Orlando to Florida Keys: a family road trip

Itinerary in brief:

• 2 nights Orlando              
• 3 nights Miami Beach     
• 2 nights Key West
• 1 nights Key Largo      

Day 1: Arrive Orlando        

On arrival in Orlando, you’ll collect your rental car from the airport and drive to your hotel, where you will check in for two nights.

Day 2: Orlando 

Today you’ll drive to the coast to visit the Kennedy Space Centre. We’ve included a pass for the family, which gives you access to all the best exhibits and activities. Our favourite is their “Lunch with an Astronaut” programme where you can meet someone who has been to space! You’ll also enjoy a tour of areas normally only accessible to NASA personnel – get up close to the launch pad, learn how astronauts spend their last days before lift-off and see the largest rocket ever built. The whole family will love this incredible glimpse into the space programme.

If you want to extend your time here by a few days to visit more of the Orlando theme parks, we can add this in for you, just ask.

Day 3: Drive to Miami        

This morning you’ll drive down through Florida to Miami beach, where you’ll check into your hotel for three nights. Why not leave early and spend the afternoon on the sands before tucking into a dinner of crab claws as the sun sets?

Day 4 & 5: Miami      

You’ve got two days to explore Miami with your family. Start on Miami Beach, where endless sands and blue water will keep you busy for hours with water sports, snorkelling and relaxing in the sun. Later, why not venture into Little Havana where you can wander past Cuban cigar shops and watch locals play dominoes in the park before enjoying a delicious dinner of Cubano sandwiches, yucca fries and mojitos!

On your second day here, we’ve included a day tour from Miami to the Everglades, where you’ll ride an airboat through the lush wetlands looking out for alligators, manatees and herons in the humid air. A day here is the perfect antidote to the city.

Day 6: Drive to Key West  

Today you’ll drive even further south, along the Overseas Highway to the Florida Keys. This 113-mile-long stretch of road passes over the turquoise ocean along the trail of islands heading down towards Cuba. Take it slow and enjoy the views before arriving at the final island of Key West, where you’ll check into your hotel for two nights.

Days 7: Key West      

Spend the day strolling around town, visiting Hemmingway’s house, the Key West Lighthouse and the Southernmost point in the USA. Here you can stare across the ocean where Cuba lies a mere 90 miles away. Key West is full of history, so grab a lunch of conch fritters and key lime pie before spending the afternoon learning about buried treasure at the Shipwreck Museum or wandering through the Harry Truman’s Little White House. Finish your day with a Key West cooler in your hand as you toast a wonderful holiday in Florida.

Day 8: Drive to Key Largo 

Your time in Florida is nearly over so today you’ll drive back up the Overseas Highway towards Key Largo, an island of clear water and endless beaches. We’ve given you one night here so it’ll only be a short drive tomorrow morning to the airport. Spend your final night eating fresh clams by the beach as the sun streaks scarlet across the sky.

Day 9: Depart Miami 

Today you’ll drive an hour north to Miami Airport and drop off your rental car before catching your onwards flight.