21-Day Florida Road Trip Vacation Rental w/ Rental Car
Vacationing in Florida means discovering an incredible variety of nature and culture. Tropical beaches, picturesque small towns, amazing fun in theme parks, exploration tours through the Universal Picture Studios or the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral make a road trip through the state diverse and exciting. The best way is to do your Florida road trip with a rental car. I have an absolutely recommended 21-day route through sunny Florida for you, where you can truly relax a lot and experience even more.
- Days 1 to 3 – Experience Miami
- Days 4 to 6 – Key West
- Days 7 to 13 – Cape Coral
- Days 14 to 16 – Clearwater
- Days 20 and 21 – Fort Lauderdale
In your first three days, you’ll experience Miami in all its splendor. You’ll stay right in Miami Beach, relax on the beach, explore vibrant Miami on foot, by rental car, by bus, by boat, and even by helicopter from the air.
The first day is reserved for a stress-free arrival in Miami. You’ll check into your accommodations right in the city, enjoy the view, and unwind with a great dinner and a drink in a breathtaking setting.
After a lavish breakfast, it’s time to go exploring in Miami Beach. And there truly is a lot to discover—I promise you that! First up is surely the bright white sandy beach, which, thanks to the series Miami Vice, made millions of people dream of relaxing here someday. Enjoy it, but don’t linger too long in the morning, because with the Miami Go City All-Inclusive Pass you can discover more than 25 attractions in Miami Beach and the surrounding area with incredible discounts and free admission. Visit Zoo Miami, the Seaquarium, the ARTTECHOUSE Miami, the Perez Art Museum, or Miami’s Children’s Museum.
The Miami Go City All-Inclusive Pass also gives you many more options for the rest of your road trip. Included are the Wonderworld All-Access Pass Orlando, the option to rent a bike, as well as a glass-bottom boat ride and a snorkeling excursion in Fort Lauderdale.
After your strolls through the Art Deco District and along Ocean Drive, a special highlight awaits you in the evening. With a private helicopter tour at sunset in a very small group of just three people, you can take in Miami Beach from above. After dinner at one of the many restaurants, the best way to end your first exciting day is to wind down on the beach.
Your third day in Miami Beach becomes an experience with a half-day sightseeing tour on the Big Bus followed by a boat ride. Let the open-top sightseeing bus chauffeur you through the city’s lively neighborhoods and districts such as Lincoln Road or the famous Espanola Way. Discover the Brickell neighborhood with its high-rises, restaurants, and shopping options before heading to the well-known arts district of Wynwood. On the boat, you can then enjoy and relax in the wonderful bay of Miami Beach at your leisure.
On the fourth day, you’ll head to Key West early in the morning. Key West is about 270 kilometers south of Miami Beach. The Keys are flat islands made of coral deposits and sandstone. Visit Monkey Jungle in Miami with its cheeky macaques that can even be fed. What’s special is that you walk along a caged pathway while the monkeys enjoy their freedom. The private tour, where you’re right there with the monkeys in the enclosure, rounds out the experience at the Monkey Park.
The next highlight is Robbie’s Marina of Islamorada. It’s a mix of hippie enclave and giant playground. This is where the namesake Robbie lives with his wife Mona. He was seriously injured by a large bonefish, a tarpon, and has carried the nickname Scarface ever since. The two of them nursed the culprit back to health, and since then many tarpon come right up to the docks. You can even feed one of the impressive bonefish yourself! End the evening with a delicious meal at a restaurant in Isla Morada.
On the fifth day, you’ll make your way to the Southernmost Point, the southernmost point of the continental U.S. Even though that isn’t entirely correct—because the southernmost point of Key West is on a military base—a photo at the Southernmost Point is a must on your Florida road trip. After that, head to Bahia Honda State Park with its unique flora and fauna. Here you can enjoy nature, relax on the beach, and admire the old railroad bridge. At the historic bar Sloppy Joe’s on Duval Street, refuel with the famous sandwich and a tasty cocktail.
The sixth day of your Florida road trip can be a bit more relaxed. Look forward to watching dolphins in their natural habitat on a dolphin-watching tour in Key West. After that, you’ll set off on an incredible discovery journey while snorkeling in the Key West Wildlife Refuge. In the evening, the most spectacular sunset awaits at Mallory Square.
Starting on day seven, your Florida road trip continues by rental car to Cape Coral. Now seven days of carefree vacation time with lots of sights, beaches, parties, and distinctive restaurants for indulging await you. You can plan the next days however you like. I’ve put together the hotspots and must-dos in Cape Coral as inspiration for you.
