College Visit Guides

Drive guide · 2 days, 3 campuses

Miami, FIU and Florida Atlantic in 2 Days: A South Florida College Trip

A parent-first plan for seeing the University of Miami, Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University in two days from one hotel in Coral Gables: Miami and FIU on day 1, then FAU in Boca Raton on day 2 before flying home from Fort Lauderdale. Official tour sign-ups, parking at all three schools, the Venetian Pool and Gumbo Limbo Nature Center for siblings, and South Florida weather by season.

Flagpoles and palm trees around a circular drive at the main entrance to the University of Miami's Coral Gables campus
Main gate, University of Miami, Coral Gables (Mar 2013). Photo: Chad Cooper · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

Schools
University of Miami (Coral Gables) · Florida International University (Miami) · Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton)
Days
2: Miami and FIU on day 1, then Florida Atlantic on day 2. Arrive the evening before.
Fly into
Miami International (MIA), about 20 minutes from Coral Gables with no traffic. Fly home from Fort Lauderdale (FLL), about 37 minutes from FAU.
Best base
Courtyard Miami in Coral Gables by Marriott, about 8 minutes from UM and 18 minutes from FIU by car.
Car or transit
You'll need a car. UM to FIU is about 21 minutes and Coral Gables to FAU about 1 hour 6 minutes, both with no traffic.
Registration
All three schools take visit sign-ups online, and UM and FAU require registration for guided tours.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to compare three very different South Florida schools: the private University of Miami in Coral Gables, and two large public universities, FIU in west Miami and Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton.

UM and FIU are about 21 minutes apart with no traffic, so they share day 1. FAU is about 50 miles north, so it gets day 2 on your way to the Fort Lauderdale airport.

Why this order

  • Day 1: UM pairs a 45-minute information session with a student-led tour of about an hour. FIU's student guides lead a 90-minute walk, or a 40-minute express tour that skips the dorms.
  • Day 2: FAU's tour opens with a 20-minute information session from an admissions counselor, followed by a walking tour; FAU says tours typically last 75 minutes.
  • FAU is about 37 minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport with no traffic, so day 2 ends close to a flight home.
Each campus parks you differently
  • Miami: UM recommends all campus visitors park in the Pavia Parking Garage, 5615 Pavia Street, Coral Gables. Your confirmation email includes parking instructions.
  • FIU: Lot 3 is closest to the Student Academic Success Center (SASC) and has metered parking; Lots 4 and 5 are a short walk away. Pay by phone or by text at FIU's metered lots.
  • Florida Atlantic: park in Lot 18 next to the Student Support Services Building (SU-80). Registered tour guests get a single-use meter code by text and email an hour before the visit, and must register the car at the lot's kiosk.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Summers are hot and very wet: July and August average about 91°F highs at Miami airport, and June and September each bring more than 10 inches of rain.
  • All three schools adjust for weather. UM halts tours when its lightning siren sounds, FIU may shorten or cancel tours in extreme heat or severe weather, and FAU tours go on rain or shine except in lightning.
  • FIU offers no tours during the first week of classes or on university holidays, and UM's admission office is closed on weekends.
  • Winters are mild: January averages about 76°F highs and 61°F lows with under 2 inches of rain, the driest month of the year.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. I-95 between Miami and Boca Raton is often congested, so leave extra time for the drive to FAU.

Arrival evening: fly into Miami and drive to Coral Gables

  1. Miami International Airport (MIA) → Courtyard Miami in Coral Gables (2051 S. Le Jeune Rd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~20 min, 8.4 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive
  • FAU's directions page puts Fort Lauderdale's airport 25 miles from its Boca Raton campus and Miami's 50 miles, so plan to fly home from Fort Lauderdale after day 2.

