Florida Travel Guide: Best Places, Beaches, Theme Parks & Trip Ideas

Make the most of your trip

Start with the essentials.

A good Florida vacation starts with a few smart choices. These guides will help you make them.

01 / THE GUIDEFirst-time FloridaGet the essentials: where to start, how long to stay and what to expect.Read the guide ↗02 / THE GUIDEBest things to doDiscover standout experiences beyond a single beach or theme park.Read the guide ↗03 / THE GUIDEWhen to visitFind the season that works for your weather preferences and plans.Read the guide ↗04 / THE GUIDEFlorida with kidsBalance exciting days with easy family activities and downtime.Read the guide ↗05 / THE GUIDEBest Florida beachesCompare the Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast and the Florida Keys.Read the guide ↗06 / THE GUIDEWhere to exploreDiscover the cities, islands and lesser-known places worth your time.Read the guide ↗

Places to fall in love with

Find your kind of Florida.

From lively oceanfront cities to laid-back islands and historic streets, there is no single way to explore the state.

Aerial view of Miami Beach hotels beside the turquoise Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic CoastMiami & Miami Beach

Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World in Orlando

Parks & moreOrlando

Turquoise channels winding around mangrove islands in the Florida Keys

Island escapesFlorida Keys

White sand and bright shallow water at Naples Beach

Gulf CoastNaples

Historic Bridge of Lions in Saint Augustine Florida at sunset

History & coastSt. Augustine

So many places, so many ways to travel.

Browse more Florida destinations ↗

The experiences

Big adventures. Quiet wonders.

Mix days full of energy with places where it feels good to slow down.

Pink fireworks illuminate an Orlando theme park at night

Beyond the ordinary

Make every park day count.

From Disney to Universal and beyond, plan the thrills without spending your entire trip in a queue.

Theme parks ↗Walt Disney World ↗Universal Orlando ↗

Sunlit cypress swamp waterway in Everglades National Park

Natural wonders

Meet a wilder side of the state.

Follow quiet waterways, watch wildlife and discover what makes Florida’s nature so distinctive.

Everglades ↗Nature Coast ↗Ocala ↗

Go beyond the highlights

Explore all eight regions.

Find coastlines, small towns, springs and local discoveries with our regional travel guides.

01 / FLORIDANorthwest Florida Emerald Coast · Pensacola 02 / FLORIDANorth Central Florida Springs · Gainesville 03 / FLORIDANortheast Florida St. Augustine · Jacksonville 04 / FLORIDACentral Florida Orlando · lakes 05 / FLORIDACentral East Florida Space Coast · Daytona 06 / FLORIDACentral West Florida Tampa Bay · Sarasota 07 / FLORIDASoutheast Florida Miami · Palm Beaches 08 / FLORIDASouthwest Florida Naples · Gulf islands

White sand, palm trees and clear Gulf water at Clearwater Beach, Florida

By the sea

Some days call for nothing but the beach.

Florida has a coastline for every mood: wide Atlantic shores, soft Gulf sand and small island escapes. Compare the atmosphere, location and practical details before picking your stretch of sand.

Find your beach ↗

Clearwater Beach ↗Siesta Key ↗Pensacola ↗

The open road

Make the journey part of the trip.

Drive the Keys, pause in coastal towns or connect Florida’s biggest highlights on a realistic route. Our road trip guides help you build in time for spontaneous stops—not just miles.

Explore the 14-day itinerary ↗

Road trip tips ↗Best time to go ↗