2-Week Florida Family Itinerary: Everglades, Florida Keys, Miami and Theme Parks

Florida is one of those trips that can either feel like the holiday of a lifetime — or completely exhausting.

The difference isn’t how much you do.
It’s how you pace it.

This guide is for UK families travelling with school‑aged children who want to combine South Florida, the Everglades, the Florida Keys, Miami and Orlando into one trip — without it feeling rushed or overcomplicated.

Quick Answer: Can You Do All of This in 2 Weeks?

Yes — but only if you structure it properly.

This route works because it:

• starts slower (Everglades and Keys)

• builds gradually

• and finishes with a full week in Orlando once you’ve adjusted to the time zone

That balance is what stops the trip feeling overwhelming.

We followed this exact itinerary ourselves — travelling from the UK with our 9 year old son — and what you’ll find here is based on actually doing it, not just planning it.

That means:

• the long drives that worked (and the ones that felt like too much)

• what was worth the time

• and where we’d build in more space next time

Throughout the guide, you’ll also find links to the accommodation, tours and tools we used to plan the trip. Where relevant, these may be affiliate links, but we only ever include options we’ve personally used or would book again as a family.

Who This Florida Itinerary Is For

• UK families travelling during school holidays

• children roughly primary age and up

• comfortable with driving and a multi-stop trip

• looking for a mix of nature, beaches and theme parks

What This Itinerary Does Well for Families

This route works because it balances:

• wildlife and outdoor experiences (Everglades, Keys)

• city time (Miami)

• and theme parks (Orlando)

Without turning every day into a full itinerary.

It’s still a busy trip — but flexible enough that you can:

• shorten Miami

• extend the Keys

• or add more downtime in Orlando

If you want a step by step instruction on how to plan this trip, including all our booking tools and tips, you'll find that here:

→ How to plan a 2 week trip to Florida with kids

South Florida + Orlando Family Itinerary at a Glance

Here’s how our 2‑week route unfolded, combining South Florida with a full week in Orlando, click to jump to a specific section:

Day 1 – Fly into Tampa (or Orlando), drive south

Everglades

Day 2 – Big Cypress and Everglades airboat tour, continue to Key Largo

Florida Keys

Day 3 – Key Largo: snorkelling at John Pennekamp
Day 4 – Key West day trip via the Overseas Highway

Miami

Day 5 – Drive to Miami, Raccoon Island boat tour and explore
Day 6 – Aventura / Miami beach day

Orlando

Day 7 – Travel day Miami to Orlando, stop at outlet malls
Day 8 – Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios, stay at Hard Rock Hotel (for Express Pass)
Day 9 – Universal parks, move to Storey Lake villa
Day 10 – Rest day at the villa
Day 11 – Volcano Bay
Day 12 – Epic Universe
Day 13 – Discovery Cove
Day 14 – Flex day (repeat a favourite park, shopping or relax)
Day 15 – Fly home

The Driving Route at a Glance

Fly into Tampa → Everglades / Big Cypress → Florida Keys (Key Largo, Islamorada, Key West) → Miami / Aventura → Orlando → Fly home

Driving Distances (What to Expect)

Total driving across the two weeks is very manageable. The longest day is the arrival drive — after that, journeys are shorter and easier to break up.

• Tampa to Everglades area: 3–4 hours

• Everglades to Key Largo: ~1.5 hours

• Key Largo to Key West: ~2 hours (longer with stops — and it’s worth stopping)

• Key West to Miami: 2–3 hours

• Miami to Orlando: 3–3.5 hours

How Much Does a 2 week Family Holiday to Florida cost?

Florida is not a cheap family holiday. We provide a detailed breakdown of the exact costs we spent on our 2026 family trip here: How Much Does 2 Weeks in Florida Cost for UK Families?

Day 1: Arrive in Tampa & Start Heading South

You’ll land tired — and probably a bit later than planned.

On arrival day, the goal isn’t sightseeing. It’s making some early progress south so Day 2 doesn’t get swallowed by a long drive.

We chose to stay just off the I‑75 corridor at a simple roadside hotel (we stayed at Roadside Inn Sun City). It’s not about finding somewhere memorable — it’s about:

• an easy check-in

• a straightforward overnight stop

• and getting back on the road quickly the next morning

Think of this as a transit night, not a destination.