Day 1: University of Miami in the morning, FIU in the afternoon

  1. Courtyard Coral Gables → UM's Pavia Parking Garage (5615 Pavia St., Coral Gables)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~8 min, 3.2 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive

  2. Pavia Garage → Whitten University Center (Office of Undergraduate Admission, 1306 Stanford Dr.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    Park and walk
    Driving
    ~7 min walk, 0.3 mi

  3. UM → FIU's Student Academic Success Center, Modesto A. Maidique Campus (11200 S.W. 8th St., Miami)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~21 min, 10.1 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive

  4. FIU → Courtyard Coral Gables

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~18 min, 7.8 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive
  • Book a morning information session and campus tour on UM's sign-up page. Registration is required, and the student can bring up to two guests.
  • Your UM confirmation email includes a QR code for check-in, room locations and parking instructions.
  • Book an afternoon tour on FIU's campus tours page, then check in at the campus tours counter in the SASC main lobby.

Day 2: Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, then fly home

  1. Courtyard Coral Gables → Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton campus (777 Glades Rd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 6 min, 49.8 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive

  2. Florida Atlantic → Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~37 min, 25.6 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive

  3. Florida Atlantic → Miami International Airport (MIA)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 13 min, 50.8 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive
  • Book a First-Year Student Campus Tour on FAU's sign-up page. Walk-ins aren't accepted, and FAU suggests checking back for openings because cancellations free up spots.
  • FAU's sign-up page describes the visit as about two hours, with a presentation and walking tour; most tours also visit residence halls, depending on maintenance.
  • Tours begin at the Student Support Services Building (SU-80). From I-95, exit at Glades Road and go east about a mile; FAU is on your left.

3. Campus by campus

Flagpoles and palm trees around a circular drive at the main entrance to the University of Miami's Coral Gables campus
Main gate, University of Miami, Coral Gables (Mar 2013). Photo: Chad Cooper · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

University of Miami (Coral Gables)

Where visits start
  • A 45-minute information session on academics, student life, admission and financial aid is followed by a walking tour of about an hour led by student ambassadors, known as P100s.
  • Registration is required for the student and up to two guests. Parents aren't required to attend but UM highly encourages it.
  • Tours don't go into classrooms or residential areas. If no time works, register for a self-guided walking tour and pick up a map at the admission office, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visitor parking
  • Park in the Pavia Parking Garage, 5615 Pavia Street, Coral Gables. UM recommends it for all campus visitors.
Getting there
  • About 8 minutes from the Courtyard Coral Gables and 21 minutes from FIU with no traffic. UM's campus is about seven miles from downtown Miami.
What to know
  • UM's self-guided booklet covers stops such as the Shalala Student Center, the Rathskeller, the Lowe Art Museum and Lakeside Village, and its students recommend the Gifford Arboretum as a quiet break.
  • Bring walking shoes, sunscreen and a small umbrella, plus a light sweater: UM says the presentation room can get quite cold.
Contact
University of Miami Office of Undergraduate Admission, 1306 Stanford Drive, Suite 1210, Coral Gables, FL 33146; 305-284-6000, admissionevents@miami.edu.

Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UM: Campus visit FAQ · UM: Self-guided walking tour booklet (PDF)

A lake with a fountain ringed by palm trees and white campus buildings at FIU's Modesto A. Maidique Campus under a blue sky
Lake on FIU's Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami (Nov 2014). Photo: Pablo FJ · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Florida International University (FIU, Miami)

Where visits start
  • Student guides take you and up to two guests on a 90-minute walk through the campus. A 40-minute express tour with fewer stops skips the dorms.
  • Tours run on weekdays plus monthly Saturdays, but not during the first week of classes or on university holidays. Pets aren't allowed; service animals are welcome.
  • Check in at the campus tours counter in the main lobby of the Student Academic Success Center (SASC).
Visitor parking
  • Lot 3 is the closest lot to SASC and has metered parking; Lots 4 and 5 are also options if you don't mind a short walk.
  • Visitors pay at metered lots and garages with PayByPhone, or by texting the lot's location code to 727563.
Getting there
  • About 18 minutes from the Courtyard Coral Gables and 20 minutes from Miami International airport with no traffic.
What to know
  • The Modesto A. Maidique Campus covers 342 acres and has been open since 1969; the free Panther Mover shuttle helps you get around.
  • FIU's self-guided map runs 12 stops from SASC to the Academic Health Center Plaza, including the Graham Center with its dining options, the Green Library and the Frost Art Museum.
Contact
FIU campus tours: tours@fiu.edu.

Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: FIU: Self-guided MMC tour map (PDF) · FIU: Visitor parking · FIU: Modesto A. Maidique Campus

Palm-lined walkways and lawns across Alumni Plaza on Florida Atlantic University's Boca Raton campus
Alumni Plaza, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton (Aug 2006). Photo: KnightLago at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton)

Where visits start
  • In-person tours run Monday through Friday and on select Saturdays, and advance registration is required.
  • A 20-minute information session with an admissions counselor comes first, then a walking tour; afterward you can ask the admissions team questions one-on-one.
  • Water isn't provided, so bring a refillable bottle; there are filling stations along the route. Only service animals are allowed.
Visitor parking
  • Park in Lot 18 next to SU-80. Registered tour guests receive a single-use meter code by text and email one hour before the visit; register your car at the lot's kiosk with your license plate.
  • Don't pull through or back into spaces: the rear plate must be visible to FAU's plate readers. Families who park elsewhere pay for their own parking.
Getting there
  • About 1 hour 6 minutes from the Courtyard Coral Gables and 37 minutes from Fort Lauderdale airport with no traffic. Palm Tran Route 94 links campus with the Tri-Rail station at Yamato Road and with Mizner Park, near the Boca Brightline station.
What to know
  • FAU also runs Explore Florida Atlantic, a fall open house, and Discover Florida Atlantic, a mini open house in the summer, on the Boca Raton campus.
Contact
Florida Atlantic Admissions, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431; 561-297-3040, visit@fau.edu.

Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: FAU: First-year visits · FAU: Campus visits FAQ · FAU: Directions and parking

4. Where to stay: two nights in Coral Gables

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

Courtyard Miami in Coral Gables by Marriott

2051 S. Le Jeune Rd., Coral Gables, FL

Why here

  • It's about 8 minutes from UM's Pavia Garage, 18 minutes from FIU and 20 minutes from Miami International airport with no traffic.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Parking and amenities change, so confirm them on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Hampton Inn Boca Raton

1455 Yamato Rd., Boca Raton, FL

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about 9 minutes from FAU but about 1 hour 12 minutes from UM with no traffic, so it suits families who add a night in Boca Raton or visit FAU first.

Good to know

  • Amenities and room types change, so confirm them on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables, Autograph Collection

180 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, FL

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about a 10-minute walk from the Courtyard, 8 minutes from UM and 19 minutes from FIU with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Confirm parking and amenities on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Two nights in Coral Gables put UM about 8 minutes and FIU about 18 minutes away. On day 2, check out and drive north to FAU, then on to the Fort Lauderdale airport.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

Coral Gables (UM)

Eat

Madruga Bakery

Across the street from the UM Coral Gables campus

A UM student in the admission office's self-guided booklet calls it amazing coffee, delicious food and fresh baked goods, across the street from campus.

Details →

FIU campus (Miami)

Eat

Graham Center dining

Ernest R. Graham Center, FIU Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, FL

FIU's self-guided map calls the Graham Center the hub of campus activity, with multiple dining options; the Green Library also has a Starbucks.

Details →

Boca Raton (Florida Atlantic)

Eat

Mario's Osteria

1400 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL

Italian food about 6 minutes from FAU, on the university's Owl About Town dining list.

Details →

Eat

Palm Beach Bagels

1200 Yamato Rd., Boca Raton, FL

Bagels, salads and omelets about 7 minutes from FAU, also on FAU's list and a 6-minute walk from the Hampton Inn Boca Raton.

Details →

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Venetian Pool

2701 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables, FL

A spring-fed public pool open since 1923, with two waterfalls and cave-like grottos, about 3 minutes from the Courtyard. Children must be at least 3 years old and 38 inches tall, and ticket sales stop once it reaches capacity.

