East Coast Road Trip: NYC to Miami

HARD TRUTHS:

It’s a long long drive
I-95 is usually the fastest route and pretty much always has traffic at some point along the way
Heading south on I-95 once you pass Maryland the rest stops only have toilets and vending machines
Parts of I-95 are only 2 lanes so you can easily get boxed in by tractor-trailers
Florida likes to be different, it’s the only state along this route with tolls that doesn’t have EZ Pass
Hotels that allow dogs can be very basic and run down

CAN’T MISS:

NYC -> Virginia Beach -> Outer Banks -> Charleston -> Savannah -> Vero Beach -> Miami

Beaches
Foodie Spots
SO many cute stops along the way

With flying pretty much off the table, I thought a road trip would be a great way to get my travel fix. I’ve done the drive from NYC to Florida a few times now and unless you’re in a real rush to get down there it’s nice to break up the trip. I’ve driven straight through switching on and off with a friend and that +20 hours is very long! The other times I’ve gone I’ve done it over 2 days but next time (and I’m sure there will be!) I’d like to spread it out even more.

I’ve combined the highlights of past trips in this post along with a few stops that are on my wishlist but it’s mostly focused on the trip I took during Covid at the end of May where I had my French Bulldog, Valentina, in tow. She was definitely more excited than I was! But my apathetic expression was mainly due to having to rent a car to go pick up another car I was borrowing from my parents for the trip.

There are so many great places along the east coast and the best part about a road trip is that you can stop wherever and whenever you want. And if you plan to drive round trip you can put together 2 different itineraries. The one thing I keep in common on my trips is stopping along the actual coast. I absolutely love the beach and keep this as a running theme on my road trips here making sure to stop at some of the impressive coastal towns the east has to offer.

Starting in New York City, expect traffic any time of day, and every day of the week, there’s pretty much no avoiding it. It’s not as bad as it sounds though and if you’re prepared for your long road trip with podcasts and playlists it’ll fly by.

I’m always excited at the start of a trip especially a road trip so it’s also when I have the most energy. I like to drive a good stretch to start with since the adrenaline is pumping. Depending on how much drive you have in you will determine your first stop.

I’ve driven all the way to Charleston before which is around 12 hours but if that is too far or you want to spread your road trip out, Virginia Beach is a great stop at ~6-7 hours. Your navigation will mostly likely put you on I-95, which is usually the fastest route for the entire trip. This is a great stretch of the highway with all the rest stops that have everything you need, restaurants, gas, etc. There are even express lanes in Virginia that can be well worth the toll to avoid traffic and take advantage of the higher speed limit (65mph/104kmh) so keep an eye out for them.

Virginia Beach has some beautiful coastal beaches as well as some other interesting areas worth checking out. For beaches, there is Oceanfront where most of the bars, restaurants and hotels are, Croatan Beach known for surfing and Sandbridge or Chic’s Beach for more low key options. For non beach goers, there is a boardwalk worth a stroll, the artsy ViBe district, Inland for breweries, Chesapeake Bay has a cool lighthouse and First Landing State Park has some hiking.

Places to stay range from ocean front resorts to quaint B&Bs so you have your choice of options. I went for an AirBnb walking distance from the beach and it was perfect. But check out the Don’t Forget section for some hotel recs as well as restaurants.

Another stop which is on my bucket list is to the Outerbanks in North Carolina. They are ~2 hours from Virginia Beach. This website is a great guide to the area. They are a bit out of the way so you could also head to one of the other coastal town in NC (or stop at both if you love beaches as much as I do!) like Emerald Isle or Top Sail which are ~4 hours.

Charleston is definitely a must-see on an east coast road trip. It is ~7 hours from either Virginia Beach or the Outer Banks so you could add another stop if that is too long of a stretch. Mrytle Beach could be an option but I’ve always skipped it as I’ve read it can be very touristy. Maybe I’ll add it back to my list post Covid though.

If heading straight to Charleston you’ll be back on I-95. This is where it becomes a 2 lane highway so be prepared for a slow down and some frustrating driving! There are a lot of trucks on this highway so you can easily be boxed in on the 2 lanes when they try to pass each other. It’s also where the rest stops just off the highway are only bathrooms and vending machines so make sure to gas up before you go so you don’t have to waste time getting off and on.

