Best Scenic Drives in Miami & South Florida (2026 Guide)

Best Scenic Drives in Miami and South Florida

South Florida was made for driving.

Think about it. You have oceanfront highways with the Atlantic on one side and palm trees on the other. Causeways that float across turquoise water toward barrier islands. A road that literally runs 100 miles over open ocean to Key West. And all of it under a sky that shifts from bright blue to orange and pink every evening like clockwork.

This is not the kind of scenery you experience from the back of a rideshare. This is the kind of scenery you experience with the top down, the windows open, and a car that matches the moment.

Whether you are visiting Miami for a long weekend or spending a full week exploring the region, the scenic drives around here are some of the best in the country. And most of them are within an hour of downtown Miami.

Below, you will find seven of the best routes, including distances, drive times, what you will see along the way, the ideal time of day to go, and which type of car works best for each one.

1. Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, South Beach

This is the drive that put Miami on the map. If you have ever seen a movie, music video, or Instagram post set in Miami, there is a strong chance it was filmed somewhere along this strip.

Route Details

·       Distance: Approximately 4 miles (one-way from South Pointe to the Fontainebleau)

·       Drive time: 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic (you will want to go slow)

·       Best time: Late afternoon into sunset, or Friday and Saturday evenings when the strip comes alive

What You Will See

Ocean Drive runs parallel to the beach from South Pointe Park up through the heart of the Art Deco Historic District. On your left: pastel-colored hotels and restaurants with outdoor seating that spill onto the sidewalk. On your right: Lummus Park, palm trees, and the Atlantic Ocean just beyond the sand.

When Ocean Drive ends around 15th Street, the route continues north on Collins Avenue. Collins takes you past some of the most famous hotels in the world, including the Setai, the Faena, and the Fontainebleau. The architecture shifts from Art Deco to mid-century modern to ultra-contemporary as you head north through Mid-Beach.

This is not a fast drive. The speed limit is low, pedestrians are everywhere, and you will hit red lights every few blocks. But that is the point. This route is about the atmosphere, not the speed. You want people looking at your car, and you want to soak in the scenery.

Best Car for This Route

A convertible is the only correct answer here. Something that turns heads at low speed and looks right against the Art Deco backdrop.

A Ferrari 296 Spider or a Lamborghini Huracan Spyder are both perfect for Ocean Drive. If you want something with more presence and a little more comfort, a Rolls-Royce Dawn is hard to beat. It is the kind of car that makes people stop their conversations mid-sentence to watch you pass.

Pro tip: drive south to north on Collins so the ocean is on your right side. If you have a passenger who wants photos, they will have a clear shot of the beach, the park, and the skyline behind you.

2. Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne

If you only have time for one scenic drive in Miami, this is the one. The Rickenbacker Causeway is the single best driving road in the city, and it is criminally underrated by visitors.

Route Details

·       Distance: About 8 miles round trip (from Brickell to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park)

·       Drive time: 20 to 30 minutes each way

·       Best time: Sunrise or late afternoon for the best light. Weekday mornings are quieter.

·       Note: There is a $2.25 toll on the causeway (exact change or SunPass)

What You Will See

The drive starts in Brickell, just south of downtown Miami. Within minutes, you are climbing the arched bridge of the causeway with Biscayne Bay spreading out on both sides. At the top of the bridge, the view is genuinely spectacular: the downtown Miami skyline behind you, the green islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne ahead, and nothing but blue water in between.

On the other side of the bridge, you pass through Virginia Key, where you will find the Miami Seaquarium and Hobie Beach (a popular spot for kitesurfers and windsurfers). Continue across a second, smaller bridge to Key Biscayne itself.

Key Biscayne feels like a completely different world from Miami. It is quiet, residential, and surrounded by water. Drive through the village, past the yacht clubs and waterfront parks, and keep going south until you reach Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at the very tip of the island. The historic Cape Florida Lighthouse is here, along with one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire state.

The return drive gives you the skyline head-on, which at sunset is one of the most photographed views in Miami.

Best Car for This Route

The Rickenbacker is a great road for a sports car or grand tourer. The bridge has a nice incline, the straightaways are smooth, and the speed limit is reasonable enough to actually enjoy a performance car.

A Porsche 911 Turbo is ideal here, fast, precise, and comfortable enough for the round trip. A McLaren 720S or an Aston Martin also work beautifully if you want something more exotic. For couples or a solo drive, this route is a standout.

