Best Scenic Drives in Miami

Charming roads with sprawling bridges, set against the open sky for highways amidst the leafy palm trees and towering banyans is what sets Miami apart from other cities. The city is primarily flat in its terrain, yet its scenic driving routes are nothing short of giving you a fulfilling driving experience, whether you’re looking for a fun-packed roam around the city with family & friends or a calm & serene road trip that allows you to connect with yourself, or whether you’re a day-rider or night-rider.

Here is a list of 10 road trips that you should consider to make your stay in Miami unforgettable.

Tamiami Trail

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Tamiami Trail—a scenic drive between Miami and Tampa – serves as an instant escape from the heart of downtown Miami into real nature. Your drive along this trail would begin with towering sawgrass and alligator-filled estuaries, leading you to the mesmerizing views of Big Cypress National Preserve. You’d be welcomed by the egrets and herons soaring overhead, further adding to the beauty of the trail.

Each turn along the Tamiami Trail would open to a new natural landscape begging you to stop the car and capture the scenic views. You may like to stop at the Everglades City at the end of your route to enjoy an airboat ride into the Jungle Erv's mangroves or take a buggy ride through the cypress forest. In short, Tamiami Trail’s mix of practical amenities and access to nature can make your road trip an unforgettable one!;

MacArthur Causeway

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Perhaps, the drive that you’ll find most recognizable is along the MacArthur Causeway – Miami’s engineering masterpiece – that connects the Downtown to South Beach. As you drive along this causeway, you’ll enjoy the tranquil Biscayne Bay with stunning views of the city’s imposing skyline. Also, you may find yourself dreaming about becoming neighbors to P. Diddy and Gloria and Emilio Estefan in the multi-million-dollar mega-mansions as you pass through Palm Island, Dodge Island, and Star Island.

As you look to the other side of the causeway, you’ll catch glimpses of towering cruise ships docked at the ultramodern Port Miami, making you think about your next ocean getaway. As you drive further, the waterfront neighborhood at the causeway’s conclusion would serve as a feast for your eyes. And if you’re a Bad Boys 2 admirer, you may be able to make references to locations along the causeway where iconic scenes of the movie were shot!

South Beach & Ocean Drive

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South Beach’s world-famous Art Deco architecture from the early 20th century may enthrall you to take the scenic Ocean Drive. As your car slowly crawls along the Drive, pastel-colored hotels and bars on the west, complemented by towering palm trees amidst the sand of the beach and Lummus Park across the street would make you feel like driving in a music video. As you dine in at one of the cool hotels, you will be mesmerized by the sunlight peeking through the towering palms, the magnificent views of endless skies, and the waves gently dancing in the backdrop.

The good news is that Ocean Drive is now a one-way street with a dedicated bike lane where you can easily navigate through the traffic on your car, fixie, rollerblades, or any other wheeled method of transportation you opt for. Alternatively, you may wish to stop at Lummus Park, climb its lifeguard towers and take uninterrupted sunrise/sunset selfies. So, if you’re a photography enthusiast, get ready to collect premium content on this picturesque lane for your next Instagram stories! 

Old Cutler Road

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Fond of drives along roads with a verdant canopy of shade giving a purely natural driving experience? Old Cutler Road has everything to provide you with a scenic, calm, and serene driving experience! Winding from the Cocoplum in Coral Gables, this leafy tunnel road would take you to the village of Cutler Bay. Impressive hundred-year-old Banyan trees & historic stone-clad homes would warmly welcome you along the way. You may wish to stop at one of the Themed Villages of Coral Gables to treat yourself to views of a vibrant metropolis founded by the legendary George E. Merrick 100 years ago.

You can also head to the Matheson Hammock Park driving a mile-and-a-half south of Old Cutler’s northern end and stop there a while to take in the beauty of the county’s quietest beach. From here, you can take a short scenic drive to stop into the Fairchild Tropical Gardens and de-stress yourself with the soothing beauty of tropical foliage and flamingoes. You may wish to take a pause at the restaurants located at the end, and enjoy the chow time with the restaurant’s famous seafood.