Planning ahead

If you want to see exactly how this South Florida section flows day‑by‑day — including timings and stops — this helps:

→ See our 5 day Everglades, Florida Keys and Miami itinerary for families

Day 2: Big Cypress & the Everglades.

This is where the trip starts to feel real.

We spent the morning in Big Cypress National Preserve, which worked brilliantly with kids because it’s simple, accessible and doesn’t feel overly structured.

Our stops included:

• Oasis Visitor Center (easy wildlife spotting)

• Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk (short, manageable walk)

• roadside pull‑outs where we saw alligators up close

Originally, we planned to include Everglades National Park and Shark Valley.

But after looking at the increased entry costs for international visitors ($100 per adult for international visitors), we made a conscious decision to focus on Big Cypress instead — and for us, it worked just as well.

If you’re deciding between the two, this will help:

→ Big Cypress vs Everglades National Park: Which Is Better with Kids?

The highlight: Airboat Tour

In the afternoon, we did an Everglades airboat tour — and this was a standout moment of the whole South Florida leg.

It’s:

• fast

• exciting

• and genuinely memorable for kids

without feeling overly staged or touristy.

If you’re unsure whether it’s safe or suitable for children::
→ Are Everglades airboat tours safe for kids?

The airboat tour was one of the highlights for us — a really easy way to see wildlife without much effort. If you’re planning to include it, it’s worth checking options: → Check Everglades airboat tour times and options

Day 3: Key Largo & Snorkelling at John Pennekamp

After the travel and driving of the first couple of days, Key Largo feels like a reset point.

It’s calm, compact and easy to navigate — which is exactly what you want at this stage of the trip. There’s no pressure to rush around, and everything feels much more manageable with kids.

Snorkelling at John Pennekamp

This was one of the highlights of our time in the Keys.

We booked a snorkelling tour at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and it was exactly the right balance for a family:

• clear water

• tropical fish

• and just enough adventure without feeling overwhelming

It felt like a proper “Florida moment” — different to anything else on the trip.

If you’re unsure whether it’s worth including (or right for your child), this breaks it down honestly:

→ Snorkelling tours in the Florida Keys – are they worth it with kids?

Snorkelling at John Pennekamp is one of the easiest ways to experience the Keys — but timing and conditions matter more than you might expect.

→ Check snorkelling tours in Key Largo

Where We Stayed in Key Largo

We stayed at Kawama Yacht Club, and it worked really well for this part of the trip.

After busier travel days, having:

• apartment-style space

• a kitchen

• and room to relax

made a big difference.

We also had access to:

• a private beach

• a swimming pool

• and outdoor space

Which meant we didn’t need to plan every evening around restaurants — something that becomes surprisingly important on a multi-stop trip.

If you’re considering where to stay, this is the full breakdown of what it’s actually like:

→ Kawama Yacht Club Key Largo review (family stay)

If you’re comparing locations across the Keys more broadly — Key Largo vs Islamorada vs Marathon vs Key West — this guide helps you decide what suits your route:

→ Where to stay in the Florida Keys with kids

If you’re looking for a relaxed, family-friendly base in Key Largo, this is the type of setup that worked really well for us:

→ Check Kawama Yacht Club availability and prices

Day 4: The Overseas Highway and Key West

Allow a full day for this. The drive itself is long at round 2.5 hours but part of the experience if you include stops.

Stops we'd recommend:

• Robbie's Marina, Islamorada — feed the tarpon. It costs a couple of dollars for a bucket of fish and the kids will absolutely love it

• Long Key State Park — a short walk through the Golden Orb Trail with good scenery and a chance to stretch

• The Overseas Highway — 42 bridges, Atlantic on one side, Gulf of Mexico on the other — is genuinely one of the most scenic drives in America.

There are plenty of other activities you can stop for with kids beyond what we opted for, you can read more about those here : Fun Things to Do in the Florida Keys with School-Aged Kids

In Key West:

• Southernmost Point

• Old Town

• Mallory Square at sunset

• Kermit's Key Lime Pie — non-negotiable

The attractions are spread out so we'd recommend using the hop-on hop-off tram or sightseeing bus rather than walking everywhere. If your timing allows, staying overnight in Key West is worth considering — it's a lot to take in on a day trip. For families visiting for the first time, a day trip from Key Largo works, but don't rush it.

There are plenty of other activities you can stop for with kids along the way, we break this down in our guide: Key Largo to Key West: One day road trip Itinerary and activities with kids

Days 5–7: Miami and Aventura

Day 5 : Raccoon Island Miami

We booked a Raccoon Island boat tour for 9:45am, and it turned out to be one of the more memorable experiences of the South Florida leg.

