15

The drive to Key West is surprisingly boring. I also recommend skipping KW. Although there are some good things about the keys, I find just as many interesting sites in Miami and further north.

16

Thanks for the heads up, from the views I've gathered we've decided to skip Key West.

I have a few more queries. Taking into account the suggestions and our 22 nights schedule:

• reach NY at 08:25, catch 10am flight to Miami, spend 2 nights
• Drive from Miami to Orlando (4 hrs drive) in the morning, spend 3 nights

.
.

• Washington DC - 2 nights
• NYC + Toronto - 5 nights

return flight 11:25

(1) we estimated 4 hours drive from Miami to Orlando according to google maps, but read somewhere that in actual fact the drive can take up to 8 hours. Is there a specific route that should use to avoid heavy traffic (if any)?

(2) we have 10 nights in between Orlando and Washington. We have planned Charleston, Smoky Mountains as it's on the way if we are driving. Is it better to cut short our stay in these areas and visit Boston, Rhode Island instead?

Thanks to longislandbob for the comprehensive schedule.

17

Don't drive through Miami, or on I-95, the Florida Turnpike, US 1, US 1A, or basically any other road in the area.
Traffic can happen. It's just something you'll have to deal with if you run into it.

If you would rather spend your time in cities, sure.

18

We have made revisions to our itinerary taking into account all comments, and seek comments on whether it's feasible (time-factor wise). Thank you very much!

Day 1: Arrive in NY, Fly to Miami at noon
Day 2: Miami
Day 3: Drive from Miami to Orlando (~4 hours)
Day 4: Orlando
Day 5: Orlando
Day 6: Drive from Orlando to Atlanta in the morning (~ 6 hours)
Day 7: Atlanta to Great Smoky Mountains (~ 5 hours)
Day 8: Great Smoky to blue ridge parkway (stop at Roanoke)
Day 9: Roanoke to Washington (~ 4 hours)
Day 10: Washington
Day 11: Washington to Philadelphia (~ 2.5 hours)
Day 12: Philadelphia to Boston (~ 5 hours)
Day 13: Boston
Day 14: Boston to Niagara falls (~ 7 hours)
Day 15: Morning: Niagara falls, Afternoon Toronto
Day 16: Toronto/Buffalo
Day 17: Toronto/Buffalo
Day 18: NYC
Day 19: NYC
Day 20: NYC
Day 21: NYC
Day 22: NYC
Day 23: Depart for home at noon

We might drop off the car at Washington and start taking public transport due to the heavy traffic in Washington as advised.

19

This is all very rushed.
The smokies are not really a place to drop in for half a day then move one. You could, but you'd get just a bit more than from driving by. If that's all the time you can alot, you might consider heading to Asheville instead, though I would make the push and skip Atlanta.
the Smokies to Roanoke along the parkway is a longer drive than you might think. It's a 5 hour drive along the fastest route, which is not the parkway. Along the parkway, it's more like 10-11 hours, and of course, stops (food, restrooms, sights, etc.) are extra.

It would make more sense to go to Niagara and Toronto after DC, then work your way back around the other way.

20

This is all very rushed.
The smokies are not really a place to drop in for half a day then move one. You could, but you'd get just a bit more than from driving by. If that's all the time you can alot, you might consider heading to Asheville instead, though I would make the push and skip Atlanta.
the Smokies to Roanoke along the parkway is a longer drive than you might think. It's a 5 hour drive along the fastest route, which is not the parkway. Along the parkway, it's more like 10-11 hours, and of course, stops (food, restrooms, sights, etc.) are extra.
And the Roanoke to DC leg is also 4 hours via the fastest route. If you take the BRP, and Skyline Drive through Shenandoah, it could take you all day.

It would make more sense to go to Niagara and Toronto after DC, then work your way back around the other way.

Sorry about the duplicate posts. Connection issues.

21

Your itinerary is a nightmare of driving, driving, and more driving. My suggestion is to cut the southernmost part and the extra driving in the north, and avoid the slow going mountain roads:

Orlando (amusement parks, Ocala National Forest -especially juniper spring and salt spring-, Florida state parks), Savannah, Cumberland Island, Charleston, Ayden, NC (for the bbq), Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, Virginia Beach (if you need beach time), DC (monuments at night), Gettysburg, PA, Corning, NY (Corning Glass Museum), Finger Lakes (Hike Watkins Glen and Enfield Glen), Niagara Falls, NYC.

This will give you cities, history, hiking, seaside, swimming, museums, the big falls and finally the Big Apple.