Charleston has a lot to offer, from its quaint cobblestone streets and historic mansions to beaches, plantations, gardens and creeks. It was only a stopover for me on my road trip so I didn’t get to experience everything but even the small glimpse I got left me wanting for more!

I stayed in the Historic District/French Quarter which is a pretty central location. It’s a beautiful area to wander around with so many historic buildings and gorgeous gardens to peak into. A few spots worth checking out are Waterfront Park and White Pointe Gardens to see the infamous white oak trees. For the historic mansions head to Church Street, Tradd Street and Rainbow Row. For the best cobblestone street head to Chalmers Street. For art galleries, head to Broad Street. For hidden gardens, head to Legare Street.

The best way to experience this area is walking but if you get a bit tired you can opt to take a horse drawn carriage around the neighborhood.

And if you’re a fan of reality TV, which my friend on this trip was, you can even see the house from Southern Charm or at least try as it’s pretty hidden!

After all the walking, you’ll most likely be famished so can stop in one of the amazing restaurants Charleston has to offer. Eli’s Table has a beautiful back garden and was a perfect brunch spot. I got my fill of southern fare with some chicken and waffles! Check out the Don’t Forget section for more great restaurants to choose from.

If you have time, head to one or a few of the the barrier island beaches as well which aren’t too far from the city. Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Capers Island, Bull Island and Kiawah Island are just a few of them.

Hotel choices can be limited when traveling with pets (especially large ones as many only allow a max of 25lbs). I went with a Days Inn for it’s location but I would not recommend it at all. It wasn’t as cheap as I expected (~$180/night with pet fee), it wasn’t clean, the curtains don’t close and the rooms face the parking lot so it can get noisy. There are a lot more nicer options nearby. Check out the Don’t Forget section for more pet friendly and general hotel recs.

Savannah, ~2 hours south of Charleston, is another must-see stop. I actually went to Savannah on the way back. If you need a few more stops on this stretch of your drive there are more islands on the way, like Hilton Head or the Golden Isles (Jekyll, St. Simons, Little St. Simons).

Savannah is right off I-95 so it’s a really easy stop just over the border from South Carolina. It’s such a picturesque city as well with the moss covered trees in the lush parks, cobblestones along the riverside and mansions spread throughout most dating back to the 18th century.

I spent my time in the Historic District which has the beautiful historic parks and squares you picture when imagining Savannah. The parks were in full bloom while I was there so I got to see them in their full glory. I could wander underneath the green canopies for hours. They were also a welcome refuge from the hot Savannah sun! There are 22 in the historic district which are fairly close together so you can easily stumble upon some while walking around the neighborhood. The one below, Oglethorpe Square, was designed in 1742 in honor of James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of Savannah.

As expected many of the historic mansions within the city line these beautiful squares. Some have been converted into restaurants or Inns but others have been turned into museums. The Owens-Thomas House, built in 1819, for example, is now a museum with a gorgeous garden, and The Olde Pink House, built in 1771, is a fine dining restaurant, definitely worth a stop for an amazing meal!

Owens-Thomas House

Owens-Thomas Garden

The Olde Pink House

There are historic buildings to be found all over the city. The Marshall House, built in 1851, is one of the oldest hotels in Savannah and also served as a hospital for Union soldiers during the Civil War. It’s on one of the main streets within the historic district so it’s hard to miss and close to the river which is also worth a stop. As you walk towards the river from Marshall House you’ll notice the streets turn to cobblestones beneath your feet. This will take you to the heart of the riverfront, River Street.

The riverfront dates back to 1733. The buildings which once housed cotton warehouses have now become bustling bars, restaurants, antique shops and tourist shops. I expect it can be very crowded and touristy but it was still nice for a riverside stroll. It’s also supposed to be the most haunted street in Savannah. Besides the land itself being a Native American burial ground, the area by the river has a harrowing past of slaves dying from arduous labor such as being literally crushed to death under the weight of the freight they were forced to unload from the ships and being shackled in holding pens. The are even a number of ghosts tours offered around the city. I’m a wimp so definitely skipped those!

