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Are you dreaming of driving the whole East Coast, from Miami all the way up to New York City? You’ve come to the perfect place!
This is one of the best road trips in the United States and there is so much to see!
Picture this: you start with your toes in the warm sand of South Beach, and about two weeks later you’re walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. Pretty cool and iconic if you ask me!
I’ve put together an itinerary that will include all the highlights of the East Coast. Most of them are on the way anyway but a couple require a short detour (but honestly, it would be a shame to miss them).
The route is about 1,500 miles long mostly along I-95 with plenty of detours onto the scenic coastal roads.
I’d give yourself around two weeks to do it properly, or at least 10 days if you’re short on time but you’ll have to skip some of these or make quicker stops.
🚗 You’ll need a car: This is a proper long road trip, so a comfortable rental is a must. I recommend using Discover Cars to find the best deals, because you can compare all the companies in one place. Make sure your car has a practical trunk as you’ll be taking your luggage out often.
🌴 1. Miami, FL
Start in Miami, Florida’s iconic southern city. There are plenty of things you can do here but start in Miami Beach where you can discover the beautiful pastel Art Deco buildings, Ocean Drive and relax on South Beach.
After that, head to Little Havana for Cuban coffee and food and to watch the domino players on Calle Ocho. You can then stop in Wynwood which is famous for its incredible street art (Wynwood Walls).
For something calmer, the Italian-style gardens at Vizcaya are beautiful.
And for food, Joe’s Stone Crab has been a Miami Beach institution since 1913 (stone crab season runs roughly October to May).
Versailles in Little Havana is also a great option if you like Cuban food. They have a restaurant as well as a quicker take away option (their Cuban sandwich is simply the best!)
Give Miami a couple of days if you can, there’s a lot to take in before you hit the road.
🌊 2. West Palm Beach, FL
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr 15 min (70 mi)
As you start driving north, your first stop will be West Palm Beach.
Start on Clematis Street, the heart of downtown, then wander the waterfront and the Great Lawn along the Intracoastal.
Rosemary Square is good for shopping and lunch, and the Norton Museum of Art is worth an hour.
If you’re here in the cooler months, Manatee Lagoon is the best spot around to see manatees gathering in the warm water.
For food, Grato is a much-loved Italian spot, and Howley’s is a fun retro 1950s diner.
🏄 3. Cocoa Beach, FL
🚗 Driving time: 2 hrs (135 mi)
The next stop is Cocoa Beach, on the Space Coast. It’s a surf town on a barrier island just south of Cape Canaveral.
This is your slow-down, beach-day stop. Spend the morning on the sand (the waves are gentle and great for a first surf lesson), then walk out onto the Cocoa Beach Pier for a drink.
And if a rocket launch is scheduled from the Cape, the beach here is a fantastic free viewing spot.
Cocoa Beach is also one of the best places on this whole road trip to get out on the water, so it’s worth booking a tour or two while you’re here.
Please note that Cocoa Beach is also one of the best places in Florida for bioluminescence so if you’re visiting between May and October, that’s definitely something you should take into consideration.
For dinner, The Fat Snook and Coconuts on the Beach are both local favorites.
🚀 4. Cape Canaveral, FL
🚗 Driving time: 15 min (6 mi)
Drive up only 15 minutes to Cape Canaveral. This is the ultimate stop for space lovers.
The star of the show is the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (about a 15 to 20 minute drive north on Merritt Island).
Give it most of a day to see the Rocket Garden and the Space Shuttle Atlantis, and to take the bus tour out to the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
Afterwards, Port Canaveral’s Cove is a fun spot to watch the huge cruise ships come and go over dinner, with places like Fishlips and Grills right by the water.
🏁 5. Daytona Beach, FL
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr 15 min (75 mi)
Famous for motorsport and its beautiful beach, Daytona Beach is a slice of classic Americana.
The wide, firm sand here is famous because you can actually drive your car onto parts of it (there is a fee and it’s seasonal).
Take a track tour at the legendary Daytona International Speedway, the birthplace of NASCAR, and wander the old-school Boardwalk and Pier.
If you have time, drive a little south to climb the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, one of the tallest in the country.
For food, Aunt Catfish’s on the River, just south in Port Orange, is a beloved Southern seafood spot.
🏰 6. St. Augustine, FL
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr (55 mi)
Your next stop will be St. Augustine, one of the most unique towns in Florida.
Founded by the Spanish in 1565, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-founded city in the continental US.
Start at the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the country, then wander the shops and cafes along pedestrian St. George Street.
Don’t miss the former Ponce de Leon Hotel, now Flagler College, which runs campus tours.
You can also visit the St. Augustine lighthouse which is a black-and-white lighthouse on Anastasia Island.
