Welcome to the final phase of our epic North America road trip. This journey wraps up our unforgettable 2015 – 2016 adventure across the USA and Canada, where we explored 48 US states and 7 Canadian provinces as a family.
This series captures our most meaningful road trips, broken into 12 easy-to-follow phases, each packed with real experiences, family moments, a plethora of roadtrip stops, and plenty of lessons from life on the road.
Phase 12 brings it all to a close. One last adventure, one last stretch of open road, and the perfect way to finish a trip that completely changed us.
Here is how our full journey unfolds across the continent:
Phase 1: We explored Eastern Canada for just over one month
Phase 2: A month discovering the Midwest USA
Phase 3: Road trip from Oregon to Vancouver, Canada
Phase 4: Exploring Western Canada, with a quick side trip into Alaska
Phase 5: A massive 5,500 km drive from British Columbia to New York
Phase 6: A slow travel journey from New York to Florida, including Nashville and Atlanta
Phase 7: A 2,181-mile route through the deep South, from Florida to Texas, New Orleans, and Santa Fe
Phase 8: The northern loop of the Grand Circle, including Vegas, Colorado, and Utah
Phase 9: A second Grand Circle adventure through Nevada, Arizona, and Utah
Phase 10: A fast-paced California road trip week, including Sacramento and San Francisco
Phase 11: A two-week East Coast Canada adventure through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
Phase 12: Our big finale, a two-week Florida road trip
Phase 12 – Jacksonville → Amelia Island → St Augustine → Orlando → St Pete/Clearwater → Tampa → Naples → Florida Keys → Miami
Total distance: 886 miles (1,503 km)
Fuel: US$347.84
Groceries: US$291.12
How many times can you visit Florida? Apparently, quite a few. This was our fourth trip in 2016, and we still managed to uncover new places every single time. Incredible places. Places built for relaxation, adventure, wildlife encounters, and proper family fun.
This time, we set out to explore the entire state from north to south. A true Florida road trip with kids, packed with beaches, theme parks, wildlife, and unforgettable moments.
If you are planning a USA family road trip, this is one of the best routes you can take, packed with the best places in Florida to visit.
Check Florida Hotel Prices Here
Best Things To Do in Florida USA
Jacksonville, Florida – Beaches, Food, and Family Fun
Dates: Day 1 – 2
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton Jacksonville Beachfront
Best Travel Attraction: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
We landed in Jacksonville early evening, picked up our SUV, and drove straight to our hotel in the dark. Everyone was tired, but we knew the best family vacation spots in Florida were only a sleep away.
The next morning, we were stunned to see just how beautiful the beachfront hotel was.
The room layout was perfect for travelling with kids. Two queen beds plus a separate lounge meant Mia and Caius could sleep while I stayed up a little longer.
Dinner was easy at Sneakers Sports Grill, where the kids were mesmerised by giant screens showing American sports.
Breakfast the next morning was at Maple Street Biscuit Company. They call out your order using a fun question of the day. Ours was bucket list destinations, so we heard everything from Iceland to New Zealand across the room.
I tried fried chicken for breakfast. Surprisingly good. Still not something I would repeat.
We explored downtown via water taxi and stopped into MOSH Museum of Science & History.
But my kids will only tell you about their favourite stop, Sweet Pete’s Candy.
Three levels of candy, a lollipop-making class, and the most incredible smell of sugar you can imagine. Leaving empty-handed was not an option.
The intricate décor and building are incredible, with thought injected into every detail, covering all three floors of candy magic.
We got to meet Sweet Pete himself as he held a candy-making class for us, where he demonstrated how to craft a hard candy lollipop, and we followed along.
We finished the day at the zoo, where the baby gorillas completely stole the show.
Our highlight was the baby gorillas playing with other monkeys. I could have stayed for hours watching their cute antics.
For dinner, we enjoyed Safe Harbor Seafood Jax Beach on the water. You can’t go past the fish and chips in baskets, and the sauce is free (unlike in Australia). Delicious food, perfect location… only one thing, watch out for pesky mosquitoes if sitting outside.
Amelia Island – Coastal Escape and Slow Travel
Dates: Day 3 – 4
Accommodation: Omni Amelia Island Resort – check prices
Best Travel Attraction: Amelia Island Beaches
Today, we started with breakfast at Metro Diner in Jacksonville Beach.
After that, we were on our next destination, Amelia Island, a playground for the rich and famous. Amelia Island offered a completely different pace. Relaxed, coastal, and quietly luxurious.
While I attended a travel conference at Omni Resort, Mia and Caius made the most of the pool, games centre, and beach. It is one of those places where you slow down and enjoy the moment.