The best part about Savannah (in my opinion anyway) is the food. Yes, another foodie destination on this route. There are tons of restaurants to choose from. Below is Treylor Park which was a unique restaurant with a lovely outdoor porch. I had the chance to try shrimp and grits in a taco, yum!! Check out the Don’t Forget section for some more restaurant recommendations.

The next/last stop is finally Florida but don’t get too excited, when you cross the state border, it’s still another ~400 mi/640 km to Miami Beach! Be warned Florida is the only state along I-95 with tolls that doesn’t accept EZ Pass. They have their own pass, the Sun Pass, which can be easily confused (at least by me!), I went through a few highway tolls before noticing it wasn’t EZ Pass.

A good stop along the way is the coastal town of Vero Beach, known as Treasure Coast. It’s ~3 hours from the Georgia border. The most obvious reason to stop here is for the gorgeous beaches. The more popular beaches are Wabasso, South Park and Humiston Beach Park. A more remote area with beaches is the Seagrape Trail.

Besides amazing beaches, Vero is also a nature lovers paradise. The McKee Botanical Garden and Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge are a good start but the shining star is the Indian River Lagoon, which is the most biodiverse lagoon ecosystem in the Northern hemisphere. It runs between the mainland and the barrier island and is home to more than 3,000 species of plants and animals. One of which is the adorable sea turtle. Vero is where over 1/4 of the world’s sea turtles nest. On the Seagrape Trail, mentioned before, you might even get to see some of the sea turtles nesting if you’re there during their season from May to October. A great way to see some of these natural wonders is by kayak, paddle board, airboat or even sea plane. I had the chance to paddle board with a dolphin last time I was there!

Jungle Trail is also worth checking out. It is a great biking or running trail. It was originally a sandy road built in the 1920s for the citrus growers on the barrier island (called Orchard Island) and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The town of Vero is also worth a stop to check out the art galleries and great restaurants. Check out the Don’t Forget section to see some restaurant recs.

Miami is only another ~2.5 hours south of Vero. This has been the final destination of almost all my road trips along the east coast. Most people come here for the beaches and nightlife but there is so much more Miami can offer. I could stay for weeks! Check out my full post on Miami for more in depth info.

Some of the non surf and sand highlights include Wynwood Walls, known as the Urban Graffiti Art museum, for its art, Oleta River State Park for its water sports such as kayaking and paddle boarding, Vizcaya Museum and Garden for its grounds, Key Biscayne with Crandon and Bill Baggs Park for its beachside trails, lighthouse and Stiltsville, a collection of historic homes that float atop Biscayne Bay and the Art Deco District for its architecture.

And now for the shining star of this destination, the beaches… They can all boast white sand and crystal clear turquoise water but each has a slightly different ambiences to offer.

South Beach is the busiest and most touristed but still worth checking out. There are a few different sections to choose from for different vibes like the LGBTQ section around 12th, or the luxury hotel cabanas above 17th. Each lifeguard stand has the street number on it as well so you know exactly where you are.

Mid-Beach, between 23rd and 46th Street, is where the trendier hotels lie like the Edition, Faena, Soho Beach House and 1 Hotel. It’s a more loungey beach scene but also has pool clubs.

Sunny Isles has a quieter beach which still has the same white sand and blue sea as south beach with less crowds as well as Newport Pier which has fishing and a restaurant where you can get take away food and drinks to bring to the beach.

There are also the beaches on Key Biscayne which is great if you want picnic and BBQ in between your surf and sand time. It’s also a great spot to bike around or kite board.

And last but not least is the foodie scene and nightlife. With so many different neighborhoods, there are tons of choices for food and drinks. And as Miami is a bit of a melting pot, especially for the majority of Latin America, you have tons of different types of foods for your choosing. The hotels on the beach are great options for lunch with a view, like The Ocean Grill at the Setai. Joe’s Stone Crab is an institution and the crab is definitely that good! For dinner in South Beach, Chotto Matte is a fun spot for Japanese Peruvian Fusion, Stiltsville for seafood and Macchialina for Italian. Wynwood has some noteworthy dining options too and is a great spot for pre or post dinner drinks. Three is good for seafood with their great rooftop bar, No. 3 Social and Le Chick for upscale comfort food with their bar Le Coqtail.