For food, the Columbia Restaurant is a long-running Spanish and Cuban spot famous for its “1905” salad.
🌳 7. Savannah, GA
🚗 Driving time: 3 hrs (176 mi)
Cross into Georgia and reach Savannah, one of the most beautiful cities in the South.
Founded in 1733, it’s so picturesque with all the leafy oaks and moss.
The best way to enjoy Savannah is on foot.
Stroll from square to square (there are 22 of them), rest under the oaks in Forsyth Park by the white fountain, then head down to River Street, where the old cotton warehouses are now shops and restaurants.
Bonaventure Cemetery is also worth a visit (but you’ll need to go with your car).
For food, Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room is a legendary family-style Southern lunch, and The Grey serves acclaimed Southern food in a restored Art Deco bus terminal.
🎨 8. Charleston, SC
🚗 Driving time: 2 hrs (107 mi)
Next stop is the beautiful Charleston in South Carolina.
Founded in 1670, it’s all pastel townhouses, cobblestone streets and church steeples.
Start with a walk along The Battery, the waterfront promenade lined with grand antebellum mansions, then find Rainbow Row, the famous stretch of pastel Georgian houses on East Bay Street.
Browse the historic City Market, wander the French Quarter, and if history’s your thing, take the ferry out to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began.
For food, Husk serves celebrated New Southern cooking, and Poogan’s Porch is a Charleston favorite for shrimp and grits.
⚓ 9. Georgetown, SC
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr 15 min (61 mi)
Next up is Georgetown, a lovely little stop between two bigger names.
It’s South Carolina’s third-oldest city (founded in 1729).
It’s an easy, low-key place to stretch your legs.
Stroll the wooden Harborwalk along the Sampit River, pop into the Rice Museum in the old 1842 market building, and browse the antique shops and galleries along Front Street.
After Charleston, you’ll be glad to know parking here is free and easy.
For food, the River Room at the end of Front Street is a longtime favorite for seafood right on the water.
🎡 10. Myrtle Beach, SC
🚗 Driving time: 55 min (37 mi)
Next is Myrtle Beach, which is one of the best beach resorts on the East Coast for families.
Walk the oceanfront Boardwalk, take a spin on the SkyWheel (a 187-foot observation Ferris wheel), and spend a lazy afternoon on the beach.
Broadway at the Beach is the big shopping and entertainment complex, and it’s home to Ripley’s Aquarium if you’re traveling with kids.
For food, the Sea Captain’s House is a beloved oceanfront spot known for its she-crab soup.
🎬 11. Wilmington, NC
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr 30 min (72 mi)
Cross into North Carolina and you’ll reach Wilmington, a historic port city on the Cape Fear River.
Stroll the nearly two-mile Riverwalk, then explore the antebellum architecture of the downtown historic district.
You can also visit Battleship USS North Carolina, a WWII battleship, and Wrightsville Beach is only about 15 minutes away if you fancy more beach time.
Fun fact: Wilmington is known as “Hollywood East,” and both “One Tree Hill” and “Dawson’s Creek” were filmed here so if you are a fan, there are some tours you can do.
🐎 12. The Outer Banks, NC
🚗 Driving time: 4.5 to 5 hrs (250 mi)
This is the longest leg of the trip and it’s a bit of a detour but it’s such a good one that I couldn’t not include it.
Please note that if you are short on time, that’s also the easiest one to skip.
The Outer Banks are a 200-mile string of skinny barrier islands known for wild beaches, big dunes and aviation history.
Base yourself around Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head or Manteo.
Start at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where the first powered flight took off in 1903, then climb the giant sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge and visit the pretty Bodie Island Lighthouse.
If you want to see the wild horses in Corolla, you’ll need a 4×4 or a booked tour, as they roam a beach a regular car can’t reach.
🏖️ 13. Virginia Beach and Norfolk, VA
🚗 Driving time: 2 hrs 10 minutes (125 mi)
Next are the neighboring cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, about 20 minutes apart. Virginia Beach is the breezy oceanfront resort, and Norfolk is its more urban, naval neighbor.
In Virginia Beach, walk the three-mile oceanfront Boardwalk and snap a photo with the 34-foot bronze King Neptune, then escape to the forest trails of First Landing State Park, where the 1607 colonists first came ashore.
Over in Norfolk, tour the huge Battleship Wisconsin at Nauticus and pop into the Chrysler Museum of Art, which is free to enter.
For food, Doumar’s in Norfolk is a must. It’s a 1919 institution serving barbecue and hand-rolled ice cream cones.
🖼️ 14. Richmond, VA
🚗 Driving time: 1 hour 40 minutes (107 mi)
Next is Richmond, Virginia’s capital.
Tour the Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson, then spend an hour or two at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (free general admission).
