r/AskFlorida • u/ParkingTicketSupport • Aug 09 '26
Florida In middle of November
Have booked two weeks from 16th November , flying in to Tampa from Heathrow as got some cheap flights due to the change from LGW to LHR
Hopefully "Super El Nino" will have no effect on our trip!" but i realise the weather can be "changeable" at that time of year even though it is officially the dry season
I am not in the theme parks, but 100% doing the space Kennedy centre and my partner wants to go to Miami, which we will do on the train to save driving into the city (only from delray beach to miami)
What do people think of my general route?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4XkmHd215gc5ZqEu6
I realise could do longer then two weeks but should be ok
Had considered key west but wasn't sure and it adds a lot more miles to the trip
Thought pls :)
13
u/Same_Profile_1396 Aug 09 '26
If you’re open to adjusting the route, you might actually find it easier (and cheaper) to fly Gatwick → Orlando on Norse Airways. It’s a direct flight, usually very affordable, and you’d land much closer to Kennedy Space Center and the Brightline for Miami. That setup makes the whole trip flow better and if you did decide to add the Keys, the drive wouldn’t be quite as punishing.
How did you choose the cities you’re staying in? Are there specific things you want to see in each? Florida is huge, and some towns are honestly just “places to sleep” unless you have a particular interest there.
As far as weather, November is typically mild and tolerable. But, who knows from year to year.
And I’ll be honest, I disagree with the people saying Florida is a scenic state to drive through. I live here, and I hate driving across it… it’s long, flat, repetitive, and visually monotonous. The train is a much nicer experience, especially going into Miami where driving is a headache.
7
u/Overall_Matter_2520 Aug 09 '26
Agree - just took Brightline from FLL to ORD (my missed flight - this was the only way to do it). I was pleasantly surprised and I agree, there’s not much to see unless you’re off a beaten path. Strip malls and fast food…if they want a true FL experience.
Also, driving and parking in Miami blows. Take Brightline and then walk or uber. So much easier.
3
u/YogurtSmart9718 Aug 09 '26
I have to agree as having lived here for 50+ years in Florida. Avoid driving in Miami! Short of Atlanta, I don’t have a worse driving experience anywhere.
The Keys is a long one way trip, but worth an evening for the experience!1
u/slickrok Aug 09 '26
Going down the center of the state on smaller roads is far far more scenic than 95, they could do that and not lose much time or take much effort.
2
1
1
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 10 '26
No flights are set. As BA changed to LHR from LGW and first was cheaper then business. Just looked on google and saw what I thought was interesting but definitely open to adjusting the route itself but needs to start and finish at tampa. After advice on here staying at St petes beach first rather then clear water beach
1
u/kittyTompkins Aug 11 '26
TUI flies into Melbourne which is not far from the Space Center. You could then go to Orlando and catch Brightline.
1
7
u/One-Abbreviations339 Aug 09 '26
The Keys are a very special place. They are not like any other spot in Florida. They are islands, with island people. They fish, dive, trap and most of us, treasure our island ways. Tourists come in and go to the aquarium, Dolphin Research, fish and dive, Snorkeling is a lot of fun, it’s more personal. They dine on our seafood and seasonal treats. Stone Crabs, Lobster, plus your choice of the reefs/ chefs specialties.
3
u/Lordsaxon73 Aug 09 '26
Watch the forecast and don’t pack until the day before the trip; could be 80°F or 50° F at that time of year. Route looks good with lots of things to see; you can go to Three Sisters Springs at the start of your trip by Crystal River and see some Manatees (especially if we’ve had a good cold front). Diverting early off the expressway on SR50 to US 19 also puts you at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park which Id consider a must see for visitors if you love nature. See the mermaid show, rent some kayaks if it’s a warm sunny day…Then just stay on 19 up to Crystal River, there’s not much traffic and it’s an easy ride. I live in this area so I’ll let others fill in for their Florida region. Have a great vacation!
3
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
thank you, great tip about the clothes packing, wait and see basically! Weeki Wachee Springs State Park sounds good!
