Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Travel (FAQS)

Last Updated March 21, 2026

Florida Travel Blog has collected the most asked questions about travel in Florida. These questions come directly from Google and searches asking questions about the Sunshine State.

Our goal is to give you a wide range of information in one location. Below are the 20 most frequently asked questions about Florida Travel.

When is the best time to travel to Florida?

The best time to travel to Florida depends on your destination. Generally people from northern states like to get away from the cold weather in the spring. Summer months can be quite warm. Late fall is another comfortable time of year.

frequently asked questions about florida travel resort

If you are a United States citizen, you do not need a passport, just a valid photo ID. If traveling from another country, you will need a passport or Visa to enter the United States.

Florida Travel Blog has several resources for Florida Travel Essentials. We also have a Florida Packing List to make things easy.

packing for beach trip

Florida is a very safe state. The only time you should beware is if a serious storm is approaching the state. If you want safety information about specific areas, you can find it here.

We know that over 58 million people a year travel to the theme parks in Orlando. Beyond that, if your preference is beaches, Florida is known for clear water white sandy beaches. If outdoor activities interest you consider north central Florida. If you have never seen The Everglades, put it on your bucket list. For glitter and glamour, head to south beach Miami. As you can see there are a lot of options. Florida Travel Blog can assist your planning.

Miami is in the southeast portion of the state. That means it is very warm in the summer and very busy in the winter months. We suggest October through January as the best months for Miami Travel.

Vacation spots in Florida for Families - Key Biscayne

We assume the reference is the flight limitations for baggage and carry-on items. You can find all the size limits at What is Travel Size – TSA Regs.

Planning a trip to Florida can be a task. These are the key elements:

  • Determine your family’s interests.
  • Budget for your trip.
  • Combine the budget with interests to matching areas of Florida.
  • Make reservations well in advance to avoid disappointment. Most can be cancelled with notice.
  • Finalize transportation needs.
  • Pack your bags!

The simple answer is yes, they do give Florida resident discounts at Disney World. More detailed information from Disney is here.

Disney World and Universal Studios Theme Parks
Disney and Universal have discounts for Florida residents.

The quick answer to the cheapest time to travel to Florida is off-season. From February through May is considered “season”. However, there are areas that are affordable year round with little price fluctuation. Areas like the Nature Coast, some Panhandle locations and coastal communities.

The Florida Keys are Mother Natures hidden gems for travel. Your travel is easy since the only highway through the Keys is the Overseas Highway. Also, you can find a mile by mile guide of attractions to help.

Travel to Orlando is always relatively safe unless a hurricane is projected to arrive and travel through the middle of the state.

The least expensive way to travel to Florida is by car. Flights, busses, trains and other modes can be expensive, particularly for a family. The cost is relative to the number of miles you plan on traveling. AAA calculates driving costs at this website.

packed car for florida travel

We can only tell you our preferences. Key West is the most popular Key, and we love it there, but it can be expensive. We think the Hawks Cay Resort in Marathon is the best for a family. Islamorada is the best overall Key for sportsmen.

The list of airlines that travel to Florida non-stop is a long one depending on your starting point. In general, the list includes:

  • American
  • United
  • Delta
  • Jet Blue
  • Spirit
  • Allegany
  • Allegiant
  • British Airways

The best time to travel to Orlando is September through the first two weeks of December. Temperatures are moderate and crowds are less during these weeks. However, if you can avoid it, never travel to Orlando around major holidays.

Is it safe to travel to Tampa right now. Tampa rarely has issues that would prohibit travel. Even the hurricane that hit the west coast of Florida several weeks ago had minimal impact on Tampa. Again, it is always wise to check weather alerts from July through September.

Florida weekends trips for couples. Tampa Marriott

The top ten places to visit in Florida based on visitor numbers are:

    1. Orlando
    2. Miami
    3. Tampa
    4. Clearwater Beach
    5. Destin
    6. Key West
    7. The Space Coast
    8. The Villages
    9. Pensacola
    10. West Palm Beach

 

From a resident’s perspective, here are the best vacation spots in Florida for families –

  • Orlando
  • Clearwater Beach
  • Destin
  • Marathon
  • Tampa
  • Miami
  • Space Coast (several locations in 40 mile east coast)
  • Sanibel/Captiva
Faqs about florida travel

Key things to know before traveling to Florida are:

  • Florida is a huge state. from one end to the other, it is over 800 miles (Pensacola to Key West).
  • Weather can be brutally hot in the summer in some spots and beautifully cool in the winter.
  • There are parts of Florida that are dense forests and other areas of long flat beaches.
  • Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Gulf of Mexico on the west, Florida has over 1300 miles of coastline.
  • Due to Florida’s size, planning is key to enjoying a vacation in the Sunshine State.

