The 8 Best Scenic Drives for Exotic Cars in Miami & South Florida

You didn't buy a Ferrari to sit in traffic on I-95. South Florida has some of the best driving roads on the East Coast — if you know where to look. Most of them aren't in the mountains or winding through canyons. They're coastal. They're flat. And they're spectacular in ways that only subtropical coastline can deliver.

Here are the eight drives every exotic car owner in the Miami area should have on their list, ranked by driving experience.

🥇 1. Overseas Highway — Key Largo to Key West (US-1)

The crown jewel of South Florida driving. 113 miles of road surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The Seven Mile Bridge section alone justifies the trip — an uninterrupted straightaway over open water where your car photographs itself.

Detail	Info
Distance	113 miles (one way)
Drive Time	3.5–4 hours (with stops)
Speed Limit	45–55 mph (strictly enforced)
Best Time	Tuesday–Thursday, depart by 7 AM
Fuel Stop	Marathon (mile marker 50)

Watch out for: Monroe County Sheriff runs radar aggressively on the Overseas Highway. The speed limits drop suddenly entering each Key. Weekends, especially holiday weekends, can turn this into a parking lot — leave early on weekdays only.

🥈 2. Rickenbacker Causeway — Brickell to Key Biscayne

The most accessible great drive from downtown Miami. The causeway rises over Biscayne Bay with the Miami skyline behind you and Virginia Key ahead. It's short — about 5 miles — but the elevation change and water views make it feel cinematic. Sunrise runs are elite.

Pro tip: Continue past Crandon Park to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at the southern tip of Key Biscayne. Park, walk to the lighthouse, and take photos of your car with the Atlantic as the backdrop. It's the most Instagram-worthy spot in Miami for a car shoot.

🥉 3. A1A — Fort Lauderdale Beach to Hillsboro Inlet

This stretch of A1A runs right along the beach through some of the most expensive real estate in Broward County. Millionaire's Row in Fort Lauderdale gives way to the quaint beach town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, then Pompano Beach, and finally the lighthouse at Hillsboro Inlet. The road is smooth, well-maintained, and lined with palm trees.

Detail	Info
Distance	12 miles
Drive Time	25–35 minutes
Speed Limit	30–45 mph
Best Time	Early morning or sunset
Vibe	Relaxed coastal cruising

4. Old Cutler Road — Coral Gables to Cutler Bay

The most underrated drive in Miami-Dade. Old Cutler Road winds through a canopy of banyan trees, past Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Matheson Hammock Park, and Deering Estate. It's shaded, curvy by Miami standards, and feels like you've left the city entirely. The road surface is excellent and traffic is light outside of rush hour.

Distance: About 14 miles from Coral Gables to the southern end. Best done on a Saturday morning before 9 AM.

5. Collins Avenue — South Beach to Bal Harbour

The see-and-be-seen drive. Collins Avenue from South Beach through Mid-Beach, Surfside, and up to Bal Harbour Shops is where Miami's car culture is most visible. You'll see Rolls-Royces double-parked outside restaurants, Lamborghinis at valet stands, and photographers shooting every interesting car that rolls by.

This isn't about speed — it's about the experience. Saturday night on Collins between 8th and 44th is a rolling car show. Windows down, music up, take your time.

6. Tamiami Trail to Shark Valley (US-41)

A completely different experience. Head west from Miami on US-41 into the Everglades. The road is arrow-straight, cutting through sawgrass prairie. Stop at Shark Valley for the observation tower. The contrast between your Italian supercar and the vast emptiness of the Glades is surreal.

Caution: This road is two lanes with no shoulder in many sections. Wildlife (including actual alligators) can be on the road. Speed limit is 55 mph and FHP patrols regularly. Best for GT cars rather than low-slung supercars — the road surface can be rough in spots.

7. MacArthur Causeway — Downtown Miami to South Beach

The bridge that connects downtown Miami to Miami Beach via I-395 and the MacArthur Causeway offers one of the best skyline views in the city. On a clear evening, with the sun setting behind the downtown towers and the cruise ships docked at PortMiami, it's genuinely beautiful. Quick drive — 3 miles — but it's a ritual for many car owners heading to South Beach for dinner.

8. Card Sound Road — Florida City to Key Largo

The "back way" into the Keys. Card Sound Road is a two-lane road through mangrove wilderness with a high bridge over Card Sound that offers panoramic water views. There's a $2.50 toll (cash or SunPass), and the road is virtually empty compared to US-1. It connects to Alabama Jack's, a legendary waterfront bar where you'll see everything from airboats to Aventadors.

Detail	Info
Distance	22 miles
Drive Time	30 minutes
Speed Limit	55 mph
Toll	$2.50 (SunPass accepted)
Vibe	Secluded, old-Florida feel

🗺️ Planning Your Route

A few practical notes for running any of these drives in an exotic:

• Fuel range matters. Some of these routes (especially the Keys) have long stretches without gas stations. Know your range and don't cut it close — running out of gas in a Lamborghini on the Seven Mile Bridge is a tow truck's dream and your nightmare.
• Speed traps are real. Monroe County, Bal Harbour, and Surfside all run aggressive speed enforcement. Waze or a quality radar detector is not optional.
• Ground clearance. Old Cutler Road and Card Sound Road have occasional speed bumps and rough patches. If your car is lowered or has a front lip close to the ground, scout the route first.
• Hydration and sun. If you're driving a convertible or targa in Miami, sunscreen and water are non-negotiable. Dehydration sneaks up on you in open-air cars.

🏁 The Ultimate Miami Exotic Car Day Trip

If you have a full day and want the definitive South Florida driving experience, here's the route:

1. 7:00 AM — Start in Brickell. Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne. Coffee at the Ritz.
2. 8:30 AM — Back over the causeway, south on Old Cutler Road through the banyans.
3. 10:00 AM — Card Sound Road to Key Largo. Stop at Alabama Jack's.
4. 11:00 AM — US-1 south through the Keys. Lunch in Islamorada.
5. 1:00 PM — Seven Mile Bridge. Pull over at the old bridge overlook for photos.
6. 3:00 PM — Turn around at Marathon. Head back via US-1.
7. 6:00 PM — Collins Avenue sunset cruise. Dinner in Bal Harbour.

That's 200+ miles of the best driving South Florida has to offer, and you'll never touch a highway.