SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
ROAD TRIPS AND SCENIC DRIVES

By  Mike Miller Updated December 30, 2022

The Southeast Florida road trips and scenic drives recommended on our website are off the beaten path, even though some of them are in urban areas.

Map of Southeast Florida and the Keys

I-95 is the the north-south interstate in this region.  It ends in Miami where it joins US-1. 

I-75 also comes into Southeast Florida from Naples to the west and turns south where it ends in Miami. 

The Florida Turnpike is a major toll road that also runs north-south and terminates in Miami, but also has a fork that branches off south and west and heads towards the Keys.  

Southeast Florida is known for traffic congestion on the highways south of Jupiter Inlet through Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

This is definitely the place in Florida where it makes sense to get off the interstate and have fun on the less traveled roads.

In Southeast Florida, most of these back roads are in urban areas. The maps below show a few Southeast Florida road trips that I recommend.

If you are more interested in places to go rather than the routes, see Miami Florida Day Trips.

Southeast Florida Road Trips and Scenic Drives with Highway Maps

Road Trip 1:  Fort Pierce to Jensen Beach along Indian River

SR-707, Indian River Drive, along the west side of the Indian River from Fort Pierce south to Jensen Beach. Close to the beautiful river, gorgeous trees and fine old houses and historic places. This is one of my favorite Southeast Florida day trips. About 21 miles.

Boston House, Fort Pierce

Road Trip 2:  Jupiter to Hobe Sound via Jupiter Island

SR-707 from Hobe Sound south along Jupiter Island to Jupiter Inlet.  Old money, great beaches but you will have a hard time finding public access. Enjoy from your car window. About 10 miles.

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

Road Trip 3:  Jupiter to North Palm Beach via Florida SR-A1A

SR-A1A from Jupiter to North Palm Beach through Juno Beach. White sand dunes all covered with nice homes. Not too many years ago this land was rolling sand dunes with sea grapes and myrtles. About 10 miles.

Road Trip 4:  Palm Beach to Lake Worth Inlet

Royal Palm Boulevard from West Palm Beach to Palm Beach. Then north to Lake Worth Inlet. Mega-mansions, Rush Limbaugh, other rich and famous people. Beautiful landscaping. Rush may be newly rich, but most of the money in this town is hundreds of years old. 10 miles.

Road Trip 5:  Palm Beach to Boynton Beach via Florida SR-A1A

SR-A1A south from Royal Palm Boulevard in Palm Beach to Boynton Beach. Just a fine beach road, sea grapes, fine homes, beautiful homes, Kennedys, Trump and Mar-A-Lago, etc. About 16 miles.

Mar A Lago

Road Trip 6:  Boynton Beach to Fort Lauderdale via Florida SR-A1A

SR-A1A from Boynton Beach into Fort Lauderdale at US-1, through Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach. Magnificent ocean views and breezes. About 32 miles.

Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse

Road Trip 7:  Coconut Grove to Goulds on Old Cutler Road

From Coconut Grove along Main Street and Ingraham Highway to Old Cutler Road in Coral Gables. South on Old Cutler Road to Goulds. Some of the finest banyan trees in the world. Botanical treasures, fine homes. About 15 miles.

Road Trip 8:  Miami to Fort Myers via Clewiston and LaBelle

From Miami take US27 (Okeechobee Blvd in Hialeah) north to Clewiston.  Just west of Clewiston take SR80 to LaBelle.  In LaBelle, take SR29 north across the bridge to SR78 and turn west.  Take SR78 all the way into North Fort Myers and US-41 south into Fort Myers.  About 157 miles.

Hendry House, LaBelle

Road Trip 9:  Martin County Scenic Highway West of Stuart

County Road 714, also known as Martin County Scenic Highway and Martin Grade is an arrow-straight scenic drive.  Take CR714 west out of Stuart and travel west to CR710 near the shore of Lake Okeechobee. You will go through Old Florida ranch and farmland.  The westernmost 12 mile stretch of this scenic drive has some of the nicest canopied roads in this south Florida.

CR714, Martin Scenic Highway

Road Trip 10:  US-1 Florida Keys to Key West

The Florida Keys are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.  Traveling there by car takes you down a string of palm fringed tropical islands made of coral that stretch more than 120 miles from the Florida mainland down to Key West.  They are famous for their fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and boating.

Click on photo for information about the Florida Keys.