Home › Journeys › Florida's Gulf Coast: Tampa to the Everglades › 5 days
Florida's Gulf Coast: Tampa to the Everglades: 5-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
Last updated:
The 5-day version for February: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 5-day plan · best time to go.
Use this plan → Customize this plan →
5
days
545 km
distance
11.6 h
driving
13
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~11.1 hours of daylight in February — the plan keeps days inside a realistic window.
- Dry-season public-road product. Hurricane season runs June through November; severe weather, flooding, beach recovery, road access and Everglades operations remain live checks.
Day 1 Tampa and St. Petersburg public culture day
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~15:00
- Temperature
- 12.2°C–21.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~9
- Daylight
- 11.0h
09:00
Use confirmed-open public riverfront, waterfront and cultural districts; ticketed museums, aquariums, zoos and theme parks remain optional.
300 min · Tampa and St. Petersburg public culture day · Confirm current admission or parking where applicable
14:00
Experience Spanish cuisine and flamenco shows in a historic Ybor City landmark.
60 min · Tampa and St. Petersburg public culture day
Overnight here
e.g. Gram's Place · Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown
Day 2 Sarasota public culture and coast day
- Transit
- 2h12
- Finish
- ~17:15
- Temperature
- 13.3°C–22.0°C
- Rainy days
- ~8
- Daylight
- 11.0h
11:15
16:15
Miguel's Restaurant miguelsrestaurant.net map ↗
Taste delightful French Continental cuisine at the south end of Siesta Key.
60 min · Sarasota public culture and coast day
open: open at 5PM
Overnight here
e.g. Lido Beach Resort · The Resort Longboat Key Club
Day 3 Sanibel public shore day
- Transit
- 4h03
- Finish
- ~18:00
- Temperature
- 14.1°C–23.3°C
- Rainy days
- ~7
- Daylight
- 11.1h
12:55
Sanibel public shore circuit mysanibel.com map ↗
Use only current public beach access and designated visitor parking, with recovery notices checked; refuge drives, boats and rentals remain optional.
180 min · Sanibel public shore day · Confirm current admission or parking where applicable
16:10
Birds fws.gov
50 min · Sanibel public shore day
17:00
Overnight here
e.g. Casa Ybel Resort · Sanibel Vacation Rentals
Day 4 Naples public coast day
- Transit
- 1h52
- Finish
- ~17:40
- Temperature
- 17.0°C–22.1°C
- Rainy days
- ~7
- Daylight
- 11.1h
10:40
Naples public coast circuit naplesgov.com map ↗
Use confirmed-open public beach, pier-area and civic access with lawful parking; zoos, cruises, fishing and private beach facilities remain optional.
240 min · Naples public coast day · Confirm current admission or parking where applicable
14:50
Stroll along the river, browsing unique shops filled with trinkets, clothing, and art.
50 min · Naples public coast day
15:50
Naples City Pier naplesgov.com map ↗
Walk the long pier, feeling the breeze over the water as you take in the Gulf views.
50 min · Naples public coast day
16:40
Shula's Steak House www1.hilton.com
Dine in an upscale steak house celebrating the 1972 Miami Dolphins Perfect Season.
60 min · Naples public coast day · 10PM
open: 6:30AM
Overnight here
e.g. The Ritz Carlton, Naples · Bellasera Resort Luxury Hotel
Day 5 Everglades Shark Valley public day
- Transit
- 3h30
- Finish
- ~17:05
- Temperature
- 17.2°C–24.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~6
- Daylight
- 11.1h
12:20
Everglades Shark Valley public circuit home.nps.gov map ↗
Use confirmed-open entrance, visitor facilities and short public walking access only. Tram, bicycle, ranger, boat, airboat and kayak activities require separate availability.
180 min · Everglades Shark Valley public day · Confirm current admission or parking where applicable
15:35
Royal Palm/Anhinga Trail search
Spot abundant wildlife along easy trails in the dry season within the vast river of grass.
90 min · Everglades Shark Valley public day
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.