Destin to Miami drive: Distance, time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Destin to Miami drive are Gainesville, Orlando and West Palm Beach. The distance from Destin to Miami by car is 637 miles, with a 9h22m driving time.
Planning a Destin to Miami road trip itinerary
The Destin to Miami drive takes you from the Gulf Coast of Florida to the biggest city in the southeastern corner.
Destin is a beach town on the Florida Panhandle, with white sand beaches and several golf courses. The Destin Harbor Boardwalk tends to be the centre of activity, and there is plenty of activity to be in the centre of.
Top Destin experiences include a sunset tiki cruise, a Crab Island sandbar adventure, a dolphin-watching speedboat cruise and parasailing.
You can also try jetski rentals, the Maximum Magic show, Hydrojet sunset tours and banana boat rides.
If looking for Destin accommodation, the Comfort Inn and Suites offers good value and the plush Henderson Beach Resort has private beach access.
Miami is a city with several sides to it. The art deco and showiness of South Beach contrasts heavily with the landscaped garden grandeur of Coral Gables, for example.
Top Miami experiences include food tours of Little Havana, sightseeing by speedboat and South Beach cruises that take in the homes of millionaires. Alternatively, try a sunset cocktail cruise, a half day Everglades tour or a scenic helicopter flight.
Attractions worth getting advance tickets for include the Frost Science Museum, the Museum of Graffiti and the Paradox Museum.
The most memorable Miami accommodation is in one of South Beach’s art deco hotels. The Essex House Hotel is an architectural classic. The National has an amazing pool.
Destin to Miami distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Destin to Miami is 637 miles. This makes for a driving time of around nine hours and 22 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-10, I-75 and Florida’s Turnpike.
The best stops to add to a Destin to Miami road trip itinerary are Gainesville, Orlando and West Palm Beach.
For more suggestions, see the guides to the individual legs of the journey.
- Destin to Tallahassee drive.
- Tallahassee to Gainesville drive.
- Gainesville to Orlando drive.
- Orlando to West Palm Beach drive.
- West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale drive.
- Fort Lauderdale to Miami drive.
Destin to Miami drive: Gainesville
Gainesville is home to the University of Florida, and will be best known to college football fans as the home of the Florida Gators.
For everyone else, there’s the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Harn Museum of Art and the Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park. The latter is based around a limestone sinkhole.
Gainesville hotel prices can rise sharply based on university and football events. Hunt for bargains in advance.
Best stops between Destin and Miami: Orlando
Orlando is known worldwide as the home of Disney World, but there’s far more to it than Mickey and Co. You can get crazy selfies at the Museum of Illusions or WonderWorks, learn how chocolate is made at Chocolate Kingdom and ride the Wheel at ICON Park or Orlando StarFlyer. Alternatively, visit Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, play adventure golf at Pirates’ Cove and say hi to the stingrays at Sea Life.
In the evenings, there’s the Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show, Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn To Life and the Outta Control magic comedy show.
Other Orlando experiences include glow-in-the-dark kayaking, foodie walking tours and kayaking through Cypress forest.
There are hundreds of hotels to choose from in Orlando. Flexibility is key (precise location is not critical here) – and compare prices online before booking.
Destin to Miami road trip attractions: West Palm Beach
Notoriously wealthy West Palm Beach goes big on art. The Norton Museum of Art and Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens are the big hitters, but there are plenty of smaller galleries. Arguably the top attraction is in Palm Beach, however. Here, the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum marries Gilded Age grandeur with Florida history.
Bookable West Palm Beach experiences include snorkelling tours, sunset cruises and photoshoots on Worth Avenue. You can also try jet snorkelling, parasailing and food-tasting market tours.
For West Palm Beach accommodation with superb guest ratings, the Pioneer Inn is excellent value and the Ben brings five star opulence.
More Destin road trips
Atlanta to Destin | Austin to Destin FL | Birmingham AL to Destin FL | Dallas to Destin | Destin to Fort Lauderdale | Destin to Gulf Shores | Houston to Destin FL | Jacksonville to Destin | Memphis to Destin | Mobile to Destin | Nashville to Destin FL | New Orleans to Destin FL | Destin to Orange Beach | Orlando to Destin | Panama City to Destin | Pensacola to Destin | Tallahassee to Destin | Tampa to Destin.
More Miami road trips
Miami to Boca Raton | Miami to Boynton Beach | Miami to Cocoa Beach | Miami to Deerfield Beach | Miami to Delray Beach | Miami to Fort Lauderdale | Miami to Fort Myers | Miami to Fort Pierce FL | Miami to Hollywood FL | Miami to Jupiter FL | Miami to Lake Worth Beach | Miami to Melbourne FL | Miami to Naples | Orlando to Miami | Panama City to Miami | Pensacola to Miami | Miami to Pompano Beach | Miami to Port St Lucie | Miami to Stuart FL | Miami to Vero Beach | Miami to West Palm Beach.