With its world-renowned theme parks, beautiful year-round beaches, diverse natural landscapes, unique wildlife encounters, and vibrant cultural experiences, Florida is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. In 2024 alone, 143 million visitors traveled to the Sunshine State. As native Floridians, we are thrilled that so many want to explore all that our home state has to offer, but we also have noticed that tourists tend to make several common mistakes that can really put a damper on their vacation plans. We want everyone’s trips to go as smoothly as possible, so below we share some common mistakes to avoid when visiting Florida so you can enjoy your time spent in the Sunshine State.
Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. All opinions are our own.
1.) UNDERESTIMATING THE WEATHER
Florida has a subtropical to tropical climate, which means high humidity and temperatures, daily thunderstorms during the wet season, and vulnerability to tropical storms. Even though it is nicknamed the Sunshine State, Florida isn’t just sunshine all the time. Don’t get me wrong–Florida does boast some glorious weather, but the weather can change quickly and go from sunshine to volatile storms in an instant, so it’s important to be prepared.
The rainy season in Florida begins in May and usually lasts about five months. During this time, afternoon thunderstorms are frequent and can occur with little warning. We recommend packing ponchos and/or travel umbrellas and carrying them with you during excursions, such as a trip to the theme park, even if the sky is sunny when you arrive. Even though these items will take up some space in your suitcase, try to find a good travel-sized one and bring it with you, or purchase a cheap one when you arrive. If you wait until you are caught in the storm, you may be stuck having to pay higher prices for whatever is available at your location.
We also recommend practicing lightning safety when visiting Florida. Florida is known as the Lightning Capital of the United States as it receives approximately 1.2 million lightning strikes a year. Although a person being struck by lightning is rare, you should always practice safety tips when in a storm. Remember that lightning can travel 10-15 miles from a storm, so if you can hear thunder, you can be struck, even if it looks like the storm is far away. Seek shelter immediately when you hear thunder, refrain from using electronics while inside, and wait at least thirty minutes after you last hear thunder to resume your outdoor activities. For more information, you can read our article about lightning safety here.
If you will be traveling to Florida during hurricane season (June-November), we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance and booking accommodations (and flights, if applicable) with flexible cancellation policies. Hopefully a hurricane will not impact your travel plans, but keeping an eye on the forecasts and being as prepared and flexible as possible with your itinerary can significantly reduce the stress of traveling during this season. For more tips, see our article about traveling to Florida during hurricane season here.
2.) SKIPPING HYDRATION AND SUN PROTECTION
Florida’s proximity to the equator makes the sun particularly strong, and failing to properly protect yourself can lead to nasty sunburns, which are not only painful but increase the risk for skin cancer in the future. To protect your skin, always apply sunscreen with at least 30 SPF and reapply every two hours, or even more frequently if you are swimming or sweating a lot. We recommend using a mineral based, reef safe sunscreen such as Blue Lizard, especially if you will be swimming in the ocean. Reef safe sunscreens do not contain chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate that damage coral reefs. UV rays are strongest during the hours of 10am-4pm and can penetrate cloud cover, so even if it is cloudy, you should still apply sunscreen. Consider also wearing a hat to protect the top of your head.
Also, due to the high heat and humidity, make sure you carry water with you everywhere and stay hydrated. Especially during the summer months, the feels-like temperature can get upwards of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and dehydration can sneak up on you. Seek shade when possible to take a break from the sun, and regularly drink water. We recommend this Life Straw insulated water bottle because the filter removes chlorine and contaminants, so you can fill up anywhere, such as water fountains or sinks, and have fresh tasting water. This saves you money and also reduces plastic waste.
3.) WEARING THE WRONG CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR
The good news about packing for Florida is that you likely will not need any heavy fabrics or bulky jackets. Although cold fronts are possible during the winter months, unless the forecast predicts chilly weather, we recommend sticking with lightweight, breathable clothing like shorts, t-shirts, breezy blouses, and sundresses made from fabrics like linen or cotton. These options will allow you to stay comfortable in the heat and humidity. If there is a chance of cooler weather, particularly in the evenings, packing light layers will give you the flexibility to adjust if the temperature fluctuates.
If you will be doing a lot of walking, make sure to pack comfortable walking shoes. Also, if they are new shoes, make sure to wear them and break them in before your trip. Whether you’re strolling the streets of St. Augustine or visiting a theme park, you can easily walk over 10,000 steps a day on vacation, so having supportive, good quality walking shoes will save you from sore feet and blisters.
If you plan to hike, be advised that after hard rains the ground in Florida can be very soft and muddy, and there may even be standing water, so hiking shoes are a good choice. For beach trips, flip flops will be comfortable and versatile. I love Reef’s Water Court Beach Flip Flops. They are not only comfortable enough to wear all day, but they’re also easy to rinse off, which makes them perfect for a beach day.
