Miami
Best day trips from Miami: how to get there and what to see
With a car, the Everglades (1 h) and Key Largo (1 h 15) are the two best day trips from Miami; without one, take the Brightline to Fort Lauderdale (30–40 min) or a bus to Miami Beach. Skip the full Florida Keys in a day — Key West is 4 h each way.
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GuideMiami
Key facts
- Best trip with a car
- Everglades (Shark Valley or Anhinga Trail), 1 h west
- Best trip without a car
- Brightline to Fort Lauderdale, 30–40 min, or bus to Miami Beach
- Closest beach day
- Miami Beach, 20–30 min by bus or rideshare
- Key West in a daycheck
- Possible but 8 h of driving round trip — skip it
- Rental carcheck
- US$40–90 per day in 2026 estimate, plus tolls on the Turnpike and SR 112
- Everglades entrancecheck
- US$30–35 per vehicle, 7 days, 2026 estimate
- Wet season
- Jun–Nov: afternoon storms, mosquitoes; Dec–Apr is drier
- Book ahead
- Brightline seats and Everglades airboat tours on weekends
The choices at a glance
Distances below are from downtown Miami. Times assume normal traffic; I-95 and the Dolphin Expressway can add 20–40 minutes at rush hour.
| Day trip | Time each way | Cost (2026 estimate) | Car needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everglades (Shark Valley) | 1 h | US$30–35 per vehicle entry | Yes |
| Key Largo | 1 h 15 | Fuel + tolls; park entry free | Yes |
| Fort Lauderdale | 30–40 min by train | Brightline US$10–30 each way | No |
| Miami Beach | 20–30 min | Bus US$2.25; rideshare US$15–25 | No |
| Coral Gables | 20 min | Metrorail US$2.25 + walk | No |
| Key West | 4 h | Fuel + tolls; long day | Yes |
| Palm Beach | 1 h 15 by train | Brightline US$20–40 each way | No |
Prices are 2026 estimates; check current fares and park fees before you go.
What each trip is actually like
Everglades National Park is the one trip almost everyone should do. From Miami, drive west on US-41 to Shark Valley for the tram loop and alligators, or south to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and the Anhinga Trail, where boardwalks cross sawgrass and wildlife sits close to the path. Go early: by 10am heat and crowds build, and afternoon storms are common from June to November.
Key Largo is the closest taste of the Florida Keys — snorkel or dive trips to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, or a glass-bottom boat if you would rather stay dry. Book the boat before you drive; walk-up space disappears on weekends and holidays.
Fort Lauderdale is the easiest car-free day: Brightline runs from MiamiCentral to Fort Lauderdale in about 30–40 minutes, then it is a short rideshare to the beach and the Intracoastal. Palm Beach is further up the same line and works as a quieter, pricier version of the same idea.
Miami Beach and Coral Gables are half-day trips rather than full ones. South Beach and the Art Deco district are reachable by bus or rideshare; Coral Gables is on Metrorail and is best for a slow lunch and a walk, not a packed schedule.
Key West is the trap. It is about 4 hours each way on US-1, so a day trip means 8 hours in the car for a few hours in town. Stay overnight in the Keys instead, or save it for a separate trip.
What a day costs
Budget roughly US$50–120 per person for a car-based day trip once you add fuel, tolls, parking and one activity, and US$30–70 for a train or bus day. Parking in Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale runs US$20–40 for the day in 2026 estimates; Everglades lots are free once you have paid the entrance fee.
Tolls are real: the Turnpike, SR 112 and the Keys stretch all charge, and most rental cars use plate billing with a daily admin fee. Ask at the counter before you leave the lot.
| Item | Typical cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Rental car, one day | US$40–90 |
| Fuel, 200 km round trip | US$20–30 |
| Tolls and rental admin fee | US$5–20 |
| Everglades vehicle entry | US$30–35 |
| Airboat tour | US$30–50 per person |
| Snorkel trip, Key Largo | US$50–90 per person |
| Brightline, Miami–Fort Lauderdale | US$10–30 each way |
Practical tips
- Leave by 7–8am for the Everglades and the Keys; you beat both traffic and heat.
- Fill the tank before US-1 — gas stations thin out on the Keys stretch.
- Carry water and sun protection; Everglades shade is limited and mosquitoes are worst at dawn and dusk in the wet season.
- Download offline maps: signal drops in parts of the Everglades and on the Keys highway.
- Check Brightline schedules the night before; late trains are limited.
- If you are visiting in hurricane season (Jun–Nov), keep a backup plan and watch forecasts.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What are the best day trips from Miami?
With a car: Everglades National Park (1 h) and Key Largo (1 h 15). Without a car: Fort Lauderdale by Brightline (30–40 min), Miami Beach by bus, or Coral Gables by Metrorail. Key West is too far for a comfortable day trip.
Can I visit these places without a car?
Yes for Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Miami Beach and Coral Gables — train, bus or rideshare covers all four. The Everglades and the Keys effectively need a car, or a booked tour with transport included.
How long do day trips from Miami take?
Plan a full day (8–10 hours) for the Everglades or Key Largo, half a day for Miami Beach or Coral Gables, and 6–8 hours for Fort Lauderdale including the train. Key West needs an overnight to be worth it.
Do I need to book Everglades tours in advance?
Book airboat and tram tours a few days ahead, and earlier for weekends and the December–April high season. Entrance fees are paid at the gate; check current prices before you go.
When is the best time for day trips from Miami?
December to April: drier, cooler and fewer storms. June to November is hot and wet, with afternoon thunderstorms and heavier mosquitoes in the Everglades.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialNational Park Service – Everglades National Park
- officialFlorida State Parks – John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
- officialBrightline
- officialMiami-Dade Transit
- secondaryWikivoyage – Miami