Best Day Trips From Miami
Miami sits at the corner of several very different day trips. West is the Everglades. South, down a 113 mile chain of bridges, is Key West. North, the Brightline train makes Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach easy without a car, and a ferry from Fort Lauderdale crosses to Bimini in the Bahamas. They differ mostly in travel time: an Everglades airboat can be a half day, while Key West is a dawn to dark commitment. Use the honest timing in each guide before you choose.
The Seven Mile Bridge on the Overseas Highway, the road half of these trips are built on. Photo: Mikhail Nilov, Pexels.
Every day trip guide
Everglades Airboat Tours Compared
Airboat operators compared on route, boat size, wildlife chances, and transport from Miami.
Everglades Day Trip From Miami: Full Planning Guide
A full planning guide covering park entrances, timing, and what to book ahead.
Key West Day Trip From Miami
A long day done properly: transport choices, the drive, and what realistically fits.
Key Largo Snorkeling Day Trip From Miami
A reef day trip plan for Key Largo, covering the drive, boats, and timing.
Fort Lauderdale Day Trip by Brightline
A car free day trip plan built around the Brightline train to Fort Lauderdale.
Palm Beach Day Trip From Miami
A Palm Beach day plan by train or car, with sights grouped so the day stays relaxed.
Bimini Ferry Day Trip From Fort Lauderdale (Passport Required)
A passport required Bahamas day trip by ferry. Read the guide before booking: current ferry sailings leave from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, not from Miami.
Checked facts
The Overseas Highway (US-1) runs 113 miles from Florida City to Key West across 42 bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge, per the official Florida Keys source. Miami to Key West is about 160 miles in total.
The Bimini ferry does not leave from Miami. Current Balearia Caribbean sailings depart from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, and a passport is required for the Bahamas.
Brightline lists MiamiCentral and Fort Lauderdale among its stations, which is what makes the Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach day trips work without a rental car.
Common questions
Which is the closest day trip from Miami?
The Everglades. Airboat operators on US-41 sit west of the city on the same road as the Shark Valley park entrance, 30 miles from Miami, and half day tours with transport run about 4 to 6 hours.
Is Key West realistic in one day?
Yes, but it is the longest day on this page: typically 3.5 to 4 hours of driving each way, or about 14 to 15 hours door to door on a full day bus tour, for a few hours on the island. The Key West guide lays out whether that trade suits your trip.
Which day trips need no car?
Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach by Brightline train, Key West and the Everglades by tour bus with Miami pickup, and Bimini by ferry once you reach Port Everglades. Key Largo snorkeling is the one trip here that is much easier with your own car.
Which day trip needs a passport?
Only Bimini. It is in the Bahamas, so the ferry is an international trip. Key West, the Everglades, and the Brightline trips are all domestic.
Browse day trips from Miami on Viator
Last reviewed: October 26, 2026