4.) NOT BUDGETING FOR TOLLS
Florida has an extensive toll road system, especially around Orlando and Miami. Make sure to map out your itinerary ahead of time to see if you will need to use toll roads and plan ahead, especially if you will be using a rental car. Failing to inquire about toll options when renting a car could cost extra time and money. If you will be using tolls, you can use this SunPass Toll Calculator to estimate your toll cost ahead of time.
5.) OVERPACKING YOUR ITINERARY
Florida is a large state. Not including the Panhandle, the state stretches 447 miles from north to south (approximately from the St. Mary’s River to Key West). It takes four hours just to drive from Orlando to Miami, and at least seven to drive from Jacksonville to the beginning of the Keys! The good news is that Florida offers endless things to do. The bad news is that due to its size, it may be easy to overpack your itinerary, which can lead to stress and frustration if you don’t have time to enjoy everything you planned. Trying to fit Disney World, beaches, the Everglades, and the Keys into one week would be overwhelming.
If you are staying one week or less, we recommend choosing a region of Florida and exploring it fully for a more enjoyable trip. If you want to enjoy the theme parks, Central Florida has plenty of other activities to appreciate, from state parks and springs to botanical gardens and zoos. In South Florida, you could easily spend a week exploring the Everglades, the Keys, and all the museums, beaches, and cultural activities around Miami and Naples. Each region of Florida is unique and has its own hidden gems, so if your time is limited, we advise choosing an area to explore and not trying to fit too much into your itinerary.
6.) SKIPPING LOCAL EXPERIENCES
We are big proponents of trying to venture out of touristy areas and really get to know a location when we travel. Florida has world-class theme parks and spectacular beaches, but the Sunshine State also offers so much more. We recommend trying to find time during your trip to encounter the real Florida: hike at a state park, kayak one of our stunning springs, shop at locally owned businesses, and eat local cuisine. Florida has a rich history and unique geography and wildlife. Our state is so much more than the way it is often portrayed in memes, and we encourage you to venture outside the touristy areas and experience the authentic Florida.
7.) NOT PREPARING FOR BUGS AND WILDLIFE
If you plan to spend time outdoors, particularly in a natural environment, be prepared for mosquitoes and other biting insects. Mosquitoes are present year-round, although their activity varies by region and season and peaks during the warmer, wetter months. We recommend always applying insect repellant before hiking or doing other outdoor activities. Wearing protective clothing can be helpful as well.
Florida is also home to a diverse array of wildlife, so it is important to practice wildlife safety when exploring the Sunshine State. Please do not approach, touch, or feed any wild animal. Doing so can be harmful to the animal as well as dangerous for you, so please only enjoy observing the wildlife from a safe distance. Some animals–such as gopher tortoises, manatees, and sea turtles–are protected under Florida law, and feeding, touching or interacting with them is considered harassment and can lead to fines or even prison time for severe cases.
Always be sure to stay at least 75 feet away from alligators and other predators. Florida has over a million alligators, so assume they are present in any body of fresh water, even small ponds. Alligator attacks on people are rare but they do happen, so never approach or feed an alligator, and only swim in designated areas at lakes and springs and never around dawn or dusk, as this is when alligators are most likely to hunt. Also, never walk pets by bodies of fresh water or let them swim in ponds, lakes, or rivers. For more information about these large reptiles, check out our article about alligators and crocodiles in Florida here.
8.) TRAVELING DURING PEAK SEASONS
We understand that sometimes you don’t have many options when it comes to when you can take a vacation, but if you’re able to, we recommend traveling to Florida during the shoulder or “off-peak” seasons of fall or spring. The peak seasons of summer and winter bring larger crowds and higher prices, and summer also has the added unpleasantness of high temperatures and wet weather.
Fall and spring bring more moderate temperatures, lower humidity, fewer crowds, and lower prices for accommodations and attractions. May (excluding Memorial Day weekend) and September are the cheapest months to visit Florida and a great time to score deals. We especially love Florida in the fall because there are plenty of fun cultural festivals. Autumn is also dry season, which means wildlife is easier to spot, and hundreds of birds migrate to Florida during this time as well.
Florida is a fantastic location and a vacation here can be unforgettable–but we want your vacation to be memorable for everything that went right, not everything that went wrong! We hope these tips for mistakes to avoid when visiting Florida help you plan an enjoyable and meaningful trip to the Sunshine State.
What travel tips or mistakes to avoid would you add? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Sarah
I am the main writer and website designer for Florida Unveiled. I love the parts of Florida visitors don’t often see: the tea-colored water that flows in cypress-laden rivers; the chorus of frogs after a hard rain; the rustle of palmetto as an unseen creature scampers by. Some of my favorite places in Florida are the Everglades, the Keys, Smyrna Dunes Park, Bok Tower Gardens, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and St. Augustine’s Historic District.
