Last updated on February 8th, 2026 at 10:20 am
Whether you visit South Florida or North Florida, there’s a scenic Loop Road that is worth discovering.
It’s confusing. They are six hours apart and both are known locally as just “Loop Road.” Each deserves to be famous, each for its own appeal.
In South Florida, there is the Loop Road through the backcountry of Big Cypress National Preserve near Naples, where you’ll see exquisite cypress trees in Everglades waters.
In North Florida, there is the paved Loop Road near Daytona Beach, a 34-mile double loop that has exquisite Southern live oaks forming a cathedral ceiling over the highway plus unspoiled views of rivers, creeks, marshes, dunes, and beaches.
The Loop Road that goes through the Everglades
South Florida’s Loop Road is famous for being a wild place. (That once applied to the people as well as the animals.) It’s a gravel road in the Everglades and if you’re not in a hurry, it’s a rewarding place to explore.
Loop Road is a 24-mile-long two-lane road that parallels the Tamiami Trail. The eastern seven miles are paved and after that, it’s gravel or dirt. In the summer, parts of the road can be under water.
This is a place to explore when you want to slow down and observe.
On my visits over the years, I’ve seen an alligator lumber onto the road and uncountable more in the waterways along the road. Sometimes the jungly woods are full of wading birds.
You see a few vestiges of the community that once existed here. It was a place for people who liked their solitude and it had a reputation for harboring a wild bar with an interesting clientele.
The prettiest spot is undoubtedly Sweetwater Strand, where deeper water and large cypress trees create a setting photographers find irresistible. At the western end of Loop Road is the Gator Hook area, with a restroom and a trail. Renowned Florida photography Clyde Butcher has taken some iconic photos here. His studio is only a few miles away.
If you’re interested in visiting this Loop Road, read Florida Rambler’s detailed article about stops to make and more background. There’s information in that story about guided tours operated by the nonprofit Big Cypress Institute and a brochure the park service produced for visitors.
The Loop Road that goes through live oak canopies and past unspoiled beaches
In northern Florida, Ormond Scenic Loop Road and Trail offers fantastic diversity in its 34 miles.
Scenery ranges from live-oak canopies to waterfront postcard views of beaches with cinnamon-colored sand. (I know that sounds like the stuff of tourist brochures, but the beaches really do look like they’ve been sprinkled with cinnamon.)
This Loop Road is less remote and yet is decidedly unspoiled. It includes two state parks, several historic sites, many hiking trails and kayaking rivers.
It doesn’t take long to make the drive, but you can easily spend all day at it if you stop along the way — and you should. With its minimal commercial development and its many historic sites, it’s a day in Old Florida.
Along the way, there are several interesting stops. You can tour the historic winter home of John D. Rockefeller known as The Casements on the Halifax River in Ormond Beach.
Even if you’re not a history buff, you’ll want to go a few blocks north of the Ormond Scenic Loop to explore the evocative ruins at Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park.
Like to hike? There are miles of trails at Bulow Creek State Park, which you’ll pass on Loop Road. It’s home to one of the largest remaining stands of southern live oak forest on Florida’s east coast, as well as the magnificent Fairchild Oak, one of the largest and oldest live oak trees in the south. Admission is free.
If you’re interested in visiting this Loop Road, read Florida Rambler’s detailed article about stops along the Ormond Scenic Loop Road.
Each Loop Road can anchor a weekend getaway or longer
South Florida’s Loop Road is close to the end-of-road outpost, Everglades City.
Based here, you can go kayaking in the Everglades, take scenic boat tours of the Ten Thousand Islands and, in season, feast on stone crabs right at the fisherman’s docks.
North Florida’s Loop Road is located in an area north of Daytona Beach with multiple state parks and the most unspoiled section of coastal A1A in the state. It’s also an area with 300 years of history, dating back much earlier than the southern half of Florida.
Other scenic roads in Florida
Florida doesn’t have mountains and there are a lot fewer reasons for the state’s roads to be curvy. Still the state has hilly sections, forested regions and beautiful vistas if you know where to go.
A few favorite drives:
Obviously A1A along the Atlantic Coast is among the most popular. We think this section of A1A is the best in the state.
The Florida Keys Overseas Highway with its many bridges and views is a must-do in South Florida. Our guide helps you plan your drive, mile marker by mile marker.
Big Bend Scenic Byway in the Panhandle winds through an area that sees fewer tourists and offers rustic Old Florida delights at each turn — from black bears to white squirrels.