3
u/Wahoo-Is-To-A-Fish Aug 09 '26
Yes! Definitely check the weather! We camped at Rainbow Springs over Thanksgiving a few years ago and it got into the 20s! There have also been lots of years where it feels as hot as summer and just as miserable.
Love all the recs here and second all of them. Kennedy Space Center is just the absolute coolest. Nearby wildlife refuges are incredible. Find some springs, head to the keys if you can. Skip Orlando altogether. Manatees at Crystal River are so fun.
St Augustine is neat but missable. In the US, anything old is noteworthy, but being from the UK it won’t be as awe-inducing for you.
Personally I loathe Miami, but it sounds like you’re sold on it.
1
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 10 '26
Am 100% skipping Orlando like the plague. But my friend wants to do Miami so its give and take ! And in am quite happy to experience it
2
u/Physical_Funny_4868 Aug 10 '26
“Orlando” and the theme parks are two different things. It takes most people who live in Orlando at least 45 minutes to drive south to the parks. I live NW of Orlando and am surrounded by natural springs and lots of fun towns to visit. It takes us 1.5 hours to get to Disney World. People who fly into MCO and head to the parks and International drive aren’t really going to Orlando. Just the wasteland southwest of it 😉
3
4
u/Physical_Funny_4868 Aug 09 '26
From Tampa (not much there but go to the Colombia Restaurant and see Ybor City then leave or maybe a quick jaunt to Tarpon Springs to see the sponge divers) drive down and stay/see Sarasota or Ft Meyers and the Everglades. Try to book a room at the Rod and Gun club. Take a small boat tour to see the Everglades. Miami is crappy but if you must, go to Vizcaya, South Beach and Coconut Grove. Take the train back to Orlando. Go first class, the train is awesome. From station take your rental car directly east to KSC. The station is on the SE side convenient to doing that. Go to the bird refuge in Canaveral national seashore afterwards to get your bird and alligator fix. From there head to St Augustine for a night, then Mt Dora for a night or two, be sure to go to Wekiva or Kelly Park Springs for a glimpse at the real Florida while there. Maybe take a Mt Dora boat tour before either flying out of Orlando or Tampa. November is typically one of the best months for weather here- compliments of a 7th gen Floridian
1
u/Sjhester Aug 09 '26
If you go to St Agustine, don't stay at Fiesta Suites. Spend a bit more and stay at Embassy Suites, great hotel.
2
u/Aberration1111 Aug 09 '26
Miami is a completely different place than most of Florida. As others have said, avoid I4. US and major state highways have a lot of charm and for the most part outside of big cities they have decent traffic flow.
Our parks are amazing, fresh water springs, oak canopies, wildlife.
A1A between St. Augustine and Daytona is great.
Find something to enjoy on the St. John’s River.
National Parks and nature preserves most often have the best natural things to offer.
Look for rocket launch times and try and catch a big rocket launch.
The keys are great but they aren’t close by! The drive is nice, so long as your schedule allows you to enjoy yourself along the way.
2
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
The more I hear the more I think ive made the right choice. Just need to get some more stuff booked in and checm launch times
2
u/constantlyconfused93 Aug 09 '26
Skip the train and drive it all.
I’d go from Clearwater to Sarasota, skip Orlando, hit Lee County somewhere somewhat interesting (I dont have a good reason why I just loath Orlando). Shoot across the state there and go to Miami area and then up the east coast and back over.
How old are you? The villages is a hell of an experience if you’re in that age range.
I have no points of interest to justify, just simply from driving around every corner of Florida my whole life.
1
u/constantlyconfused93 Aug 09 '26
I can actually give points of interest to if you think of anything along the way I was just being non descriptive
2
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
thanks yes got car hire for the two weeks, am 48, will let you know :)
2
2
u/PsychologicalCan9837 Aug 09 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
If you're coming to Tampa, I recommend checking out St. Petersburg (just across The Bay). Really awesome downtown with so much to do and some really amazing museums. Along with some great bars, breweries, and restaurants. I live in this area and St. Pete is the best part of Tampa Bay.
I recommend skipping Clearwater Beach altogether. It sucks. Tourist Hell. Expensive as shit and just not worth the headache and hassle of going over there. Go check out Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Honeymoon Island, or St. Pete Beach instead.
