Miami to Delray Beach drive: Distance, time & best stops

Finding the best things to do between Miami and Delray Beach

The Miami to Delray Beach drive takes you up Florida’s Atlantic coast.

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.

Delray Beach is one of the more interesting cities along the coast of southeast Florida, largely because it doesn’t rely too heavily on the beach itself. There’s a good dining and drinking scene here, which is best discovered on a food and drink tour.

Art is where Delray Beach punches above its weight, however. The Cornell Arts Museum hosts international exhibitions, while the Pineapple Grove Arts District brims with sculptures, murals and galleries.

Elsewhere, the Morikami Museum and Gardens takes a look at Japanese culture and the Sandoway Discovery Center concentrates on local wildlife. There are coral reef aquarium tanks, plus shark and stingray feeding, here.

For Delray Beach accommodation with a sense of swagger, try the Atlantic Suites on the Ave or the Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort.

Miami to Delray Beach distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Miami to Delray Beach is 54 miles. With fair traffic, you can expect a driving time of around 58 minutes.

The best stops to add to a Miami to Delray Beach road trip itinerary are Hollywood FL, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton.

For more suggestions, see the guides to the Miami to Fort Lauderdale drive and Fort Lauderdale to Delray Beach drive.

Best stops between Miami and Delray Beach: Hollywood FL

Hollywood FL is best known for its gorgeous, palm-lined beach. You can pick out your preferred spot while walking along the 2.2 mild Hollywood Beach Boardwalk. But there’s also something of a food and drink scene here. This is best explored on a food walking tour.

For something a little wilder, the mangrove-lined Anne Kolb Nature Center offers walking and kayaking trails.

Search for good Hollywood FL hotel deals here.

Miami to Delray Beach road trip attractions: Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is sleek coastal city of beaches and canals. For Fort Lauderdale experiences, try narrated 90 minute cruises on the Jungle Queen, Everglades airboat adventures and snorkelling tours on the Fort Lauderdale reefs.

Alternatively, try an evening boat cruise, renting a powerboat or parasailing.

Great beachfront Fort Lauderdale accommodation options include the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and the Hotel Maren

Miami to Delray Beach drive: Boca Raton

Two coastal parks are the highlights of Boca Raton. Red Reef Park comes with a snorkelling area over a series of artificial reefs, plus the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The latter comes with a boardwalk and sea turtles. Spanish River Park, meanwhile, has plenty of picnic tables and a dog-friendly beach.

The Boca Raton Museum of Art is the top cultural attraction, known for its thoughtful special exhibitions.

Boca Raton is also a popular spot for fishing charters.

Top Boca Raton accommodation choices include the Marriott at Boca Center and the Hyatt Place.

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida.
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida. Photo by Rafael Figueroa/ Unsplash.

More Miami road trips

Miami to Boca Raton | Miami to Deerfield Beach | Miami to Fort Lauderdale | Miami to Fort Myers | Miami to Hollywood FL | Miami to Naples | Miami to Pompano Beach.

More Delray Beach road trips

Fort Lauderdale to Delray Beach | Orlando to Delray Beach | West Palm Beach to Delray Beach.