If you are going with a group, a Mercedes G-Wagon or a Cadillac Escalade gives everyone a higher vantage point, which makes a real difference on the causeway bridges.

3. A1A Coastal Highway North to Fort Lauderdale

Route A1A is the legendary coastal highway that runs along Florida's Atlantic coast. The stretch from Miami Beach north to Fort Lauderdale is one of the most enjoyable drives in South Florida, and it is a route that most visitors never think to take.

Route Details

·       Distance: About 30 miles (one-way from South Beach to Fort Lauderdale Beach)

·       Drive time: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on stops and traffic

·       Best time: Morning for lighter traffic, or late afternoon heading north into a golden sky

What You Will See

Start on Collins Avenue in South Beach and head north. The route takes you through Surfside, Bal Harbour, and Sunny Isles Beach. Each of these neighborhoods has its own character. Surfside is a low-key beachside community with small shops and restaurants. Bal Harbour is home to one of the most exclusive shopping malls in Florida. Sunny Isles is lined with towering beachfront condos that look like a mini Dubai.

After Sunny Isles, you cross the county line into Broward and continue through Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, and Dania Beach. Hollywood Beach has a fantastic boardwalk that is worth a stop, with outdoor restaurants and a wide pedestrian path right along the sand.

The route finishes along Fort Lauderdale Beach, which has undergone a massive transformation over the past decade. The beachfront promenade is modern and clean, lined with upscale restaurants and boutique hotels. It is a completely different vibe from Miami Beach, more relaxed and less crowded.

Along the way, you will pass through neighborhoods where mansions with private docks line the Intracoastal Waterway on one side and the open ocean sits just across the road on the other. The juxtaposition of water everywhere, canals, bays, and ocean, is what makes this drive feel distinctly South Florida.

Best Car for This Route

This is a longer cruise, so comfort matters. A Bentley Continental GT is the ideal car for the A1A run: fast when you want it, whisper-quiet when you are cruising, and it looks absolutely stunning against the coastal backdrop.

A BMW M8 convertible is another strong choice, sporty enough to be exciting but refined enough for a longer drive. And if you are making this trip with family or a group, a Cadillac Escalade or a Mercedes-AMG GLE keeps everyone comfortable for the full hour-plus journey.

Consider combining this drive with lunch in Fort Lauderdale. Stop at one of the waterfront restaurants along Las Olas Boulevard, then take the A1A back to Miami in the afternoon with the sun on your left and the ocean on your right.

4. Old Cutler Road Through Coral Gables

While the other routes on this list showcase Miami's coastline, Old Cutler Road gives you a completely different side of the city. This is the scenic drive for people who love architecture, canopy roads, and that old-Florida feeling that most of Miami has paved over.

Route Details

·       Distance: About 15 miles (from Coconut Grove south to Cutler Bay)

·       Drive time: 30 to 45 minutes without stops

·       Best time: Midmorning on a weekday. The light filtering through the tree canopy is best between 9am and 11am.

What You Will See

Old Cutler Road is a winding, two-lane road that runs south from Coconut Grove through some of the most exclusive residential areas in Miami-Dade County. The road is lined with massive banyan trees, coral rock walls, and gated estates that date back to the early 1900s.

The first section through Coral Gables is the highlight. You pass by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, one of the best botanical gardens in the country, and Matheson Hammock Park, which has a man-made atoll pool fed by tidal flow from Biscayne Bay. Both are worth a stop.

As you continue south, the road passes through Pinecrest, where the homes get even larger and the tree canopy gets even thicker. Some stretches of Old Cutler feel like you are driving through a tunnel of green. It is unlike anything else in Miami.

The Deering Estate at Cutler, near the southern end of the road, is a historic waterfront property that is open to the public. It includes a main house from the 1920s, nature trails, and bay views. It is a hidden gem that even most locals have not visited.

Best Car for This Route

Old Cutler is a winding road with a 35 mph speed limit, so this is about the driving experience and the setting, not speed. A grand tourer or luxury car fits perfectly here.

A Rolls-Royce Ghost is ideal for Old Cutler. The car glides over the road, the cabin is silent, and it fits the elegant, old-money vibe of the Coral Gables neighborhoods. An Aston Martin DB11 or a Bentley Continental GT are equally well-suited.