You can also go to Hollywood Cemetery, which is the resting place of two US presidents.
Then go shopping in Carytown and discover the beautiful murals there.
🏛️ 15. Washington, DC
🚗 Driving time: 2 hrs (107 mi), often congested, so build in a buffer
Next stop is the federal capital. It’s a highlight of any East Coast trip and if you haven’t been before, you have to stop there.
It’s home to the National Mall, world-class museums, the Capitol and so many cool neighborhoods.
Start at the capitol and walk up the National Mall. This is where you’ll find most of the museums including the Smithsonian museums (Air and Space, Natural History, American History, and the National Gallery of Art) which are free to enter.
You will also walk past the Washington Monument, the Vietnam and WWII memorials and will eventually get to the Lincoln Memorial.
And of course, make sure to go to the White House as well. Tours can be booked via your member of congress but even if you can’t have a tour, it’s still worth seeing from outside. It’s one of the most iconic buildings in the world after all.
The Wharf Waterfront and Thomas Jefferson Memorial are also worth checking out.
If you want more information, check out my 2-day itinerary for Washington DC.
🦆 16. Havre de Grace, MD
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr 40 min (75 mi), allowing for Baltimore-area traffic
You could technically stop in Baltimore but I thought I’d add a small town instead.
It’s a small Chesapeake Bay town in northeastern Maryland.
Wander the half-mile Promenade boardwalk along the water, climb up to the little Concord Point Lighthouse (one of the oldest continuously operated on the East Coast), and browse the antique shops downtown.
The Decoy Museum is a lovely tribute to the town’s waterfowl-carving heritage.
🔔 17. Philadelphia, PA
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr 15 min (63 mi)
The next stop is Philadelphia. If you love history and food, this is going to be one of your favorite stops!
Start in Independence National Historical Park to see the cracked Liberty Bell (free) and tour Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed (free timed tickets are usually needed).
After that, make sure to go to Reading Terminal Market. It’s open every day and it’s a paradise for foodies. My favorites there are the Philly cheesesteak sandwich and the soft pretzels.
But honestly, there are so many good places! For this reason, I would highly recommend going on a food tour.
Make sure to also go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art where you can run up the ‘Rocky steps’ and take a photo with the Rocky statue.
Finally, head to the Delaware River waterfront. It’s pretty scenic and it’s very nice in summer.
🎓 18. Princeton, NJ
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr (45 mi)
Your last stop before the big finale is Princeton, a Ivy League college town in central New Jersey.
Stroll the beautiful Gothic university campus (the free student-led tours are a lovely way to see it), then check out the shops along Nassau Street, just across from campus.
Fun fact: Albert Einstein lived in Princeton from 1933 until his death in 1955.
For food, Hoagie Haven is the local spot for a cheap, enormous sub.
🗽 19. New York City, NY
🚗 Driving time: 1 to 1.5 hrs (50 mi), though tunnel and bridge traffic can stretch that
Yaaay! You’ve made it to New York City!!!
After driving about 1,500 miles, we are finally arriving in the world’s most iconic city.
Obviously there is plenty that you can do in NYC and I would highly recommend checking my itineraries but in the meantime, here are some of the highlights.
Firstly, I think it’s important you stay in Manhattan. It can be tempting to stay somewhere else because it’s cheaper, but you will be spending a lot of time on public transport. So, even though Manhattan is more expensive, it’s worth it.
Start at Bryant Park, walk up 5th avenue and head to the Top of the Rock. You can see both the Empire State Building and Central Park from there. You can then continue to Times Square, Central Park and come back to Broadway in the evening for a play or musical.
Midtown has also a lot to offer as you can go to the Empire State Building and then keep on walking to Macy’s before reaching the Vessel, the high line and Chelsea Market.
Make sure to also visit the financial district and the 9/11 museum. Take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island.
Finally, make your way to Brooklyn to wander around DUMBO and walk on the Brooklyn Bridge.
For food, Katz’s Delicatessen has been serving legendary pastrami since 1888, and Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village is a classic New York slice.
🗺️ Map of this Miami to NYC Road Trip
💡 A few practical tips
- Give yourself around two weeks to enjoy this properly, or 10 days at a minimum. If you need to trim, the easiest stops to drop are the Outer Banks, Georgetown, Havre de Grace or Princeton.
- Driving south to north means you finish on a high in New York, and you can drop your rental car and fly home easily.
- I-95 gets congested around the big cities (especially Northern Virginia, Baltimore, DC and the approach to New York), so check live traffic each morning.
- In the big cities, especially DC and New York, park on the outskirts and use public transport, and plan to return your rental before entering Manhattan.
- In summer, beach-town accommodation and popular attractions (like Kennedy Space Center) book up fast, so reserve ahead.
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