driving to and from miami

[BiGGy]

Hi there all
We have been searching the virgin website for cheap fares to florida. The cheapest way to get to orlando is by flying into miami and staying one night, getting to hotel in orlando and staying there for a week, moving onto a couple of nights at hard rock hotel and driving back to miami and spending the last night there before we fly back.

Has anyone done this and was it any hassle?

Got to get my fix of the world somehow,lol

BiGGy

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
I did this once but went via Vero Beach, but Miami Int. Airport to Orlando is about 235 miles and you should be able to do it in about 4 hours.
The most straight forward route would be I95 to the Florida Turnpike which takes you staight to Orlando. Or you could stay on the I95 then take the 528 Beachline to Orlando, not as direct but from memory I think the tolls are less.
If you enjoy driving in the USA as much as I do the trip isn't much hassle but it obviously uses up 2 days of your holiday unless you stop off somewhere on the way such as Kennedy Space Centre for instance to make a day of it.

Mick.

 

[Eljay]

Miami to Orlando is 250 miles each way. Fortunately, you can take the Florida Turnpike practically door to door. The trip will take you about 3 1/2 hours with no stops. There are tolls along the road. Depending on exactly where you enter and exit, tolls one way will be about $15. The Florida Turnpike is a wide, multi-lane road with speed limits varying from 65 to 70 MPH, except in construction areas, which will be clearly marked. If you start out with a full fuel tank, you can easily go the full distance without stopping. If you need to stop for bathrooms, snacks, fuel, or a stretch, there are easy on/off rest stops.
I do that drive about 8 weekends a year!
Hope this helps!

 

[lizzysmith]

Once upon a time you had to fly to Miami and drive up to Orlando. First time its fun after that its hassle.
Don't kid yourself that going to Miami is the cheapest way to get to Florida . If it was everyone would be going that way.

Lizzy

 

[UKDEB]

We did it the other way around in April this year. We were taking a cruise from Miami, but couldn't get Virgin Miles Plus Money flights to Miami .

I wouldn't want to do the drive immediately after landing, but, as others have said, it is very straight forward. You don't have to stop too often to pay the tolls on the Turnpike and, in fact, a fairly long stretch is a ticket system.

The good thing is that, having spent your first night in Miami, you will be awake at the crack of dawn and you can be on the road and in Orlando before rush hour starts.

 

[iHEARTflorida]

we did this on year with Virgin. we stayed over night at the thunderbirds holet, i remeber the ride taking about 3 hours.

 

[jjpenguin]

We did this last time as I could get cheap flights to Miami, but not to Orlando. It is do-able but as we stick to the speed limit we find it always takes slightly longer than most folks.

We had our first night in Palm Beach as we couldn't find anything we liked for a decent price in Miami, astit was September we got a great rate at a 5*!!
Getting out of Miami is a hassle but after that it's no problem.

 

[Disney D]

I would say it's worth it if you had longer and if the flights are hundreds of pounds cheaper. Miami is a great experience

It's about a 3/4 hour drive to Orlando and it's a waste of valuable holiday time, when you've only got 2 weeks. How much cheaper is flying to Miami? Once you take into account, hotels, petrol etc it might end up costing you more to fly to Miami !

 

[BiGGy]

Thanks for all the info, we have been lookin at miami as an option for 2 reasons really 1. No flights for the period we want for MCO 2. It works out about £1000 cheaper to go into miami instead.

Have also been looking at goin LA instead... trying not to panic hahaha

will get a flight will get a flight


Thanks all

BiGGy

 

[mfoz1]

Have done this three times and saved loads (over £1500 for a family of six) on each occasion BUT the last time put me off as we arrived late in Miami and then got held up in Immigration and ended up at the back of a 2-hour queue at Dollar. Drove to Vero Beach (mainly in the dark) and then on to Disney the next day. Probably lost two days out of our holiday due to exhaustion and as such wouldn't do it again.

Having said that, the first time we did it we landed and stayed at the hotel in the airport (Mia I think it's called) before heading up to Orlando early next morning AND that was much more civilised plus we had a lot more spending money!

Mark