Ultimate One Week Florida National Parks Trip

Interested in learning how to plan a Florida National Parks Trip? Want to explore Miami too? You’ve come to the right place!

Every year, we make an effort to take a thrifty girls trip together with our friend Megan. This June, we decided to hit all the US National Parks in the state of Florida including: Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and Dry Tortugas National Park.

Important Info to Know Before You Go on a Florida National Park Trip!

• Summer in Florida is HOT! Make sure you bring ample sunscreen and bug spray. If you plan to go to the reefs, research reef-safe sunscreen. We bought this Blue Lizard sunscreen on Amazon.
• Bring a swim-shirt. After many days out in the sun, your skin might need a break.
• If you plan to go to Dry Tortugas, book your ticket on the Yankee Freedom ferry about 3 months out at least. If planning to camp on the island, book 1 year out.
• Florida has a lot of toll-roads. Make sure to factor that into your budget.

Below, you will find out 5 day Florida national parks trip itinerary. We took one day on each end of our trip to make the 10-11 hour drive from Atlanta, Georgia to Miami, Florida.

Florida National Parks Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Everglades National Park

• Pack a lunch and make the 35 minute drive from Miami, Florida to Everglades National Park in the morning.
• Take a breathtaking 40 minute air boat road through the marshes of the Everglades with Coopertown Air Boats from $29.95 per adult.
• Head to the Shark Valley Visitor Center another 15 minutes down the road.
• Rent a bicycle for $23/day and bike down the 15 mile paved trail to see the sites of the park including alligators, colorful insects, turtles, fish, and more. If you need a more accessible activity, there is a guided-tram tour for $29 that drives you down the trail.
• On your way back to Miami, make a stop for some fantastic cuban food at the Original Rio Cristal. Get a palomilla steak, some croquetas de jamon (ham), and a mamey shake.

Day 2: Explore Miami, Florida

• Hit up a Publix, grab some subs or snacks and pack a cooler.
• Spend the morning/early afternoon at South Pointe Park for beach time.
• After freshening up, head to Little Havana. Grab a bite at Old Havana Cuban bar. Stroll along Calle Ocho and don’t miss the opportunity for an ice cream at Azucar.
• Grab a rideshare to Wynwood. Take in the Wynwood walls and then enjoy the various fun bars and music. We recommend Oasis Wynwood and Miami Mojito Company.
• If you need a late night bite to eat, grab some tacos or a quesadilla at Coyo Taco.

Day 3: Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park does not have an entrance fee. However, as the park is 95% underwater, exploring it by boat is the way to go. Book a tour out into Biscayne National Park’s beautiful waters with the Biscayne National Park Institute. Your tour fee goes to maintaining the park and toward marine research!

Join a snorkeling, kayaking, or boat cruise activity. We did the small group snorkel experience for $109 and saw beautiful coral reefs and a shipwreck!

We packed sandwiches and snacks again for the boat ride for lunch, and ate dinner in that night as well to save on costs!

Day 4: Highway US-1 to Key West, Florida

• The drive from Miami to Key West is about 165 miles and takes approximately 3.5 hours. Start early!
• When we arrived in Key West around lunch time, we went straight to the Southernmost Point of the Continental US and took a picture with the iconic buoy.
• We ate our packed sandwiches and then checked into our airbnb on Key Haven, about 15 minutes from Old Town.
• Hit Smathers Beach in the afternoon for a swim and some sunshine. Unfortunately, when we went, there was lots of seaweed.
• Shower up and head to Kaya Island Eats for some amazing fish tacos.
• Get to sleep early to prepare for the early morning ferry ride to Dry Tortugas.

Day 5: Dry Tortugas National Park

• Grab some iced coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Cuban Coffee Queen (284 Margaret St) right next to the ferry terminal around 6:45 AM.
• Check in for the Yankee Freedom ferry between 7-7:15 AM.
• We had to pay to park our car for the day, which was $40 for the full day.
• The ferry begins boarding at 7:30 AM based, starting with people who checked in the earliest. If you want to pick a good seat, plan to arrive early!
• The ferry does provide mini bagels, yogurt, and juice, if you prefer to skip Cuban Coffee Queen and eat what’s provided.
• The boat ride is 2.5 hours each way, with only 4.5 hours of island time. We did a quick tour of Fort Jefferson, at the sandwich and chips provided by the boat crew for lunch, and spent the rest of our time snorkeling around the island. Snorkeling gear provided.
• Upon arriving back in Key West at 5 PM, we grabbed some dinner at Onlywood Pizzeria Trattoria.
• Catch the sunset in Mallory Square.
• Grab some Key Lime Pie to go at Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe and head back to the airbnb for a night in.

Day 6-7: Road trip home

On our way out of Key West, we stopped to grab some fantastic donuts at Glazed Donuts, don’t miss it! Then we drove back to Miami, where we stayed with family members for a final dinner and dunk in the pool.

On Day 7, we took turns driving the 10 hours back to Atlanta.

Florida National Parks Trip Budget

Gas and Tolls to Miami/Key West:	$67 per person
Parking in Key West:	$23 per person
Activities:	$350 per person
Lodging in Key West:	$200 per person*
Food & Drink:	$250 per person
TOTAL:	$890 per person

Ways to Save on a Florida National Parks Trip!

• As you can see, we significantly cut costs by traveling by car to a place where we could stay for free half the time!
• If you have an annual National Park pass, you will save $15 on the Yankee Freedom ferry ticket.
• Packing sandwiches and snacks always!
• Opt to explore the Shark Valley Tram Trail by foot for a few miles. We saw turtles, alligators, and interest insects in just the first mile of the trail.
• Travel in a group! Key West lodging will be much cheaper per person if you travel in a group.

Have fun on your Florida national parks trip! Feel free to ask us questions and leave comments if you go! You can also check out our other tropical location itineraries for more beach trip inspiration!