Miami to Melbourne FL road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

The best road trip stops on the Miami to Melbourne FL drive are Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. The distance from Miami to Melbourne FL by car is 178 miles, with a 2h54m driving time.

Planning a Miami to Melbourne FL road trip itinerary

The Miami to Melbourne FL drive takes you north along 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.

Melbourne is a relatively low key city on Florida’s Space Coast. It’s on the Indian River Lagoon, which is a great spot for seeing dolphins. You can take a two hour dolphin-watching boat cruise to make the most of it.

Otherwise, there’s a string of beaches to enjoy on the barrier island on the other side of the lagoon.

Top accommodation options in Melbourne FL include the beachside Bleu Beach Resort and the Hotel Melby downtown.

Miami to Melbourne FL distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Miami to Melbourne FL is 178 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and 54 minutes. The quickest route is up Florida’s Turnpike and the I-95.

The best stops to add to a Miami to Melbourne road trip are Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. For more suggestions, read the guides to the individual sections of the journey:

Miami to Melbourne FL 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. 

Best stops between Miami and Melbourne: 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.

Miami to Melbourne drive: Fort Pierce FL

Fort Pierce is an often-overlooked spot on Florida’s Atlantic coast, but there’s plenty to do here. Top Fort Pierce experiences include clear kayak tours through the mangroves, jungle tours and sunset kayak tours.

The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum looks at the elite special ops marine troops of the Navy Seals, while the St Lucie County Aquarium shows off other marine life.

The Fort Pierce Inlet State Park offers an excellent half-mile beach, birdwatching, an observation tower and snorkelling off the shore. There’s also a string of beaches on the south side of the Inlet.

Manatees also rock up here during the winter months, with the Fort Pierce Manatee Observation Center the best place to see them.

Well-reviewed Fort Pierce accommodation options include the budget-friendly Hampton Inn and the beachfront Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel.

Sandpiper on the beach in Melbourne, Florida.
Sandpiper on the beach in Melbourne, Florida. Photo by Nik Shuliahin/ Unsplash.

More Miami road trips

Miami to Boca Raton | Miami to Boynton 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 Lake Worth Beach | Miami to Jupiter FL | Miami to Naples | Miami to Pompano Beach | Miami to Port St Lucie | Miami to Stuart FL | Miami to Vero Beach.

More Melbourne FL road trips

Fort Lauderdale to Melbourne | Jacksonville to Melbourne FL | Orlando to Melbourne FL | Tampa to Melbourne FL.