12 of the Best Day Trips from Miami

From glamorous night bars and cafes to wide sandy beaches Miami has an eclectic amalgamation of all. This jewel has become a phenomenon because of its outstanding beauty. Miami is not only a popular tourist destination, but also one of the best places to live in Florida for its amazing infrastructure, growing economy, modern education system, and world-class transportation. But if you’re looking for a bit more adventure off the beaten path, you might be looking for some of the best day trips from Miami.

Miami is an excellent starting point if you want to explore the other less crowded places near Miami. For those who love sunny beaches, arts, culture, and hiking trips, a Miami day trip is an ideal plan for them. Today we will share the best information about Miami day drips and activities you can do in this area. So without further ado, here are the best day trips from Miami.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park, one of the best day trips from Miami

Everglades National Park is one of the largest National Parks in the United States, followed by Death Valley and Yellowstone. If you’re looking for one of the best day trips from Miami, then Everglades National Park would be a great place to spend your time.

This national park is a haven for thousands of animals and birds. Almost 20 percent of this area is covered by lush green plants and trees. This area is also a great home for endangered animals like manatees, leatherback turtles, and the Florida Panther.

Here in this 1.5 million acre of wetland, you can glide through mangroves on a boat and see the scenic beauty and rare species of animals with the help of a guide.

So if you are looking for a place for a family vacation near Miami then we would suggest you start your day trip in Miami by visiting Everglades National Park.

Key West

Travel to the southernmost point in the Continental US, Key West

A day trip from Miami to Key West is one of the best trips you may have during the weekends. Key West is just two and a half hours by car from Miami. You can also catch a non-stop bus from Miami to Key West. As you journey to Key West from Miami, you have to cross 43 bridges spanning turquoise-blue waters. The views from the drive alone make this trip worthwhile!

Key West is popular for its unique architecture, history, nightclubs, and beautiful resorts. In Key West, you will see many artists and their eclectic houses among the community. For example, you will get to see the house of great American author Ernest Hemingway in Key West. With special permission, you can visit this house.

After walking and hopping around the city and its glamorous shopping malls, Key West then offers a wide range of culinary treats that will make your mouth water.

Bimini

Take a day trip from Miami to the Bahamian island of Bimini

Bimini is an island in the Bahamian island chain. This place is famous for its fishing opportunities. The nightlife in Bimini islands brings real color and joy to your life. From paddle boating to walking on a white sand beach, there is a lot to enjoy on this island. You can experience the underwater ecosystem by snorkeling too. Special courses are available too if you want to do scuba diving on these beaches in Bahama.

Day trips to the Bahamas from Miami turned out a great choice for us. We had only a day on our hands but we wanted to enjoy the day to its fullest. So we went to Bimini. And we were amazed after strolling in the main city.

From the shopping mall to resorts everything in the Bahamas will make your jaw drop with its scenic views and hospitality. This is also one of the best places to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. You can buy beach-themed t-shirts, local honey, locally baked items, and key chains for your loved ones as a souvenir. We particularly loved the designer t-shirts that we bought from the Bahamas for our friends.

Kennedy Space Center

Get up close and personal with historical items from NASA’s space exploration

If you’re a fan of aerospace technologies, Kennedy space center is an ideal place to spend one of the best day trips from Miami. This is a family-friendly place that is great for kids.

This aerospace center is full of air crafts dozens of rockets and spacecraft that undoubtedly get your children more interested in the wonder space exploration.

Palm Beach

Aerial view over Palm Beach, Florida

Palm Beach is another famous place that makes for one of the best day trips from Miami. If you’re looking for souvenirs, Palm Beach is an affordable place to browse outlet malls and gift stores.

Not only is Palm Beach famous for its fashion stores, but you can also find amazing seafood at a fair price.

Dog owners will find Palm Beach a great place. It is one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Miami that allows your dog on a leash. In Miami, very few beaches are dog friendly and one of them is Palm Beach. So don’t leave your dog behind at the hotel, take him/her with you and roam around Palm Beach.

Universal Studios

Discover the Wizarding World of Harry Potter during a day trip from Miami

Are you looking for a family-friendly day trip from Miami? Consider spending the day at Universal Studios!