The Florida Keys are a long chain of islands off the southern tip of mainland Florida. They extend southwest from the Miami-Homestead area toward Key West, between the Atlantic Ocean and Florida Bay/Gulf waters.

Are the Florida Keys part of Florida?

Yes. The Florida Keys are part of the state of Florida and are connected to mainland South Florida by U.S. 1, also known as the Overseas Highway.

What part of Florida are the Florida Keys in?

The Florida Keys are in the far southern part of Florida, below the mainland and stretching out into the water between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf side of the state.

Are the Florida Keys near Miami?

Yes. The northern end of the Florida Keys is relatively close to Miami. Key Largo, the first major key, is about 60 miles south of Miami.

How far are the Florida Keys from Miami?

That depends on which part of the Keys you mean. Key Largo is about 60 miles from Miami, while Key West is about 160 miles from Miami by road.

Where do the Florida Keys start?

For most travelers, the Florida Keys begin at Key Largo, the first and northernmost major key reached when driving south from the mainland. The broader island chain continues all the way to Key West.

Where do the Florida Keys end?

The Florida Keys end at Key West, the southernmost major island in the chain and the end of the Overseas Highway drive.

Are the Florida Keys islands or part of the mainland?

The Florida Keys are islands. They are a chain of more than 1,700 islands and keys, although only a fraction of them are inhabited or easily accessible by road.

How long are the Florida Keys?

The island chain stretches for roughly 180 miles from the southern tip of mainland Florida to Key West. The scenic Overseas Highway portion from Key Largo to Key West is about 113 miles.

What are the main places in the Florida Keys?

The main destinations most travelers know are Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key and Key West. These are the best-known stops along the Overseas Highway.

Can you drive to the Florida Keys?

Yes. The Florida Keys are connected by U.S. 1, the Overseas Highway, which links the major islands by a series of bridges.

What is the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys?

The Overseas Highway is the famous stretch of U.S. 1 that connects the major Florida Keys. It runs from Key Largo to Key West and crosses dozens of bridges over open water.

How many bridges are in the Florida Keys?

Official Keys tourism describes the Overseas Highway from Key Largo to Key West as incorporating 42 bridges, while some Florida tourism pages describe the Keys as connected by 43 bridges. The commonly cited travel takeaway is that the drive crosses dozens of bridges linking the islands.

Are the Florida Keys closer to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico?

They are between both. The Keys are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Florida Bay/Gulf waters on the other, which is part of what makes the region so distinctive.

Are the Florida Keys the same as Key West?

No. Key West is one part of the Florida Keys, but the Florida Keys are the entire island chain that includes Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Key West, and many other islands.

Is Key Largo in the Florida Keys?

Yes. Key Largo is the first and northernmost major key in the Florida Keys and is often the starting point for a Keys road trip.

Are the Florida Keys worth visiting?

Yes. The Florida Keys are popular for scenic drives, snorkeling, diving, boating, fishing, beaches, wildlife, and destinations such as Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, and Key West.

What is special about where the Florida Keys are located?

Their location is special because the islands stretch far from the mainland across tropical-looking water, creating one of Florida’s most distinctive road trips. Their position between the Atlantic Ocean and Florida Bay gives visitors easy access to reefs, boating, fishing, and open-water views almost the entire way.

What is the best way to get to the Florida Keys?

For most travelers, the easiest and most popular way is to drive from mainland South Florida on the Overseas Highway. That lets you stop along the island chain from Key Largo to Key West.

What is Highway 30A in Florida?

Highway 30A, more properly County Highway 30A or Scenic Highway 30A, is a scenic road in Walton County along Florida’s Northwest Gulf Coast. It is a 28.5-mile route that passes through beach communities such as Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, and WaterSound.

