5 Best Day Trips and Tours from Miami: Keys & Everglades
For a full day out of Miami, choose Key West for island streets and the Overseas Highway, the Everglades for wetlands, or Naples for gardens and beach time. Bimini adds a Bahamas border crossing and a ferry from Fort Lauderdale. A Miami city tour is the shorter local alternative.
Written by Alice from Adventures of Alice. Practical information updated by Universal Traveller.
Miami is one of those cities that you build up a reputation for in your head before you actually arrive there. Long, sandy beaches, fancy restaurants, glitzy clubs and bars, and wonderful nightlife, the great thing about Miami is that it quite often lives up to its reputation completely!
However, if you’re staying in the city for an extended period of time, it can be good to explore outside the city with some of the best day trips and tours from Miami. Whether you’re into water sports, alligator spotting, birdwatching, or are in the mood for even more beaches, there are plenty of Miami day trips for different interests.
When we visited Miami, we stayed in the coastal city for 5 days, and 3 of those days were spent taking day trips!
It’s a wonderful way to explore other parts of southern Florida and see memorable landmarks, try different dining options and participate in outdoor activities.
Book the trip that fits your day
Choose Key West if you can give it a very long day; choose the Everglades airboat package for a 5–6-hour outing with bus transport. The base Key West option does not include every water activity. The Everglades package visits Holiday Park and includes a captive-alligator demonstration, not a national-park trail visit.
Compare Key West day-trip options
Check Everglades airboat tour dates
Travel independently if flexible stops matter more than arranged transport. Compare the final price, pickup location, exclusions and cancellation deadline for your selected date.
Miami day trips at a glance
Practical details checked October 5, 2026. Prices are in USD. Road travel times are editorial estimates, not live traffic results. Alice’s first-person descriptions refer to her original visit; current tours may differ.
The Best Day Trips and Tours from Miami
1. Bimini, Bahamas
Whenever I travel, I always check which other countries are near to my destination. For example, Vienna and Bratislava are two European cities you can combine on one trip.
So, if you visit both, you get to see two cities and don’t have to splash out on multiple plane tickets! A Bahamas side trip can work on a similar principle, although the ferry journey and border formalities need careful planning.
You can travel to Bimini and back in a day from South Florida. Compare the full cost with a longer Bahamas stay rather than assuming it is the cheapest option. Alice also shares Caribbean budget travel ideas.
Booking tip: The ferry sails from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, not central Miami. Check whether your chosen package includes the Miami-to-port transfer. A resort day pass is not automatically included.
This is a long day for the clear water and white beaches: the current linked package lists around 15 hours, and your door-to-door time depends on transfers, check-in and border processing.
Baleària lists an approximately two-hour crossing, but that is only the sailing time. Leave room for the journey from Miami, early check-in and immigration at both ends.
The ferry operator lists a bar-café and duty-free shopping. Do not choose this trip expecting a casino on board.
Once you arrive, use the available island time to explore or relax on the beach. The famous swimming pigs at Big Major Cay are in the Exumas, not a stop on this Bimini day trip.
Don’t forget your passport, beach bag and sunscreen. Check Bahamas entry rules and your eligibility to re-enter the US before paying for a ticket.
Plan your visit
- Location and travel: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, to Bimini. Arrange the Miami-to-port journey separately unless explicitly included.
- Admission and costs: Ferry/package price varies by date and option. Budget separately for port transport, food, island transport and any beach or resort pass.
- Hours and access: Only book an operating date with a same-day return. Follow the voucher’s check-in deadline and confirm the assigned terminal.
- Time needed: A very long full day; the linked package lists 15 hours. Island time is much shorter than total trip time.
- Booking advice: Best for travelers prioritizing a Bahamas beach day who are comfortable with a long ferry outing. Verify passport, entry and US re-entry rules before booking.
Baleària Caribbean: Fort Lauderdale–Bimini · Bahamas entry requirements · US Visa Waiver Program · Bahamas: swimming pigs in the Exumas
Compare Bimini ferry packages and confirm port transfers. Confirm Bimini as the destination and ask the operator about any unclear pickup or beach-pass inclusion before booking.
2. Key West and the Florida Keys
A visit to the Florida Keys almost feels like a trip to another country, even though you’re not actually leaving the state!
The Florida Keys are a chain of islands extending southwest from the Florida mainland.
The drive itself is just as impressive as the destination: the Overseas Highway links the Keys over 42 bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge.
Surrounded by endless ocean on all sides, the bridge is magnificent and connects the Middle Keys to the Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys.
You can either take this day trip from Miami as a booked tour, or rent a car and go on a road trip down one of the most scenic routes in the US.
