Day-by-day itinerary
| Day | Date | Plan and overnight base | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Oct 25 | DC → Chapel Hill. Explore UNC campus and Franklin Street. Chapel Hill | 4.5–5 hr |
| 2 | Mon, Oct 26 | Chapel Hill → Savannah. Evening in the historic district. Savannah | 5.5–6 hr |
| 3 | Tue, Oct 27 | Savannah: Forsyth Park, Bonaventure Cemetery, riverfront, optional Tybee Island shorebirds. Savannah | Local |
| 4 | Wed, Oct 28 | Savannah → Sarasota. Dinner near St. Armands Circle. Sarasota | 5.5–6.5 hr |
| 5 | Thu, Oct 29 | Sunrise at Celery Fields, afternoon at Myakka River State Park. Sarasota | 1–2 hr local |
| 6 | Fri, Oct 30 | Fort De Soto shorebird photography, then drive to Fort Myers. Fort Myers | 3–4 hr total |
| 7 | Sat, Oct 31 | Ding Darling on Sanibel, then Corkscrew Swamp. Naples | 2–3 hr |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | Naples → Shark Valley, Everglades. Homestead | 3–4 hr |
| 9 | Mon, Nov 2 | Anhinga Trail and Royal Palm area at sunrise, then Boca Raton. Boca Raton | 2.5–3.5 hr |
| 10 | Tue, Nov 3 | Wakodahatchee Wetlands and Green Cay Wetlands, Boca sightseeing. Boca Raton | Local |
| 11 | Wed, Nov 4 | Boca Raton → Orlando. Afternoon sightseeing. Orlando | 3–3.5 hr |
| 12 | Thu, Nov 5 | Orlando attractions, gardens, Winter Park, or a flexible rest day. Orlando | Local |
| 13 | Fri, Nov 6 | Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive at 7 AM; afternoon drive to Titusville. Titusville | 2–3 hr plus wildlife drive |
| 14 | Sat, Nov 7 | Merritt Island sunrise photography; afternoon to St. Augustine. St. Augustine | 2–2.5 hr |
| 15 | Sun, Nov 8 | St. Augustine historic district, then Beaufort, SC. Beaufort | 3.5–4 hr |
| 16 | Mon, Nov 9 | Beaufort and Hunting Island; afternoon to Wilmington. Wilmington | 4–4.5 hr |
| 17 | Tue, Nov 10 | Wilmington riverfront and nearby coastal birding. Wilmington | Local |
| 18 | Wed, Nov 11 | Wilmington → Pea Island / Nags Head. Sunset bird photography. Nags Head | 4.5–5.5 hr |
| 19 | Thu, Nov 12 | Outer Banks sunrise, return to Washington. Home | 5–5.5 hr |
Total estimated driving: Roughly 3,100–3,400 miles, including local detours. Budget approximately 55–65 hours behind the wheel.
The two longest days are Chapel Hill to Savannah and Savannah to Sarasota. They are manageable but leave little time for stops.
Photography priorities
November 3: Wakodahatchee Wetlands
Delray Beach • Best window: 7–10 AM
High probability of close views of herons, egrets, anhingas, and other wetland birds. The 0.75-mile boardwalk is free and opens at 6 AM.
Wakodahatchee-Wetlands
November 6: Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
Apopka • Best window: 7–11 AM
Purple gallinules, limpkins, raptors, and alligators. The 11-mile drive is open Friday through Sunday, 7 AM–3 PM for entry. Your Friday visit is deliberately scheduled around this restriction.
SJRWMD
November 2: Anhinga Trail
Royal Palm • Best window: Sunrise–10 AM
A short, accessible trail with opportunities for anhingas, herons, and alligators. This is one of the strongest close-up wildlife locations on your route.
November 7: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Titusville • Best window: Sunrise–10 AM
Black Point Wildlife Drive offers roadside photography of waterbirds and raptors. A refuge pass is required, and NASA launches can occasionally restrict access.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
For your Sony wildlife equipment, I’d use the 100–400 mm for boardwalks with nearby birds and the 400–800 mm for more distant shorebirds and wetland subjects. A beanbag or window support is useful on the wildlife drives.
Recommended overnight locations
These are the areas I would target for hotels. Prices and room availability have not been checked.
| Destination | Best area to stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill | Franklin Street | Walkable restaurants and university |
| Savannah | Historic District | Walk to squares and riverfront |
| Sarasota | Downtown or Lido Key | Dining, beaches, central access |
| Fort Myers | Near Sanibel Causeway | Early refuge access |
| Naples | North Naples | Convenient for Corkscrew and Tamiami Trail |
| Homestead | Near Everglades entrance | Sunrise access to Anhinga Trail |
| Boca Raton | Downtown or Mizner Park | Restaurants, close to Delray |
| Orlando | Winter Park | More charming and walkable than the theme park corridor |
| Titusville | Indian River waterfront | Close to Merritt Island |
| St. Augustine | Historic District | Evening walking and photography |
| Beaufort | Historic waterfront | Restaurants and coastal scenery |
| Wilmington | Downtown riverfront | Easy sightseeing |
| Nags Head | Oceanfront | Sunrise photography |
Important logistics and adjustments
- October 31, Ding Darling: Saturday is ideal because Wildlife Drive is closed Fridays.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- October 31, Corkscrew: The sanctuary currently closes at 1 PM, so doing both Ding Darling and Corkscrew thoroughly on the same day is too ambitious. I would prioritize Ding Darling, then visit Corkscrew at 8 AM on November 1 before continuing toward the Everglades.
Audubon
- November 1: Daylight saving time ends. Sunrise comes earlier by the clock.
- November 11, Pea Island: A recent refuge notice reports an October 17 visitor-center closure associated with a state of emergency and evacuation. Check Highway 12 and refuge access before committing to the Outer Banks detour.
- Weather: Hurricane season officially continues through November 30. Keep the Outer Banks night flexible until conditions are clearer.
My recommended adjustments
I would make two refinements before booking.
First, consider dropping the Wilmington overnight on November 10 and using that day for an additional night in the Everglades or Boca Raton. That would give you a second morning at a prime photography location.
Second, the current itinerary includes both Shark Valley and Anhinga Trail, which are in different parts of Everglades National Park. You should treat them as separate excursions, with sufficient driving time.