It’s a half-day trip out into Biscayne Bay:

• a calm, easy boat ride

• wild raccoons on a small island

• and optional swimming

It’s informal and not overproduced, which actually works really well with kids. There’s enough to keep it interesting without it feeling like a full-on activity day.

If you’re unsure whether it’s worth fitting into your itinerary, I’ve broken it down in more detail here:

→ Raccoon Island Miami with Kids: Is It Really Worth It?

Afternoon in Miami

After the tour, we kept the afternoon easy.

This part of the trip works best when you don’t overplan. Options include:

• a walk around South Beach

• Wynwood for something different

• or simply finding somewhere for lunch and taking it slow

After a few travelling days, this is a good moment to ease off the pace slightly.

This was one of those activities we almost skipped — but it turned out to be surprisingly fun and easy to do with kids:

→ Check Raccoon Island boat tour availability

Where to Stay: Aventura

We based ourselves in Aventura, staying at the Hampton Inn.

For families, this worked really well because:

• it’s quieter than central Miami

• easier for parking

• and still within 40–50 minutes of main sights

It felt much more manageable with kids than staying directly in the city.

If you’re weighing up where to stay across Miami, this helps: → Where to Stay in Miami with KidsWhere to stay

Day 6: Enjoy Miami

We deliberately kept this day flexible.

Joshua chose an indoor activity park, which gave us:

• a break from driving

• a weather-proof option

• and something that felt a bit different

We also spent time at Hallandale Beach, which was simple and relaxed.

The key here is not trying to “do Miami properly” — it’s about finding what works for your family at that point in the trip.

If you want more ideas depending on your plan: Fun things to do in Miami with kids

Day 7: Miami to Orlando transit day

Day 7 is a proper transit day.

The drive from Aventura to Orlando took around 3–3.5 hours, and after the previous days, it felt straightforward.

We broke it up with a stop at the Orlando Premium Outlets, which worked well for:

• stretching legs

• picking up a few things

• and easing into the Orlando part of the trip

We stayed one night at La Quinta, purely for convenience as we were meeting extended family the next day.

Days 8–14: Universal Orlando

Where to Stay

Our approach — and one we’d recommend to most families — was to split the stay.

We started with one night at Hard Rock Hotel, then moved into a villa at Storey Lake for the rest of the week.

The first night at Hard Rock makes a big difference. You get Early Park Admission and Unlimited Express Pass included, which completely changes your first full park day. Instead of spending the morning in queues, you can get straight onto rides while energy levels are still high.

If you’re planning this part of the trip, it helps to see all the Universal hotel options that offer early entry and compare what works best for your family:

→ Where to Stay in Orlando with Kids

The Move to Storey Lake

After two park days, we moved into our villa at Storey Lake — and honestly, it felt like the start of a second holiday.

The contrast is huge.

Instead of:

• being out all day

• following ride schedules

• and constantly on the move

you suddenly have:

• space

• flexibility

• and proper downtime

Our villa had everything you need for a family stay:

• plenty of bedrooms

• themed kids’ rooms

• a games room

• and a private pool

After two busy park days, that space made a big difference. The kids could just relax, play and reset — which is exactly what you need before a full week in Orlando.

If you’re deciding between these options or want to see what they’re actually like:

→ Read our Hard Rock Hotel review (Express Pass experience)
→ See our Storey Lake villa review and full walkthrough

If you’re travelling as a larger family and want space, flexibility and something that genuinely feels special, this setup was one of the highlights of our trip:

→ Check Storey Lake villa availability and options

Day 8: Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios Florida - Park-to-Park

Start here, and start early. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the priority — queues build fast and during March–April 2026 it was included in Early Park Admission for Hard Rock guests.

Morning ride order:

• Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

• Flight of the Hippogriff

• VelociCoaster (Jurassic Park area)

Afternoon: Hogwarts Express across to Universal Studios Florida, Escape from Gringotts, watch the dragon breathe fire, grab a cheap lunch from the potato hut, then stop by 4pm. Pool, hotel dinner, early night.

For a more detailed day by day, including ride recommendations, see: 7-Day Orlando Itinerary for UK Families (Universal parks, Discovery cove and pool villa)

Day 9: Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios Florida - Park-to-Park

Start back at Islands of Adventure — it opens earlier, and re-riding the best rides while the morning is still fresh is a much better use of your time than queuing at Universal Studios Florida from the off.