Purely due to ease, we opted for the tour, which was easy to book, and they picked us up from our hotel. Bear in mind that this is a pretty early start and another long day at around 14 hours, so you might not want to hit the clubs on the night before!
Once you’ve arrived in Key West, the time available depends on your tour. Allow roughly five to six hours for planning, then check your actual return meeting time. Choose water sports or snorkeling if offered with your selected option, or stay on land and explore Old Town on foot.
Consider Ernest Hemingway’s Home, Duval Street, Mallory Square and the red, black and yellow Southernmost Point marker. The city currently lists a temporary buoy at 1499 Duval Street while works affect the original location; check the official update before setting out.
You can also climb to the top of the Key West lighthouse for panoramic views of the city.
Alice’s hotel pickup and 14-hour duration above describe her original booking. Use the current operator’s itinerary for your own day.
Plan your visit
- Location and travel: Key West via the Overseas Highway. Budget about four hours or more each way from Miami as a planning estimate.
- Admission and costs: Base bus option covers return transport; snorkeling or dolphin activities require the corresponding upgrade. Museums and meals may cost extra.
- Hours and access: Early departure and a fixed return meeting time. Confirm pickup coverage and your selected itinerary.
- Time needed: Current linked tour: 15–16 hours overall. Do not confuse this with Alice’s original approximately 14-hour outing.
- Booking advice: Best for travelers happy with a long bus day. Self-drive gives more flexibility, but parking and the return drive are your responsibility.
Florida Keys Overseas Highway · Key West: temporary Southernmost Buoy · Hemingway Home visitor information · Key West Lighthouse
3. Everglades
For wildlife and wetland scenery, the Everglades is one of the most rewarding day trips from Miami. Choose the part of this large region you want to visit before booking.
If you love the natural world and would jump at the chance to see some of Florida’s most impressive wildlife in its natural habitat, then this day trip will be right up your street.
Of course, the obvious sighting, and one that many visitors come to spot, is the American alligator. Wild sightings are never guaranteed.
Bring binoculars for birds and other wildlife, but do not treat a short airboat ride as a checklist of everything that lives in the wider Everglades region.
A knowledgeable guide can explain the habitats and species you see. Watch animals from a respectful distance rather than trying to get close.
Choose between an airboat outing and a visit focused on national-park trails or a tram tour. They offer different experiences, and the ticket and transport arrangements are not interchangeable.
Plan your visit
- Location and travel: The linked bus outing visits Everglades Holiday Park near Fort Lauderdale. It is not a ticket to Everglades National Park.
- Admission and costs: Linked package includes return bus transport, airboat ride and an alligator demonstration. National-park visits have separate fees; see below.
- Hours and access: Choose a scheduled departure. Outdoor operations can change with weather; wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
- Time needed: Linked tour: 5–6 hours including transport. Allow more time for an independent national-park day.
- Booking advice: Best for a managed airboat outing. The demonstration involves captive animals. Choose national-park trails or a tram if that is not the experience you want. Listing states not suitable for wheelchair users.
NPS guided tours and airboat operators · Everglades National Park fees · Everglades weather and seasons
Going to the national park instead? The private-vehicle entrance is $35 for seven days. Non-US residents aged 16 and over currently pay an additional $100 each unless covered by an eligible pass. Check the NPS fee and pass rules. Private tours and rentals are extra; this is a different fee system from the Holiday Park package.
4. Miami City Tour
Did you know that there’s a lot more to the swanky streets of Miami than meets the eye?
Although you might not think it, there’s a lot that goes on beneath the surface and a lot of fascinating history which you can discover on a Miami day tour.
We chose an open-top bus tour that took us past the Miami skyline, homes of famous stars, the Venetian Islands and South Beach.
Our tour began on Lincoln Road. We also passed Ocean Drive, the Brickell district with its endless high-rise condos, the artistic Wynwood neighborhood with its street art, and Little Havana, where we had a look inside a traditional cigar shop.
The tour was fascinating and allowed us to see a whole new side of Miami, and the guide was hilarious and informative. You can also find bus tours that include a boat ride on Biscayne Bay if you’d also like to see Miami from the water.
This is a local sightseeing day, rather than an excursion outside Miami. The linked city-and-bay tour is a different product from Alice’s original bus tour.
Plan your visit
- Location and travel: A local Miami outing, not a day trip outside the city. The linked combination starts at Bayside, 401 Biscayne Boulevard.
- Admission and costs: Linked option combines guided city transport and a Biscayne Bay boat ride. Check meals, admissions and pickup conditions before paying.
- Hours and access: Select your date and start time. Alice’s original Lincoln Road departure does not apply to this different product.
