Historic site · 37 min south
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Grand 1916 bayfront estate with Italian-style rooms and formal gardens. Miami's most beautiful old house.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Closed Tuesdays
- ? (check)
Day Trippin' › Florida › From Fort Lauderdale
Day trips from Fort Lauderdale
From Fort Lauderdale, the Bonnet House and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park are under 10 minutes away, Flamingo Gardens and Butterfly World under 25, Oleta River State Park under half an hour, Everglades Holiday Park about half an hour, and Miami's Wynwood Walls and Little Havana about 35. The best day trips from Fort Lauderdale, by drive time.
95 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Fort Lauderdale
- Oleta River State Park 29 min south
- Delray Beach 30 min north
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens 37 min south
- Shark Valley 1 hr 10 min southwest
- Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge 1 hr 15 min west
- Clewiston 1 hr 21 min northwest
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park 1 hr 39 min south
- History of Diving Museum 2 hr 1 min south
- J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge 2 hr 31 min west
- Bahia Honda State Park 2 hr 55 min southwest
Within an hour from Fort Lauderdale 22 spots
Small town · 30 min north
Delray Beach
Walkable Atlantic Avenue with cafes and galleries that runs right to the beach.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free; paid parking
Bike trail · 29 min south
Oleta River State Park
Florida's largest urban park, with miles of mountain bike trails, paddling and a calm beach.
- Half day · Moderate
- Year-round
- Florida State Parks fee per vehicle (check)
Garden · 32 min north
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Peaceful Japanese gardens with koi ponds, bonsai and a museum about Japanese settlers in Florida.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Tue-Sun; closed Mondays and major holidays
- Adult $18, senior/military $16, child 6-17 $12 (checked Nov 2026)
Family fun · 37 min south
Jungle Island
Animal park on Watson Island with parrots, lemurs and hands-on encounters.
- Half day · Easy
- Open daily
- ? (check)
Wildlife · 38 min north
Wakodahatchee Wetlands
Boardwalk over wetlands in Delray Beach, packed with nesting birds and gators.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free (check)
Swimming · 41 min south
Venetian Pool
Historic 1924 pool carved from a coral rock quarry, with waterfalls, caves and spring water.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Tue-Sun; closed Mondays
- Non-resident adult $23, child 3-12 $18 (checked Nov 2026)
Food town · 34 min south
Little Havana
Calle Ocho is the heart of Cuban Miami, with cafecito windows, cigar shops, dominoes and live music.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
1 to 2 hours from Fort Lauderdale 36 spots
State park · 1 hr 39 min south
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
America's first undersea park, with glass-bottom boats and snorkel trips to the reef off Key Largo.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- Florida State Parks fee per vehicle (check)
National park · 1 hr 10 min southwest
Shark Valley
Bike or take a tram along a 15-mile paved loop with gators everywhere, and climb the observation tower at the halfway point.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round; best Nov-Apr
- Everglades NP $35 per vehicle, $20 per person (checked Nov 2026)
Wildlife · 1 hr 15 min west
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
Two short trails into panther country near Immokalee. You will likely not see a panther, but the habitat is rich.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Small town · 1 hr 21 min northwest
Clewiston
Sugar town on the south shore of Lake Okeechobee, a base for bass fishing and airboat rides.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Beach · 1 hr 1 min north
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
Long natural beach on Singer Island reached by a boardwalk over the lagoon. Good snorkeling at the reef.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Florida State Parks fee per vehicle (check)
Historic site · 1 hr 4 min southwest
Coral Castle
Mysterious coral rock sculptures and buildings carved by one man in the 1920s to 1940s.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Open daily
- ? (check)
Food town · 1 hr 9 min southwest
Robert Is Here
Famous Homestead fruit stand known for fresh tropical fruit milkshakes. A perfect stop on the way to the Everglades or Keys.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Seasonal (check)
- Free entry
Family fun · 1 hr 15 min southwest
Everglades Alligator Farm
Gator shows, hundreds of alligators and airboat rides near Homestead. Good with kids.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Open daily
- ? (check)
2 to 3 hours from Fort Lauderdale 33 spots
Wildlife · 2 hr 31 min west
J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Drive, bike or walk a four-mile loop on Sanibel past roseate spoonbills, pelicans and wading birds.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Wildlife Drive closed every Friday
- $10 per vehicle; $1 hikers and bikers (checked Nov 2026)
Beach · 2 hr 55 min southwest
Bahia Honda State Park
Some of the best natural beaches in the Keys, plus a view from the old railroad bridge.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Florida State Parks fee per vehicle (check)
Museum · 2 hr 1 min south
History of Diving Museum
Old diving helmets and gear from around the world in Islamorada. A good rainy day stop.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Open daily
- ? (check)
Hike · 2 hr 1 min west
Estero Bay Preserve State Park
Quiet trails across salt flats and pine scrub to views of Estero Bay. Good birding.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; best in dry season
- ? (check)
Family fun · 2 hr 53 min north
Cocoa Beach Pier
An 800-foot pier with food, bars, an arcade, live music and surf lessons.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round (check hours)
- Free to walk (check parking)
Scenic drive · 2 hr 2 min west
Turner River Road Loop
A 17-mile loop across wet prairie, great for wading birds, gators and turtles from the car.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Best Nov-Apr
- Free
National park · 2 hr 8 min southwest
Flamingo
End of the road in the Everglades on Florida Bay, with crocodiles, manatees, boat tours and paddling.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round; best Nov-Apr
- Everglades NP $35 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Beach · 2 hr 5 min west
Lovers Key State Park
Quiet barrier island beach reached by a short walk or path, with manatees and dolphins often seen in the lagoons.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Florida State Parks entry fee per vehicle (check)
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 33301 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.