Miami to Los Angeles 3 – A trip from Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific coast, along the southern route – from Miami to Los Angeles. This is a route that includes relatively long drives. It’s main anchors in order are: Miami, the Keys Islands, Everglades National Park, Orlando, the beaches and the springs of northwestern Florida, sites in Louisiana and New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains, White Sands and Saguaro National Parks, Sedona, the Grand Canyon and the city of Los Angeles. Some important things to take under consideration: although it is possible to travel in this route in the winter months, in some areas winter months may be cold and even snowy; in June-October there may be hurricanes along this route (in Texas, Louisiana and New Orleans), the peak of the hurricane season is usually in September. It is possible to travel in this route during these months, but it is advised to be up to date regarding the forecast; in summer it is very hot and very humid along this route; spring is the most recommended season for this trip.
Day 1 – Land in Miami and enjoy half a day in the city
Lodging location: Miami Beach
Day 2 – Enjoy the day in Miami
Lodging location: Miami Beach
Day 3 – Drive to Keys Islands and on the way visit the Flamingo region of Everglades National Park, 3.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Marathon
Day 4 – Drive to Key West and tour the Keys Islands (don’t miss the beaches of Bahia Honda State Park), 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Marathon
Day 5 – Enjoy one more day in the Keys Islands, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Marathon
Day 6 – Drive back to the mainland and visit the northern part of Everglades National Park (including Shark Valley) , 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Everglades City
Day 7 – Take a boat tour in the 10,000 Islands region of Everglades National Park and drive to Orlando (It is possible to add to the drive a visit to Myakka River State Park), 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Orlando
Day 8 – Visit one of Universal’s theme parks
Lodging location: Orlando
Day 9 – Visit Blue Springs State Park or the Kennedy Space Center or visit one of Orlando’s great water parks, 1 hour drive in each direction to Blue Springs or the Kennedy Space Center
(You may also consider on going on a short wildlife airboat tour out of Orlando)
Lodging location: Orlando
Day 10 – Visit one of Disneyworld’s theme parks
Lodging location: Orlando
Day 11 – Drive to Manatee Springs State Park and visit the park, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Chiefland
Day 12 – Drive to Florida”s Panhandle and on the way visit Wakulla State Park, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Cape San Blas
Day 13 – Enjoy the beaches of Saint George State Park and Saint Joseph Peninsula State Park, short drive
Lodging location: Cape San Blas
Day 14 – Enjoy one more day in the Cape San Blas region, short drive
Lodging location: Cape San Blas
Day 15 – Drive to New Orleans, 6 hours drive
(on the way you may take a detour and visit Gulf State Park and/or Navarre Beach, see map here. Another option is to visit Ponce de Leon Springs, see map here)
Lodging location: New Orleans
Day 16 – Land in New Orleans and spend a few hours in the city
Lodging location: New Orleans
Day 17 – Enjoy the day in New Orleans
Lodging location: New Orleans
Day 18 – Spend one more day in New Orleans
Lodging location: New Orleans
Day 18 – Drive to west to Lafayette through the plantations along the Mississippi River (see map here, most recommended: Whitney and Oak Alley Plantations), 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Lafayette
Day 20 – Take an Alligator viewing tour in Lake Martin, located near the town Lafayette and continue driving west and cross the border to Texas, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Houston
Day 21 – Visit the Houston Space Center
(another great attraction near Houston is Lago Mar)
Lodging location: Houston
Day 22 – Enjoy one more day in Houston and drive to San Antonio, 3.5 hours drive
Lodging location: San Antonio
Day 23 – Visit San Antonio
Lodging location: San Antonio
Day 24 – Enjoy the morning in San Antonio and start driving west to Carlsbad, on the way stop here, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Junction
Day 25 – Continue driving west to Carlsbad, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Carlsbad
Day 26 – Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park, less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Carlsbad
Day 27 – Visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park, less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Carlsbad
Day 28 – Drive to White Sands National Park and visit the park, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Las Cruces
Day 28 – Drive west to Arizona, 4 hours drive
(on the way you may add a detour to the wild west town of Tombstone)
Lodging location: Tucson
Day 30 – Visit Saguaro National Park, less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Tucson
Day 31 – Drive to Sedona and spend the afternoon in town, 2 hours drive
(you may divide this day to two days and add a night in Phoenix and add a tubing trip)
Lodging location: Sedona
Day 32 – Spend the day in Sedona
Lodging location: Sedona
Day 33 – Drive north to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon through HWY 89A and spend the afternoon in the park, 2 hours drive
(on the way to Sedona stop at Slide Rock State Park)
Lodging location: South Rim or Tusayan
Day 34 – Spend the day in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, short drive
Lodging location: South Rim or Tusayan
Day 35 – Spend the morning in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and travel west to Kingman 2.5 hours drive
(on the way, if you have time – drive a portion of Route 66 and stop at Seligman)
Lodging location: Kingman
Day 36 – Drive to Los Angeles and spend the afternoon in the city, 5 hours drive
(on the way stop at Barstaw’s outlet or at Calico’s or Oatman’s ghost towns)
Lodging location: Hollywood or Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 37 – Spend the day in Los Angeles or visit Universal Studios
(you may also add a day to the trip and visit Visit Disneyland located in Anaheim, 1 hour drive from Los Angeles)
Lodging location: Hollywood or Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 38 – Fly Home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our California and Southwest USA and Southeastern USA destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
