Orlando to Miami drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Orlando to Miami drive are Fort Pierce, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The distance from Orlando to Miami by car is 235 miles, with a 3h26m driving time.

Planning an Orlando to Miami road trip itinerary

The Orlando to Miami drive takes you from Florida’s theme park capital to the southeast of the state.

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.

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.

Orlando to Miami distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Orlando to Miami is 235 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 26 minutes. The quickest route is usually along Florida’s Turnpike.

The best stops to add to an Orlando to Miami road trip itinerary are Fort Pierce, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

For more suggestions, read the guides to the separate sections of the journey:

• Orlando to Fort Pierce drive.
• Port St Lucie to West Palm Beach drive.
• West Palm Beach to Boca Raton drive.
• Boca Raton to Fort Lauderdale drive.
• Fort Lauderdale to Miami drive.

Best stops between Orlando and Miami: 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.

Orlando to Miami drive: 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.

Orlando to Miami 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. 

More Orlando road trips

Albany GA to Orlando | Asheville to Orlando | Atlanta to Orlando | Augusta to Orlando | Austin to Orlando | Baton Rouge to Orlando | Birmingham AL to Orlando | Orlando to Boca Raton | Orlando to Bradenton | Orlando to Cape Canaveral | Charlotte to Orlando | Orlando to Cocoa Beach | Columbia SC to Orlando | Orlando to Daytona Beach | Orlando to Delray Beach | Orlando to Destin | Orlando to Fort Lauderdale | Orlando to Fort Pierce | Orlando to Fort Walton Beach | Gainesville to Orlando | Orlando to Hollywood FL | Houston to Orlando | Huntsville AL to Orlando | Jacksonville to Orlando | Orlando to Jupiter FL | Lakeland to Orlando.

Macon GA to Orlando | Orlando to Melbourne FL | Memphis to Orlando | Mobile to Orlando | Orlando to Myrtle Beach | Nashville to Orlando | New Orleans to Orlando | Orlando to Palm Coast | Panama City to Orlando | Pensacola to Orlando | Orlando to Pompano Beach | Orlando to Port Canaveral | Orlando to Port St Lucie | Ocala to Orlando | Pittsburgh to Orlando | Orlando to St Augustine | Orlando to Stuart FL | Tallahassee to Orlando | Orlando to Tampa | Valdosta to Orlando | Orlando to Vero Beach | Orlando to West Palm Beach | Orlando to Winter Haven.

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 Jupiter FL | Miami to Lake Worth Beach | Miami to Melbourne FL | Miami to Naples | Panama City to Miami | Pensacola to Miami | Miami to Pompano Beach | Miami to Port St Lucie | Miami to Stuart FL | Miami to Vero Beach.