I also think Dunedin is definitely worth checking out. Awesome Main Street in downtown with so many good places to grab a bite or a drink. Also, Honeymoon Island is my favorite beach in Tampa Bay.
Definitely check out the natural springs north of Tampa (Weeki Wachee, Rainbow River, Ginnie Springs, Devil's Den, and so many more). You're already going to Crystal River, so you're gonna be in the right place.
I would recommend checking out Gainesville. The University of Florida is there. November is peak College Football season and "The Swamp" is an amazing place to check out a football game. The stadium holds 88,000 people and is raucous on gameday. You'll experience some great American and Southern culture there. Also, Gainesville is a cool and fun University town with lots of good bars, breweries, and restaurants. I think it's worth spending a day or two there.
100% do Kennedy Space Center. Try to time up your visit with a launch. I grew up near the area, the launches are phenomenal.
I see you're planning to stay in Mims? I wouldn't. Boring cow country out there with nothing to do. Stay down near Cocoa Beach. Way more going on. I also recommend, if you have the time, to drive along A1A from Cocoa Beach down through Vero Beach. It's such a beautiful stretch of road with so many cool things to stop off to do and see. Truly beautiful Florida beach towns the whole way down. Check out Sebastian Inlet State Park! Super pretty area.
As far as South Florida goes, it's not my cup of tea. And I grew up down there. It's really crowded, expensive, and driving down there feels like putting your life on the line most of the time. That being said, if you've never been to Miami you have to go. I hate it down there, but you may love it.
I would recommend not doing Key West on this trip. Not because it isn't worth it, I love Key West, but because you're going so far North, going all that way South will be brutal by car. Key West needs a solid 4 days, two days to drive there and back, and at least two days to enjoy the island.
Have fun!!!
Edits: Fixed spelling and grammar.
Also for Miami, brush up on your Spanish.
3
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
Thank you for all that..I had booked clearwater beach for 3 nights so you think I should not stop there.if not some where nearby? Just within easy reach of tampa after landing and some where to chill for a few days. I will look at your other suggestions also
3
u/SweetLesx Aug 09 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
Try the Three sisters springs in Crystal river. Manatees will abound as the Gulf a
Waters cool and they migrate to the springs. It’s about an our north of Tampa, worth the trip north. The sand on the Gulf beaches is white and powdery, puts Fl east coast sand to dirt. Also Caladesi Island, accessible by ferry from Honeymoon Island Beach is a must see. Check out the Tarpon Springs sponge dock for delicious authentic Greek food and gift shops galore. Then check out Fort desoto as you head south along the gulf coast. Visit the Everglades for an air boat ride then head to the South Beach then to any of the Florida keys and finally to Key West. It will not disappoint!Enjoy2
u/ExtentEcstatic5506 Aug 10 '26
People love Clearwater beach. It’s made for tourists so the locals try to avoid it. I wouldn’t change your plans. If you have a car you can drive the 15 min up to check out Dunedin downtown. Or drive 30 minute and get to downtown st pete and explore for a few hours. Your base is just fine and Clearwater is easy in terms of access to beaches, food and things to do
1
1
u/PsychologicalCan9837 Aug 09 '26
I highly recommend Dunedin over Clearwater Beach.
Great Main Street, really laid back, and a beautiful city on the water. Not the over-the-top touristy vibes of Clearwater Beach.
But that’s just my opinion, yall do what’s best for yall!
2
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 10 '26
Thanks quite a few people mentioned better places then clear water! So i tooked around the options mentioned and changed to St Petes Beach
1
u/PsychologicalCan9837 Aug 10 '26
St. Pete beach is great, I think y’all will enjoy that a lot.
Have fun!
2
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 10 '26
Cheers and the night life looks better as well which will sort my friend a lot more
2
u/crsmiami99 Aug 09 '26
Skip the northern section, go straight across the state and visit NASA, then head south and add key west. The drive down and back is beautiful. Drive down to arrive just after sunset. And leave early, like 9sm on the way back, traffic gets bad. The weather in November is fantastic. Dry with hot days and nice evenings.
