3weeks Florida Road Trip….. Where?

**Myakka17** · 16 Apr 22, 07:24 PM

We are planning on 3 weeks in Florida, 2 weeks road trip 1 week in Orlando,
Miami is a must…… missed out due to Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
What route would you plan?

Thanks

katiec68 · 16 Apr 22, 09:13 PM

We did something like this - but only had 2 weeks...

Land in Miami, drive an hour or so down to Key Largo.

Next day drive on down to Key West for 3/4 nights

Drive up to Marco/Naples area for 5 nights,

Then up to Anna Maria for 5 nights

Finish in Orlando.

The trip from KW to Naples is the longest (US41) but its a lovely drive through Alligator alley (stopping just outside Miami at Robert is here for a milkshake to keep us going for at least an hour! ) and then again at Big Cyprus Bend Boardwalk to see wild alligators! (You'll also see lots on the side of the road!)

We only had 2 weeks so had 1/3/5/5 nights and went straight from AMI to Miami - blooming long drive that one was too!

mickey68 · 16 Apr 22, 11:18 PM

Where are you flying into and out of? Both trips we booked flights first and based our route around start/ finish point. We did a road trip in 2014 and have just booked last minute cheap flights for next month to do another one.
2014 we flew in and out of Fort Lauderdale.
1 night Fort Lauderdale
7 nights Orlando
4 nights Anna Maria Island (beach and baseball game)
1 night Naples
4 nights Islamorada (good base to travel down to Key West and explore The Keys)

Next month we fly in and out of Melbourne so thought we would explore the East coast too

First night stay near Melbourne (still to be confirmed)
2 nights Palm Coast hope to see St Augustine and Flagler beach area
3 nights Disney
4 nights Naples to explore more of this area
3 nights Sarasota area still to be confirmed
1 night Vero Beach area or near by (still to be confirmed) to reduce drive back to Melbourne on travel day

I found Anji’s and WileyCoyote’s trip reports really helpful - thank you ladies for all the useful information

Good luck with your planning - it’s exciting! 😃

**Myakka17** · 17 Apr 22, 11:17 AM

WE're hoping to fly into Fort Lauderdale.
At some part ( possible the end) have 3/4 nights in Miami.
In 2019 we missed all of our road trip due to Hurricane Dorian as there was no fuel, water, food etc Florida was in a state of emergency. We had to vacate the villa we had booked for 2 weeks and take ourselves to the opposite side of Orlando because at the time we were in direct line of it's path staying in the villa. There were no flights in/out for 5 days.
We had planned to drive from Orlando across to the gulf coast, down the coast through the Everglades to Miami. However I'd quite like to go to the Keys.

katiec68 · 17 Apr 22, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Myakka17

WE're hoping to fly into Fort Lauderdale.
At some part ( possible the end) have 3/4 nights in Miami.
In 2019 we missed all of our road trip due to Hurricane Dorian as there was no fuel, water, food etc Florida was in a state of emergency. We had to vacate the villa we had booked for 2 weeks and take ourselves to the opposite side of Orlando because at the time we were in direct line of it's path staying in the villa. There were no flights in/out for 5 days.
We had planned to drive from Orlando across to the gulf coast, down the coast through the Everglades to Miami. However I'd quite like to go to the Keys.

I would say GO TO THE KEYS! We loved it so much and found 3 nights was definitely not enough - so we are going back for 5 nights in October (we did have car issues on the way down so missed all of our first day

).

The drive down is a beautiful trip and so much more than the drive say from Orlando to Miami!

We are staying at a place called Speakeasy Inn at the quiet end of Duval Street - its in a perfect position for everything.

I cannot wait to go back and would take KW over Miami any day!

**Myakka17** · 17 Apr 22, 08:54 PM

What are you planning to do in the Keys? Where will you go after that stay?

katiec68 · 18 Apr 22, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Myakka17

What are you planning to do in the Keys? Where will you go after that stay?

We tend dot just mooch about!

We just wander around, enjoying the sights.

I'd like to walk a bit of the 7 mile bridge and go to Big Pine Key to see the deer as we missed that last time.

We might take a trip out to Fort Jefferson - but its quite pricey.

Last time we did a guided canoe trip out into the mangrove swamp so we'll try that again!

We like to sit and watch the sunset, or find a little beach where we can sit and have lunch.

And im determined to get DH to buy me another dinner of lobster roll at $40 a go

We're not big drinkers and not massive party people either but we have a great time!

This time we are heading back up to a beautiful hotel in Tavernier right on the beach.
So more watersports, canoeing and chill out before heading home!