Mid-morning, take the Hogwarts Express across and spend the afternoon at Universal Studios:

• Minions

• Transformers

• Simpsons area

• E.T. Adventure

Universal Studios is more simulator-heavy and never quite matched the impact of Islands of Adventure for us — but it's still a solid day when combined with a strong Islands morning.

That evening, move into your Storey Lake villa. Walmart run, BBQ, private pool. And breathe!

For everything you need before visiting Universal, see:

• Universal Orlando with Kids: What Parents Should Know Before Visiting

• How Universal Orlando Park Tickets Work (What UK Families Should Know)

• Is Universal Express Pass Worth It for Families?

Day 10: Rest Day (With Optional NBA Game)

After two full Universal park days, everyone needed to decompress. This is where having a villa really paid off. The kids swam whenever they wanted, drifted in and out of the games room, and just were children again — rather than being marched to another attraction. We could eat easily, move slowly, and stop the whole trip feeling like a military operation. The rest day is not wasted time. It’s what makes the other days work.

If you do want to add something light, this is the perfect day to do it. We considered an NBA game in the evening, which works well after a relaxed villa day and doesn’t overload tired kids. We break down whether it’s actually worth doing with children (and when it isn’t) here:
Is an NBA Game Worth It for Kids? A Family Guide for School‑Aged Children

Day 11: Volcano Bay

A completely different kind of park day — and the right one at this point in the week.

Arrive early and hit the priority rides first:

• Krakatau Aqua Coaster (107cm minimum height)

• Ko'okiri Body Plunge

• Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Slides

• Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides

Once the big slides are done, stop treating it like a checklist. Repeat favourites, use the beach, drift in the pools. Volcano Bay is more enjoyable when you slow down.

For everything you need for a great trip to Volcano Bay, see: Volcano Bay Tips for Families

Day 12: Epic Universe

Epic Universe requires a different mindset to the other parks — and that's not a criticism. It's built around five immersive worlds rather than a traditional ride lineup, and the experience reflects that.

Priority rides to tackle early:

• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

• Stardust Racers

• Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge

• Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment

• Mine-Cart Madness (Donkey Kong)

Then slow right down. The best parts of Epic for us were the slower ones — letting the kids explore the worlds properly, take in the detail, and enjoy the environment without rushing to the next queue. This park rewards patience in a way the others don't.

For everything you need for a great trip to Epic Universe, see: Epic Universe Tips for Families

Day 13: Discovery Cove

One of the standout days of the entire fortnight — and the calmest.

Everything is included: breakfast, lunch, unlimited snacks and drinks, parking, lockers, towels, snorkel gear. After two weeks of Florida park pricing, the all-inclusive format feels almost surreal.

Arrive between 7:00am and 8:30am. Dolphin swim slots are assigned at check-in on a first-come, first-served basis, so early arrival matters even if you plan a slower morning.

How our day looked:

• Flamingo walk and breakfast

• Dolphin swim mid-morning

• SeaVenture underwater walk

• Snorkelling with rays and tropical fish

• Lazy river and animal encounters

Calm, organised, and genuinely restorative after the pace of Universal. A very easy yes for families.

For everything you need for a great trip to Discovery Cove, see: Discovery Cove tips for families visiting with kids

Day 14: Flex Day

Keep this open if you possibly can.

Options depending on your family and energy levels:

• Return to your favourite park

• Spend more time at Epic Universe if you wanted another day

• Orlando Premium Outlets for last-minute shopping

• Villa day — pool, games room, proper wind-down before the flight home

We chose to slow down, and by that point in the trip it was exactly the right call.

Final itinerary thoughts

Two weeks in Florida works brilliantly for UK families — but the version that works best is the one that doesn't try to do everything.

This itinerary gives you real Florida alongside the theme parks: wildlife, marine life, open highway driving, key lime pie, and genuinely world-class attractions. The pace moves, but there's enough breathing room built in that it doesn't feel relentless.

If you want to adjust it — drop Miami, add an extra night in Key West, spend more time in the Keys — the structure supports that easily. Use the articles linked throughout as your deeper guides for each stop, and build the itinerary around your family rather than the other way around.

plan your 2 week family holiday to florida

If you’re planning your Florida trip, these guides are a good place to start:

About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.