St Augustine – History, Pirates and Old World Charm
Dates: Day 5 – 6
Accommodation: Beacher’s Lodge
Best Travel Attraction: Dolphin & Manatee Kayak
St Augustine completely surprised me. I had not researched much beforehand, and it turned out to be one of the most fascinating stops of the trip.
It is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States, founded in 1565.
We explored the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, where the kids took part in a treasure hunt and fully embraced their pirate phase.
At Castillo de San Marcos, they spent a solid hour defending the fort from imaginary pirates.
Day 6 included the St Augustine Alligator Farm and a trolley tour around town after I hurt my foot. Not ideal, but it gave us a great overview.
Having hurt my foot on the bed the evening before we decided to catch the Old Town Trolley around St Augustine to get a lay of the land and learn more about its rich beauty. As we passed down one street, we spotted The Kookaburra – a café selling Aussie meat pies, and we hastily got off at the next stop. Well, the pies weren’t as authentic as we had hoped, but they were a close taste of home.
We wandered up gorgeous St. George Street and stopped in at the Oldest Wooden School House.
If you love history, then you might find the entry fee worthwhile, it is just a quick look inside, and a small wander through the gardens, so do not expect too much bang for your buck.
Nearby, the Spanish Bakery café was a yummy place for a quick lunch. It features a traditional Spanish-style kitchen layout and plenty of outdoor picnic tables.
Just a 7-minute stroll north along San Marco Ave, we found the original Ripley’s Believe It or Not!. The true holy grail of weirdness.
We’ve explored a few of these around the world, but this is the very first. The only one Robert Ripley ever visited himself.
As always, the kids were hooked. Soaking up all the strange facts, wild stories, quirky oddities, and hands-on exhibits.
Before we departed St Augustine, we had one more stop at Marineland Dolphin Adventure. After 75 years, these guys know a thing or two about dolphins. And as the world’s first oceanarium, this used to be Florida’s #1 tourist attraction (before Disney World).
Orlando, Florida – Theme Parks and Big Energy
Dates: Day 7 – 8
Accommodation: Lowes Sapphire Falls Orlando (check latest prices)
Best Travel Attraction: Universal Studios Orlando
Before hitting the theme parks, we stopped at Gatorland, where you can zip line over alligators.
We rested the rest of the day before an action-packed theme park adventure. First stop Universal Studios. Big rides, big crowds, big excitement. We prefer Universal over Walt Disney World Orlando.
Dinner at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium was a highlight. The milkshakes alone were next level.
2026 note – to be honest, this part of the trip changed my life forever. I will never forget the morning before Universal Studios. Instead of overwhelming joy and the super fun family trip ya’ll saw on social media, this is where I first found out about my husband’s infidelity, which ignited the fire that destroyed our 15 years of marriage. More about the death of Travel With Bender here.
St Pete and Clearwater – Beaches and Unique Experiences
Dates: Day 9 – 10
Accommodation: RumFish Beach at Tradewinds (check latest prices)
Best Travel Attraction: Clearwater Marine Aquarium
We woke to the sound of the ocean and spent our days enjoying everything from beach time to snorkelling inside the aquarium at RumFish Grill, home to a 33,500-gallon aquarium that was featured on Animal Planet’s “Tanked” TV show. Not that the kids noticed, because the restaurant offered them complimentary iPads during dinner. Oh, and did I mention the food was incredible?
The giant inflatable beach slide was on repeat all day for the kids. The High Tide Slide is a three-story-high, 200-foot-long inflatable water slide right on the sandy beach.
Recharged and refreshed on our Florida road trip, we packed up and made our way to the iconic Clearwater Marine Aquarium. One of the top family-friendly attractions on Florida’s Gulf Coast and home to Winter the Dolphin, the famous tail-less movie star dolphin.
Her story is nothing short of incredible. Winter has become a symbol of resilience and hope, inspiring visitors from all over the world. Especially those navigating their own challenges.
Not far from Clearwater Aquarium we enjoyed sunset on the beach at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a casual dinner, while the kids play in the sand and the golden sun melts into the ocean. Bliss!
Tampa Bay – Culture, Food, and Theme Parks
Dates: Day 11 – 12
Accommodation: Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina – check price
Best Travel Attraction: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Tampa delivered a mix of culture and adrenaline.
We explored the food scene at Oxford Exchange before heading to Busch Gardens, where Mia took on one of the tallest drop towers in North America.
The food scene in Tampa absolutely blew us away on our Florida road trip. We couldn’t get enough. Especially breakfast at Datz, easily one of the best spots in Tampa.
Do yourself a favour and order the sticky monkey bread. A soft, cinnamon-loaded dream that’s downright irresistible. Even our usually quiet son couldn’t hold back, declaring, “I love this stuff!”
It was time to walk off all that sugary goodness, so we made our way to ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Widely ranked as one of the best zoos in the US and a must-visit stop on any Florida road trip.
You’ll want to allow at least three hours to explore, though a full day is ideal if you have the time. With the Florida heat in full swing, our kids made a beeline for the Australia-themed splash pad. And honestly, we couldn’t blame them. Getting them to leave was nearly impossible.
Before long, those rumbling tummies were back, so we continued eating our way through Tampa and headed to the Tampa Museum of Art to check out Sono Café.
Set right along the scenic Tampa Riverwalk, it’s a perfect stop on any Florida road trip. Especially if you’re travelling with kids. There’s a large playground just steps away, so while we waited for our fresh, organic lunch, the kids happily ran off some energy.
A relaxed walk along the Tampa Riverwalk was the perfect way to let lunch settle. This scenic 2.4 mile, roughly 4 km stretch follows the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel right through the heart of Tampa.
One of the fun adult perks is that drinks can be enjoyed while you stroll, as long as they’re purchased from approved vendors along the route. It adds a laid back, social feel to one of the best waterfront walks on a Florida road trip.
I was ready for a nap, but we all know kids have seemingly limitless energy, so we kept going to the next attraction – the Glazer Children’s Museum. We couldn’t stop them – they were running from one floor to another, piloting a freighter, running a weather TV show, performing on a stage, and immersing in water play.
To end the evening, we headed to Ulele, a restored public water works facility that now holds the private art collection of Richard Gonzmart. The food quality was disappointing, considering the rave reviews we had heard and ranking amongst the top 100 restaurants in the United States, but the art was not. Go have a look.
Naples and Marco Island – Dolphins and Coastal Nature
Dates: Day 13
Best Travel Attraction: Dolphin Explorer
This was not your typical dolphin tour. The guide knew the dolphins by name, and they responded to him.
We explored the Ten Thousand Islands and walked along untouched beaches, collecting shells.
Florida Keys and Key West Florida – Island Life and Ocean Adventures
Dates: Day 14 – 15
Accommodation: Hawks Cay Resort – check prices
Best Travel Attraction: Snorkelling Coffins Patch
The Keys were the perfect way to finish – the ultimate family vacation destinations.
We visited the Turtle Hospital. This facility has been running since 1986. They treat injured sea turtles and, when possible, release them back into the wild.
After the turtles, we snorkelled at Coffins Patch reef and explored Key West.
Oh, and if you really want to end the evening the right way, then don’t miss Sweet Savannah’s delicious key lime pie, cupcake, or ice cream… or all three!
The next morning we soaked up our final hours at the incredible Hawks Cay Resort, one of the standout stays on our Florida road trip.
The kids made the most of it, hopping between multiple pools and burning off energy at the pirate-themed splash pad. Before we checked out, we headed down to the resort’s natural lagoon for a go at stand-up paddleboarding, the perfect way to wrap up a relaxed Keys-style stay.
After a relaxing morning, we were ready to get back out on the water for our Florida road trip adventures. We drove straight into Key West for a jet ski tour with Barefoot Billy’s. The beachfront shack had a super laid-back vibe, and the team was friendly from the moment we arrived.
I jumped on a jet ski with one kid riding along and headed out into the crystal-clear Caribbean waters for a two-hour guided tour. The open ocean got a little choppy, but the protected bays around the islands were smooth as glass. Between the incredible scenery, salty breeze, and local insights from our guide, the highlight was definitely the freedom to open up the throttle and carve out water donuts across the sea.
Back on land, we took a short walk to the iconic Southernmost Point Buoy, sitting roughly 90 miles north of Cuba. We skipped the long photo queue and grabbed a quick selfie from a distance instead.
Next, it was time to hunt down the perfect slice of key lime pie before heading to Mallory Square for a sunset stroll. For the best key lime pies click here.
Sunset at Mallory Square was the kind of moment that stays with you. Street performers, music, and a glowing sky to end the trip.
Florida Road Trip Itinerary at a Glance
Jacksonville → Amelia Island → St Augustine → Orlando → Clearwater → Tampa → Naples → Florida Keys → Miami
Florida Road Trip Travel Tips
- Book theme park tickets early
- Expect heat and humidity year-round
- Pack sunscreen, hats, and light clothing
- Allow extra time for traffic in Orlando and Miami
- Balance busy days with beach downtime
- Try local seafood wherever possible
Florida Packing Checklist (Family Road Trip Essentials)
Packing for Florida is all about heat, humidity, rain bursts, and long days outdoors. Whether you are planning a Florida family road trip, a Florida Keys adventure, or theme park-heavy days in Orlando, this checklist keeps things simple.
