Miami to Port Canaveral FL drive: Best stops, distance & time

The best road trip stops on the Miami to Port Canaveral FL drive are Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. The distance from Miami to Port Canaveral FL by car is 219 miles, with a 3h18m driving time.

Planning a Miami to Port Canaveral FL road trip itinerary

The Miami to Port Canaveral FL drive takes you north along Florida’s Atlantic coast to one of America’s busiest cruise ports.

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.

Port Canaveral is one of the busiest cruise hubs on earth. The likes of Disney Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Carnival dock here.

If you’re not planning to go on a cruise, you can take a tour of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse or visit the Kennedy Space Center. Cocoa Beach Helicopter Tours also offers its scenic flights from here.

Well-rated Port Canaveral accommodation options include the Country Inn and Suites plus the Hampton Inn and Suites.

Miami to Port Canaveral FL distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Miami to Port Canaveral FL is 219 miles. You can expect a driving time of around three hours and 18 minutes. The quickest route is up the I-95.

The best stops to add to a Miami to Port Canaveral 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 Fort Lauderdale drive.
• Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton drive.
• Boca Raton to West Palm Beach drive.
• West Palm Beach to Vero Beach drive.

Miami to Port Canaveral 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 Port Canaveral: 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 Port Canaveral 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.

More Miami road trips

Miami to Boca Raton | Miami to Boynton Beach | Miami to Cocoa Beach | Miami to Deerfield Beach | Miami to Delray Beach | Destin to Miami | Miami to Disney World | Miami to Fort Lauderdale | Miami to Fort Myers | Miami to Fort Pierce FL | Miami to Hollywood FL | Miami to Jupiter FL | Miami to Kissimmee | Miami to Lake Worth Beach | Miami to Melbourne FL | Memphis to Miami | 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 | Tallashassee to Miami | Miami to Vero Beach | Miami to West Palm Beach.

More Port Canaveral road trips

Port Canaveral to Disney World | Fort Lauderdale to Port Canaveral | Jacksonville to Port Canaveral | Orlando to Port Canaveral | Port Canaveral to Tampa.