Port St Lucie is perfectly placed for travellers who love variety. Sitting along Florida’s Treasure Coast, it offers easy access to beaches, wetlands, lively cities, and wild natural landscapes - all within a few hours’ drive!
A road trip from here does not need to mean long, exhausting hours behind the wheel. Instead, it’s about short-to-mid distance journeys that feel like proper escapes while still being manageable for a weekend or even a day.
Roughly two hours north-west of Port St Lucie, Orlando is one of the easiest and most rewarding road trips in the state. While it is famous for its theme parks, the city has far more to offer than roller-coasters alone! Beyond Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, you'll find:
1. Orlando: Theme Parks and More (A Classic Florida Escape)
Roughly two hours north-west of Port St Lucie, Orlando is one of the easiest and most rewarding road trips in the state. While it is famous for its theme parks, the city has far more to offer than roller-coasters alone! Beyond Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, you'll find:
- lively neighbourhoods with independent restaurants;
- lakeside parks perfect for a slower afternoon;
- art galleries and cultural venues in downtown Orlando.
This trip works well for families, couples, or friends, as you can tailor the pace from high-energy days to relaxed evenings by the water.
Heading south for about two hours brings you to Miami, where the atmosphere shifts almost instantly! The city feels international, vibrant, and stylish, offering a blend of beaches, architecture, and culture that contrasts beautifully with the quieter Treasure Coast.
2. Miami: Culture, Coastlines and Colour
Heading south for about two hours brings you to Miami, where the atmosphere shifts almost instantly! The city feels international, vibrant, and stylish, offering a blend of beaches, architecture, and culture that contrasts beautifully with the quieter Treasure Coast.
South Beach is known for its Art Deco buildings and lively promenade, while neighbourhoods like Wynwood are packed with street art and creative spaces (and if the crowds feel intense, a short drive to Key Biscayne or Coconut Grove provides greener, calmer surroundings).
For a truly memorable road trip, you might want to continue beyond Miami and join the Overseas Highway toward the Florida Keys! This route feels less like a motorway and more like a journey across the ocean, with long bridges linking tropical islands. Highlights along the way include:
3. The Florida Keys: The Overseas Highway Experience
For a truly memorable road trip, you might want to continue beyond Miami and join the Overseas Highway toward the Florida Keys! This route feels less like a motorway and more like a journey across the ocean, with long bridges linking tropical islands. Highlights along the way include:
- snorkelling and clear turquoise waters;
- fresh seafood in relaxed harbourside towns;
- sunset views that feel almost unreal!
Key Largo or Islamorada make excellent first stops if you prefer a shorter trip, while Key West offers a full island-town experience at the end of the chain.
A drive toward the Everglades reveals a completely different side of Florida. Instead of beaches and cities, you'll find vast wetlands, sawgrass prairies, and slow-moving waterways. Visitors usually go for:
4. Everglades National Park: Wild Florida, Nature at Its Most Untamed
A drive toward the Everglades reveals a completely different side of Florida. Instead of beaches and cities, you'll find vast wetlands, sawgrass prairies, and slow-moving waterways. Visitors usually go for:
- airboat rides through mangroves;
- wildlife spotting, including birds and alligators;
- quiet trails and boardwalks through unique ecosystems.
This trip is ideal for travellers who want space, silence, and a deeper connection with nature after time in busier coastal areas.
On Florida’s west coast, Naples offers a more refined beach-town feel. The drive from Port St Lucie takes around three hours, crossing the state from Atlantic to Gulf waters (which in itself makes the journey interesting). Naples is known for:
5. Naples and the Gulf Coast: Sophisticated and Scenic
On Florida’s west coast, Naples offers a more refined beach-town feel. The drive from Port St Lucie takes around three hours, crossing the state from Atlantic to Gulf waters (which in itself makes the journey interesting). Naples is known for:
- wide, calm beaches with soft sand;
- elegant shopping streets and galleries;
- and, of course, beautiful sunset views over the Gulf of Mexico!
Nearby, you can explore nature reserves or take a boat trip, balancing relaxation with light adventure.
One of the best things about living in or visiting Port St Lucie is how many completely different experiences sit within easy reach: in just a few hours, you can move from theme parks to tropical islands, from vibrant cities to silent wetlands! These road trips prove you do not need to travel far for a proper change of scenery.
Of course, any good road trip starts with a bit of preparation: checking routes, packing essentials, and making sure your vehicle is in good condition. Locals know that Florida highways can be busy, and in the rare event something goes wrong, a Port St Lucie car accident lawyer is the sort of practical detail people hope never to need but are glad exists. With thoughtful planning and an open schedule, these journeys can become just as rewarding as the destination.
Wrap Up: Big Variety, Easy Distances
One of the best things about living in or visiting Port St Lucie is how many completely different experiences sit within easy reach: in just a few hours, you can move from theme parks to tropical islands, from vibrant cities to silent wetlands! These road trips prove you do not need to travel far for a proper change of scenery.
Of course, any good road trip starts with a bit of preparation: checking routes, packing essentials, and making sure your vehicle is in good condition. Locals know that Florida highways can be busy, and in the rare event something goes wrong, a Port St Lucie car accident lawyer is the sort of practical detail people hope never to need but are glad exists. With thoughtful planning and an open schedule, these journeys can become just as rewarding as the destination.
From ocean bridges to wild landscapes, the roads out of Port St Lucie lead to some of Florida’s most memorable adventures, all waiting just beyond the horizon! (Photo credits: Gary Lopater, Miranda Campbell, Zoshua Colah, Zoshua Colah, Mark Jacquez, Bailey Rapp)
