One of the top attractions is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – the first undersea park in the United States that offers many activities for visitors from kayaking to snorkeling to glass-bottom boat tours.īesides, you can visit Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a 6,700-acre refuge where you can find mangroves, salt marshes, crocodiles, and more. In Key Largo, there is no shortage of things to do. Beautiful mangroves in Key Largo (photo source: Megan Starr) It is in what is called the ‘Upper Keys’ and is the first large Key you hit when you enter the strip of islands. It is a total of 69 miles from there in distance. Key Largo is around 1.5-hour drive (maximum) from Miami depending on where in the city you’re leaving from. If you’re thinking of taking day trips from Miami to Florida Keys, you shouldn’t leave Key Largo out. While many people often have images in their mind of Key West being the only worthy destination in the Florida Keys, that is far from the case and Key Largo has so much to offer as a destination on its own. One of the finest one-day trips from Miami is Key Largo, Florida. I cycled there with a few new friends and loved it! Key Largo It was recommended to me as one of the best day trips from Miami Beach (where I was staying). Alternatively, you can even cycle there on the scenic Rickenbacker Causeway – count with about an hour in that case. It takes only 15 minutes to drive to Key Biscayne. There are even shaded picnic gazebos for those who’ve brought their own food. Grabbing a bite to eat can be easily done at the numerous eateries – Key Biscayne has all styles from the most upscale to basic ones. Cape Florida Lighthouse on the southern tip of Key Biscayne
You can enjoy a 1.25 miles long stretch of perfect sand and tranquil water. One of the prettiest beaches is located right there. It helps that there are large park areas – Crandon Park in the North and Bill Bags Cape Florida State Park in the South.Ĭape Florida Lighthouse from 1825 adorns the southern tip of Key Biscayne, and you can climb to its top for beautiful views. It’s an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of Miami and its often-crowded beaches. You can engage in stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, and more. It’s known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and plenty of water sports options. Key Biscayne is a small village on a barrier island just south of Miami. If you’re looking for short trips from Miami, Key Biscayne may be the best, since it can be visited even if you have only a half-day to spare. Where available, I recommend a few tour options below. But you can get around even without a car in Miami. The easiest way to get anywhere in Miami is to drive.
These are the best day trip ideas from Miami under 4 hours drive, as put together by me and other fellow bloggers who’ve visited the places they write about.
I highly encourage you to venture out of the city on these best day trips from Miami FL, because there’s so much more to see in the Sunshine State! And given how well Miami is connected to the rest of Florida, there are many options.