How to plan a 2 week trip to Florida with kids: Everglades-Florida Keys-Miami-Orlando

Plan a 2‑week Florida trip with kids: Everglades wildlife, Florida Keys road trip, Miami highlights and Orlando theme parks—route, pacing and tips.

NORTH AMERICAFLORIDARESOURCES

7/9/20269 min read

Florida is one of those destinations 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 based on our own 2‑week Florida trip with a school‑aged child, planned and travelled independently from the UK. We didn’t just research this itinerary — we lived it: the long drives, the early park mornings, the days that worked brilliantly, and the ones that taught us what we’d do differently next time.

We’ve combined the Everglades, the Florida Keys, Miami and a full week in Orlando in a way that felt exciting without being overwhelming. Throughout the guide, we share what we genuinely loved, what we’d skip or shorten, and where slowing down mattered more than squeezing things in. The aim isn’t to do Florida “perfectly” — it’s to do it enjoyably as a family. Everything in this recommended itinerary is flexible and can be adjusted around your own priorities; think of it as a strong starting point to help you plan, adapt and shape a trip that works for your family.

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.

Step 1: Decide Whether Florida Is Right for Your Family

Before you book anything, it’s worth being honest: Florida isn’t a “slow” destination. You’re dealing with long drives, heat, queues and full days out — which is why we think it works best with school‑aged children rather than toddlers, particularly once height restrictions in the major theme parks come into play.

To enjoy it properly without constant rushing, you really need two full weeks, which makes the April school holidays or the summer break the most realistic times for UK families to go.

It’s also important to be realistic about budget. For a two‑week trip covering South Florida and Orlando, a sensible planning range is around £1,500–£2,000 per person, excluding flights. That typically covers accommodation, car hire, theme park tickets, tours, food and activities. Costs can rise quickly if you don’t plan ahead — which is why knowing what to book early and where to be flexible matters just as much as the route itself.

If you’re still deciding, these articles help set expectations:

Step 2: Decide your Route

Before booking flights or accommodation, it’s important to decide how you want your trip to flow. Florida is a large state, and the order in which you visit places makes a big difference to drive times, energy levels and how rushed the trip feels.

We built our route to start slow and nature‑focused, then gradually increase the pace, finishing with a full week in Orlando once jet lag had eased and everyone had settled into US time. This helped keep excitement high without burning anyone out too early.

Below is the South Florida + Orlando route that worked best for our family, but it’s flexible — individual stops can be shortened, extended or swapped depending on your priorities.

South Florida + Orlando Family Itinerary at a Glance

  • Day 1: Fly into Tampa, drive south

  • Day 2: Big Cypress & Everglades airboat tour, arrive Key Largo

  • Day 3: Key Largo — snorkelling at John Pennekamp

  • Day 4: Overseas Highway stops, Key West day trip

  • Day 5: Drive to Miami — Raccoon Island boat tour, explore Miami

  • Day 6: Aventura/Miami

  • Day 7: Transit day Miami > Orlando, visit Outlet malls

  • Day 8: Islands of Adventure, Hard Rock Hotel (for express passe access)

  • Day 9: Universal Studios Florida, move into 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 — favourite park, shopping or villa

  • Day 15: Fly home

This structure gave us variety, breathing space, and proper downtime, while still covering everything we most wanted to see. Think of it as a proven base you can now tailor to suit your own family’s interests, energy levels and bucket list.

Step 3: Flights – Where to Fly In and Out

For a two‑week itinerary covering both South Florida and Orlando, flying into one airport and out of another can make a big difference to pacing and overall travel time.

When we travelled in April, we flew into and out of Tampa, as it offered cheaper direct flights from London compared to Orlando at the time. That said, this itinerary is flexible and can easily be adapted depending on flight availability and price.

What to look for when booking flights from the UK:

  • Aim for flights that arrive early evening — jet lag combined with very late check‑ins doesn’t mix well with kids

  • Flights back to UK are almost always overnight, aim for a late evening flight to (hopefully) maximise on sleep

  • Compare Tampa, Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale — all work well as entry or exit points for this road trip

  • Check whether multi city or return flights offer the best value for your dates

👉 Compare multi‑city and return flight options using Trip (or similar comparison tools) before booking, especially for school‑holiday travel.

Step 4: Car Hire –Non‑Negotiable for This Itinerary

If you’re doing the Everglades, the Keys and Orlando, you need a car.

Key things we recommend:

  • Ensure the hire company is located in the airport for simplicity on arrival

  • Choose a mid‑size SUV for space, comfort and luggage over two weeks

  • Plan how you’ll manage tolls in advance — Florida toll roads are unavoidable and easy to get wrong if you’re not prepared

Driving distances are longer than they look, especially with stops and traffic.

