Hi there!

 

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

 

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

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

The airport code for this airport near Siesta Key is SRQ.

So if Siesta Key is where you want to spend most of your time, you can fly into Sarasota instead of Miami.

You may also consider flying into the Tampa airport to go to Siesta Key, depending on the other things you want to do.

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

 

And if you have a couple of extra days, you can rent a car and make it a road trip from Siesta Key to Miami!

If you’ll be returning to Siesta Key, it’s best to make a drive to Miami into an overnight trip, if not a few days.

If you are going one way from Siesta Key to Miami, you can make it into an all-day drive!

It does not take all day to drive from Siesta Key to Miami, but there are stops along the way to make it an all-day thing!

Your driving route to Miami 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! Those admin fees can add up if you are driving the Florida Turnpike without some sort of toll road pass!

 

 

How long is the drive from Siesta Key to Miami?

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

Can you do a day trip to Miami from Siesta Key?

Being a 3.5 hour drive one way with minimal traffic, a day trip to Miami would mean 7 to 8 hours of driving from Siesta Key to Miami to Siesta Key… at least!

 

 

But if you are only in Florida once and you REALLY want to go to one of the most famous destinations in Florida (and the US! …and the world!)… and you really can’t/don’t want to spend more than one day… and you understand that it’s a lot of driving in one day…

Well then sure. Yes, you can do a day trip to Miami from Siesta Key, and you might think it’s well worth it.

It really just depends on how important Miami is to you!

If you are very interested in Miami, then once you get to Miami, even just going to South Pointe of Miami Beach and Ocean Avenue can be well worth it and it could have you leaving with a happy Miami experience.

 

 

And then you can save 1 or 2 of the stops below for the way back depending on how much time you have!

Miami is a major city, so do expect traffic.

 

 

 

Alligators between Siesta Key and Miami

There is an area between Siesta Key and Miami 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 Siesta Key to Miami!

 

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There are a lot of videos below. If you can’t see them, it may be because you have an ad blocker.

 

 

What is there to see between Siesta Key and Miami?

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






Explore the map.

 

 

 

1. Siesta Key

Siesta Key has been named one of the best beaches in America.

At one end of Siesta Key is the famous #1 beach that is Siesta Beach.

This is where you’ll find an amazing white sand beach with a wide stretch of sand.

 

 

 

On the other end of Siesta Key is the quieter end, and it’s where you’ll find Turtle Beach… along with the Turtle Beach campground! If you want to go camping on Siesta Key, the Turtle Beach campground is it!

There is a direct path from the campground to the beach, so your campsite will just be a few minutes walk from being able to see the amazing Gulf coast.

I also saw dolphins swimming along the shoreline from Turtle Beach!

You need to get lucky in order to find camping availability, as campsites get booked up pretty much as soon as they are available months in advance. But people do cancel.

 

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

 

Camping between Siesta Key and Miami:

 

 

2. Myakka River State Park

You can make it a stop at Myakka River State Park if you’re looking for a pleasant nature stop with lots of green.

It can be a scenic drive through Myakka River State Park.

Myakka River State Park is also known for the canopy walk.

You’ll walk across a bridge that’s suspended in air, and then continue climbing the stairs up the tower for views above the trees.

There is also a spot in Myakka River State Park that’s known for alligator sightings.

When you come across the bridge, make a stop to see if you can spot some alligators!

Plus you might make some bird sightings when you are in Myakka River State Park!

 

Camping between Siesta Key and Miami:

 

 

3. Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is known for its beaches.

But you’re going to Siesta Key and Miami for the beaches, so maybe you are thinking you don’t need to make time for another beach.

But Sanibel Island isn’t 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 Siesta Key to Miami:

 

 

Camping between Siesta Key and Miami:

 

 

 

4. Marco Island

You can continue to make your Siesta Key to Miami road trip all about the beaches.

Marco Island is another one of Florida’s best beach destinations.

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.

 

 

And if you will be staying an overnight on Marco Island, be sure to catch a Marco Island sunset!

 

 

 

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

 

Camping between Siesta Key and Miami:

 

 

5. Ten Thousand Islands, Everglades National Park

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

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

All land-based activities in Everglades National Park that you can drive to are on the Miami side. (More on the Miami side in a bit!)

On the Siesta Key side 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.

 

 

6. Tamiami Trail

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!)

 

 

These stops are located in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Everglades National 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 Siesta Key to Miami: Where are the alligators on Tamiami Trail?

 

Camping between Siesta Key and Miami:

 

 

7. Everglades National Park

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 continue your drive from Siesta Key to Miami along Tamiami Trail, 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!

 

 

Then if you continue driving along Tamiami Trail, you will pass several spots where you can do an Everglades airboat tour.

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

Camping between Siesta Key and Miami:

 

 

8. Miami

And you’ve made it to Miami!!!

To get you started, you can make South Pointe your first destination in Miami!

 

 

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

 

Camping between Siesta Key and Miami:

 

 

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

Where to next?!

 

HAPPY DRIVING TO MIAMI FROM SIESTA KEY!

 

 

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Here is where I saw alligators in South Florida! (In the wild!)
And other parts of Florida (including where to do a day trip from)
More must-see things on your Miami road trip: