How to plan a 2 week trip to Florida with kids: Everglades-Florida Keys-Miami-Orlando
How to plan a 2 week trip to Florida with kids: Everglades wildlife, Florida Keys road trip, Miami highlights and Orlando theme parks—route, booking, pacing and tips.
NORTH AMERICAFLORIDARESOURCES
5/25/202610 min read
Everglades, Florida Keys, Miami and Orlando
If you’re planning a Florida trip as a family, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
Should you focus on theme parks
Is it realistic to add the Everglades or the Keys?
Will the driving be too much with kids?
Because Florida can either feel like an incredible, varied trip — or completely exhausting.
This guide is for families travelling with children who want to combine theme parks with a broader Florida route, without the whole trip feeling rushed or overplanned.
Quick Answer: Can You Do Florida Properly in 2 Weeks with Kids?
Yes — but only if you get the pacing right.
For us, the combination of:
the Everglades
the Florida Keys
Miami
and Orlando
worked really well over two weeks, because we balanced travel days with slower, easier moments.
We planned and travelled this route independently from the UK with our son, and what you’ll find here is based on actually doing it — not just researching it.
That includes:
the long drives (and which worked)
the stops that felt worth it
and the parts we’d change next time
Throughout this guide, we share what made the biggest difference — particularly around pacing, which is what determines whether the trip feels exciting or exhausting.
You’ll also find links to the accommodation, tours and tools we used to plan the trip. Some may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only include options we’ve personally used and would book again as a family.
If you want to see how this route fits together day‑by‑day before diving into the detail:
→ See our full 2‑Week Florida Family Itinerary
How to Plan This Trip (Step by Step)
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the planning process step by step:
Step 1: Decide If a Florida Road Trip with Kids is Right for Your Family (Timing & Budget)
Before booking anything, it’s worth being honest — Florida isn’t a slow, easy trip.
You’re dealing with:
long drives
heat and queues
and full, active days
That’s why we found it works best with school‑aged children rather than toddlers — especially once theme park height restrictions start to matter.
To enjoy it properly, you really need around two weeks, which makes:
Easter holidays
or summer
the most realistic options for UK families.
Budget Reality
For a two‑week trip covering South Florida and Orlando, a sensible planning range is: £1,500–£2,000 per person (excluding flights)
This usually covers:
accommodation
car hire
theme park tickets
tours and activities
food
Costs can rise quickly if you don’t plan ahead — so knowing what to book early, and where to stay flexible, makes a big difference. If you want to see our real costs from our trip, see: How Much Does 2 Weeks in Florida Cost for UK Families?
If You’re Still Deciding
If you’re not sure whether Florida is the right type of trip for your family, start here:
Step 2: Decide Your Route
Before booking flights or accommodation, work out how you want the trip to flow.
Florida is bigger than most people expect, and route order has a big impact on:
driving time
energy levels
and how rushed the trip feels
We built this trip to start slower and build up, finishing in Orlando once we’d adjusted to the time zone.
South Florida + Orlando Family Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Fly into Tampa, drive south
Day 2: Everglades airboat + Big Cypress, arrive Key Largo
Day 3: Key Largo (snorkelling)
Day 4: Drive to Key West (via Overseas Highway)
Day 5: Miami (Raccoon Island + explore)
Day 6: Miami / Aventura
Day 7: Travel to Orlando
Day 8–14: Theme parks + rest days
Day 15: Fly home
This gave us:
variety
proper downtime
and enough flexibility to adapt
See the Full Plan
If you want the full day‑by‑day version with timings, stops and what we’d change:
Step 3: Flights – Where to Fly In and Out
For a two‑week trip, where you fly in and out makes a big difference.
We flew in and out of Tampa because it was cheaper at the time — but this route can easily work with:
Orlando
Miami
Fort Lauderdale
What Actually Matters
Arrive early evening (jet lag + late arrivals don’t mix well)
Book outbound flights later in the day where possible
Compare multiple airports — small changes can save hundreds
Compare Options First
Before booking, it’s worth checking both return and multi‑city routes:
Step 4: Car Hire (Essential for This Route)
For this itinerary — Everglades, the Keys and Orlando — a car isn’t optional, it’s essential.
