5 day Everglades, Florida Keys and Miami itinerary for families

A Short South Florida Road Trip with Kids

If you’re planning a Florida holiday with kids, this 5‑day South Florida itinerary works brilliantly as an add‑on to a longer Orlando trip. It shows you a completely different side of Florida — wildlife, beaches, scenic drives and outdoor adventures — before the intensity of the theme parks.

We flew into Tampa from the UK, drove south to spend time in Big Cypress and the Everglades, continued through the Florida Keys, and finished with two nights around Miami before heading up to Orlando. The order matters: starting with nature and road‑tripping made the transition into theme parks far easier than diving straight into Orlando.

South Florida + Orlando Family Itinerary at a Glance

• Day 1: Big Cypress & Everglades airboat tour, arrive Key Largo

• Day 2: Key Largo — snorkelling at John Pennekamp

• Day 3: Overseas Highway stops, Key West day trip

• Day 4: Drive to Miami — Raccoon Island boat tour, explore Miami

• Day 5: Aventura/Miami

This route gives you a real mix of experiences:

• Wildlife and open landscapes in the Everglades and Big Cypress

• Beaches and snorkelling in the Florida Keys

• The iconic Overseas Highway drive down towards Key West

• A short burst of city time in Miami, without overdoing it

It’s easy to adapt this itinerary to start and/or end in Miami instead of Tampa if that works better for your flights.

Who this itinerary is for

This route is best suited to UK families with school‑aged children, travelling for around two weeks and comfortable with driving and a multi‑stop road trip. It works particularly well if you want variety without making the trip feel disjointed. For the full road trip see, 2-Week Florida Family Itinerary: Everglades, Florida Keys and Theme Parks

Is it rushed?

The pace does move — but it’s deliberately flexible. Miami is the easiest place to shorten or cut entirely if you’d prefer more time in the Keys or a slower lead‑in to Orlando. As we go, we’ll flag the natural adjustment points so you can tailor it to your own family.

The Driving Route at a Glance

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

Total driving across the trip is very manageable. The longest day is the arrival drive south from Tampa; after that, each leg is relatively short.

Key distances to be aware of:

• Tampa → Everglades area: approx. 3–4 hours

• Everglades → Key Largo: approx. 1.5 hours

• Key Largo → Key West: approx. 2 hours (longer with stops — and you should stop)

• Key West → Miami: approx. 2–3 hours

To make planning easier, we’ve included links throughout to the exact tools, accommodation, tours and tickets we booked ourselves on this trip. You’ll also find links to deeper planning guides we’ve written off the back of our experience, covering accommodation choices, theme parks, tours and pacing decisions, so you can adapt the plan to suit your own family rather than follow a rigid itinerary. Some of these links are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to book through them, at no extra cost to you. We only ever link to places and experiences we’ve personally used and would confidently book again with our own child.

Day 1 – Big Cypress & Everglades

We started with a full day driving from Tampa down towards the Everglades. It’s a long journey, so plan for a few stops along the way.

We explored Big Cypress National Preserve, stopping at places like Oasis Visitor Center, Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, and roadside stops where we saw loads of alligators and wildlife.

Originally, we planned to visit Everglades National Park and do the Shark Valley tram, but after the increased entry fees for non-US visitors of $100 per adult, we changed our plans. You can read more about that decision in our Big Cypress vs Everglades National Park: Which Is Better with Kids?.

Instead, we focused on Big Cypress and then did an Everglades airboat ride in the afternoon, which was a highlight for the kids. If you’re unsure whether it’s suitable, see Everglades Airboat Tours: Are They Safe for Kids?.

From there, we drove on to Key Largo for our first night in the Florida Keys.

Day 2 – Key Largo

Key Largo is a great place to slow down after a busy travel day.

We booked a snorkelling trip at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park through Viator. It was one of the most memorable experiences of the trip, with clear water, tropical fish, and even turtles. If you’re considering it, read Snorkelling Tours in the Florida Keys – Are They Worth It with Kids?.

In the afternoon, we relaxed back at our accommodation. We stayed at Kawama Yacht Club Key Largo: Beachfront Family Accommodation in the Florida Keys, which worked really well for families thanks to the space, kitchen, and private beach area. Read more about our accommodation here.

If snorkelling isn’t for you, there are other options in Key Largo, including glass-bottom boat tours, which are a good alternative for younger kids.

Day 3 – Key West Day Trip

This was one of our favourite days. We drove the Overseas Highway, which takes around 2 hours without stops, but realistically longer with kids.

We broke the journey up with a few stops:

• Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada to feed the tarpon

• Long Key State Park, where we walked part of the Golden Orb Trail and enjoyed the scenery

The drive itself is a big part of the experience. If you’re planning this, our guide on Driving the Overseas Highway with Kids: Key Largo to Key West covers the best stops and tips. Other popular stops with kids include the Turtle Hospital or Dolphin Rescue Center.

We spent half a day in Key West, exploring:

• Southernmost Point

• Old Town

• Mallory Square

• Kermit’s Key Lime Pie

The sites are quite far apart, I recommend the tram or site seeing bus to get around easily. If you want more time, it’s worth staying overnight rather than rushing it in one day.

Day 4 – Drive to Miami

We left the Keys and drove to Miami, which takes around 2 hours from Key Largo.

