Florida essentials

The practical answers a Florida trip actually needs - which airport fits your region and how the interstates and Brightline connect them, getting around a driving state with tolls and walkable island cores, when to visit around the dry winter high season and the summer hurricane months, sales and lodging taxes and real costs, and staying safe with rip currents, storms, and wildlife.

Arrival

ArrivalGetting to FloridaFlorida is a big state with many front doors. Most visitors fly into one of the major hubs - Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, or Tampa - then either drive or, on the southeast coast, take Brightline rail. Which airport you choose should follow the region you are visiting, because the peninsula is long and the drives between coasts and cities are real.

Getting around

Getting aroundGetting around FloridaOutside the walkable historic cores of Key West, St. Augustine, and Ybor City, Florida is a driving state. A rental car is the default for most micro-zones, especially the Everglades, Sanibel, and the Gulf beaches. On the southeast coast, Brightline and local transit can cover some trips car-free, and tolls are common statewide.

Planning

PlanningWhen to visit FloridaWinter and early spring are popular for the South Florida coast, with milder conditions and often higher lodging demand. Summer brings heat, humidity and thunderstorms, and Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1–November 30. Conditions, crowds and prices vary by region, school holidays and events, so compare the places you actually plan to visit.PlanningMoney and costs in FloridaFlorida has no state personal income tax, but visitors pay sales tax, local lodging taxes, tolls and other travel costs. Winter stays on the Gulf islands and in Palm Beach can be expensive. Compare dates and regions using the final stay total; mandatory resort fees belong in the displayed hotel price.

On the ground

On the groundStaying safe in FloridaPlan for strong sun and heat, rip currents, thunderstorms, seasonal hurricanes and wildlife. Check local beach and weather conditions, swim near lifeguards, and know your accommodation’s evacuation plan. Practical precautions and current official instructions should shape outdoor plans.