Day Trippin' › Florida › From Miami › Best mountains and viewpoints
Our picks for the best mountains and viewpoints within 3 hours of Miami: 16 places, 5 under an hour away, 8 between 1 and 2 hours and 3 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 33130.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Flamingo Gardens, 35 min north of Miami.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0
#1 · Beach · 2 hr 28 min southwest
Some of the best natural beaches in the Keys, plus a view from the old railroad bridge.
Heads-up: Old bridge span status. Lots fill on weekends.
Photo: Everglades National Park Photo, Public domain
#2 · National park · 46 min west
Bike or take a tram along a 15-mile paved loop with gators everywhere, and climb the observation tower at the halfway point.
Heads-up: Parking often fills by 10 a.m. in season. Pets only in the parking lot. Only snacks for sale. Children under 16 need helmets.
Photo: Antonio Chaves, CC BY-SA 4.0
#3 · National park · 1 hr 6 min west
Huge cypress swamp along the Tamiami Trail with boardwalks, gators by the road and very dark night skies.
Heads-up: Hot and buggy May-Oct. Stay 25 feet from wildlife.
Photo: Dtobias, CC BY-SA 3.0
#4 · Garden · 35 min north
Old botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary in Davie with flamingos, panthers and huge trees.
Heads-up: Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed by flooding Nov 1, 2026, so check status before you go.
Photo: Catholic 85 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
#5 · National park · 36 min south
A park that is 95 percent water, with coral reefs, islands and shipwrecks. Start at the visitor center and take a boat tour.
Heads-up: Most of the park needs a boat. Bugs on the islands in summer.
Photo: Korall, CC BY-SA 3.0
#6 · Garden · 44 min north
Walk through huge screened aviaries full of butterflies and feed lorikeets.
Heads-up: Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last entry 4 p.m. Lorikeet nectar is cash only.
Photo: Fragments at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
#7 · Garden · 55 min north
Peaceful Japanese gardens with koi ponds, bonsai and a museum about Japanese settlers in Florida.
Heads-up: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cafe 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weather closures possible.
Photo: Stephen B Calvert Clariosophic, CC BY-SA 3.0
#8 · State park · 1 hr 39 min north
Big park on the Loxahatchee River with a river boat tour, hiking, biking and a lookout tower.
Heads-up: Boat tour schedule.
Photo: Djngsf, CC BY-SA 4.0
#9 · Garden · 1 hr 59 min west
Big garden with Caribbean, Asian and Florida sections, water lilies and a children's garden.
Heads-up: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer hours may be shorter.
Photo: Agape621, CC BY-SA 4.0
#10 · Garden · 2 hr 12 min north
A historic jungle garden with water lilies and old stone buildings in Vero Beach.
Heads-up: Was closed for flooding checks in early Nov 2026.
Photo: State of Florida, Public domain
#11 · Hike · 2 hr 16 min northwest
Quiet trails across salt flats and pine scrub to views of Estero Bay. Good birding.
Heads-up: Little shade. Trails can flood in summer.
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, Public domain
#12 · National park · 1 hr 31 min west
Gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands, with boat tours through the mangroves and kayak trips.
Heads-up: Visitor center 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boat tours run from 929 Dupont Street. Kayak launch status.
Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
#13 · National park · 1 hr 40 min southwest
End of the road in the Everglades on Florida Bay, with crocodiles, manatees, boat tours and paddling.
Heads-up: Long drive from the Homestead entrance with no gas inside the park. Very buggy in summer. Visitor center status.
Photo: Clinton & Charles Robertson from Del Rio, Texas & College Station, TX, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
#14 · Historic site · 1 hr 31 min north
Climb the 1860 red lighthouse for views over the inlet and ocean.
Heads-up: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 4 p.m. Height rules for climbing.
#15 · Scenic drive · 1 hr 11 min west
A 24-mile back road through cypress swamp where gators, birds and wildflowers line the way.
Heads-up: Mostly unpaved and bumpy. Floods in wet season. Private homes along the road.
Turner River Road Loop (1 hr 52 min)
Our top picks are Bahia Honda State Park (2 hr 28 min), Shark Valley (46 min), Big Cypress National Preserve (1 hr 6 min), Flamingo Gardens (35 min) and Biscayne National Park (36 min). The page lists 16 places in all.
16: 5 under an hour away, 8 between 1 and 2 hours and 3 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 33130.
Flamingo Gardens, about 35 min north of Miami.
3 need no pass or fee, including Big Cypress National Preserve, Loop Road Scenic Drive and Turner River Road Loop. Fees change, so check each place.
7 of the 16 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.