If you are renting an exotic car for the day, use Old Cutler Road as part of a longer loop: start in Coconut Grove, drive south on Old Cutler, cut east to Matheson Hammock for a quick stop, and then head back north to Brickell via US-1. The whole loop takes about 90 minutes and covers three different Miami neighborhoods.

5. Overseas Highway to the Florida Keys

This is the big one. The Overseas Highway (US-1 south of Florida City) is consistently ranked as one of the top scenic drives in the entire United States, and once you drive it, you will understand why.

Route Details

·       Distance: 113 miles from Key Largo to Key West (about 160 miles from Miami)

·       Drive time: 3.5 to 4.5 hours from Miami to Key West, depending on traffic

·       Best time: Leave Miami early (before 8am) to avoid the bottleneck in Key Largo. For the Seven Mile Bridge, midday gives you the best water color.

What You Will See

The Overseas Highway is a road built on bridges and island-hopping causeways that connect the Florida Keys like pearls on a string. You drive south from the mainland across 42 bridges, with the Atlantic Ocean on your left and the Gulf of Mexico on your right. In some sections, the road is the only thing visible in every direction. Just you, the car, and open water.

The first stretch from Key Largo to Islamorada is beautiful but developed, with restaurants, dive shops, and tiki bars lining the highway. This is the Upper Keys, where the sport fishing is world-class and the laid-back island vibe starts to settle in.

The Middle Keys is where the drive gets extraordinary. The Seven Mile Bridge, which connects Marathon to the Lower Keys, is the highlight of the entire route. For seven uninterrupted miles, you are driving over open ocean with nothing but turquoise water as far as you can see. The old bridge, which runs parallel to the road, adds a dramatic visual element. It is one of those once-in-a-lifetime driving experiences.

Past the Seven Mile Bridge, the Lower Keys feel more remote and wild. The vegetation changes, the development thins out, and the pace slows down. Key West itself is a different world entirely, a walking town with Victorian architecture, live music on every corner, and a famous sunset celebration at Mallory Square.

You can make this drive as a day trip or (better) as an overnight. Islamorada and Marathon both have excellent places to stop for lunch. If you do the full drive to Key West, plan to stay at least one night so you can enjoy the town and drive back the next morning.

Best Car for This Route

The Overseas Highway is long, relatively straight, and all about the experience. You want a car that is comfortable for a 4-hour drive but exciting enough to make the journey feel special.

A Ferrari convertible, like the Roma Spider, is the dream car for this route. Top down, cruise control set, and seven miles of open ocean ahead of you. A Porsche 911 Cabriolet is also excellent here, comfortable for the long drive and thrilling on the curves through Key Largo.

If you are doing this trip with passengers, a luxury SUV is the practical choice. A Mercedes G-Wagon keeps everyone comfortable and still looks the part when you roll into Key West. A Cadillac Escalade gives you room for luggage if you are staying overnight.

One thing to keep in mind: there are no gas stations for long stretches in the Lower Keys, and the road is two lanes for most of its length. Make sure you have a full tank before crossing the Seven Mile Bridge.

6. Tamiami Trail Through the Everglades

Every other route on this list features ocean views and city skylines. The Tamiami Trail takes you in the opposite direction: straight into the wild, flat, endless expanse of the Florida Everglades.

Route Details

·       Distance: About 40 miles of the scenic section (from the western edge of Miami to Shark Valley and beyond)

·       Drive time: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on stops

·       Best time: Early morning, especially in winter (November through March) when the weather is dry and the wildlife is most active

What You Will See

US-41, known as the Tamiami Trail, runs east to west across the southern tip of Florida. The scenic section starts where the suburbs end, just past Sweetwater, and suddenly you are surrounded by sawgrass prairie stretching to the horizon in every direction.

The Everglades are not dramatic in the way that mountains or canyons are dramatic. The beauty here is subtle and vast. The sky is enormous. The water is shallow and reflective. Alligators sun themselves on the banks of canals that run alongside the road. Herons and egrets stand motionless in the marsh, waiting for fish.

Shark Valley, about 25 miles west of Miami, is the main attraction along this route. It is a section of Everglades National Park with a 15-mile paved loop road that you can explore by tram, bicycle, or on foot. The observation tower at the halfway point gives you a 360-degree view of the Glades that is genuinely awe-inspiring.