And don’t discount the hotel restaurants here which I feel in most destinations are rarely good but there are a few noteworthy ones in Miami. The Freehand Hotel has 27 Restaurant and the famous outdoor Broken Shaker bar, pictured below. Casa Faena has Gitano and the Soho BeachHouse has Cecconi’s.

There are way too many spots to list but I’ve noted some of my favorites in the Don’t Forget section below.

Don’t Forget:

Virginia Beach

Breweries: Back Bay Brewery, Green Flash Brewery, Chesapeake Bay Beach, Commonwealth Brewing Company, and Pleasure House Brewing.

Restaurants: Esoteric, Terrapin, Commune, Bay Local Eatery, Leaping Lizard, Back Bay Gourmet, Margie & Rays (for Crab), Catch 31, FireBrew Bar & Grill,

Hotels: The Cavalier, Hilton, Hyatt House, Founders Inn, Barclay Cottage B&B, Beach Spa B&B

Charleston

Restaurants: Peninsula Grill, Magnolias, Revival, 167 Raw, 39 Rue de Jean, 5Church, Husk, Poogan’s Porch, Henrietta’s, Eli’s Table, The Grocery, The Darling Oyster Bar, Lewis BBQ, Leon’s Oyster Shop, Maison, The Ordinary, Chez Nous

Hotels: Planters Inn, Spectator Hotel, The Restoration, Zero George, The Mill House

Pet Friendly Hotels: Belmond Charleston Place Hotel, Frances Marion Hotel, Hotel Bella Grace, Grand Bohemian Hotel, John Rutledge House Inn, Wentworth Mansion, The Vendue, Hotel Emeline, Hotel Bennett

Savannah

Restaurants: The Olde Pink House, Noble Fare, 700 Drayton, Collins Quarter, The Fitzroy, a.Lure, Treylor Park, Vic’s On the River, The Grey, Local 11ten, Husk (if you’re not afraid of ghosts!), Mrs Wilkes Dining Room

Hotels: The Cotton Sail, Kehoe Inn, Azalea Inn, River Street Inn

Pet Friendly Hotels: Hamilton-Turner Inn, Mansion on Forsyth Park, The Alida, The Drayton, Perry Lane, Galloway House Inn, Kimpton Brice, Bohemian, Andaz

Vero Beach

Restaurants: The Tides, The Crab Stop, Citron, Maison Martinique, Scampi Grill, Osceola Bistro, and The Ocean Grill

Hotels: Costa D’Este, Vero Beach Hotel and Kimpton’s Vero Beach Hotel

Miami

Restaurants: Taquiza, Yardbird, A Fish Called Avalon, Havana 1957, Stiltsville Fish Bar, Joe’s Stone Crab, Bolivar, Macchialina, Chotto Matte, Byblos, NaiYara, Juvia, Kyu, Three, Bakan, Alter, Quinta La Huella, Marion; NYC Outposts: Lucali, Upland

Hotel Restaurants: Santorini (Hilton), Matador Room (Edition), Watr (The 1), 27 Restaurant (Freehand), Cecconis (Soho Beach House), Diez y Seis (Shore Club), Gitano (Casa Faena), LT Steak & Seafood (The Betsy)

Bars – Broken Shaker, The Clevelander, No 3 Social, Spanglish, The Driftway, Sweet Liberty, Gramps, Jaguar Sun, Baby Jane Cockatil House, The Sylvester, Dirty Rabbit, Lagniappe

Hotels: SLS South Beach, Delano, Nautilus by Arlo, Surfcomber, The Betsy, Palihouse, The Plymouh, The Local House, Angler’s Hotel, The Setai, The Shore Club, Ritz Carlton, Villa Casa Casuarina,1 Hotel, The Edition, The Freehand, Soho Beach House, Faena, Como, Lennox, Fountainbleau

Jenn