Who doesn’t like Hary Potter? Everybody loves J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series, and in Universal Studio there is a park dedicated to the Harry Potter series.

In this theme park, you’ll encounter familiar characters from the Harry Potter series, as well as rides themed to the books. This theme park is just 3 hours away from Miami. So by the next time you’re planning to visit a nearby place with your children in Miami make sure to go to this place.

Little Havana

Spend time in the eclectic Little Havana Neighborhood in Miami

Little Havana is a must-go place to spend a whole day near Miami. Located just 25 kiEverybody loves this place because of its eclectic neighborhoods. Around every corner, you can feel the Cuban culture and the mix with old American culture.

There is a large community of Cuban people in Little Havana. When you walk through the city you will feel like you are walking down the streets of Havana. The vivid lifestyle and the vibrant atmosphere of this place is like traveling to a different era altogether. In Little Havana, locals treat tourists as their guests. You can chat with the locals and can spend your whole day learning about Cuba’s culture and many more.

After enjoying your holiday trip if you’re looking for shops to buy Miami souvenirs for your beloved ones then you have a plethora of stores in Little Havana to buy beautiful art pieces, cultural art, and many local trinkets. Among these stores, our favorite store to buy souvenirs is Little Havana Visitors Center. You’ll be amazed to see its showpiece collections and local handicrafts.

Wynwood

Pops of color around every corner in the Wynwood neighborhood

Wynwood is our all-time favorite place to spend a day in Miami full of art and culture. The neighborhood is full of murals, paintings, and graffiti. On each wall in Wynwood, you can see different kinds of murals that represent the local culture of Miami.

From different art forms to dance, luxurious shopping malls to theaters each and everything that belongs to art can be found in Wynwood. This is considered one of the best neighborhoods in Miami.

In Wynwood, you will get to experience different types of art exhibitions throughout the year. When we visited this place, there was an event going on named Art Wynwood. We were suggested to visit this event by many locals and believe us you won’t get disappointed if you visit this extremely beautiful art exhibition in Wynwood.

The best time to visit Wynwood is in winter. Although throughout the year you will see some events going on in this place. So if you have 2 days of the week off then we would suggest you visit Wynwood to have one of the best day trips in Miami for art lovers.

South Beach

The shops and art deco facades in South Beach

While technically located in the city of Miami, there is enough to do in South Beach to fill an entire day. People come to South Beach because of its joyful nature and white sand beaches. This place is popular for its history and culture. In South Beach, you will meet a lot of Cuban people who migrated here permanently for livelihood.

This place is full of decorated sea beach resorts. For couples in Miami, South Beach has become a go-to place.

The seafood restaurants and stalls are amazing in South Beach. Once you start to eat, it will become a never-ending loop. We started with a roasted lobster and fish sandwich and couldn’t stop us from ordering more and more. The best part about South Beach is here you will get Caribbean seafood which you can’t get anywhere in Miami.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Get off the beaten path at Jonathan Dickinson State Park near Miami

Are you looking for a hiking day trip near Miami? Here is some good news for you. Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a famous place for its hiking trails.

If you’re looking for a getaway where you can release anxiety of the day to day, Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a place where you can go to connect with nature and rejuvenate the energy in life.

It is an easy-to-reach place and one of the cheapest day trips from Miami. Jonathan Dickinson park is mostly famous for its scenic hiking trails. Whether you’re a pro or an amateur it doesn’t matter; everybody can go on this hiking trip. But don’t forget to bring your hiking shoes as this area is stony with rough surfaces.

Apart from hiking, you can do kayaking, and swimming in Blowing Rocks Preserve. You can also enjoy camping if you want to stay overnight.

The Best Day Trips from Miami – Final Thoughts

Miami is a dreamy place for each traveler. People have been flocking to Miami throughout the ages resulting in the unique flair you see today. From culture to art, day life to nightlife, from seafood to local cuisines every single bit of Miami is spectacular. We hope you will enjoy the city as well as the above mentioned best day trips from Miami when you’re looking for something fun to do.

About the author

Trijit Mallick

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Trijit Mallick is a software engineer by profession and a travel blogger by heart. Besides being a blogger, he has a passion for motorcycle riding. He is based out of Kolkata, India and spent 5 years in California and Florida for work purposes where he had the opportunity to explore the beautiful United States.