed for the Everglades.

    Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

  • Florida KeysPlanned

    Drive from Miami; one or two nights, book far ahead in winter.

    Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

  • Florida PanhandlePlanned

    Separate trip: white-sand Gulf beaches, drive from New Orleans or Atlanta.

    Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

  • First CoastPlanned

    Jacksonville and St. Augustine, the oldest European-founded city in the US.

    Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

  • Florida West CoastPlanned

    Tampa Bay and the Gulf beaches; separate from the east coast by 4 h of driving.

    Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

Day trip

  • Space CoastPlanned

    Kennedy Space Center; 1 h from Orlando, 3 h from Miami.

    Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

  • Treasure CoastRegion

    Atlantic beaches between West Palm Beach and Vero Beach.

    Open Treasure Coast →

  • Inland FloridaPlanned

    Springs, lakes and citrus country; a car day from Orlando.

    Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

  • Volusia CountyRegion

    Daytona Beach and the speedway; 1 h from Orlando.

    Open Volusia County →

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

ToFromDoor-to-door p50Last returnNote
Everglades National ParkMiami60 minunknownCar needed; Shark Valley and the Anhinga Trail are the short visits.
Kennedy Space CenterOrlando75 minunknownAllow a full day; check launch dates before booking.
St. AugustineJacksonville50 minunknownHistoric district on foot; park outside the walls.
Key WestMiami210 minunknownFour 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 and how

Months, arrival and passes

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

CountryJFMAMJJASOND
United States (country-wide)
Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month
ZoneJFMAMJJASOND
North Florida and PanhandleJacksonville, Tallahassee, Pensacolacoolcoolokbestbestwethothotstormbestokcool
Central FloridaOrlando, Tampaokokbestbestbestwethothotstormbestbestok
South Florida and the KeysMiami, Key Westbestbestbestbestokwethotstormstormstormokbest
best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, greyhot: short walking windowswet: daily rainstorm: typhoon or flood risk
North Florida and Panhandle
Cold fronts reach here in winter; a few nights near freezing.
Central Florida
Theme-park summers are 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.

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate
FromToHowp50Note
MCO (Orlando International)Orlando and the parksRental car, rideshare or hotel shuttle~30–45 min to the parksMain gateway for Walt Disney World and Universal; no train to the parks.
MIA (Miami International)Miami Beach / downtownMetrorail + Metromover, or rideshare~30–45 minBest airport for the Everglades and the Keys; heavy international arrivals.
FLL (Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood)Fort Lauderdale / MiamiTri-Rail or rideshare~20 min to Fort Lauderdale, ~50 min to MiamiOften cheaper than MIA for domestic low-cost carriers.
TPA (Tampa International)Tampa Bay and the Gulf beachesRideshare or rental car~20–40 minUse for the west coast; 4 h of driving from Miami.
JAX (Jacksonville International)Jacksonville / St. AugustineRental car~25 min to Jacksonville, ~1 h to St. AugustineGateway to North Florida and Amelia Island.
New York / Northeast USMiami or OrlandoNonstop flight~3 h to Miami, ~2 h 45 to OrlandoThe default winter escape; book early for December–March.
AtlantaFlorida by carI-75 south~6 h to Orlando, ~10 h to MiamiDriving in from Georgia; I-95 serves the Atlantic side, I-10 the Panhandle.

Regional passes

Verdict first

SunPass / E-Pass transponder

buy

Rent 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)

check

Cheap alternative to driving between the three east-coast cities; slow and infrequent on weekends.

Amtrak Auto Train

check

Lorton (Virginia) to Sanford, near Orlando, with your car aboard; one overnight, book weeks ahead.

Eat and move on

Regional food

Where and when it works
DishWhereTiming / trap
Cuban sandwich and croquetasMiami: Little Havana, HialeahCounter shops sell them all day; the classic is ham, roast pork and cheese.
Stone crab clawsMiami and the KeysSeason runs roughly October to May; priced by size, sold cold with mustard sauce.
Key lime pieFlorida KeysEverywhere claims the original; portions are large, share one.
Apalachicola oystersPanhandle: Apalachicola, PensacolaBest in the cooler months; raw bars close early in small towns.
Southern and soul foodNorth Florida: Jacksonville, Gainesville, PanhandleLunch specials are the value; many kitchens close by 21:00.
Fresh orange juice and citrusInland Florida roadside standsStand season is roughly November to April; many stands are cash-only.

Go next

Greater Miami

planned

Fly into MIA or FLL

Start here for beaches, food and the Everglades.

Florida Keys

planned

Drive US-1 from Miami, ~3–4 h to Key West

Sleep over; the drive is the point.

Space Coast

planned

I-95, ~1 h from Orlando

Kennedy Space Center and launch viewing.

Florida Panhandle

planned

I-10 from Pensacola or Tallahassee

A separate trip from South Florida.

First Coast

planned

I-95, ~5 h from Miami to Jacksonville

St. Augustine and Amelia Island.

Florida West Coast

planned

I-75 or I-4 from Orlando, ~1 h 30

Tampa Bay and Gulf beaches.

Treasure Coast

planned

I-95 north of West Palm Beach

Quieter Atlantic beaches.

Inland Florida

planned

Car from Orlando, ~1–2 h

Springs and lakes; go early in summer.

Volusia County

planned

I-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.

Open United States Up to United States

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Sources