Logistics

Question

Very early days of planning... But intend to do the Space centre, the Keys and an Orlando theme park in one trip.

Flying from Manchester UK then hiring car.

Don't mind which order we go or airports we use or where we stay.

Will have about 20 days... Struggling to get my head round the logistics.

Anyone done similar trip can share tips??

Answer

Planning a 20-day Florida trip that includes the Kennedy Space Center, the Florida Keys, and Orlando theme parks is totally doable — and actually a fantastic itinerary — but it helps to break it into logical sections. Florida is big, so choosing the right route saves time and avoids unnecessary backtracking.

Below is a detailed explanation of how to structure your trip, suggested orders that work well, driving times, and tips from people who have done similar multi-stop Florida road trips.

THE THREE MAIN DESTINATIONS YOU’RE COMBINING

Orlando Theme Parks – Disney, Universal, etc. You’ll want 4–7 days depending on how many parks you want.
Kennedy Space Center – Easy day trip from Orlando or 1 overnight on the Space Coast.
The Florida Keys – Usually 3–6 days if going all the way to Key West.

THE BIGGEST LOGISTICAL CHOICES:

Which airports to use
Which direction to travel (north→south or south→north)
How much time to allocate to each region
Whether you want a circular route or a non-round-trip (fly into one airport and out of another)

FLORIDA AIRPORT OPTIONS

Orlando (MCO) – Best for theme parks; huge car-rental hub.
Miami (MIA) – Best for the Keys (closest to Key Largo).
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Cheaper alternative to Miami; also convenient for the Keys.
Tampa (TPA) – Useful backup; good for Gulf Coast add-ons.

REALISTIC DRIVING TIMES

Orlando → Kennedy Space Center: ~1 hour
Orlando → Miami/Fort Lauderdale: 3.5–4.5 hours
Miami → Key Largo: 1 hour
Key Largo → Key West: 2 hours
Orlando → Key West (direct): ~7 hours

Because the Keys are far from Orlando, it’s smart to group your itinerary to reduce unnecessary long drives.

TWO VERY POPULAR ITINERARY ORDERS (20-DAY TRIP)

OPTION A: Fly into Orlando → Space Center → Keys → Fly out of Miami

Days 1–8: Orlando (theme parks, rest days, water parks, shopping)
Day 9: Kennedy Space Center (stay Cocoa Beach or return to Orlando)
Days 10–14: Drive south to the Keys (Key Largo + Key West combo)
Days 15–20: Miami/Fort Lauderdale area (beaches, Everglades, relaxation)
Fly out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale

Why this works well: Shorter drive times, no need to backtrack to Orlando, easy to rent car in Orlando and drop in Miami.

OPTION B: Fly into Miami → Keys → Space Center → Orlando → Fly out of Orlando

Days 1–5: Florida Keys (start the trip with slower tropical days)
Days 6–7: Miami/Fort Lauderdale
Day 8: Drive north → Kennedy Space Center
Days 9–20: Orlando (theme parks spaced between chill/rest days)
Fly out of Orlando

Why this works well: You finish with the theme-park portion, which is the most intense part of the holiday.

OPTION C (ROUND TRIP): Fly in/out of Orlando – but leave the Keys for the middle

Days 1–5: Orlando parks
Day 6: Kennedy Space Center
Days 7–13: Drive to the Keys, stay Key Largo + Key West
Days 14–20: Return to Orlando (rest days + any leftover parks)

Why this works well: Sometimes cheaper flights; works if you want to avoid Miami airports. The downside: two long Orlando–Keys drives.

HOW LONG TO SPEND IN EACH AREA

Orlando theme parks: 5–8 days
Kennedy Space Center: 1 full day
The Keys: 4–6 days
Miami/Fort Lauderdale (if included): 2–4 days

ADDITIONAL KEY TIPS FOR THIS KIND OF TRIP

Choose your theme parks early – Disney and Universal require some planning.
Book Space Center tickets ahead if you want add-ons (behind-the-gates tours).
In the Keys, split your stay between Key Largo (snorkeling, nature) and Key West (vibrant town, sunset vibe).
Accommodation books early, especially in Key West.
Driving the Overseas Highway (Keys) is scenic but slow — plan stops.
Parking in Key West is limited — many people park once and walk everywhere.
Consider jet lag — your first two days in Orlando may feel slow after flying from Manchester.

SAMPLE 20-DAY ITINERARY (VERY SMOOTH FLOW)

Days 1–6: Orlando (theme parks)
Day 7: Kennedy Space Center → overnight Cocoa Beach
Days 8–10: Key Largo
Days 11–14: Key West
Days 15–18: Miami Beach / Everglades
Days 19–20: Orlando or Miami depending on flight

FINAL ADVICE

The key to this trip is choosing your airports first, then building a flow that minimizes long drives. The simplest and most time-efficient version is to fly into Orlando, work your way south, and fly home from Miami. You can absolutely do it all in 20 days without feeling rushed as long as you give the Keys and the parks enough time.