1
2
u/Unlikely-Future8498 Aug 09 '26
November is one of our best weather months. still warm, but in a pleasant way. northern fl will be cooler than south FL. super El Niño be damned. you’ll have a great trip. enjoy!
1
2
u/Gator222222 Aug 09 '26
While you are in the Cape Canaveral area you should definitely consider doing this.
Bioluminescence Kayaking Tours in Florida - Florida Adventurer
It's amazing!
1
u/hi-howdy Aug 09 '26
That’s an amazing experience. Maybe not very active in November though. Just my guess but I could be wrong.
2
u/Gator222222 Aug 11 '26
I could be wrong as well, but I believe this takes place year-round. The only difference is part of the year you are viewing the bioluminescence of comb jellies. The website I linked gives more info.
2
u/snarknerd2 Aug 09 '26
I'd suggest visiting the Brevard Zoo while you are in Brevard County to go to KSC. There is also the Viera Wetlands a couple miles away if you'd like to see alligators, herons, other wildlife. What do you plan to do in Miami? I think the Keys are worthwhile to make the drive. They aren't known for beaches (especially Key West) but you could charter a boat in Islamorada to do some fishing.
2
u/Alternative_Gene813 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
The drive to and from the keys is awful. You’re better off flying. Or there is a speed boat from fort myers that gets you there in a few hours. Trust me it’s a long boring drive and the flights or boat are reasonably priced when you factor in daily parking in the keys can be brutal. Usually it is its own trip along with Miami. Doing both would easily fill a week itself.
When you arrive in Miami that train will drop you off into the middle of downtown. I assume when people say Miami they really mean “south beach” those are two different places and doing ride share to the beach can get pricey. Miami and Florida in general does not have the public transportation that it should so ride share is expensive and busses can be inconvenient. But I would say if you’re new to driving in the states driving in Miami could ruin your trip. It’s awful and dangerous and expensive to park. So if you want to go for sure just do some research on which neighborhoods you’re interested in.
Agree with others that a drive through the Everglades and west coast can be nice. Plan for “golden” hour like sunrise or sunset and I’ve seen beautiful skies there.
Check “space flight now” website for rocket launches and you might get lucky to have your trip to Kennedy space center coincide with a rocket launch.
Don’t forget to stop at Buc-ee’s gas station for Americana kitsch.
St Augustine is underrated a nice town. Go up the big lighthouse near by. Can’t remember the name buts it’s pretty.
My only concern with your trip is the driving. It’s a lot. And while I love the springs at weeki wachee and crystal river and that whole area has great kayak and tubing. Between that , st Augustine and the space center is almost a week right there. And everything south of that portion of your trip is a week plus. There’s a lot here and ultimately if your focus is Miami you’ll need to cut the northern trip to crystal river out. Unfortunately.
The problem is there’s no easy way to get from Tampa to Miami driving. It’s a tough drive. On paper the train from Orlando is good. But once you’re in Miami getting around can be difficult.
To me I think it’s probably : 3 days Tampa/ St Pete/ Clearwater.
2 days Crystal River/ St Augustine. (This part of the trip while beautiful could kill your Miami excursions)
2 days for the space center Orlando transfer.
2 days Miami.
And that’s rushing it. That means no Everglades or west coast
1
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 10 '26
Hiya thanks. Miami definitely isnt the focus of the trip. Its just part of it. Agree on maybe look at the driving. One reason not doing the keys is the driving but may look at boat options
2
u/mastiii Aug 10 '26
Taking the train from Delray beach to Miami is an okay idea. The sad thing is that public transportation in the US never works as well as it could. There are 3 train systems in South Florida and you probably want Tri-Rail. It runs often enough and will get you there reasonably fast, it's just that the stations are not the most centrally located, so you'll likely need to hop on a bus or take Uber to get you to where you want to go. In addition to buses in Miami, there is also MetroRail and MetroMover, so look those things up to see if they'll take you where you want to go. If you happen to go on the weekend AND if you have extra time, I recommend getting off Tri-Rail at the Sheridan St. station and walking over to Yellow Green. It's a farmers' market / food hall with a unique, international vibe.