South Bayshore Drive

Stretching from U.S. 1 to McFarlane Rd, the South Bayshore Drive allows you to wind through the Coconut Grove waterfront. As you weave through the road, you’ll be awestruck by the view highlighting coastal high rises, marinas harboring pleasure yachts and small boats, and adorable green spaces. Along the road, you’ll also pass through Miami’s historic parks like Kennedy Park, Peacock Park, Barnacle Historic State Park, and others.

The chilled vibes from Biscayne Bay flaunting its beauty in the background will further add to your drive experience. The best way to make the most of your South Bayshore Drive is to drive through the neighborhood's narrow streets slowly, feel the chilled vibes from the bay, and take in the sights! 

Rickenbacker Causeway

(Photo Credit: Veronika Radkevich/ Facebook)

This seaside trail stretching across Biscayne Bay connects to the barrier islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne provides uninterrupted views of crystal blue waters on both sides. Its tall bridges and waterfront stretches are magnet poles for nature lovers seeking unobstructed bay views. As you ascend to William H. Powell Bridge’s peak 100 feet above sea level, views of Miami’s downtown skyline meeting the dancing wavers of Biscayne Bay with the decaying cluster of offshore shacks of Stiltsville would catch you in its spell. The view becomes more captivating at night, with the colorful lights of Miami downtown appearing like stars on earth.

You may wish to stop by the Miami Seaquarium for an intriguing lesson on all things under the sea. Alternatively, you may wish to pull the breaks off at the Cape Florida Lighthouse for some memorable clicks. Consider heading to Crandon Park if you’re accompanied by your family or friends. 

Overseas Highway

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Stretched between Key Largo and Key West, the Overseas Highways is one of the grand all-over-water drives. This is the only road that takes you to Key West, where you can witness an extraordinary oceanic highway spanning over 113 miles, traversing through multiple islands, keys, and counties. The highway crosses 42 bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge. As you roll over these bridges, you’ll witness a one-of-its-type panoramic view of turquoise waters and a string of emerald islands.

As you drive down this highway, you’ll have unobstructed views of clear blue waters on both sides meeting the skyline in the distance. Each island coming your way would be unique in character, waiting for you to stop by, and explore its natural gems. If you find long drives therapeutic, love driving at a slow pace, & enjoy absorbing the cool vibes from oceanic scenes, this highway is destined to become your top-most favorite! 

Venetian Causeway

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Bridging Miami Beach with downtown Miami, the Venetian Causeway replaced the world’s longest wooden bridge - replacing original wood with a series of draw bridges running at sea level. As you drive along this causeway, you feel like driving on the water with views of the city line popping out of the string of tiny islands it connects. Along the way, you’ll catch glimpses of magnificent mansions & villas by the water with the northern skyline of the city in the background.

All in all, the views peeking in between the islands will provide a new prism to view the beauty of this Magic City! 

Julia Tuttle Causeway

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Bridging Miami Beach with downtown Miami, the Julia Tuttle Causeway is a mirror of its southern counterpart i.e., the MacArthur Causeway. Extending over 4.4 miles, this causeway provides some of the wide & sweeping views of the spectacular Biscayne Bay from a car window. As you drive towards the beach side, you’ll be greeted by the historic Art Deco “Welcome to Miami Beach” sign giving you some of the purely-Miami-vibes.

Main Highway

Reading the ‘Main Highway’ signboard might give you an implication of high traffic and high activity. However, contrary to what its name depicts, the Main Highway is one of the quietest major thoroughfares in Miami. The Main Highway is a narrow, one-mile-long street known for its mature tropical foliage and stately historic residences. You should also expect to catch sight of peacocks crossing the highway, as these peacocks know the Coconut Groves as their homes for decades.

Rolling over the low-hanging trees and colorful flowers along this highway will make you feel like being a part of some romantic scene. The north end of the highway will lead you to Coconut Grove’s bustling business district where you can stop by popular restaurants, cafes, bars, and malls. 

These are the undeniably 10 most scenic drives that together sum up the real essence of this Magic City. Amidst the clear waters of Biscayne Bay, sandy beaches, and shimmering city skylines, each of these drives will add unforgettable memories & experiences to your long-drive memory book. So, if you’re in this Magic City and got little time to explore its hidden treasures individually, driving along these scenic paths will help to explore more in less time!