That morning, we booked a Raccoon Island boat tour at 9:45 a.m. through GetYourGuide. It was a fun and slightly different experience. Raccoon Island is a small, natural island in Biscayne Bay accessible only by boat. This half-day tour includes a 45–60 minute boat ride each way, a short stop to observe wild raccoons in their natural habitat, and optional water play for children. It’s best suited to school-age kids who enjoy wildlife and light exploration, and provides a unique, informal experience that can complement a Miami family itinerary without taking up a full day. This was a great way to see Miami as it included a sail past the coastline and the local billionaires homes.

For a more detailed overview of this experience, see: Raccoon Island Miami with Kids: Is It Really Worth It?

There’s plenty to do in Miami depending on your pace, from beaches to walking areas and family-friendly spots. If you’re unsure whether to include Miami, see Miami with Kids: Worth Adding or Skip It?.

We stayed overnight in Aventura, which is a quieter base just outside the city.

Day 5 – Aventura / Miami Area

We based ourselves in Aventura, about 40–50 minutes from central Miami. It’s a good option if you want something calmer but still within easy reach of the city, and includes its own Hallandale Beach. You can use this day to explore more of Miami at your own pace—whether that’s beaches, shopping, or just relaxing after a busy few days.

From here, we continued our trip up to Orlando to visit Universal, Volcano Bay, and Discovery Cove. If you’re planning something similar, see our 7 day Orlando Itinerary.

Practical Tips for UK Families visiting South Florida

For full planning resources including flight booking tools, exact hotel recommendations and tours, see: How to plan a 2 week Florida Road Trip

Best Time to Visit: Florida's winter and spring months — roughly November through April — are the sweet spot for this kind of trip. Temperatures are warm without being overwhelming, humidity is manageable, and you avoid the peak hurricane season. We visited in April over Easter, which was busy but very enjoyable. Read more: When Is the Best Time to Visit Florida with Kids?

Driving: You'll adapt to driving on the right faster than you expect — the challenge is usually roundabouts and car park exits. For everything you need to know, including how to navigate the tolls before you arrive (don’t get caught out here), see: Driving in the USA: What Europeans Need to Know

Car Hire: You will need a car for this entire itinerary — there is no realistic alternative. Book in advance through a reputable provider; like Holiday Autos or Trip. One thing that genuinely surprised us: petrol in Florida is remarkably cheap compared to the UK. What we didn't fully anticipate was how much the toll roads add up over two weeks. Budget for this separately — it's not huge, but it catches people out.

An eSIM is also worth sorting before you leave — it means you're never reliant on WiFi for navigation, which matters when you're driving unfamiliar roads with children in the back. Read our full driving guide: Driving in the USA: What Europeans Need to Know Before a Road Trip

Costs & Budget: Florida is not a cheap family holiday, you can definitely manage the spend depending on what you want to do but expect to budget at least £1,500 - £2,000 per person excluding the international flights. Full breakdown in our How Much Does 2 Weeks in Florida Cost for UK Families?

Tipping: Budget for tipping across the board — restaurants, tours, hotel housekeeping, boat trips. Roughly $10–15 per person per tour is standard. For everything you need to know, see: Tipping in America Explained for British Families

Food: Florida is excellent for families — portions are generous, menus are varied, and most children find plenty they'll eat. Inside the parks, look for the cheaper quick-service options rather than sit-down restaurants.

Heat: April was warm but very manageable. Summer visits are significantly hotter and more humid — factor this into your planning, particularly for the Everglades and Keys days. Pack high-factor sunscreen, hats, and reusable water bottles.

ESTA: Every member of your family, including children, needs an ESTA before travelling to the USA. Apply well in advance — it's straightforward but don't leave it until the last minute. Full details in our guide: ESTA, Visas & Entry Rules for UK Families Visiting the USA

Jet lag: The time difference from the UK to Florida is five hours. Starting in Orlando suits jet-lagged families because the theme park energy carries you through. Starting in South Florida is gentler but slower — either works. For tips on navigating jet lag with kids, see:

Travel Insurance Do not skip this. Medical costs in the USA are significant, and a family trip of this length with this many activities — airboating, snorkelling, theme parks, water parks — needs proper cover. Get a quote from Just Travel Insurance here. More on why this matters: Travel Insurance for the USA: Why You Cannot Get This Wrong

Flights: Most UK families can fly into either Tampa or Orlando airport for this itinerary. Direct flights from the UK to Tampa run from around 9–10 hours. Orlando is similarly served. Check both when pricing, a good place to start is a price comparison website. We opted for Tampa from London Gatwick as the flights were cheaper and direct.

Final Itinerary Thoughts

This 5-day itinerary is a great way to see a completely different side of Florida with kids. It mixes wildlife, beaches, and road trip adventure, without feeling too rushed—just plan your stops, take your time, and enjoy the journey.

Planning a Family Trip to the USA

If you’re planning a family trip to the United States, we’ve created a collection of practical guides based on our own experiences travelling there with a child. In our USA Travel Hub, you’ll find advice on everything from ESTA requirements and travel insurance to driving, healthcare and managing jet lag with kids, alongside destination guides for places we’ve explored including New York, Colorado, South Dakota and Florida. It’s a useful starting point for parents researching how to plan a smooth and enjoyable family trip to the USA.