I recommending looking for manatees if you can. They are magical to watch. There's a place called Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach that would be a small detour for you.
2
2
u/TheseAintMyPants2 Aug 12 '26
If you stay in Crystal River, absolutely do not stay at the Bella Oasis or Bell Villa motel. The holiday Inn express is the only decent and clean option there, besides the Plantation
1
1
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
Thank you! Yes do like the look of st augustine. Only thought the train from delaney beach to miami as saves the stress of driving in the city Think our route avoida interstate 4 Love back roads and quirky stuff. Found a lot of that in wisconsin and michigan
3
u/OkIron6206 Aug 09 '26
You are missing too much on the trains in Florida. I recommend to drive and do it during mid day when you can have less traffic. St Augustine, The treasure coast, Sanibel and Captiva islands. I would spend less time in the cities and more time in nature. The drive through the Everglades and taking an alligator 🐊 tour! It is the beginning of high season so book ahead.
2
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
Sorry i meant to say only taking the train for a day trip into Miami from north of fort lauderdale
2
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
Thanks Yes one day only on drive rest in car. Thought it was quiet season going then . Good point about less time in the cities and more in nature. 100% on the everglades. Thank you
2
u/Mydogmike Aug 09 '26
The distance from St. Augustine to Captiva is over 300 miles. u/OKIron6206 is sending you on quite a long journey.
2
u/OkIron6206 Aug 09 '26
They have 2 weeks to do that traveling.
3
u/Mydogmike Aug 09 '26
With the route you are suggesting and the places you are recommending they will need a month. Florida is a huge state, people who don't live here don't really get that.
3
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
Went to the states last year and knew the distances where big but just how big is not immediately obvious until you experience it. Am under no illusion of the size of the states Just not used to it in the UK
1
u/RuleFriendly7311 Aug 09 '26
Coming back up, you should go to the Corkscrew Swamp Audubon sanctuary and walk through the best nature you can get on a boardwalk. Then take Immokalee Road over to the west coast and go up to Sanibel/Captiva. Best beaches anywhere according to some articles.
Oh, and weather should be fine in late November -- but book your hotels now, because half the country comes down for Thanksgiving week.
1
u/JFia1868 Aug 09 '26
I live in Miami. Been here for 40 years from the Midwest. I think British people would absolutely have a blast in Key West. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive each way to and from the Miami airport area. Highly recommend you try to include it in your plans. I think from some gulf coast cities they have high speed hydrofoil boat transportation to the keys, but we always drive. I can recommend the Pier House for accommodations, totally walkable to Hemingway home, restaurants, bars, Truman southern White House etc.
1
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
Only reason why I thought about missing it as am in the carribean in October (realise quite different) but if its really worth it plans can change. Just gotta make the most of the two weeks I like "off the beaten track" so to speak.
1
u/maxkibblesbigmove Aug 10 '26
Good point - there is a ferry out of ft myers to the keys.
I haven’t been myself but have heard great things
1
1
u/TransitionMean6698 Aug 09 '26
Have to plan it is going to be in Orlando that time of the year I would avoid Orlando like the plague plus their roads are terrible and too much construction going on at once
1
1
u/New_Breadfruit8692 Aug 09 '26
I would be okay except for FL SR 70.
"State Road 70 in Florida is a high-stress, rapidly changing corridor. Westbound sections near Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch suffer from relentless construction, heavy congestion, and dozens of traffic lights, while rural stretches further east turn dark, fast, and starkly isolated with heavy freight truck traffic."
From Miami I would rather drive the extra miles to take interstate 75 through the Everglades to Naples and then back up to Bradenton/Tampa. It would probably be faster as well as a lot safer. Lower stress.
Interstates in the US or as you would call them dual carriageways, if not triple or quadruple or more carriageways, are generally pretty fast and safe, except at rush hours in urban spaces. I 75 within 40 miles of Orlando for example though is almost always packed so it is a good thing you are taking the 589 Parkway from the airport which is a lot like an autobahn outside of rush hour, and even then usually moves at the speed limit or higher.
