8 Best Day Trips from Miami for Families

Jump in the car, pack some travel games, and enjoy fabulous day trips from Miami! There are amazing cities and gorgeous destinations within a three-hour drive of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach that allow families to have fun together...and make it home in time to sleep in their own beds the same night.

Check out some of our favorite day trips from Miami and South Florida perfect for kid-friendly experiences. Children and parents will love spending an exciting day together without worrying about overnight lodging and exhausting flights. Happy travels!

For more fun in the sun, check out the Best Shark Tooth Beaches in Florida and Awesome Splash Pads and Spraygrounds in Miami and Fort Lauderdale!

Day Trips from Miami & South Florida

 
Majorly fun day trips from Miami include a visit to Key Largo! Photo courtesy of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Concession

1. Key Largo/Islamorada/Marathon, Florida

From West Palm Beach - 2.5 hours; from Miami - 1 hour, 15 minutes

The first few towns in the Keys offer a great day trip from Miami and South Florida. Must-see spots include Islamorada, Marathon, and Key Largo, which offer boat tours, waterside restaurants, and more! In Islamorada, check out Theater of the Seas, where guests get a look into its lagoons and tropical gardens, which house dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles, fish, stingrays, birds, and more. In Key Largo, visit John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the country's first undersea park. At this park, enjoy scuba and snorkeling tours, glass-bottom boats tours, and power boat rentals.

 
Reach for the stars during a day trip to the Kennedy Space Center. Photo courtesy of the center

2. Kennedy Space Center/Cocoa Beach, Florida

From Fort Lauderdale - 3 hours; from West Palm Beach - 2.5 hours

Kennedy Space Center teaches visitors all about NASA through exhibits, displays, hands-on activities, and artifacts from actual space missions. Arrive early as there's lots to do and see at the center. While in the area, head over to the always fun Cocoa Beach —visit Cocoa Beach Pier for a bite and enjoy the bustling boardwalk.

 
Enjoy an underwater adventure in Bimini, Bahamas! Photo courtesy of Neal Watsons Bimini Scuba Center 

3. Bimini, Bahamas

From Miami - 3 hours; from Fort Lauderdale - 2.5 hours

Board a 3-hour ferry tour from Fort Lauderdale to Bahamas and enjoy the island for the day! Bimini trips include exciting excursions like shipwreck tours, dolphin swimming, shark diving, scuba diving, snorkeling, beach visits (often part of the ferry ticket cost), and restaurants. 

4. Orlando, Florida

From West Palm Beach - 2.5 hours; from Fort Lauderdale - 3 hours

Orlando is a fantastic day trip from Miami and South Florida! Enjoy Orlando theme parks like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Legoland, for a full day of major fun. Not vibing the massive theme parks? Check out our list of 100 Things to Do in Orlando with Kids (Minus the Theme Parks)! 

 
Make friends with the giraffes at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. Photo courtesy of the zoo

5. Naples, Florida

From Miami - 2 hours; from Fort Lauderdale - 1 hour 42 minutes

At just under 2 hours from Fort Lauderdale, this Florida day trip offers tons of things to do in Naples for every family. Activities include the Golisano Children's Museum, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Naples Botanical Garden, and Sun-N-Fun Lagoon water park.

RELATED: Air Boat Rides and Tours Near Orlando: Family Adventures Await

6. Fort Myers, Florida

From Miami - 2.5 hours; from Fort Lauderdale - 2 hours

Take a day trip to Fort Myers, where families can enjoy an ecotour of the Everglades. Guests experience the Everglades by boat cruise through the mangrove forest; by airboat across the sawgrass prairie; and by foot across a cypress swamp. The Captain Bob’s Excellent Airboat Adventure tour is great for younger kids. (These air boat tours are also available in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area if you prefer to stay closer to home.) Keep cool indoors at IMAG History and Science Center, with over 60 interactive exhibits!

 
Kids will love splashing around Sun Splash Family Waterpark. Photo courtesy of the water park

7. Cape Coral, Florida

From Miami - 2.5 hours; from Fort Lauderdale - 2 hours

Stay cool at Cape Coral's Sun Splash Family Waterpark. This water park offers deals on holidays and features an activity or ride suited for every member of the family. If you prefer getting out on the open waters, Cape Coral offers many types of boat tours to experience the local wildlife of Southwest Florida.

 
Take a thrilling air boat tour through the Everglades. Photo courtesy of Everglades Day Safari 

8. Everglades National Park - Homestead, Florida

From Miami - 40 minutes; from West Palm Beach - 1 hour 46 minutes

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The national park spans 1.5 million acres of tropical and subtropical habitat, with one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems! Guided tours are given by foot, bike, tram, airboat, canoe, or kayak.