The Open Road Travel

A road trip from New York to Florida takes you between the two most populous states in the eastern United States.

A road trip from New York City to Jacksonville takes you from America’s most populous city in New York, through New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, D.C, Virginia, North & South Carolina, and Georgia, to the largest city in the contiguous U.S. in Florida.

For those about to embark on this incredible adventure themselves, read on to uncover all the wonders that await you.

The most direct route for a road trip from New York to Florida will take 14 hours to complete and covers 930 miles.

It is also incredibly straightforward, as you simply take any of the tunnels or bridges from New York to New Jersey and join the I-95, which will take you all the way to Florida.

However, for those who want to get the most out of a road trip from New York to Florida, I am going to suggest a slightly longer route, which totals 1,000 miles and 15 and ½ hours, for the ultimate road trip from New York City to Jacksonville.

This route starts off the same as the last, with you leaving New York heading west on any of the bridges or tunnels across the Hudson River, before joining the I-95 and going south.

However, this time, when you reach Petersburg, Virginia, you will use Exit 51 to join the I-85 where it begins. Follow the I-85 for 270 miles, to Charlotte, North Carolina, then take Exit 38 to join I-77 going south.

When the road comes to its conclusion 100 miles later, on the outskirts of Columbia, South Carolina, merge onto the I-26 and continue heading south.

When you reach Exit 169A, near Whetsell, South Carolina, you will use it to re-join the I-95. This will then take you the remaining 230 miles, to our destination of Jacksonville, the most northern city in Florida.

Clocking in at between 14 and 16 hours of driving, a road trip from New York City to Jacksonville is a lengthy journey.

While some people want to push on and complete the journey in a single day, most will want to break it up, to make the trip more relaxing and give them time to see the sights.

I now want to show you two of the best places to stop on a road trip from New York to Florida. There is undeniably plenty of great choices on the route, but these two simply offer so much to see and do, they are more than worth stopping at for an extended stay.

Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States, as well as one of its most famous and populous cities. Rather than being located in a single state, Washington D.C. was founded on land donated by Maryland and Virginia in 1791, in an effort to maintain political impartiality.

Annually drawing over 20 million visitors from all over the world, it is filled with a collection of iconic, historic buildings and monuments.

Sites including the Lincoln Memorial, The Pentagon, The White House, The Smithsonian, and The Washington Monument, are just some of the wonders on offer.

With an incredible array of bars, hotels, restaurants, and shops, as well as great attractions and areas to stay, people of all tastes and interests will have plenty of options in Washington D.C., making it a perfect place to spend a night or two on a road trip from New York to Florida.

The Willard InterContinental Washington is a stunning, 4-star hotel, on the edge of Presidents Park, a mere 550 yards from The White House. A historic building, it provides stunning views and a perfect location to explore Washington D.C’s legendary attractions from.

Each room is stylishly decorated, and features facilities including a flat screen TV, mini bar, stereo, coffee maker, and work desk, while regularly boasting fabulous views of your iconic surroundings.

The property includes a café and restaurant, where you can enjoy French cuisine and pastries, and a wine bar is available every evening. A sauna, fitness centre, and 24-hour lounge also provide plenty of places for you to unwind and relax.

With sitewide Wi-Fi, a range of shops that includes a florist, and concierge and private limo services, your every need will be catered to throughout your stay. The hotel is also pet friendly, although this does incur a surcharge.

Charlotte is the most populous city in the state of North Carolina, as well as the second most populous in the south-eastern United States, behind only our destination of Jacksonville, Florida.

Originally founded in 1755, Charlotte is one of the best places to experience a big city in the south and is known for its rich history, which is especially interesting when it comes to sports.

North Carolina is where NASCAR was born and Charlotte is home to the NASCAR Hall Of Fame, where fans can see artefacts and exhibits dedicated to the past, present, and future of the sport.

The city even hosts some of the biggest annual events on the NASCAR calendar, making it ideal if you want to catch a race.

Charlotte is also home to the two biggest sports teams in North Carolina, the Carolina Hornets and Carolina Panthers, making it equally ideal if you watch to watch some basketball or football.

Whether you want to enjoy sports, history, or just a little southern culture, Charlotte is a fabulous place to stop, with plenty of options to help you achieve your goal.

The Embassy Suites By Hilton Charlotte Uptown is a beautiful hotel, located directly opposite the NASCAR Hall Of Fame, in the centre of the city, making it perfectly situated for easy exploring.

