Florida Grand Loop Tour
Starting in Miami, explore the Keys, the Gulf Coast, Orlando, and St. Augustine.
See the best of Florida in one trip: the southern Keys, the Everglades, Gulf Coast white sand beaches, manatee springs, theme parks, the space center, and the historic Spanish town. Most cities only warrant a one- or two-night stay, meaning frequent hotel changes and a one-way car rental. This route skips Palm Beach and the Panhandle. Ideal for first-time visitors with plenty of time, though only one day is allocated for theme parks.
June–October sees frequent hurricanes and thunderstorms; manatees are only present in winter.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Miami South Beach
Miami（South Beach / Art Deco Historic District、Lincoln Road）
Pick up your rental car and drive about 25 minutes to South Beach. Stroll through the Art Deco District in the evening.
Stay: South Beach
Day 2 · Little Havana & Vizcaya
Miami（Wynwood Walls、Little Havana、Vizcaya Museum & Gardens）
Drive within the city; drive from Little Havana to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in about 15 minutes.
Stay: South Beach
Day 3 · Overseas Highway to Key West
Key Largo & Islamorada（Robbie's of Islamorada） → Key West（Seven Mile Bridge、Mallory Square Sunset Celebration）
Drive from Miami to Key West (approx. 160 miles, about 6 hours including stops).
Stay: Old Town · Duval Street
Day 4 · Key West Old Town
Key West（Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum、Southernmost Point Buoy、Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park）
Explore the Old Town on foot or by bicycle; attractions are concentrated on both sides of Duval Street.
Stay: Old Town · Duval Street
Day 5 · North to Key Largo for Snorkeling
Key Largo & Islamorada（John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park）
Drive from Key West to Key Largo (approx. 2.5 hours), and take a boat trip in the afternoon.
Afternoon snorkeling boat departures are limited; set out as early as possible in the morning.
Stay: Key Largo
Day 6 · Cross the Everglades to Naples
Miami（Everglades National Park） → Naples（Big Cypress National Preserve、Fifth Avenue South）
Drive along US-41 via the southern suburbs of Miami, with a total driving time of about 3.5 hours.
The Naples Pier is undergoing reconstruction and is expected to reopen in 2027.
Stay: Old Naples & South Fifth Avenue
Day 7 · Sanibel Island: Shells & Birds
Fort Myers & Sanibel（J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge、Bowman's Beach、Sanibel Lighthouse & Lighthouse Beach Park）
Drive from Naples to Sanibel Island (approx. 1.25 hours); toll applies for the bridge.
The Wildlife Drive at J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is closed on Fridays; arrive early for bird watching.
Stay: Sanibel Island
Day 8 · North to Sarasota
Sarasota（The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art、St. Armands Circle、Siesta Key Beach）
Drive from Sanibel to Sarasota (approx. 2.5 hours), then drive about 20 minutes to the beach in the afternoon.
Stay: Lido Key & St. Armands Circle
Day 9 · Sunshine Skyway Bridge to St. Petersburg
Tampa & St. Petersburg（Sunshine Skyway Bridge、The Dalí Museum、St. Pete Pier）
Drive from Sarasota along I-275 across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to St. Petersburg (approx. 1 hour).
Stay: Downtown St. Petersburg
Day 10 · Crystal River: Manatees & Springs
Crystal River（Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park、Three Sisters Springs）
Drive from St. Petersburg to Crystal River (approx. 2 hours), and take a boat tour or visit the springs in the afternoon.
Manatees are most abundant from November to March; reservations are required for Three Sisters Springs.
Stay: Crystal River (Kings Bay)
Day 11 · Swim with Manatees & Transfer to Orlando
Crystal River（Kings Bay Manatee Swim） → Orlando（Disney Springs）
After an early morning swim, drive from Crystal River to Orlando (approx. 1.75 hours).
Swimming with manatees must be done with a certified guide; do not touch the manatees.
Stay: Lake Buena Vista (Near Disney)
Day 12 · A Day in Magic Kingdom
Orlando（Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World）
Drive from your hotel to the parking lot (approx. 15 minutes), then take the monorail or ferry to enter the park.
Check ticket and park reservation rules on the official website beforehand.
Stay: Lake Buena Vista (Near Disney)
Day 13 · Kennedy Space Center to St. Augustine
Orlando（Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex） → Daytona Beach（Daytona Beach Boardwalk & Main Street Pier）
Drive from Orlando to the Space Center (approx. 1 hour), then head north for about 2 hours to St. Augustine.
Expect heavy traffic on rocket launch days; check the launch schedule first.
Stay: Historic Downtown
Day 14 · Spanish Old Town & Departure
St. Augustine（Castillo de San Marcos、St. George Street、Flagler College (Hotel Ponce de Leon)）
Spend half a day exploring the Old Town on foot, then drive to Jacksonville International Airport (approx. 1 hour).