Follow The Sun On These Top 3 Road Trips In Florida

Many travellers to the United States opt to take a classic American road trip, as the US is pretty big, and hiring a car is a cheap way to cover a lot of ground. There’s also nothing like the feeling of freedom and independence that comes with speeding down a highway with the wind in your hair (as long as you’re covered by car rental excess insurance, of course!). 

Florida, with its 1,350 miles of coastline, is a perfect destination for beach-lovers who want to plan their trip around as many beach stops as possible. But, the Sunshine State has much more to offer too, from the Florida Keys islands to swamplands, and from unspoilt national parks to quaint rural towns. 

Discover these unexpected hidden gems on one of these beautiful scenic routes through Florida.

Tropical Paradise: The Florida Keys

The drive down from Miami to Key West, the southernmost point of the continental US, is hard to beat when it comes to spectacular views. You’ll be following Highway 1, known as the ‘Overseas Highway’ for the unforgettable experience it offers; you’ll drive over the stunning blue waters of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and cross the architectural wonder that is the Seven Mile Bridge.

Make sure to stop at the Bahia Honda State Park on your way to Key West, a pristine seaside haven, perfect for snorkelling and sunbathing. And, if you’ve got time for a detour, add the Everglades National Park to your route for the chance to spot some incredible wildlife, including alligators, herons and ibis. 

Hit the Beach: Jacksonville to Miami

This scenic drive hugs the Atlantic Ocean from Jacksonville in the north of Florida to Miami in the south. Your first stop is St Augustine, the oldest town in the US that also boasts miles of golden sands, before you continue driving down the picture-perfect A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway, this state’s answer to the Big Sur. This route is ideal for sun, sea and sand lovers who are on a mission to tick off all of Florida’s coastal highlights: Daytona Beach, Palm Beach (or the less-crowded Delray), Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach.

Wetlands and Wildlife: rural Florida

This journey is one for the nature-lovers, as it takes in the wild wetlands and sleepy rural towns that feel like the real Florida. Starting in the state capital of Tallahassee, drive over to the peaceful Wakulla Springs for hiking or a riverboat tour, before following Highway 98 down to Crystal River and ending in Tampa or Orlando. Unmissable highlights include St Marks National Wildlife Refuge, which is heaven for bird-watchers, and swimming with manatees at Manatee Springs Park.

Before You Go

A road trip offers the chance to really escape and get away from it all, so the last thing you want to worry about is anything happening to your hire car. With car rental excess insurance, you can be sure that every possibility will be covered, and you won’t have to pay any extra fees, as your car rental excess insurance will take care of it. You can then relax, hit the open road and blow away any cobwebs on one of these scenic drives through Florida that show a different side to the Sunshine State. 

Author Plate

Sam Walker is a specialist insurance expert at LowerHire, a company that offers low-cost single trip and annual multi-trip car rental excess insurance policies. Travellers can rest easy knowing they will be fully protected against any hidden hire car costs and look forward to a stress-free rental experience.