Clothing
- Lightweight breathable tops and T-shirts
- Shorts and swimwear (multiple sets for beach days)
- Light evening layers (air con can be strong indoors)
- Comfortable walking shoes or trainers
- Flip flops or sandals for beach and pool days
Sun Protection
- High SPF sunscreen (reef-safe if heading to the Keys)
- Sunglasses for adults and kids
- Wide-brim hats or caps
- After-sun lotion or aloe vera
Family Travel Essentials
- Refillable water bottles
- Snacks for road trips between destinations
- Travel first aid kit
- Wet wipes and hand sanitiser
- Small day backpack for theme parks and beaches
Theme Park Must-Haves (Orlando & Tampa)
- Ponchos or light rain jackets (sudden showers are common)
- Portable phone charger
- Comfortable shoes for long walking days
- Swimwear for water parks
Gulf Coast vs Atlantic Coast – Florida Road Trip Comparison
One of the biggest decisions when planning a Florida road trip is choosing between the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Coast. We experienced both on our journey, and they each offer something completely different.
Gulf Coast (St Pete, Clearwater, Tampa, Naples, Florida Keys)
The Gulf Coast is all about calm water, soft sand, and unforgettable sunsets.
What we loved:
- Warmer, calmer ocean waters ideal for kids
- Incredible sunsets over the water
- Relaxed beach towns and slower pace
- Unique wildlife experiences like dolphins and manatees
- Easy beach access almost everywhere
Best for:
Families, relaxation, marine life encounters, sunset lovers
Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville, St Augustine, Amelia Island, Miami)
The Atlantic side feels more historic, energetic, and diverse.
What we loved:
- Stronger waves and more dramatic beaches
- Rich history in places like St Augustine
- Vibrant city energy in Miami and Orlando access nearby
- Great surf and ocean activity options
- More varied cultural experiences
Best for:
Adventure seekers, history lovers, active beach days, city-meets-coast travel
Our Take
If you have time, do both. The contrast is what makes a Florida family road trip so special. The Atlantic Coast brings energy and history, while the Gulf Coast brings calm, sunsets, and slower travel days.
Best Time to Visit Florida
Florida is a year-round destination, but timing your trip can make a big difference depending on what you want from your Florida road trip.
Winter (December to February)
This is one of the most popular times to visit.
- Warm, comfortable temperatures
- Perfect escape from cold climates
- Busy tourist season, especially in Orlando and Miami
- Higher accommodation prices
Best for: theme parks, family travel, escaping winter
Spring (March to May)
One of the best overall times to visit Florida.
- Warm but not overly humid
- Great beach conditions
- Fewer crowds outside school holidays
- Ideal road trip weather
Best for: Florida family road trips, outdoor activities, beaches
Summer (June to August)
Hot, humid, and lively.
- High temperatures and humidity
- Afternoon rain showers common
- Peak beach and water park season
- More crowds due to school holidays
Best for: water parks, beach-focused trips, budget deals (outside peak weeks)
Autumn (September to November)
A quieter and often underrated travel window.
- Lower crowds
- More affordable accommodation
- Still warm enough for beaches
- Hurricane season risk (mainly early autumn)
Best for: budget travel, quieter experiences, flexible itineraries
Final Tip
For a balanced Florida road trip with kids, the sweet spot is spring or early winter. You get great weather, manageable crowds, and the best overall travel conditions.
Things We May Have Missed in Florida
Even with a two-week Florida road trip covering nearly the entire state, there is still so much we didn’t get to experience. Florida is one of those destinations where you could easily return again and again and still never see it all.
A few places and experiences that were on our radar but didn’t make it into this trip include the Everglades National Park in more depth, particularly airboat tours deeper into the wetlands, as well as the quieter Florida Panhandle beaches like Destin and 30A, which are known for their white sand and laid-back coastal towns.
We also missed some of the smaller Gulf Coast islands such as Sanibel and Captiva, famous for shelling and slower family travel days, and a deeper dive into the Florida springs, where crystal-clear freshwater swimming spots offer a completely different side to the state.
On the Atlantic side, places like Daytona Beach and the Kennedy Space Center could easily warrant a full extra day or two each, especially for families interested in space exploration and iconic coastal drives.
The reality is that no matter how much you try to cover, a Florida family road trip always leaves you planning the next one.
However, we have done. a few of those on a previous road trip to Florida. You can read here:
8 Reasons $8,000 Disney VIP Tours Are Worth It
A Mom’s Survival Guide To Universal Studios Orlando
Tired Of Theme Parks? Visit Crayola Experience Orlando With Kids
Our Encounter with a Liger at Jungle Island Miami: A Wild Family Adventure
19 Things To Do In Tallahassee With Kids
The Bottom Line
This Florida road trip had everything, and we hope you found some Florida hidden gems.
Beaches, wildlife, theme parks, dolphins, alligators, history, and incredible food.
Fifteen days of unforgettable experiences with Mia and Caius.
From north to south, this is one of the best family road trips in the United States.
Now it is your turn. Where will your Florida road trip take you?
