Miami is one of America's great driving cities — wide boulevards, ocean views, and everything you need within a few miles. But it's even better as a road trip launchpad. The Florida Keys stretch 180km into the turquoise sea to the southwest. The Everglades are 45 minutes west. And the entire Atlantic coast of Florida — from Miami Beach to Jacksonville — is a single continuous road journey through Art Deco districts, space coast beaches and First Coast history.

Picking up your hire car in Miami

  • Miami International Airport (MIA) — one of the world's busiest car hire hubs. The Rental Car Center is a purpose-built facility connected to MIA by the MIA Mover automated train. All major suppliers — Hertz, Avis, National, Enterprise, Dollar, Budget and more — are represented.
  • Fort Lauderdale (FLL) — 45 minutes north and often significantly cheaper for car hire than MIA. Worth comparing both airports when booking.
  • Florida car hire tip: Florida road tolls are extensive. Most hire cars offer SunPass (electronic tolling) — worth paying for if you're doing any significant driving.

Driving in and around Miami

  • Drive on the right. Speed limits: 70 mph interstate, 55–65 mph state highways, 30–35 mph urban.
  • Miami traffic is notoriously heavy — I-95 and I-395 are congested at rush hour. Use Google Maps to route around jams.
  • The MacArthur, Venetian and Julia Tuttle causeways connect Miami to Miami Beach — beautiful drives at any time of day.
  • Parking in South Beach: use the 7th Street or 13th Street garages. Street parking is metered and actively enforced.
  • Hurricane season is June–November — if there's a named storm, check road closures before any long trip.

Where to go — best drives from Miami

The Florida Keys & Key West (3.5 hrs) — US-1 (Overseas Highway) is one of America's most iconic road trips. 42 bridges link 30 islands across 180km of turquoise water, ending at Key West. Start early and plan for at least one overnight. Everglades National Park (1 hr) — the Anhinga Trail and the main park road through sawgrass prairies offer alligator, manatee and bird sightings within an hour of downtown Miami. Orlando (3.5 hrs north via I-4) — theme parks aside, the drive north passes the Kennedy Space Center and the Space Coast beaches. The Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41) — crosses the Everglades east to west through Big Cypress, passing Miccosukee villages and airboat operators.

Don't miss: The A1A coastal highway from Miami north through Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Vero Beach to St. Augustine is Florida's most scenic drive — old-money beach towns, nature reserves and actual Florida rather than the theme park version.
Price tip: Miami is one of the world's most competitive car hire markets — always compare at least 4–5 suppliers before booking. Local and regional companies often undercut the big brands significantly.
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