- Time needed: Linked combination: about six hours.
- Booking advice: Best for a first orientation without a long intercity journey. This product uses air-conditioned transport, not the open-top bus Alice originally took.
Compare the Miami city and Biscayne Bay tour
5. Naples
Of course, when I say Naples, I’m not referring to the famous Italian city. This Naples is in Florida, across the peninsula from Miami. Budget roughly two to two and a half hours each way via I-75 before traffic and stops.
If you decide to rent a car, US 41 offers a slower route through the Everglades region. Allow roughly two and a half to three hours or more each way, plus any stops. Do not plan a full Naples day and several lengthy wetland visits on the same outing.
Naples combines modern and historic settings, with restaurants, antique stores, cafes and art galleries to explore.
You’ll pass snazzy restaurants and traditional antique stores, cozy tearooms, and modern art galleries. The beaches are another reason to come; any wildlife sightings are a bonus.
Why not spend a day exploring downtown, window shopping (or actually shopping if you fancy it!), visiting a local brewery, or exploring the floral displays at the Naples Botanical Garden?
If you stay for sunset on the beach, remember that the drive back to Miami comes afterward. An overnight stay makes sense if you want a relaxed evening.
Plan your visit
- Location and travel: Naples on Florida’s west coast. Botanical Garden: 4820 Bayshore Drive.
- Admission and costs: Garden admission when checked: adults $27, ages 4–17 $12, under 4 free. Budget for parking and other paid stops.
- Hours and access: Garden public hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; check closures and special events. Check the city’s pier rebuild update rather than assuming pier access.
- Time needed: A full day, with roughly four to five hours of driving via I-75 before delays or stops.
- Booking advice: Best for independent travelers wanting gardens, downtown and beach time. Choose two priorities; do not rely on an unverified two-hour bus connection.
How to Plan Your Miami Day Trips
A realistic five-day Miami stay
- Day 1: Settle in and explore Miami locally.
- Day 2: Choose an Everglades outing; keep the evening flexible.
- Day 3: Spend time in the city or choose the city-and-bay tour.
- Day 4: One long trip: Key West, Naples or Bimini. Do not stack two of these into one day.
- Day 5: Leave room for the beach, weather changes or departure. Avoid a ferry-dependent excursion immediately before a flight.
For each booking, compare the final total, meeting point, language, included activities and cancellation deadline. An attraction ticket is not automatically a transfer from Miami. Book a free-time Key West option if you want to explore on foot; only add a boat activity if you will actually use it.
Frequently Asked Questions about Miami Day Trips
What is the best day trip from Miami?
Choose Key West for island streets and the Overseas Highway, the Everglades for a wetland outing, and Naples for gardens and beach time. Bimini suits travelers prepared for ferry travel and immigration. Your available time matters more than trying to fit in every destination.
Can you visit Key West in one day from Miami?
Yes, but expect a long day. The linked tour lists 15–16 hours overall. Choose either a focused Old Town visit or an optional water activity, and leave a buffer for the return meeting point. Staying overnight gives you more freedom.
Does the Bimini ferry leave from Miami?
The ferry discussed here leaves from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Some packages may offer transfers, but confirm your exact pickup and what the fare includes. Sailing time alone does not include the drive, check-in or immigration.
Can you see the famous swimming pigs on a Bimini day trip?
The famous Pig Beach at Big Major Cay is in the Exumas. It is not included in the Bimini day trip described here. Do not choose a Bimini ticket expecting that excursion.
Are all Everglades airboat tours in the national park?
No. The linked Holiday Park outing is not national-park admission. Check the actual destination, transfers and whether the experience includes a captive-animal demonstration. National-park entrance and concession tours use separate fees.
Which Miami excursions work without a rental car?
The linked Key West and Everglades packages include return bus transport, subject to their pickup arrangements. The city tour starts at its meeting point. Bimini requires a confirmed journey to the Fort Lauderdale port. Naples is easier to plan independently with a car.
When is a good time for an Everglades day trip?
The winter dry season generally brings lower humidity and milder temperatures than summer. Summer can mean heat, mosquitoes and thunderstorms. Check the forecast and operator notices for your date rather than assuming every outdoor activity will run.
Can you combine Naples and Key West in one day?
They are in different directions from Miami and are not a sensible combined day trip. Choose one main destination. Even adding long Everglades stops to a Naples day requires cutting back on time in Naples.
Continue planning with our Miami city guide, Key West attractions and things to do in Florida.
- About the Author
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Pauline has a bachelor’s degree in Tourism and is a professional content writer. She specializes in writing about travel and food. Pauline spent most of her career life in Dubai and is a Travel Expert for the United States and Costa Rica.
