10 things you need to see when driving Florida's A1A (2024)

The sunrise on A1A — Photo courtesy of Craig ONeal / flickr

Florida's State Road A1A is one of the most scenic road trip routes in the nation. It runs along the most eastern border of the state, about as close to the water as you can get. In fact, pay attention to the weather when planning your vacation, because stretches of this route are known to close down due to tropical storms.

But when the weather is grand, the views couldn't be better. A1A is a beach-lover's paradise, because it hops from beach to beach. As a bonus, Florida tends to be less expensive than California (except for a few regions near Jupiter Beach), making this beach-hopping car tour both budget-friendly and super laid-back.

Catch a flight into Miami and head north, where you can hug the edge of Florida for long stretches, nearly all the way to the Georgia-Florida state line. A1A is by far the slower route than other north-south options, but making good time is rarely the point of a road trip, right?

Although we could make a top-100 list of our favorite places to stop on A1A, here are 10 must-dos, starting in Miami Beach and heading north to Amelia Island.

Take a foodie tour

Miami Beach

Ocean Drive in Miami — Photo courtesy of Danny Navarro / flickr

There's tons to do in Miami (you could make a full vacation out of just this city), but a great way to start your road trip is to fill up here with a food tour. Miami Food Tours runs unique guided tours through the area, where you can experience local-fave restaurants, learn about the history, architecture and culinary scene, and chat with other foodies. It's a unique way to tour the region and start your road trip on a high note.

Go on a "turtle walk"

Fort Lauderdale

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Fort Lauderdale may have a reputation as a party beach, but you can get up close to wildlife here, too. The turtle walks, via the Sea Turtle Oversight Protection Headquarters, are another way to spend your Friday and Saturday nights in the fort.

See these endangered species nesting March through October (maybe even see some little hatchlings) and learn how to protect these ancient creatures. Proceeds of these walks help rescue groups.

Live the simple life

Delray Beach

Delray Beach has plenty of open space — Photo courtesy of Callie Reed / flickr

West Palm Beach will catch your eye, but first make a stop at charming Delray Beach. If you can schedule your visit to overlap with the Delray Beach GreenMarket (the farmers' market) on Saturday mornings, you can sip fresh juice and munch on locally-made baked goods.

Relax at Delray Beach, where you'll be surprised to find hundreds of acres of open space and water to explore. Then rent a bike and explore the nearby trails, and end your day browsing shops downtown.

Find luxury

Jupiter Island

Jupiter Beach in Florida — Photo courtesy of Bob B. Brown / flickr

Jupiter Island is total luxury. This tiny town has a population of less than 1,000, but the homes you'll find here are the wealthiest of the wealthy.

Even if you're not looking for real estate, you can experience the life of luxury for one night by renting a vacation rental home in Jupiter Island. Spend a day in Jupiter at the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary and fantasize that you live in this exclusive beachside community, perhaps next door to Celine Dion?

Soak up some culture

Vero Beach

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The sand is a given around here, but duck indoors to cool off from the sunshine at the art galleries in Vero Beach. The J.M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art features 19th- and 20th-century works.

And don't miss the Vero Beach Museum of Art, where you can see ever-evolving exhibits, experience family-friendly activities and perhaps experience a lecture. You can even see some glass sculptures by famous artist Dale Chihuly.

Catch some waves

Satellite Beach

Satellite Beach is a surfing favorite — Photo courtesy of Rusty Clark / flickr

It's hard to narrow down our favorite Space Coast beaches, but Satellite is renowned for its waves. Surfers head here for the famous north dune crossover, but even if you're just a "kook," you can still catch great views at Pelican Beach Park. Bonus: Satellite Beach has a popular dog park, for those traveling with four-legged co-pilots.

Gamble on a cruise ship

Port Canaveral

A view of bustling Port Canaveral — Photo courtesy of iStock / Marina113

As you get to the northern border of the Space Coast, you'll have to detour inland up Highway 1 around the Canaveral National Seashore until you can get back on A1A. In the meantime, make a stop in Port Canaveral, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

Grab a fresh-caught seafood meal at Seafood Atlantic and watch the ships sail from port. Or for a wild night, hop on a casino cruise ship and gamble on the water.

Clown around

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach Boardwalk shines at night — Photo courtesy of iStock / SeanPavonePhoto

A classic activity in Daytona is to hit up the speedway to see a race, or the Daytona 500 if you're lucky. But the Daytona Beach Boardwalk is another family-friendly must-see, a carnival extravaganza right on the beach. Play games, ride the Ferris wheel and get your heart rate up on the roller coaster, before retreating to the calming waters, where you can take a refreshing dip. It's a fair like no other.

Blast to the past

St. Augustine

Beautiful Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine — Photo courtesy of iStock / SeanPavonePhoto

St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European city in the continental nation. Because of the history, a standard city tour is always entertaining. Or perhaps visit Castillo de San Marcos or the Lightner Museum. If you can score a helicopter tour, seeing the region from a bird's-eye view is worth the splurge.

Witness history in nature

Amelia Island

Fort Clinch at sunset — Photo courtesy of iStock / PETERLAKOMY

The northernmost point of A1A is Amelia Island, which also feels like a living history museum. Especially Fort Clinch State Park, where you can see remains of a pre-Civil War fortress. Tours will teach you how this region played an important role in both the Spanish-American War and Civil War. Visit the small Fernandina Beach and end your trip with a night at Fort Clinch campgrounds.