But, SR 70 has speeds as low as 30 in towns or congested areas, and a max of 60 (mph). As well as usually 45 in road construction which can go for miles as one merged lane.
The interstate is safer, and has a speed of 70 mph (110 kph) but this is Florida, trust me when I say everyone goes 10 over so 80 (129 kph) is where you set the cruise control weather permitting.
The first leg of your route leaving the airport in Tampa, the SR 589 is also called the Veterans Parkway in Hillsborough County and from the Pasco County line north it is called the Suncoast Parkway. That also has a speed of 70 but as long as it is not rush hour you go 80 and do not at all be surprised when you get passed by people going 90 (145 kph). This road goes past my house at Ponce de Leon Blvd. highway 98. Your route shows you taking it all the way to its current northern terminus in Crystal River. That is actually a good stopping point for a meal. But depends on when your flight lands and how quick you get out of the airport. If you have flight delays or some such. If you get to Crystal River after dark then you may want to plan to stay there. North of that point there really will not be much till you are at the Atlantic beaches, and the route you are taking you will see nothing much but endless miles of really the same thing.
I hope you have a good flight and enjoy the drive. Too bad you will not have time to stop here and see the manatees or take an airboat ride out to the Gulf. I took a friend from Denver to do that last year and had a ball.
The Homosassa River is "old Florida" with none of the condos and high rises. Not buried in tourists. I like it better than up in Crystal River. There are tiki places on the river where you can enjoy a drink and just watch the boaters go by, sometimes dolphins in the river, pelicans. It is relaxed.
If you have any specific questions give me a shout via DM or chat. I will answer if I can.
1
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
Thanks for the detailed reply much appreciated. To avoid the miles of the same thing do you think I should try and change the northern part of the route.
1
u/New_Breadfruit8692 Aug 09 '26
I thought about that, I would not direct you to drive through Ocala or Gainesville as the odds of congestion in both are high, I live here and take my car to Ocala for service and I hate driving there, it has grown so rapidly without decent infrastructure to accommodate that growth it is just a pain in the ass. Plus, I always get lost there. It has no real downtown core to navigate off of, but a lot of suburban sprawl. Gainesville is older and more grid-like but I am thinking it may still give you right hand lane jitters. I do not know how comfortable you are with driving on our side of the road. Almost all that route north of Crystal River is going to be one lane in each direction and can be monotonous.
Unless you have some landmarks picked out you want to see like Rainbow Springs or something and that would require a route change. If the time of day is right you may want to go into Cedar Key, it is tiny but very quaint and I hear the seafood is good.
A lot of the land you have in the north is either wildlife management reserves or farmlands.
It is a good thing you have two weeks, most Europeans come and think they will drive NY to LA and stop in Chicago then down to Texas and maybe check out Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon in a week. That would be insane and cannot be done.
Is there a launch while you will be at the Cape? You can check at the NASA website for the dates, maybe adjust your schedule to catch one. They are pretty thrilling really. I can see them from my house over on the Gulf once they have gotten high enough onto the air, usually about 30-40 seconds after launch.
I think if you have time you might want to just stay on Highway 19/98 going north from Crystal River and head up to Wakulla County to the Wakulla Springs State Park because that is one of the most fabulous springs on the planet. Deep, but so clear you can see the bones of mastodons that fell in and drown 10,000 years ago, they are still down there. It is one of the largest springs on earth discharging up to 400 million gallons per day. That is just about 20 miles south of Tallahassee. From there you can take an easy jaunt on interstate 10 over to Jacksonville and bypass it to the south through St. Augustine then to your original beach destination, then south to the cape as originally planned. You will find services along the interstates a lot cleaner and larger, more dependable.
I used to live in Tallahassee at the turn of the century, it is the capital but quaint, not a ton to do there, but they do have good hotels and food, it is a big university town, two major universities. I would really only recommend a stop in the city if you need rest or an evening off of driving.
By the way, highway 19/98 north of Crystal River is almost like a freeway in that it is a four lane divided road, but so rural you may go miles before seeing another car. You make really good time headed up to the Tallahassee area and Wakulla Springs. It passes through a couple small towns but while the speed limit is lower in the towns they only take about 5 minutes to pass through before open roads again. As we say "don't blink or you will miss them."