It gives you the flexibility you need for:
long distances
flexible stops
and days that don’t always go exactly to plan
What Actually Matters
From our experience, a few things made the biggest difference:
choosing a car from the airport location for a smoother arrival
going slightly bigger (mid‑size SUV) for space and comfort over two weeks
understanding toll roads in advance — Florida has lots of them
Driving distances are also longer than they look once you add traffic and stops with kids.
If you’re unfamiliar with US driving, this is worth reading first:
→ Driving in the USA with Kids: What UK Families Need to Know
Navigation & Connectivity
This is a small detail that makes a big difference.
We relied heavily on Google Maps and downloaded routes in advance for areas with weaker signal, especially around the Everglades and parts of the Keys.
Having navigation working straight away — without needing to connect to WiFi — takes a lot of stress out of arrival day and longer drives.
We used an eSIM so everything worked as soon as we landed, which made things much easier throughout the trip.
→ Check eSIM options for your trip
How to Book
We found it easiest to compare options early, then book once flights and the route were confirmed.
Step 5: Accommodation
Accommodation can make or break a Florida family trip, so focus on space, location and how the day will feel — not just price.
When planning, we found it useful to compare a mix of hotels, apartments and villas side-by-side to understand what would actually work at each stage of the trip.
Our approach was to mix and match depending on where we were:
Florida Keys
We chose apartment-style accommodation (Kawama Yacht Club, Key Largo), which gave us:
a kitchen
outdoor space
a more relaxed pace than a hotel
→ Where to Stay in the Florida Keys with Kids
Miami
We stayed just outside the city (Aventura), which worked better for:
parking
value
quieter evenings
→ Where to Stay in Miami, Florida with Kids
Orlando
We split our stay:
one night at Hard Rock Hotel Universal to maximise Early Park Entry and Express Pass
then moved to a Storey Lake villa for space, rest days and flexibility
→ Where to Stay in Orlando with Kids
How to Approach Booking
We found it easiest to shortlist a few options first, then book once flights and the route were confirmed.
→ Browse family-friendly accommodation options for your dates
Step 6: Tickets and Tours (Choose What Fits Your Family)
Florida has more ticket and tour options than you’ll realistically need.
The key isn’t doing everything — it’s choosing what actually fits:
your child’s age
energy levels
and how busy you want each day to feel
Theme Park Tickets: Make the Key Decisions Early
Universal Orlando was the focus for us, and there are a few choices that make a big difference:
Ticket type: We found Park‑to‑Park tickets worth it for flexibility (and the Hogwarts Express)
Which parks: Not every park suits every family — it’s worth prioritising
Queue strategy: Express Pass or staying in a Universal hotel can save a lot of time in peak periods
If you’re working this out, these are the most useful starting points:
How Universal Orlando Park Tickets Work (What UK Families Should Know)
Universal Studios vs Islands of Adventure vs Epic Universe: Which Is Better for School‑Aged Kids?
Stand‑Out Experiences (What Actually Worked for Us)
Alongside the parks, we kept things simple and chose a few key experiences:
Raccoon Island boat tour(Miami)
Snorkelling at John Pennekamp (Florida Keys)
Discovery Cove (Orlando)
These worked because they were:
shorter
easy to fit around travel days
and didn’t overload the schedule
More Ideas by Destination
If you want to build this out further depending on your route:
How to Book
We found it easiest to book the “must‑do” activities early, then leave some flexibility as the trip goes on.
→ Check activity availability for your dates with Get you Guide or Viator
Step 7: Arrange Your ESTAs
Every member of your family — including children — needs an ESTA to enter the USA.
It’s a straightforward process, but it’s not something to leave until the last minute. We recommend applying at least a couple of weeks before travel so it’s one less thing to think about.
If you’re unsure what’s required: ESTA, Visas & Entry Rules for UK Families Visiting the USA
Step 8: Travel Insurance (Don’t Skip This)
Travel insurance is essential for the USA.
Medical costs are high, and on a trip like this — with theme parks, water parks and outdoor activities — you want to know you’re properly covered.
We always arrange cover before booking final details, so everything is in place from the start.
→ Check travel insurance options for your trip
If you want to understand why this matters: Travel Insurance for the USA: Why You Cannot Get This Wrong
Step 9: Get Packing (Plan for Heat, Driving and Long Days)
Packing well for Florida makes a bigger difference than most people expect.
You’re dealing with:
heat outdoors
heavy air conditioning indoors
long park days
and long drives
The focus should be on comfort and practicality, not overpacking.
