New York to Miami —
the American adventure of a lifetime
We spent weeks driving over 4,000 kilometres from New York all the way down to Miami, passing through 14 states and experiencing some of the greatest cities, landscapes, music, food and history that America has to offer. This is our honest account of one of the most extraordinary trips we've ever done.
Watch our highlights video first 🎬
Our Deep South highlights video — New York to Miami through 14 states
14 states visited:
The story
What a trip. What a country.
We'd been planning this trip for a long time and it delivered beyond every expectation. Starting in the buzz of New York City and gradually working our way south through some of the most culturally rich, musically extraordinary and historically significant places in America — it genuinely felt like a different country every few days.
The food, the music, and the people were all wonderful. And as Irish travellers, the warmth we encountered everywhere was something else entirely — everyone we met had a story about their link to Ireland and the craic was ninety.
By the time we reached Miami — mojito in hand, humidity rising, hurricane season officially beginning — we were exhausted, sun-kissed, and absolutely buzzing. Some trips change the way you see a country. This was one of them.
The highlights — the moments that stood out most
The single standout moment of the whole trip. Seeing where Elvis lived, all his memorabilia, his cars, his outfits — and his final resting place. Absolutely fantastic.
A deeply sobering and moving experience — walking past thousands of military graves to reach the Kennedy family burial plot. One of those visits that stays with you.
The home of country music did not disappoint. Live music everywhere, brilliant food, and an energy that's completely infectious. Broadway in Nashville is unmissable.
Voodoo shops, jazz on Bourbon Street, incredible Cajun food, and an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in America. New Orleans is utterly one of a kind.
Glorious views, winding mountain roads, black bears on the roadside, and the brilliant Dolly Parton Stampede dinner show in Gatlinburg. Brilliant craic.
The Kennedy Space Center is jaw-dropping for anyone who grew up watching space launches. The scale of the rockets and the history on display is genuinely awe-inspiring.
Book the Deep South tour we did — through TourRadar
This is the exact tour we did from New York to Miami — and it was one of the greatest trips of our lives.
Booking through TourRadar meant all the logistics were taken care of — accommodation, transport, and the route through all 14 states. That freed us up to actually enjoy every single stop rather than spending our evenings planning the next day. If you want to do the Deep South properly without the stress of organising everything yourself, this is the one.
Disclosure: This is an affiliate link. If you book through it we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is the exact tour we did.
The final stop — Miami
Miami — the perfect end to an epic American adventure
After weeks on the road, arriving in Miami felt like a reward. The heat hits you immediately as you step outside — a wall of warm, humid air that tells you this is somewhere genuinely different to everywhere you've been on the way down.
Miami is electric. South Beach, the Art Deco architecture, the boat-lined waterways, the food scene, the nightlife — it's a city that earns its reputation. We did the open-top bus tour to get our bearings, a boat cruise around Biscayne Bay and the celebrity mansions of Star Island, and then headed out to the Everglades.
And the mojitos. The best mojitos we have ever had anywhere in the world. We stand by that completely.
Miami — our photos
The experience that blew us away
The Everglades — like nowhere else on earth
After 4,000km of American cities and highways, nothing prepared us for the Everglades.
The moment you leave Miami's skyline behind and head into the vast, flat wilderness of the Everglades National Park, you feel like you've entered a completely different world. The sawgrass prairies stretch to the horizon in every direction. The silence — broken only by birdsong and the distant roar of an airboat — is extraordinary after weeks in busy cities.
The airboat ride through the mangroves and waterways is the centrepiece of any Everglades visit. Skimming across the surface of the water at speed, spotting alligators in the grass, herons overhead, turtles on every log — it's one of those experiences that's genuinely hard to put into words. We loved every second of it.
Our Everglades reel — watch this before you book!
Book the Miami bundle we did — Everglades, boat cruise & open-top bus
This brilliant bundle covers all three Miami experiences in one booking — the Everglades airboat tour, a boat cruise around Biscayne Bay and the celebrity mansions, and the open-top bus tour of South Beach and the Art Deco district. The most efficient and brilliant way to do Miami properly in a few days.
Disclosure: If you book through this link we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is the exact bundle we did in Miami.
Common questions
Deep South road trip FAQ
Arlington Cemetery in Washington DC was a close second — a deeply sobering and moving experience that we think about often.
What to pack for the USA
USA packing essentials — what we'd bring
From big cities to road trips and national parks — the USA can mean heat, long days and a lot of walking. These are the things we'd pack without hesitation for a USA trip.
Avoid roaming charges and stay connected for maps, Ubers and bookings. Makes travel around the USA so much easier.
View on Amazon →You’ll be walking a lot — especially in the heat. A reusable water bottle keeps you hydrated and saves money.
View on Amazon →Blisters, headaches, small cuts — when you're out all day, having a basic kit with you just makes sense.
View on Amazon →Perfect for day trips, theme parks and city exploring. Keeps everything organised and hands free.
View on Amazon →Long days out mean your phone battery won’t last. This keeps you going for maps, photos and tickets.
View on Amazon →The USA uses different plugs to Ireland, so don’t get caught out. A universal adaptor covers everything.
View on Amazon →The sun can be intense, especially in places like Vegas, California or Florida. A proper hat makes a big difference.
View on Amazon →Light, breathable and ideal for hot days. Perfect for travelling, walking and staying comfortable in the heat.
View on Amazon →Essential. The sun is strong across most of the USA and you’ll be outdoors a lot more than you think.
View on Amazon →Having everything organised in travel-sized bottles makes airport security and packing so much easier.
Men's → Women's →Especially important in warmer states, near water or in national parks. Stops bites ruining your trip.
View on Amazon →Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These are all things we'd genuinely pack for a USA trip.
Planning your own Miami or Deep South trip?
If you're heading to Miami, start with the Everglades, boat cruise and open-top bus bundle — it covers the very best of the city in one brilliant booking.
Affiliate disclosure: if you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend experiences we've done ourselves and would do again.