South Florida

Length of Trip

To experience the various destinations, we’ve written this itinerary over 10 full days, with air travel on the 1st and 10th day. However, depending on your interest, availability, and flight options, you could extend by adding an extra day or two at any of the locations.

You could also extend your trip by heading north of Miami to explore the attractions of the Orlando area, or unwind at Cocoa Beach and delve into space history with a visit to the Kennedy Space Center. We would be happy to talk with you about what works best for your family.

Flight schedules may also impact your ability to do the activities as planned. See more details on the “getting there” page and reach out for any changes needed.

Travel Season

The dry season in South Florida, from December to April, offers mild temperatures, low humidity, and fewer insects, making it the most comfortable and popular time to visit. It's also the best season for spotting animals like alligators and wading birds.

   Jan     Feb     Mar     Apr     May     Jun     Jul     Aug     Sep     Oct     Nov     Dec   

Key:     best months       okay months     not advised

Tip: If you want to camp at Dry Tortugas, we'll investigate availability for that first, and may have to plan the trip around those dates. There are only 10 campsites on the island! 

Most nights on this trip involve lodging in 3-star hotels. Sometimes lodging in or adjacent to national parks may have fewer amenities, but is still the right choice based on location, as well as historic appeal. 

If you would prefer more luxurious lodging, let us know and we can present additional options along with the price difference. If you would prefer to save some money, let us know and we can discuss less expensive options as well. If you are interested in camping, there are campgrounds convenient to some, but not all, of the locations. Talk to our team about camping options in lieu of hotels when making your reservation. This will reduce cost significantly, but also may not always be available as park service campgrounds in particular often fill up quickly. (Note that Wandersaurus does not provide or facilitate rental of camping equipment.)

This week-long road trip through South Florida offers an unforgettable mix of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, but it also comes with a variety of physical challenges that travelers should be prepared for. 

Many of the activities, such as snorkeling and kayaking, require a moderate level of physical fitness and comfort in open water. Hiking is limited on this trip, but some of the experiences involves walking on uneven terrain, often in hot, humid conditions with limited shade. 

The tropical climate itself can be physically taxing, with high temperatures and humidity increasing the risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion. Visitors should be ready to spend long hours outdoors, often in direct sunlight, and should take precautions like staying hydrated and using sun protection.

Kids: You know your kids better than we do. Many of the boating and swimming activities may be too challenging for young kids, but in many cases there are less intense options available. Let us know if you have concerns about any particular items and we can discuss as needed.

When compared to most other Wandersaurus trips, these parks are practically next-door neighbors. That said, you will drive the Overseas Highway twice, which includes not only the Seven-Mile Bridge, but also many scenic stretches. The major drive times are as follows:

• Miami to Key West : 3 ½ hours

• Miami to Everglades: up to 3 hours round-trip

Other Logistics

There are no unique challenges associated with this trip, unless you camp at Dry Tortugas. In this case, you'll take the ferry instead of the seaplane, and the ferry company has a number of requirements to be followed. 

By Air

The metro Miami area has two busy commercial airports. MIA Miami International Airport in downtown, and is the busiest airport in South Florida. It is a hub for American Airlines and served by all major domestic carriers. It also has a consolidated rental car center with numerous agencies. Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood (FLL) is about 25 miles north and only slightly smaller. This means it will be a slightly longer drive on the first and last days, but either airport works fine. 

If you are adding some time in Orlando or other parts of Florida to your trip, there may be other airport options that make sense as well.

By Car

Florida is almost 500 miles long, and this trip is at the southern trip, so a drive from out of state likely adds a day of driving in each direction. However, travelers may find it more affordable to drive their own vehicle than fly and rent a car:

• Orlando is 3 1/2 hours from Miami.

• Jacksonville is ~5 hours from Miami.

• Charleston, SC is 9 hours from Miami.

• Atlanta, GA is 10-11 hours from Miami.

• Mobile, AL is 11 hours from Miami.

• New Orleans, LA is 13 hours from Miami.

If you’ll be driving to Florida let us know the details and we can make any necessary adjustments, or help you find accommodations en route.

Some features of this trip may have seasonal variation, so all package prices are presented as estimated ranges. Contact us for a more precise price estimate for your preferred travel dates. Pricing does NOT include airfare.

Couples / Two Travelers

This trip was originally designed for parties of 2 people, sharing a room. The expected total price for all included items is $4,000 - $4,600. 

Families

Groups of 3-6 people can enjoy this trip as well, with costs variable depending on room-sharing preferences. Contact us for details.

Solo

Many of the expenses on this trip are per-person activity fees, which means a solo traveler could save around $800 compared to the couples' price. 

Larger Groups

Many activites on this trip are made for small groups, but alternatives may exist for larger groups in most cases. Contact us to discuss!

Payment Policies

• Payments must be made by credit card. Specific restrictions may exist for certain lodging or activity vendors. 

• 20% deposit due at time of reservation

• Balance due 90 days before trip start date (If booking within 90 days of trip, full balance due at time of reservation)

• Some portion of deposit may be nonrefundable, as some excursions or activity fees (which will have been booked upon confirmation) are nonrefundable. Accommodations and transportation will generally be reserved as refundable.

• Fully refundable until 60 days before trip start, less $100 admin fee and any nonrefundable excursions

• 50% refundable until 14 days before trip start

• If cancelling within 14 days of trip start, no refunds are given

Included In Your Package Price

• Bespoke itinerary - tailored as needed to suit your particular requirements

• Overnight accommodations for all nights

• Rental car

• Maps of all driving routes

• Trail maps and trail descriptions for all recommended hikes

• Restaurant recommendations, at a range of price points, highlighting vegetarian and kid-friendly options

• “America the Beautiful” federal lands pass (grants access to all National Park Service facilities on the trip)

• Tickets to all museums included in trip plan

• Fees for any guided tours mentioned in trip plan

• Expert advice and local information, including packing suggestions

• Updated information on any changing conditions delivered in the weeks before your trip

• Carbon offset credits for the mileage driven along the main route of the itinerary

• Full support during your trip from the Wandersaurus Travel team (9:00 am until 9:00 pm Eastern Time)

Not Included

• Travel to and from your starting/ending points

• Gasoline, parking, and/or any other ground transportation expenses unless specified

• Meals unless specified

• Additional guided tours or excursions beyond those specified

• Tips/gratuities for any guides

• Travel insurance. Note: we recommend purchasing travel insurance via a certified insurance agency