Further west, the Miccosukee Indian Village offers airboat rides and a window into the culture of the Miccosukee Tribe, who have lived in the Everglades for centuries. Several other airboat tour operators line the highway if you want to get out on the water and see alligators up close.

The Tamiami Trail eventually reaches the Gulf Coast town of Everglades City, which is the western gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands, one of the most remote wilderness areas in the lower 48 states.

Best Car for This Route

The Tamiami Trail is a long, flat, straight road with a 55 mph speed limit. It is not a performance driving road. But it is an incredible setting for a road trip in a car that makes the drive feel like an event.

A Tesla Cybertruck is a surprisingly perfect fit for this route. The futuristic design against the prehistoric landscape of the Everglades creates a visual contrast that is genuinely striking. Plus, the quiet electric drivetrain lets you hear the sounds of the environment around you.

If you prefer something more traditional, a luxury SUV like a G-Wagon or a Bentley Bentayga handles the road well and gives you a higher vantage point that makes it easier to spot wildlife along the canal banks.

7. Palm Beach and the Worth Avenue Loop

Palm Beach is about 70 miles north of Miami, and it feels like a completely different state. Where Miami is loud, colorful, and modern, Palm Beach is quiet, manicured, and dripping with old-money elegance. The drive up and the cruise around the island make for one of the best full-day road trips in South Florida.

Route Details

·       Distance: About 70 miles from Miami to Palm Beach (one-way). The island loop itself is roughly 15 miles.

·       Drive time: 1.5 hours from Miami via I-95. The Palm Beach island loop takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

·       Best time: Weekday mornings during "the season" (November through April). Palm Beach is much quieter than Miami and peaks in winter.

What You Will See

Cross one of the bridges from West Palm Beach onto the island of Palm Beach and the atmosphere shifts immediately. The streets are lined with royal palms, Mediterranean Revival mansions sit behind perfectly trimmed hedgerows, and everything moves at a pace that feels intentional.

Worth Avenue is the main attraction. It is Palm Beach's version of Rodeo Drive, a four-block stretch of designer boutiques, art galleries, and high-end restaurants. The architecture is gorgeous, Spanish Colonial courtyards connected by covered walkways called "vias" that open into hidden gardens and fountains.

But the real scenic drive is along South Ocean Boulevard (A1A), which runs along the eastern shore of the island. On one side: massive oceanfront estates, some worth $50 million or more. On the other: the Atlantic Ocean, visible through breaks in the seagrape hedges that line the road. The road is narrow, quiet, and shaded by tropical trees.

Continue north on A1A through the town of Palm Beach and you will pass the Breakers Hotel, a historic Italian Renaissance resort that has been a Palm Beach landmark since 1896. The northern tip of the island offers views back across the Lake Worth Lagoon toward the mainland.

For the return trip, consider taking A1A south through Manalapan and Delray Beach instead of hopping back on the highway. The coastal road adds about 30 minutes but gives you more oceanfront scenery and takes you through some charming beach towns worth exploring.

Best Car for This Route

Palm Beach demands a car with class. This is not the place for a loud, aggressive supercar with a massive wing. The vibe here is understated luxury.

A Rolls-Royce (either the Ghost or the Dawn convertible) is the ultimate Palm Beach car. It matches the energy of the island perfectly. A Bentley Continental GT is another natural fit. Both cars say "I belong here" the moment you turn onto Worth Avenue.

A Porsche 911 also works well here, especially for the longer highway drive up from Miami. It is refined enough for Palm Beach but engaging enough to make the 70-mile drive enjoyable rather than a commute.

How to Plan Your Miami Scenic Driving Day

Knowing the routes is half the equation. The other half is logistics. Here is how to put together a scenic driving day that actually works.

Pick Your Route Based on Your Timeline

If you have 1 to 2 hours: the Rickenbacker Causeway or Ocean Drive loop are quick, accessible, and spectacular. You can do either one as a morning or afternoon activity and still have the rest of your day free.

If you have a half day: the A1A drive to Fort Lauderdale or Old Cutler Road are perfect. Add lunch at your destination and you have a complete morning-to-afternoon experience.

If you have a full day: the Overseas Highway to the Keys or the Palm Beach trip are all-day commitments, but they are absolutely worth it. These are the routes people remember years later.

