10 best weekend getaways from Miami

This cluster of islands comprises the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States. If that cool factoid doesn’t convince you to visit, this might: The trip from Miami to Bimini is about 50 miles and will take you around two hours by boat. You can even go for the day, if you really don’t want to spend an entire weekend booking excursions to see dolphins and sharks, playing water sports, going hiking or biking amid indigenous animals and plants.

Time Out tip: Don’t forget to visit one of the most popular snorkeling destinations on the island: the SS Sapona shipwreck, a former cargo steamer that didn’t survive a 1926 hurricane.

Replete with historic nooks, fresh seafood and perfect sunset perches, Key West is a no-brainer choice for a quick Miami getaway. While away days sipping tropical cocktails and noshing on conch fritters in between checking out gems like the Hemingway Home and Museum and taking in live music on Duval Street. Opt to stay at the Casa Marina Key West, which unveiled a nearly $80 million transformation in ’24 and is situated on the largest private beach in town.

If you’re looking for a weekend of all genres, Cocoa Beach is for you. There are plenty of eateries and shops to visit, but bird lovers will find happiness around the birdlife that calls the maritime forest at Lori Wilson Park home. There’s more: a true surf town, the city takes pride in the local Florida Surf Museum, which traces the history of the sport on both a regional and national level. Finally, space aficionados are likely aware that the city functions as a gateway to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where you can gaze at amazing rockets and much more. For a beverage with Maldives vibes, hit the Rikki Tiki Tavern—it’s tucked at the end of Cocoa Beach’s 800-foot-long pier.

Top sights in Sarasota—a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Miami—include the John and Mable Ringing Museum of Art (now the official state art museum for Florida), the Jungle Gardens, home to bird and animal shows, and the 15-acre Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Beach lovers worry not: The famous Siesta Key Beach, made of 99% quartz, is right around here, as is the always beautiful Lido Key Beach.

Time Out tip: For a newer site, The Bay is a public park that opened its first phase in October 2022, with additional phases opening over the next decade. Vibe out on waterfront nature walks and mangrove-draped kayak treks.

Do you really need a reason to go to Cuba? How do endless amounts of delicious local rum (on the cheap) sound? If that’s not your thing, you’ll revel in beautiful architecture with a side of history, plus exciting food and walkable attractions. Also, Fusterlandia is a multifaceted public art utopia like no other. Sure, there are no truly accessible beaches in town, but who needs those when you’re just an hour away from Miami by plane? (The rules and regulations around booking a trip here fluctuate, so make sure you do your research first.)

Board a flight from Miami and land in the beautiful capital of the Bahamas only an hour later. What to do while in town? After spending your days at the beach, admiring coral reefs and snorkeling, go walk around and notice the super photogenic, pastel-colored British colonial buildings that pepper the city. Make sure to include the Government House in your walking tour. The official residence of the Governor of the Bahamas, the ten-acre estate is also defined by the statue of Christopher Columbus up front, which was added to the property during a round of renovations in 1830.

Time Out tip: Make sure to hop over the bridge to Paradise Island, where the iconic Atlantis awaits. It celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023 and continues to impress.

This small-but-bumpin’ city less than 90 minutes away from Miami is mostly known for its dedication to art, as seen through the public installations and galleries that make the Pineapple Grove Arts District so unique. But, we promise, there’s more: Partake in tea ceremonies and calligraphy workshops at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, stroll the boardwalk to spot turtles and alligators down below at the Wakodahatchee Wetlands or book a tour with one of the many cruise companies. When hunger beckons, explore the options on bustling Atlantic Avenue. There’s even a pinball museum, y’all.

If you’re escaping Miami to delve into more water-based activities, consider taking a one-and-half-hour drive to Islamorada. Here, visit the Theater of the Sea, a marine mammal park where you get to swim with sharks, sea lions, dolphins and more. You might also want to buy some bait and go feed the tarpon from the dock at Robbie’s Marina but if it’s a bit of history that you’re craving, take a short canoe or kayak trip to the 11-acre Indian Key Historic State Park to gaze in wonder at the remains of a shipwreck salvage community from the 1830s.