All rooms are suite style and boast luxuries like a flat screen cable TV, microwave, refrigerator, sofa, and seating area. Meanwhile, the property boasts facilities including an indoor pool, business and fitness centres, and meeting spaces.

An on-site bar and Starbucks offers ample refreshments, whatever you are in the mood for, while an evening reception provides light appetisers and beverages each night. There is also a complimentary breakfast provided each morning, as well as free sitewide Wi-Fi.

The best time for a road trip from New York to Florida is from mid-April to early August. While the climate at our destination is usually warm throughout the year, you always have to be aware of hurricane season when travelling to Florida or the surrounding region.

While hurricane season is officially listed as running from the start of June to the end of November, this is an overly cautious estimate, as the real danger zone is from mid-August to the end of September.

By making your trip in our suggested window of mid-April to early August, you will find some of the best temperatures Florida sees each year, without too much risk of experiencing a natural disaster, creating the perfect opportunity for a trip you remember for all the right reasons.

With a road trip from New York to Florida taking at least 14 hours to complete, you are going to need plenty of things to keep you occupied on your travels.

While we obviously can’t show you everything there is to do and see along the route, we will now look at the 11 best attractions and sites along the way, to ensure there is plenty to keep everyone engaged and entertained.

The most populous city in the state of New Jersey and part of the New York Metropolitan Area, Newark is one of the largest transport hubs in the United States.

With a number of air, rail, and sea ports, it’s frequently used as an alternative to the terminals in New York City, due to its lower price. One of the oldest cities in the United States, having been settled in 1666, Newark is a city filled with beautiful, historic buildings.

The Cathedral Basilica Of The Sacred Heart, Jewish Museum Of New Jersey, Mount Olive AME Church, and Newark Museum Of Art are just some of the options on offer.

Throw in locations like Branch Brook Park, Dock Bridge, and the Justice Sculpture, and it makes Newark a great place to stop and enjoy some art, architecture, culture, and history, before your journey has really even begun.

Philadelphia is the 6th most populous city in the U.S., and one of the oldest cities in the country, having been founded in 1682 by legendary writer William Penn.

Known as the “City Of Brotherly Love”, it is a major hub of various industries, including transport, sports, and entertainment.

Perhaps the most prominent location in Philadelphia is Independence National Historical Park.

Home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the American Constitution and Declaration Of Independence were both adopted, it is one of the most historically important sites in the U.S.

With numerous attractions and amenities to entertain people of all tastes and interests, it is perhaps the most “can’t miss” stop on our entire route.

The largest, most populous city in Delaware, Wilmington was founded in 1638 on the site of Fort Christina, the oldest Swedish settlement in America. The historic Old Swedes Church still remains and is a perfect stop for those interested in history or experiencing different cultures.

The city is also the prime opportunity to learn about the history of the wealthiest families in America, the Du Pont Family, who have been prominent in the area since the 1700s.

With the family’s historic home and its stunning Georgian architecture, as well as locations like the Hagley Museum, DuPont Building, and DuPont Gunpowder Works, there are artefacts, exhibits, and sites all over to demonstrate the growth and importance of the family in Wilmington.

Susquehanna State Park is located on the western bank of the Susquehanna River, which, at 444 miles long, is the longest on the east coast of the U.S.

With countless biking, hiking, and horse riding trails through its valleys and along the riverbanks, it is an ideal stop for nature lovers.

Aquatic activities like boating and fishing on the river are also incredibly popular, as is camping in the forests that surround it. You even have a number of prominent attractions dotted throughout Susquehanna State Park.

With the Carter-Archer Mansion and Rock Run Grist Mill, two of the most historically important milling locations in the area, and the Steppingstone Museum, which is filled with historic arts and crafts from the region, there is something in Susquehanna State Park for everyone to enjoy.

The largest independent city in America, as well as the most populous in Maryland, Baltimore is a historic city that has long been known as one of the country’s most important transport hubs.

The Port Of Baltimore was established in 1706, making it one of the nation’s first and a vital location for the import of goods. While no longer as important as it once was, it is still the largest American port for passenger facilities and specialist cargo.

The Baltimore And Ohio Railroad, which has its eastern terminus in Baltimore, is also the oldest railroad in the country, having been founded in 1830.

With a range of other, non-transport related points of historical interest, like being the site of many important events in the Civil and Revolutionary wars, and the location where “The Star-Spangled Banner” was written, Baltimore is a fabulous stop for any history enthusiasts making the trip.

Richmond is the capital and 4th most populous city in Virginia. With the original settlements in the area having been founded in 1607, Richmond is one of the oldest areas in both the state and America as a whole.