Official page →

With siblings

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, FL

Resident sea turtles in outdoor marine aquariums, a boardwalk through coastal forest and a 40-foot observation tower, about 12 minutes from FAU. FAU runs a marine science lab on site, and lists the center on its things-to-do page.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Driving and parking

  • At UM, park in the Pavia Parking Garage. At FIU, use metered Lot 3 by SASC. At FAU, use Lot 18 by SU-80 with the meter code FAU sends registered guests.
  • FAU suggests checking its tour calendar periodically, since cancellations can open spots; it doesn't keep a waiting list.

Flying in and out

  • Miami International (MIA) is about 20 minutes from both the Courtyard Coral Gables and FIU with no traffic.
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is about 37 minutes from FAU, versus about 1 hour 13 minutes back to MIA.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Miami International Airport)

  • Spring: April averages about 84°F highs and 70°F lows, with about 3.4 inches of rain.
  • Summer: July averages about 91°F highs and 78°F lows, with about 7.4 inches of rain.
  • Fall: October averages about 86°F highs and 74°F lows, with about 7.7 inches of rain.
  • Winter: January averages about 76°F highs and 61°F lows, with about 1.8 inches of rain.

Parent checklist

  • Register for all three visits online: UM in the morning and FIU in the afternoon on day 1, then FAU on day 2.
  • Pick weekdays outside university holidays, and avoid FIU's first week of classes.
  • Book two nights in Coral Gables, fly into Miami and plan to fly home from Fort Lauderdale.
  • Pack a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, a small umbrella and a light sweater for UM's cool presentation room.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

3 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (University of Miami, Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: University of Miami (Florida)
  5. University of Miami Athletics (official site)
  6. University of Miami Athletics: Compliance
  7. University of Miami Athletics: Staff Directory
  8. University of Miami Athletics: schedule of events
  9. NCAA Directory: Florida International University
  10. Florida International University Athletics (official site)
  11. Florida International University Athletics: Compliance
  12. Florida International University Athletics: Staff Directory
  13. Florida International University Athletics: schedule of events
  14. NCAA Directory: Florida Atlantic University
  15. Florida Atlantic University Athletics (official site)
  16. Florida Atlantic University Athletics: Compliance
  17. Florida Atlantic University Athletics: Staff Directory
  18. Florida Atlantic University Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

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Sources

All checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. FIU Admissions: Campus tours (official sign-up)
  2. FIU Admissions: MMC self-guided tour map (PDF)
  3. FIU Parking and Transportation: Visitor parking
  4. FIU: Modesto A. Maidique Campus
  5. University of Miami: Campus visit registration (official sign-up)
  6. University of Miami Undergraduate Admission: Campus visit FAQ
  7. University of Miami Undergraduate Admission: Self-guided walking tour booklet (PDF)
  8. Florida Atlantic University: Visit our campuses
  9. Florida Atlantic University: First-year student visits
  10. Florida Atlantic University: First-year Boca Raton campus tour (official sign-up)
  11. Florida Atlantic University Admissions: Campus visits FAQ
  12. Florida Atlantic University: Directions and parking
  13. Florida Atlantic University Owl About Town: Where to eat
  14. Florida Atlantic University Owl About Town: What to do
  15. City of Boca Raton: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
  16. City of Coral Gables: Venetian Pool
  17. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  18. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  19. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  20. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Miami International Airport, FL (USW00012839)
  21. Expedia listing: Courtyard Miami in Coral Gables by Marriott (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Miami-Hotels-Courtyard-Miami-In-Coral-Gables-By-Marriott.h20748.Hotel-Information)
  22. Expedia listing: Hampton Inn Boca Raton (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Boca-Raton-Hotels-Hampton-Inn-Boca-Raton.h59744.Hotel-Information)
  23. Expedia listing: Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables, Autograph Collection (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Miami-Hotels-Hotel-Colonnade-Coral-Gables.h1052.Hotel-Information)