Choose the Right Car for the Experience

The car you drive changes the entire experience. A convertible on Ocean Drive feels completely different from a luxury sedan, even though you are looking at the same scenery.

Here is a quick reference:

·       Short, scenic routes (Ocean Drive, Rickenbacker): Convertible or sports car. Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, or Porsche.

·       Longer cruises (A1A, Palm Beach): Grand tourer or luxury car. Bentley, Rolls-Royce, or Aston Martin.

·       Group trips (Keys, Everglades): Luxury SUV. Mercedes G-Wagon, Cadillac Escalade, or BMW X7.

·       Something different (Everglades): Tesla Cybertruck for the contrast and the conversation.

Luxx Miami's full exotic car fleet includes dozens of models across all these categories. You can browse the collection online and reserve a car for exact dates, whether you need it for a few hours or a full week. For more details on the process, read the complete guide to renting exotic cars in Miami.

Book in Advance During Peak Season

South Florida's peak tourist season runs from November through April. During this window, the most popular cars (convertible Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Rolls-Royces especially) can book out weeks in advance. If your trip overlaps with a major event like F1 Miami, Art Basel, or the Miami Boat Show, book as early as possible.

Summer is the opposite. Fewer tourists mean more availability and, in many cases, better rates. The trade-off is afternoon thunderstorms (usually brief and dramatic) and higher humidity. If you can handle the heat, summer is actually a great time for scenic drives because the roads are quieter.

Combine Driving with Other Experiences

The best days in Miami combine multiple experiences. Here are three combinations that work especially well:

Morning drive on the Rickenbacker Causeway, followed by a yacht charter out of Key Biscayne in the afternoon. You get the skyline views from the road and then from the water.

Ocean Drive cruise at sunset, then dinner at one of Miami's top restaurants in South Beach or the Design District. The drive sets the mood for the rest of the evening.

Full-day Keys trip, returning to Miami for a night out. After spending the day in the sun with the top down, there is nothing better than getting dressed up and hitting one of Miami's clubs. Check our club guide for the best options.

Quick Tips for Driving in Miami

A few things worth knowing before you hit the road:

·       Tolls are everywhere. Many expressways use electronic toll collection (SunPass or Toll-by-Plate). If your rental has a SunPass transponder, you are set. If not, tolls will be billed to the car.

·       Traffic patterns matter. Avoid I-95 and US-1 during rush hours (7am to 9am and 4pm to 7pm). The scenic routes in this guide are all separate from the main commuter corridors, but getting to them can take longer during peak times.

·       Sunscreen and water. If you are driving a convertible, you are getting sun exposure even when you think you are not. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and water, especially for longer drives to the Keys or the Everglades.

·       Fuel up before heading south. Gas stations become sparse once you leave the Miami metro area heading toward the Keys or the Everglades. Fill up before you go.

·       Watch for speed traps. Key Biscayne and the causeway are known for strict enforcement. So is the Overseas Highway through the Keys. Stick to the speed limit, especially in a car that attracts attention.

·       Parking in South Beach. Ocean Drive has limited street parking. Use the municipal garages on Collins Avenue or 7th Street. If you are driving something exotic, valet at a hotel or restaurant is the safest option.

Make the Drive Part of the Memory

Here is the truth about scenic drives: the car you are in changes the experience more than the route itself. The same stretch of A1A that feels like a boring commute in a rental sedan feels like a scene from a movie in a Ferrari Spider with the top down.

That is what makes South Florida such a perfect place for a luxury driving experience. The roads are smooth. The scenery is stunning. The weather cooperates most of the year. And the culture of Miami means that a beautiful car is not out of place. It is part of the landscape.

Whether you want a convertible for a sunset cruise down Ocean Drive, a grand tourer for a day trip to Palm Beach, or a luxury SUV for a Keys road trip with friends, the right car turns a drive into an experience you will actually remember.

Luxx Miami's fleet includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces, Porsches, Bentleys, McLarens, and more, all available for daily or multi-day rentals. Browse the full collection and book online. If you need help choosing the right car for your planned route, the team is happy to help.

And if scenic drives are just one part of your Miami trip, check out our guides to Miami's best clubs, the best restaurants in Miami, and our top 10 most popular exotic cars to rent. You can also explore yacht charters and luxury villa rentals to round out the full Miami experience.