West Palm Beach to Vero Beach drive: Best stops, distance & time

Finding the best things to do between West Palm Beach and Vero Beach

The West Palm Beach to Vero Beach drive takes you along an underrated stretch of Florida’s Atlantic coast.

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.

With beaches on the Atlantic side of the Indian River Lagoon, Vero Beach can be used as a sun and sand destination. But there’s more to it than that. The Vero Beach Museum of Art provides a culture fix and the McKee Botanical Garden showcases incredible floral diversity.

Fun Vero Beach activities include tiki cabana boat cruises and fat tire electric bike tours.

For Vero Beach accommodation picks, try the Prestige Hotel by the beach or the Hampton Inn downtown.

West Palm Beach to Vero Beach distance and driving time

By car, the distance from West Palm Beach to Vero Beach is 81 miles. You can expect a driving time of around one and 20 minutes. The drive is largely along the I-95.

The best stops to add to a West Palm Beach to Vero Beach road trip itinerary are Jupiter FL, Stuart FL and Fort Pierce.

West Palm Beach to Vero Beach drive: Jupiter FL

Jupiter Beach on the Atlantic Ocean is the primary attraction of Jupiter FL, but there are a couple of other interesting spots. Du Bois Park offers a snorkelling lagoon, a playground and picnic tables.

Near the I-95, the Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park commemorates the battles of the Loxahatchee in the Second Seminole War.

Fun activities in Jupiter FL include clear kayak tours, sunset cruises and guided paddleboarding adventures.

For Jupiter accommodation, take a look at the beachfront Pointe Hotel and the pool-centric Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa.

West Palm Beach to Vero Beach road trip attractions: Stuart FL

Stuart is a relatively sleepy city on Florida’s east coast. For most visitors, the primary point of interest will be Stuart Beach on Hutchinson Island. However, there are a couple of good museums here, too. The Elliott Museum offers a surprisingly modern take on Florida’s cultural history, while the House of Refuge looks more at maritime heritage. The building was once a haven for shipwreck survivors.

Good experiences to try in Stuart include ghost tours and fishing charters.

For somewhere to stay in Stuart, take a look at the affordable Best Western Stuart Downtown and the charming Old Colorado Inn.

Best stops between West Palm Beach and Vero Beach: Fort Pierce

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.

Vero Beach, Florida.
Vero Beach, Florida. Photo by Kyle DeSantis/ Unsplash.

More West Palm Beach road trips

West Palm Beach to Boca Raton | West Palm Beach to Boynton Beach | West Palm Beach to Delray Beach | West Palm Beach to Jupiter FL | Orlando to West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach to Stuart.

More Vero Beach road trips

Daytona Beach to Vero Beach | Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach | Jacksonville to Vero Beach | Miami to Vero Beach | Orlando to Vero Beach | Tampa to Vero Beach.