Hi there!

 

So you are thinking about going from Miami to Siesta Key!

The closest airport to Siesta Key is Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, SRQ. (See the map.)

Siesta Key is around 3.5 hours from the Miami airport. (See the map.)

Siesta Key is around 1.5 hours from the Tampa airport. (See the map.)

 

If you fly into Miami airport, you can make it a drive from Miami to Siesta Key!

Your driving route to Siesta Key might include toll roads on the Florida Turnpike, in which case you might want to be prepared with the SunPass if you don’t already have it!

 

 

How long is the drive from Miami to Siesta Key?

Driving directly, it might take around 3.5 to 4 hours of driving time from Miami to Siesta Key.

 

map of route for Miami to Siesta Key drive. Miami to Siesta Key road trip. I-75 alligator alley or tamiami trail. south florida travel blog
Explore the map.

 

So Miami is not too far from Siesta Key, and it’s doable to drive from Miami to Siesta Key in one day.

And if you want to make a stop or 2 on your way to Siesta Key, there are some things to do along the way!

Or you can take a few days to get from Miami to Siesta Key!

Below will show some ideas of stops you can make as you make the drive to Siesta Key!

 

 

 

Alligators between Miami and Siesta Key

There is an area between Miami and Siesta Key that can be one of the best places in Florida to see alligators.

 

 

So if you want a chance to see alligators, then you have a few places you can go!

But, emphasis on CHANCE!

Alligators are wild and they do what they want when they want!

There’s no guarantee to see them.

And, don’t feed the alligators!

While alligator attacks do happen, alligators are generally not interested in people.

It requires everyone’s help to keep it that way.

Feeding alligators is a way for alligators to become more comfortable with humans… and to learn to approach you (and other humans) for food!

And then alligators can become even more dangerous to humans!

When you see alligators, just observe!

Try not to do anything that would cause them to change their behavior.

 

See below for a potential driving route from Miami to Siesta Key!

 

 

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What is there to see between Miami and Siesta Key?

map of best route for Miami to Siesta Key drive. Miami to Siesta Key road trip. tamiami trail or alligator alley I-75. south florida travel blog
Explore the map.

 

 

1. Miami

miami to siesta key drive. best things to do from miami

 

If you won’t be staying in Miami long and you’re wondering the ONE spot in Miami you should go before you start driving to Siesta Key, then you can go to South Pointe!

 

 

See more about planning your drive from Miami to Siesta Key: How to spend 2 hours at South Pointe in Miami Beach

 

 

Camping between Miami and Siesta Key:

 

 

 

2. Everglades National Park

And now, really starting the drive to Siesta Key, next up you can go to Everglades National Park!

Everglades National Park is the most popular national park in Florida.

You can consider Everglades National Park to have the Miami side (Atlantic side) and the Siesta Key side (Gulf side).

All land-based activities in Everglades National Park that you can drive to are on the Miami side. (You can also pass by the Siesta Key side later, so more on that in a bit!)

One of the best places to see alligators in Florida is in Everglades National Park.

Everglades National Park is known for alligators, wetlands, and airboats.

You can experience all 3 with just one day in Everglades National Park!

You might even be able to experience all 3 with just a few hours.

But again, there’s no guarantee to see alligators!

As you start your drive to Siesta Key from Miami, you can take the route to drive on US-41 Tamiami Trail.

You will pass several spots where you can do an Everglades airboat tour.

 

 

As you continue your drive, you will come across a turn-off for Shark Valley.

Shark Valley is one of the best places to see alligators in Everglades National Park by tram, by bike, or even by foot!

 

 

 

One of the best places to see crocodiles in Florida is also Everglades National Park!

 

 

That will require a bit (a lot) of a detour from going directly to Siesta Key, as the spot to (maybe!) see crocodiles in an area called Flamingo in the Everglades that’s located pretty far out of the way.

If you want to go there, you will want to go there before you really start driving to Siesta Key. (aka before you start driving Tamiami Trail.)

This will add in 2 hours of driving time to make this detour. (That is the total detour drive time that will take you off the route and then back on.)

That doesn’t include the actual time in Flamingo looking for crocodiles, which could be as little as 15 minutes, or you might want to walk around the Flamingo Marina longer looking for both crocodiles and manatees!

 

 

And then again, there is no guarantee that you will see crocodiles.

