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Gulf Coast Drift: Miami to the Big Easy

A scenic journey along the Gulf Coast, starting from the vibrant streets of Miami, winding through the Florida Keys, and heading north along the Gulf of Mexico to the historic charm of New Orleans.

10days
30stops
1790km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Key West · Naples · Tampa · Crystal River · Apalachicola · Pensacola Beach · Orange Beach · Biloxi — start in Miami, end in New Orleans.

DAY01

Miami → Ernest Hemingway Home and Mus…

271 km · 3h 44m driving · Overnight in Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
  1. 10:00
    Miami· start
  2. 145 km · 1h 48m
  3. 13:00
    Robbie's of Islamorada
  4. 125 km · 1h 50m
  5. 17:00
    Mallory Square
  6. 1.3 km · 6m
  7. Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum· overnight
Accommodation
Old Town Key West
DAY02

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic → Southernmost Point of the Con…

1.4 km · 6m driving · Overnight in Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.
  1. 14:00
    Fort Zachary Taylor Historic· start
  2. 1.4 km · 6m
  3. 17:00
    Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.· overnight
Accommodation
Old Town Key West
DAY03

Bahia Honda → Naples

269 km · 3h 50m driving · long drive · Overnight in Naples Pier
  1. 12:00
    Bahia Honda· start
  2. 59 km · 54m
  3. 15:30
    Shark Valley
  4. 210 km · 2h 56m
  5. 18:00
    Naples Pier· overnight
Accommodation
Downtown Naples
DAY04

Siesta Key Beach → Tampa

293 km · 3h 12m driving · Overnight in Tampa Riverwalk
  1. 11:00
    Siesta Key Beach· start
  2. 186 km · 2h
  3. 15:00
    Ybor City
  4. 107 km · 1h 12m
  5. 17:30
    Tampa Riverwalk· overnight
Accommodation
Ybor City or Downtown Tampa
DAY05

Weeki Wachee Springs → Three Sisters Springs

135 km · 1h 38m driving · Overnight in Three Sisters Springs
  1. 10:00
    Weeki Wachee Springs· start
  2. 91 km · 1h 1m
  3. 14:00
    Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
  4. 44 km · 37m
  5. 17:30
    Three Sisters Springs· overnight
Accommodation
Crystal River
DAY06

Steinhatchee → Apalachicola

376 km · 4h 22m driving · Overnight in Apalachicola
  1. 12:00
    Steinhatchee· start
  2. 142 km · 1h 40m
  3. 15:30
    St. George Island
  4. 234 km · 2h 42m
  5. 18:00
    Apalachicola· overnight
Accommodation
Apalachicola
DAY07

Henderson Beach → Pensacola Beach

195 km · 2h 53m driving · Overnight in Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
  1. 11:00
    Henderson Beach· start
  2. 180 km · 2h 35m
  3. 14:30
    Village of Baytowne Wharf
  4. 14 km · 18m
  5. 17:00
    Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier· overnight
Accommodation
Pensacola Beach
DAY08

National Naval Aviation Museum → Orange Beach

49 km · 56m driving · Overnight in Orange Beach
  1. 11:00
    National Naval Aviation Museum· start
  2. 27 km · 34m
  3. 14:00
    Perdido Key
  4. 22 km · 22m
  5. 17:00
    Orange Beach· overnight
Accommodation
Gulf Shores
DAY09

USS Alabama Battleship Memori… → Biloxi

89 km · 1h 5m driving · Overnight in Biloxi Lighthouse
  1. 10:00
    USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park· start
  2. 84 km · 1h
  3. 13:00
    Mobile
  4. 4.6 km · 5m
  5. 17:00
    Biloxi Lighthouse· overnight
Accommodation
Biloxi
DAY10

Ocean Springs → French Quarter

112 km · 1h 18m driving
  1. 10:00
    Ocean Springs· start
  2. 8.3 km · 10m
  3. 13:00
    Honey Island Swamp
  4. 104 km · 1h 8m
  5. 17:00
    French Quarter
Accommodation
French Quarter or Marigny
Heads Up
  • Day 3: 5h 20m driving — plan rest stops
  • Sunscreen is non-negotiable, even on cloudy days.
  • In the Panhandle, watch for 'Purple Flags' on the beach—they mean stinging marine life (jellyfish) are present!