Where is 30A in Florida?

30A is in Florida’s Panhandle, between the Destin area and Panama City Beach.

Why is 30A so famous?

30A is famous for its white-sand beaches, emerald water, bike-friendly beach towns, upscale coastal communities, and laid-back atmosphere. The scenic drive and the popularity of towns like Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Alys Beach add to the fame.

Is 30A worth visiting?

Yes. 30A is worth visiting if you enjoy scenic beach towns, Gulf views, biking, beach days, dining, and a more relaxed coastal style than some bigger Florida resort areas. Official tourism coverage presents it as one of Florida’s signature scenic drives and beach getaways.

What towns are on 30A?

Some of the best-known towns and beach communities along or closely tied to 30A include Inlet Beach, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Seacrest, Seagrove Beach, Seaside, WaterColor, Grayton Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Dune Allen Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach.

Is Seaside on 30A?

Seaside is located along scenic Highway 30A on Florida’s Northwest Coast.

How long is 30A?

Scenic Highway 30A as 28.5 miles long.

Can you bike on 30A?

One of the ways to get around 30A is by bicycle, and South Walton tourism also promotes extensive hiking and biking opportunities in the region.

What is the best beach on 30A?

That depends on what kind of beach experience you want. There are more than 50 beach and bay access locations along its 26 miles of shoreline, so some visitors prefer the lively feel of Seaside, while others like the quieter atmosphere around Grayton Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, or Inlet Beach. Our favorites are Seaside and Rosemary Beach.

Is 30A family-friendly?

Yes. 30A is popular with families because it combines beaches, bike paths, beach towns, parks, and easy outdoor activities.

Does 30A have public beach access?

Yes, but access varies by neighborhood. Some communities along 30A have private beach access tied to rentals or developments.

Is 30A expensive?

30A is often seen as one of Florida’s more upscale beach areas because of its resort communities, distinctive architecture, and sought-after beachfront neighborhoods. That said, the area includes a range of experiences, from luxury stays to public beach days and scenic drives. This is partly an inference from how the destination is marketed and the types of communities highlighted by official tourism sources.

What are the best things to do on 30A?

Popular things to do on 30A include going to the beach, biking, shopping, dining, exploring the beach towns, visiting state parks, kayaking coastal dune lakes, and snorkeling nearshore reefs.

What makes 30A different from Destin?

30A is generally known for smaller beach communities, a slower pace, and a more neighborhood-based coastal feel, while Destin is usually associated with larger resort areas, heavier commercial activity, and a busier overall vibe. This is an inference based on how the destinations are described by official tourism pages.

Is 30A close to Destin?

Yes. Several 30A communities are within a reasonable drive of Destin. For example, Seaside is about a 35-minute drive east of Destin, and Rosemary Beach is about 30 miles east of Destin.

What is special about 30A beaches?

30A beaches are known for sugar-white sand, turquoise Gulf water, and access to rare coastal dune lakes, state parks, and distinctive beach neighborhoods. 26 miles of shoreline and rare dune-lake environment as part of what makes the area unusual.

Do you need a car on 30A?

Not always for short local exploring, but it helps. You can get around 30A by car, bicycle, or on foot. Low-speed vehicles (golf carts) are popular in some areas.

Frequently asked questions about florida travel

Florida is an ideal travel destination due to its diverse attractions and year-round pleasant weather. Whether you’re drawn to its white sand beaches, vibrant cities, or rich cultural history, Florida has something for every type of traveler. 

Visitors can soak up the sun on iconic beaches like Miami Beach, Clearwater, and the Florida Keys, or explore the diverse ecosystems in places like the Everglades and the many state parks. Florida is also home to world-renowned attractions like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and the Kennedy Space Center, making it a favorite spot for families, thrill-seekers, and adventure lovers.

Florida offers a rich blend of culture, history, and natural beauty.  With its mix of relaxation, adventure, and culture, Florida truly offers something for everyone, making it a top destination for both domestic and international travelers.

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larry edger _ author About the Author: I’m Larry Edger, a Florida resident who’s spent decades exploring the state—beaches, islands, springs, small towns, and road trips. I publish practical Florida travel guides with real-world planning tips and seasonal updates. Read more about Florida Travel Blog →

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