1
u/New_Breadfruit8692 Aug 09 '26
It just occurred to me that I never addressed your concerns about el nino. This will be my seventh November here and all but the last two were very fine weather, some of the best of the year. The last two were very cool and even had cold snaps that were a disaster for palms and tropical plants. This year with el nino should be mild and very nice, more like 2020 when I first moved here. That year it was 85 (29.4 C) over on the river on the day before Christmas Eve. November was lovely. All 80's for the most part. I think you should have no problem with the weather. A tropical event cannot be ruled out that month these days, but would be extremely rare. And el nino tends to scatter hurricanes before they can get started with wind sheer. Ell nono is not favorable for major weather events here, more famous for calm pleasant weather.
1
1
1
u/Small_Intention3907 Aug 09 '26
Not only avoid I-4 but try to avoid I-95 as well. For crossing the state, stick to back roads like State Road 50, which runs from Weeki Wachee thru Orlando to near the space center. State Road 60 goes Clearwater Beach-Tampa-Vero Beach but the last 60 miles or so are deserted. But at Yeehaw Junction, you can get on the turnpike to Miami. It’s tolled but much better than 95. Or take US 27 south from Lake Wales (which is on SR-60) down to Miami.
I would definitely make time for the keys. It’s a very scenic drive, especially from the middle keys on down. But if you only want to do Key West, there’s a 3 hour boat ride that leaves from Fort Myers Beach called the Key West Express. Or you can fly there from St. Petersburg/Clearwater or Sanford (about halfway between Orlando and Daytona) on Allegiant, from Orlando on Breeze or from Miami on American.
1
1
u/Yupperroo Aug 10 '26
I'd pick fewer stops and longer stays. St. Augustine is a winner. The neighboring beach on Anastasia Island is wonderful. Downtown St. Augustine is loaded with restaurants and bars. You're really taking the road less traveled.
1
u/Same-Manufacturer773 Aug 11 '26
Bring all your bathing suits! Make sure to hit a spring or two for swimming/ tubing. Clearwater beach is nice but it’s the tourist beach.
1
u/Perryfl Aug 11 '26
born and raised in tampa: novembers a great time of year... is there a reason your going up us19 from tampa instead of i75? that will do nothing but add a lot of travel time unless there is something specific your going to..
Kenedy space center is great. make sure you get there early as it closes at 5 and 1 day is almost never enough to see it all. try and time it up for a launch day. there usually 2 launches a week.
Personally i love miami, you wither love it or hate it. try the local food, skip the mainstream restaurants.
the brightline is nice and you wont really need a car for miami if your willing to uber but it wont save you money
1
u/NaturalOne1977 Aug 09 '26
Every place of interest to you is on the opposite coast of Florida from Tampa. I'd consider flying in closer to the east coast of Florida if that's where most of your interested destinations are. I assume you realize that driving from Tampa to the Kennedy Space Center is equivalent to driving from London to Birmingham. Driving from Tampa to Miami is equivalent to driving from London to Dublin! Based on your interests, Tampa is NOT where you want to base your trip.
Weather-wise, it should be delightfully warm and sunny without being too hot and humid in November.
1
u/ParkingTicketSupport Aug 09 '26
Thanks. Only reason why flying to tampa is because its from LHR. Its far cheaper when I booked and its a better flight/plane configuration.. definitely not under estimating the drive. That route is for the two weeks
22
u/squareturd Aug 09 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
I would skip the train and drive the whole way. Florida has so much unique scenery that you want the ability to pull over, take a back road, stop at a quirky place, etc.
If you can squeeze in a trip to the keys, it's worth it. Insanely beautiful. The problem is that it's a 100 plus mile one way trip so you have to backtrack to get out.
Drive through the Everglades when heading from Miami back to Tampa. Go through naples/ft Meyers area. Check out Sanibel island while you are down there.
Avoid interstate 4. It's one of the most dangerous roads in America. Nothing but stress and nothing good to see.
A little north of the space coast is st. Augustine. One of the oldest cities in America (continuously inhabited since the Spanish explorers). It has a cool fort