 

See more about planning your drive from Miami to Siesta Key:

 

Camping between Miami and Siesta Key:

 

 

3. Tamiami Trail

If you decide to go to Shark Valley in Everglades National Park on your way to Siesta Key, then you will end up on the Tamiami Trail.

But the best of the Tamiami Trail is yet to come!

One of the best places to see alligators in Florida is along the Tamiami Trail!

 

 

There are several stops along the Tamiami Trail that you can make for a chance to see alligators. (Again, alligators are wild and there’s never any guarantee to see them!)

 

 

Along with Everglades National Park, these stops are located in Big Cypress National Preserve and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.

If you are looking to make just ONE stop with the best chance to see alligators, you will want to stop at the Oasis Visitor Center in Big Cypress National Preserve.

The Oasis Visitor Center is one of the best places that I’ve seen tons of alligators in Florida.

The alligators are so close to the Tamiami Trail that you can actually see the cars driving along the Tamiami Trail as you are looking at the alligators!

So the alligators are pretty much laying right along the Tamiami Trail.

 

 

See more about planning your drive from Miami to Siesta Key: Where are the alligators on Tamiami Trail?

 

 

4. Ten Thousand Islands, Everglades National Park

The best way to experience the Ten Thousand Islands can be through a boat tour!

On the Siesta Key side of Everglades National Park is where you will find the Everglades National Park Gulf Coast Visitor Center.

You will not actually be within the Everglades National Park boundary by going to this visitor center.

Instead, the way to experience this gulf coast side of Everglades National Park is by water.

You can do the Ten Thousand Islands boat tour that starts from the Gulf Coast Visitor Center.

You have a chance to see dolphins and manatees on an Everglades National Park boat tour in the Ten Thousand Islands.

You’ll want to book ahead as these boat tours can sell out. You can book through Everglades Florida Adventures.

 

Camping between Miami and Siesta Key:

 

 

5. Marco Island

If you want to add in a beach stop before you get to Siesta Key, there is Marco Island that you can stop off at!

Along with Miami and Siesta Key, Marco Island is a famous beach destination in Florida.

To get you started, the 2 main public beaches on Marco Island are South Beach and Tigertail Beach.

You will probably have an easier time with parking at Tigertail Beach.

Tigertail Beach is known as the best shelling beach on Marco Island, although you can look for shells along any Marco Island beach.

It’s also known for the lagoon water crossing to get to the beach, although there is also an alternative walking route that is not so bad.

If you want to walk normally to the beach, you’ll want to park at the far end of the parking lot as far as you can drive, and then start walking from there.

Then, after a few minutes of walking, you see a wide expansive white sand beach of Marco Island!

It’s possible you might walk around 10 minutes from your parking spot to where you want to set up camp on the beach.

 

 

If you will be making it to Marco Island around sunset time, be sure to catch a Marco Island sunset!

 

 

See more about planning your drive from Miami to Siesta Key: Marco Island beaches

 

Camping between Miami and Siesta Key:

 

 

6. Sanibel Island

Another option for a beach stop before you get to Siesta Key is Sanibel Island.

But Sanibel Island is not just any beach stop.

Sanibel Island is known as one of the best spots for shelling in Florida.

And even more than that, Sanibel Island beaches are known for being the best beaches for shelling in all of the United States!

You can go to any of the beaches on Sanibel Island and you will find shells.

Along the shoreline, you can find tons of small shells, and the more you look, the greater your chances are for finding different types of shells!

 

 

To get you started, you likely will not be disappointed if you make Bowmans Beach your one and only Sanibel Island shelling beach to visit!

 

 

And there is also Captiva Island for shelling.

 

 

There is a toll for driving the bridge to Sanibel Island. See current fees under Sanibel toll plaza.

The Sanibel Island beach parking fee is hourly. See current fees.

 

See more about planning your drive from Miami to Siesta Key:

 

 

Camping between Miami and Siesta Key:

 

 

 

7. Siesta Key

And you’ve made it to Siesta Key!!!

 

 

If you’ll be staying overnight on Siesta Key, be sure to catch a Siesta Key sunset!

 

 

Camping between Miami and Siesta Key:

 

And that’s a bit about some stops you can make driving from Miami to Siesta Key!

More for your Florida road trip:

 

HAPPY DRIVING TO SIESTA KEY FROM MIAMI!

 

 

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