You're in for a treat if you're taking the drive from New York to Florida! The United States' east coast is jam-packed with historical sites, picturesque routes, and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Making the most of your drive is important whether you're on the east coast or going south to north. If you are planning a road trip or traveling to an unfamiliar destination,
mapquest directions is a great tool to help you navigate with ease. We've planned the most efficient path for you to follow so you can take advantage of all the attractions and activities a journey from New York to Florida has to offer.
Which route should I take?
I-95 South is, in our opinion, the finest route from New York to Florida, and here's why:
To get to central and southern Florida, this is the shortest path.
It travels through nine states as well as Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, Charleston, and Savannah, which are all significant historical centers.
Nearby coastal communities like Jacksonville and Daytona Beach offer stunning ocean vistas.
Driving from NY to FL
What’s the distance?
While the distance will depend on your exact location and destination, you can get a pretty good idea of how far you’ll drive by using a major city as a point of reference. Here's time and travel info if you’re coming from New York City:
To Daytona Beach, approximately 1,070 miles, or a little over 2 days
To Destin, approximately 1,261 miles, or almost 2.5 days
To Fort Lauderdale, approximately 1,263, miles or almost 2.5 days
To Jacksonville, approximately 937 miles, or almost 2 days
To Key West, approximately 1,440 miles, or almost 3 days
To Miami, approximately 1,283 miles, or more than 2.5 days
To Orlando, approximately 1,078 miles, or a little over 2 days
To Panama City Beach, approximately 1,206 miles, or almost 2.5 days
To Pensacola, approximately 1,238 miles, or almost 2.5 days
To Petersburg, approximately 1,157 miles, or a little over 2 days
To Tallahassee, approximately 1,098 miles, or a little over 2 days
To Tampa, approximately 1,133 miles, or almost 2.5 days
Itinerary 1: Going to Disney!
Disney World is the perfect vacation spot for children of all ages. Explore the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom Park for the ultimate Disney experience. Purchase some souvenirs at World of Disney to remember this trip for years to come.
You’ll probably want to take the fastest route to Florida — your favorite characters are waiting to meet you! Here’s the quickest way to get to Orlando from New York:
Travel from NYC to Rocky Mount, NC
Spend the night in Rocky Mount (night 1)
Travel to Orlando, FL the next day (this might be a little longer drive than 8 hours)
Total travel time: 2 days, 1 night
Itinerary 2: Visiting The Big Guava (Tampa’s nickname)
Heading toward Tampa? It’s an animal lover’s paradise. Check out the Florida Aquarium, the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center, Big Cat Rescue, and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo to see Florida’s marine life and wildlife up close. Here’s the best route to take from New York:
Leave from NYC
Spend the night in Rocky Mount, NC (night 1)
Travel to Jacksonville, FL and stay overnight (night 2)
Go through Starke, past Ocala on I-75,orstay on I-95 and go through Orlando, past Lakeland
Total travel time: 3 days, 2 nights
Itinerary 3: American History excursion
If you’re a history buff, take this route on your way to Florida:
Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island before leaving NYC
Stop by Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia
Spend the night in Philadelphia (night 1)
See Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore
Spend the night just outside of Washington D.C. in Greenbelt, MD (night 2)
Spend a couple of days in Washington D.C. and visit sites like the U.S. Capitol, The White House, Arlington National Cemetery, the Library of Congress, Lincoln Memorial, the National Museum of American History, the National Mall, Washington Monument, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial (night 3 and 4)
Visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate in Mount Vernon, VA
Stop in Williamsburg to experience the Jamestown Settlement Museum, Yorktown Victory Center and Colonial Williamsburg (night 5)
Travel to Fayetteville, NC, and tour the Airborne and Special Operations Museum (night 6)
Drive to Savannah, GA and stroll through the historic district to see mansions, monuments and other sites from the Civil War and Revolutionary eras
Spend the night in Savannah, then travel to your final destination in Florida (night 7)
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