Orlando to Key West Road Trip: The Best of Florida in a campervan

Starting from Orlando

Worth a visit:

Walt Disney World Resort: The premier theme park attraction of Orlando – experience the magic of Disney at this massive park. Tickets start at $109 per day.
Universal Orlando Resort: The home of many entertainment wonders including an immersive Harry Potter experience. Tickets start from $109 per day.
Kennedy Space Center: The main launch centre of NASA, this attraction isn’t to be missed if you’re a space buff. An adult ticket will set you back $57 for the day.

Where to eat:

Wine Bar George ($$$): Known for its extensive wine list, this restaurant is a favourite among locals and tourists.
Hunger Street Tacos ($$): Just a few minutes from Orlando’s centre, this Mexican restaurant serves some of the finest food in town.

Indulge your inner tourist

Located in central Florida, Orlando is one of the most popular tourist spots in the world. Nicknamed “the City Beautiful” it turns over an incredible amount of traffic every year due to its major events, conventions, and tourist attractions.

The two most renowned attractions in the Orlando area are the Walt Disney World Resort and the Universal Orlando Resort. Both have put Orlando on the map and made it one of the most visited cities in the world.

While it’s no slouch when it comes to theme parks, the rest of the city is also well worth a visit. World-class dining, shopping, and entertainment make Orlando a great place to start your road trip.

West Palm Beach

Worth a visit:

Norton Museum of Art: With over 7000 works of art on display, this gallery has something for everyone of every taste. The museum is free to visit but does host ticketed exhibitions.
South Florida Science Museum and Aquarium: If you’re travelling with the kids, this is a must-see attraction. General admission for an adult is $18.95.
Lion Country Safari: Florida’s only drive-through safari, this is one of the best attractions in the area. Tickets start from $30 for the day.

Where to eat:

Kitchen ($$): Owned by a husband-and-wife team, this restaurant is second to none for quality cuisine.
Agora Mediterranean Kitchen ($$$):

Shop ‘til you drop

With a reputation for fine dining, exquisite shopping, and Broadway-quality entertainment, West Palm Beach has it all. Located on Florida’s Atlantic Ocean coast, this city offers visitors year-round entertainment, all within spitting distance of some of the best beaches in the world.

Downtown West Palm Beach houses four entertainment and retail districts: Antique Row, Northwood Village, Rosemary Square, and Clematis Street. Each one is lined with exciting bars, boutiques, and nightclubs ready to receive visitors and wow them with local culture.

If you’re looking for the pace of Miami but on a smaller scale, then West Palm Beach is a must-see.

Miami, baby!

Worth a visit:

Miami Beach (Free): The beach is what makes Miami one of the best spots to visit in the world. Take some time to soak up the sun or frolic in the waves.
Everglades National Park (Free): This park covers 1.5 million acres of swampland and is home to a stunning array of wildlife.
Fort Lauderdale (Free): Just 30 minutes drive from Miami, Fort Lauderdale is a perfect way to get out of the city and see the surrounding area.

Where to eat:

Makoto ($$): Modern Japanese dishes that are exquisitely presented keep locals and tourists flocking to this restaurant.
The Surf Club Restaurant ($): Nostalgic American food with a 1950s slant.

Begin your van adventure where summer never ends.

Located in southeastern Florida, Miami is a coastal metropolis with a lot to offer. It’s a leader in finance, culture, arts, commerce, and international trade and is also one of the largest majority-minority cities in the U.S., with over 70% of its population being Hispanic.

The city is known for its exquisite beaches, awesome cuisine, Cuban coffee, warm climate, and Latin-American influences. Over 14 million tourists a year visit the area resulting in over 10% of its workforce being part of the tourist industry.

While Miami is mostly man-made, it also houses some of the world’s most awesome natural attractions such as the Biscayne National Park and the Everglades National Park.

Key West

Worth a visit:

Key Largo: The first of the Florida Keys, this island is also home to the world’s largest artificial reef.
Marathon Key: If wreck and reef diving is your thing, then you can’t miss a stopover in Marathon Key.
Great Florida Barrier Reef: Book a snorkeling tour and experience the third largest reef in the world.

Where to eat:

Blue Heaven ($$): A mix of American and Caribbean cuisine, this restaurant is a great option if you happen to be vegetarian.
Garbo’s Grill ($): This permanent food truck is one of the best in the city for fusion eats.

Time to dive in

Key West is a U.S. island city that’s part of the Florida Keys archipelago. To get there in a campervan you’ll have to take the ferry which is an experience unto itself, with plenty of interesting pitstops along the way.

Key West is famed for its conch-style, pastel-hued houses and its coral reefs – a massive attraction for divers and sightseers. Whether you’re interested in the local wildlife or want to excite yourself with adrenaline-pumping watersports, this is the city for you.

Visitors flock to the area from all around the world to experience the atmosphere and wonder of this small city. Its nightlife is also something to be experienced with many a partygoer hitting the town each night.