What mattered most for us:
lightweight, breathable clothes
comfortable trainers (you’ll walk a lot)
quick-dry swimwear
refillable bottles and small day bags
chargers and power banks
sun protection you know works
If you want a realistic packing guide based on what we actually used: What to Pack for a USA Road Trip with Kids
Final Thoughts: Why This Plan Works
This trip worked because we focused on how to plan it properly, not just where to go.
Getting the order right, being realistic about travel times, choosing accommodation that worked for family life, and booking the right key experiences in advance made a big difference once we were there.
Florida rewards preparation. The trips that feel enjoyable aren’t the ones trying to do everything — they’re the ones that balance structure with flexibility and know what to lock in early.
Think of this guide as a starting point — helping you plan with confidence, avoid common mistakes, and shape a trip that actually works for your family.
FAQ: Planning a 2‑Week Florida Trip with Kids
Our Experience Planning This Route
We’ve travelled Florida multiple times — including living there — and most recently completed this route in April 2026 with our extended family, including children aged 8–10 and grandparents.
This itinerary worked really well for us, balancing variety, pace and downtime without feeling overwhelming.
It’s not a fixed plan — but a proven starting point you can adapt based on what works for your family.
Is 2 weeks enough for a Florida trip with kids?
Yes — two weeks is the ideal balance, you can go longer but I wouldn't recommend anything shorter.
It gives you enough time to combine:
South Florida (Everglades, Keys, Miami)
and Orlando
without the trip feeling rushed.
Any shorter and you’ll need to cut either the Keys or reduce theme park time.
Can you do the Everglades, Florida Keys and Orlando in one trip?
Yes — but only if the route is planned carefully.
For us, it worked because we:
started with the Everglades and Keys
kept the pace slower at the beginning
and finished with Orlando once jet lag had settled
The order makes a big difference to how manageable the trip feels.
What is the best Florida itinerary with kids from the UK?
For UK families, a loop-style route works best:
Tampa / Miami → Everglades → Florida Keys → Miami → Orlando
This keeps driving logical and avoids unnecessary backtracking.
We found this gave a good mix of:
nature
beach stops
city time
and theme parks
Is the Florida Keys worth it with kids?
Yes — especially if you’re already in South Florida.
For us, it added:
a completely different pace
time away from crowds
and outdoor, water-based activities
It worked best as a short stop within the wider trip.
If you’re deciding whether to include the Keys, this post will help: Are the Florida Keys Worth Visiting with Kids?
How long should you spend in the Florida Keys with kids?
We found 2–3 nights worked really well.
The Keys are a long drive south, so it’s not somewhere you want to rush. Anything shorter can feel like a lot of effort for not enough time.
That said, you could easily stay longer if your family enjoys a slower pace. It’s one of the more relaxed parts of the trip, with space to unwind between busier stops.
A 2–3 night stay gives you time to:
explore Key Largo
do a snorkelling or boat trip
drive parts of the Overseas Highway
Much longer can start to feel slow for younger kids, but that depends on how much you prioritise beach time and downtime.
If you’re wondering how to plan a trip to the Florida Keys with kids, these will help:
Key Largo to Key West: One day road trip Itinerary and activities with kids
Snorkelling tours in the Florida Keys – are they worth it with kids?
Is Florida too tiring with kids?
It can be — if the trip is overpacked.
The key is:
building in rest days
limiting full-day activities
and not trying to do everything
For us, mixing busy days with quieter ones made the biggest difference.
When is the best time to visit Florida with kids from the UK?
The most practical times for UK families are:
Easter holidays
summer holidays
Both give you enough time for a full 2-week trip.
Weather-wise:
April is generally more comfortable
summer is hotter but works well with water-based activities
Do you need a car for a Florida family trip?
Yes — for this type of itinerary, a car is essential.
You’ll need it for:
the Everglades
driving the Keys
getting between Miami and Orlando
It also gives you flexibility, which is important when travelling with kids.
What should you book in advance for Florida?
We recommend booking:
key accommodation (especially in Orlando)
theme park tickets
must-do tours (e.g. airboat or Discovery Cove)
Then leave:
some activities
and free days
flexible later in the trip.
What is the biggest planning mistake families make?
Trying to do too much.
The trips that work best are the ones that:
prioritise key experiences
allow time to rest
and don’t treat every day as a must-do itinerary
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.