Essential read for driving in the US, including how to navigate Florida Tolls: Driving in the USA with Kids: What UK Families Need to Know

Navigation & connectivity (don’t skip this)

We strongly recommend sorting an eSIM or data plan before you arrive. We relied heavily on Google Maps, including downloading maps offline as a backup for areas with patchy signal (particularly around the Everglades and parts of the Keys). Having navigation that works instantly — even without data — removes a surprising amount of stress when driving with kids.

👉 Book car hire early, especially for April or summer school holidays — prices rise fast. We recommend starting with a reputable comparison site such as Trip.com or Holiday Autos to compare inclusive pricing, insurance and toll options.

Step 5: Accommodation

Accommodation can make or break a Florida family trip, so prioritise places that support space, rest and location, not just price. We found Hotels.com and Expedia.com useful starting points when planning, as they allow you to compare family rooms, apartments and villas side‑by‑side, filter by reviews from other families, and shortlist options as plans evolve.

Our approach was mix‑and‑match, depending on the stage of the trip:

Tip: Start by shortlisting accommodation on Hotels.com that fits your route and family needs, then refine once flights and car hire are confirmed.

Step 6: Tickets and Tours – Book What Fits Your Family

Florida has an overwhelming number of ticket and tour options, so the key is being selective. You don’t need to do everything — you need to choose experiences that match your children’s ages, energy levels and interests.

Theme Park Tickets – Buy Smart

We opted for Universal Orlando, there are a few decisions to make early:

  • Ticket type: Decide between single‑park tickets or Park‑to‑Park tickets (we found Park‑to‑Park essential for flexibility and riding the Hogwarts Express).

  • Which parks: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and Epic Universe — not all parks will suit every family equally.

  • Queue strategy: Consider Universal Express Passes or staying at an Express Pass hotel (such as Hard Rock Hotel) to reduce queue times on busy days.

Before booking, these guides are worth reading:

Always compare official prices with authorised resellers before purchasing — ticket structures and inclusions vary, my guide on Orlando park tickets breaks this down for families.

Stand‑Out Experiences We Chose

Alongside the theme parks, we booked a small number of tours that added variety without exhausting the schedule:

These worked well because they were short, well‑paced, and age‑appropriate, rather than full‑day commitments.

More Ideas by Destination

We picked the activities that best suited our family, but there are plenty of other excellent options depending on your route and children’s interests. We’ve broken these down by location to make planning easier:

Planning tip: Book must‑do experiences in advance, but leave some space for flexibility — especially later in the trip when energy levels can vary.

Step 7: Organise your families ESTA’s

Every member of your family, including children, needs an ESTA before travelling to the USA. Apply a couple of weeks 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

Step 8: Travel Insurance

Do not skip this. Medical costs in the USA are significant, and a family trip of this length with this many activities — air boating, 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

Step 9: Get Packing – Prepare for Heat, Cars and Long Days Out

Packing well for Florida makes a bigger difference than you might expect. You’re dealing with heat, air‑conditioned buildings, water activities, long car journeys and full park days, so comfort and practicality matter far more than outfits.

Focus on:

  • Lightweight, breathable clothing

  • Comfortable trainers (you’ll walk a lot)

  • Swimwear that dries quickly

  • Refillable water bottles and small day backpacks

  • Chargers, power banks and anything to keep devices going on long drives

  • A simple first‑aid kit and sun protection you know works for your family

We’ve broken this down properly in our dedicated guide, including what we actually used on our USA road trip, what we were glad we packed, and what we didn’t need in the end: What to Pack for a USA Road Trip with Kids

Getting packing right upfront removes a huge amount of stress once you’re there — especially on park days and long driving days.

Final Thoughts: Why This Plan Works

This trip worked because we didn’t just focus on where we were going — we focused on planning properly upfront. Knowing the order to visit places, understanding realistic drive times, choosing accommodation that supported family life, and booking the right tours and tickets in advance made a huge difference once we were on the ground.

Florida rewards preparation. The families who enjoy it most aren’t the ones trying to do everything, but the ones who know when to book early, where flexibility matters, and which costs are worth locking in versus leaving open. Throughout this guide, we’ve shared not just the route we followed, but the exact tools, accommodation, tours and ticket strategies we used to manage cost, availability and stress — because those decisions are what shape the experience day‑to‑day.

If you want a deeper, day‑by‑day breakdown of how this all fits together, you can read our full itinerary here: 2‑Week Florida Family Itinerary: Everglades, Florida Keys & Theme Parks

Think of this guide as your planning framework — a way to start informed, book confidently, and adapt the trip to suit your own family, budget and travel style.

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.