Golfing! Fishing! Beaches! Boating! There is oh-so-much-to-do in this beautiful Gulf Coast city four hours away from Miami. If there is one thing that all visitors are keen to explore, it’s the Dalí. Not only is it home to the largest collection of the artist Salvador Dalí’s work outside of Europe, but the building itself is a piece of architectural art. Also make sure to visit the visually stunning Chihuly Collection, a museum filled with glass sculptures. The historical Sunken Gardens and the often-discussed Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge are also worth checking out. For sports lovers, St. Pete is baseball heaven with spring training games galore.

Miami residents can drive across Florida to Naples in a relatively short two hours. How convenient. Here are a few reasons to head here for the weekend: fishing off the historic Naples Pier (currently only partially open since being damaged by Hurricane Ian), the white-sand Naples Beach, the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens and 5th Avenue South, the street from downtown to the beach that will tickle all of your dining and shopping-related senses.

With a thriving Latin population (Tampa is disputedly the birthplace of the Cuban sandwich), a balmy year-round climate and a buzzy nightlife scene to rival South Beach, Tampa is the city for Miamians who want to get away but don’t care to stray too far from the comforts of home (they even have a swanky Tampa EDITION Hotel). Spend some time learning about the area’s storied past either on a walking tour through Ybor City or by paying a visit to the Tampa Bay History Center, which you can access via streetcar for a bonus dose of antiquity.

Time Out tip: Into beer? Snag a Bay Crafted Pass that unlocks prizes for visiting local breweries and distilleries. 

A seven-hour drive or 1.5-hour flight up Florida’s east coast will get you to the magical Southern city of Savannah, Georgia. Home to a buzzing art scene along with cobblestoned squares, Spanish moss-covered oaks and Gothic-Revival architecture, this coastal destination offers a welcomed change of pace. The Perry Lane Hotel strikes a dreamy blend of old and new. Book a ghost tour and peruse the centuries-old City Market for local eateries and trinkets to take home.

Key Largo, Montego, ooh I wanna take you. Follow the Beach Boys’ lead and head to Key Largo for your next weekend getaway. Within a 90-minute drive, you’ll love Snappers, an oceanfront restaurant with a rad jazz brunch every Sunday. The spot even has four lux hotel suites nestled above the restaurant if you want to keep the party going all weekend. For some wow-worthy nature, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a stellar destination for a glass-bottom boat tour.

You’ve seen all the Instagrammers posing on Tulum’s white sands and within its Bohemian nightlife spots. Well, it’s your turn. Book a stay at The Beach Tulum or its sister property, Cabañas Tulum Beach Hotel & Spa. They are situated on one of the widest stretches of Tulum’s Beach and its on-site spa, Nai Naay Spa, is relaxation to the max. Among a growing number of airlines providing direct routes to Tulum (not Cancun, just an hour north!), Spirit now has Fort Lauderdale to TQO (Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport) nonstop options.

Less than a three-hour flight from MIA, St. Kitts is loaded with volcanic sand beaches that feel otherworldly. If you can nail the timing, May and June are stellar as the winter crowds are thinning out. Opt to stay at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts, which has 124 lux rooms, a Topgolf Swing Suite and two new pickleball courts. 

Time Out tip: Typically in late June, the St. Kitts Music Festival draws attendees throughout the Caribbean as well as A-list acts. 

Within a four-hour drive of Miami is this oasis with summer vibes year-round. At Norwood’s Treehouse, you’re literally perched among the trees noshing on dishes like spinach ricotta dumplings and a filet-dashed pimento mac and cheese. For surfers, its barrier island is regularly recognized as one of the best spots in America. If little ones are in tow (or if you’re still a kid at heart), the Marine Discovery Center has aquariums and gardens for both wildflowers and butterflies.