On the way to Cape Coral, the first highlight is already waiting for you: Everglades National Park. Experience the fascinating nature and wildlife on a kayak tour, an airboat tour, or on foot.
Cape Coral offers plenty of sights and attractions that you can visit with your rental car in Florida. The Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve nature preserve, the Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly Garden, or the Southwest Florida Military Museum offer lots of variety. At the Cape Coral Famrers Market you’ll find many treats, you can burn off energy bowling at HeadPinz in Cape Coral, and you can party late into the night at Dixie Roadhouse.
Whether at Cape Coral Beach, on the beach of Sanibel Island. on the beach in Siesta Key, or at Captiva Island Beach – the most beautiful beaches around Cape Coral invite you to relax. Everywhere you can rent a boat and explore and enjoy the great area on the water. On Pine Island you won’t find a beach, but instead a picturesque small town with art galleries. Restaurants and gift shops, set amid citrus plantations and beautiful mangrove forests. Definitely recommended for a side trip!
If you’re out and about a lot, you also need something to eat and drink. Countless restaurants and bars in Cape Coral invite you to do just that. Whether it’s the most popular restaurant Ford’s Garage with typical American food, Bubba’s Roadhouse, Lobster Lady Seafood Market with all kinds of fish dishes, or Papa John’s Johns with its excellent pizza – Cape Coral has a lot to offer culinary-wise as well.
On day 14, you’ll head to Clearwater. Here, too, there’s plenty to experience again. Adventure rides on a pirate ship await you, as do romantic dinner evenings on the pier.
After the action-packed experiences in Cape Coral, treat yourself to a little break on day 14 of your Florida road trip with the rental car in Florida. Enjoy the sun at Clearwater Beach and recharge. You’ll get a bit of action with the Clearwater Beach pirate cruise with lunch, and in the evening it’s best to relax with a romantic dinner including a magical sunset at Pier 60.
On day 15 of your Florida road trip, continue through Clearwater Beach and the exciting city of St. Petersburg in Tampa Bay. Visit the Sunken Gardens in the heart of St. Petersburg. The botanical garden is one of the most popular day-trip destinations in Florida. The best time to visit is in the morning, so you’ll have enough time for a tiki boat ride on the Gulf of Mexico. With a delicious cocktail at the floating tiki bar, you can really enjoy the sea and its inhabitants.
You’ll end the day with a helicopter flight over Clearwater Beach, which allows breathtaking views of Pier 60, the white beach, the clear water, and the barrier islands, and a meal at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill.
Use the day to sleep in and relax, because in the evening you’ll continue on to Orlando. On a Clearwater dolphin discovery tour, go in search of the bottlenose dolphin and wrap up your trip to Clearwater Beach with a sunset boat ride on the green-shimmering Gulf of Mexico. Maybe you’ll spot one of the legendary green flashes that can be seen here.
Three days in Orlando now await you at the end of your Florida road trip with a rental car. Disney World, Downtown Orlando, and Universal Studios are waiting for your visit.
The World Disney Resort celebrates its 50th birthday in 2023. In the unique theme park, there are countless attractions, rides, and two water parks that make for a fun-filled and exciting day on your Florida trip.
On day 18 of your trip, I recommend a Downtown Orlando day. Visit the city’s most important and most worth-seeing places. Experience the lively atmosphere on Church Street, visit Lake Eola Park or the Orlando Science Center, and relax in Thornton Park. In the evening, dive into Orlando’s nightlife. In countless downtown clubs, you can party and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere.
Your last day in Orlando should be dedicated to Universal Orlando Resort. The NBC Universal-owned resort offers two unique theme parks, one of which is a water park. Here, the attractions and shows of six themed worlds are waiting to be visited by you. Special attractions include the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit roller coaster, Revenge of the Mummy, the Universal Horror Make Up Show, and the Terminator 2 3D film.
At the end of your trip through Florida with a rental car, you’ll head to Fort Lauderdale. On your last day before departure, on day 21 of your road trip, immerse yourself in the colorful life of Fort Lauderdale. Shop and eat your way along Las Olas Boulevard, experience outdoor fun in Las Olas Oceanside Parks, or experience Hollywood at the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. Admire pink flamingos at Flamingo Gardens, enjoy nature at Bonnet House Museums & Gardens, or take a hop-on-a-boat tour on the water.
So that everything goes smoothly on your trip through beautiful Florida, in addition to a reliable rental car you’ll also need a working smartphone for calling and browsing, admission tickets for the sights, and of course a roof over your head. You can easily take care of all of that with my tips.