Richmond is a city with a tourist injury propped up by its abundance of historical attractions.

Historic buildings, museums, monuments, and battlefield parks enlighten visitors on the history of the city in terms of things like art, architecture, religion, transport, and the wars the city has been involved in.

You have locations like St. John’s Church, which saw Patrick Henry proclaim “give me liberty or give me death” at the outset the Revolutionary War.

The Virginia State Capitol building, which was designed and built in the 1780’s by Thomas Jefferson in early Republic and Palladian styles, is home to North America’s oldest elected legislative body.

Throw in the fact that you are only a short drive from Jamestown, the oldest permanent English settlement found anywhere in the Americas, and it should be clear that Richmond is the perfect stop for any history fans, no matter how dedicated they may be.

Petersburg, Virginia is unique as far as tourist destinations go, as, while there is very little in the way of traditional tourist hotspots, it is a dream location for anyone interested in the American Civil War.

The Petersburg National Battleground and Pamplin Historical Park feature a huge collection of historic battlegrounds, as well as recreations of traditional homes and camps. There is even a museum boasting artefacts and exhibits dating back to the conflict.

Another, non-Civil War related historic fact about Petersburg is that it is the location of one of the oldest settlements of free black people anywhere in the U.S.

Featuring two of America’s oldest black churches, plus a museum on a vital location on the historic Underground Railroad, and Petersburg becomes an ideal place to discover more about the history and culture of black Americans through the years as well.

The 3rd most populous city in the state of North Carolina, after Charlotte and Raleigh, Greensboro is well known for being a hub of the region’s art and culture scene.

Home to a huge collection of parks, art galleries, museums, theatres, gardens, and stadiums, there is plenty for culture vultures to enjoy.

Throw in the wide range of festivals that Greensboro hosts throughout the year, and it becomes the perfect place to learn more about the style, history, and culture of the city and North Carolina as a whole, no matter when you choose to visit.

Columbia is the capital of South Carolina, as well as its second most populous city, having been surpassed by Charleston in recent years.

The highlight of Columbia is undoubtedly the South Carolina Capitol building. Its stunning Classical Revival style architecture was designed by architect James Hoban for the original State House, before it was destroyed during the 1865 burning of Columbia.

Having been faithfully recreated, with a few more modern additions and adaptations in the late 1800’s, it is the perfect spot to learn more about the evolving style and politics of the state.

Beyond the State Capitol, Columbia is also home to the University Of South Carolina. With a vibrant student culture, this makes the city a nice stop for people seeking a youthful experience on their journey, with plenty of great bars, clubs, and restaurants to enjoy.

Congaree National Park is one of the newest, smallest, and least visited national parks in the country, as well as the only national park in the state. However, it is best described as a hidden gem, and is a destination not to be missed while you are in the area.

Its landscape is made up of beautiful forests along the banks of the Congaree River.

These are then filled with an incredible collection of wildlife that includes armadillos, dogs, bobcats, coyotes, opossums, racoons, river otters, snakes, turkeys, turtles, white tailed deer, pigs, fish, and over 170 species of birds, with at least 8 different types of woodpeckers.

The main attraction of Congaree National Park though is the amazing firefly displays that occur every year from mid-May to early June. With a boardwalk loop that allows you to see everything up close while staying safe, it is a unique attraction not to be missed.

Founded in 1733, Savannah is one of the oldest cities in Georgia, as well as the 5th most populous in the state.

It served as the capital of the Province Of Georgia during British colonial times, as well as the original capital of the state of Georgia when it was admitted to the union.

An important Atlantic seaport, Savannah played a vital role during both the American Civil War and the American Revolution. This makes it a fabulous destination for any fans of American history or southern culture.

The cobblestone streets and historic buildings further add to its historic feel, with locations like the Georgia Historical Society, Georgia State Railway Museum, First African Baptist Church, Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, and Temple Mickve Israel all being located here, just waiting to be explored.

A road trip from New York to Florida is no small feat but is one that can be an exhilarating expedition you remember for years to come if you plan it right.

This article will hopefully have given you all the information you need to plan your perfect travel itinerary for just such a journey.

From beautiful national parks filled with nature to iconic cities and historic towns, a road trip from New York City to Jacksonville has a little bit of something for everyone. Provided you aren’t worried about a bit of driving, it is a trip I would highly recommend everyone take.

All you need to do now is focus on deciding exactly which stops and attractions interest you. That way, you can start looking forward to experiencing everything this incredible route has to offer for yourself, as soon as possible.