Forget The Florida Keys! This Bahamian Island Is The New Easiest Weekend Trip From The U.S.

For that fast weekend escape, many people routinely consider a highway journey to the Florida Keys. It’s a traditional for a cause, however the drive down the Abroad Freeway can usually really feel extra like a visitors jam than a tropical getaway. Right here at Travel Off Path, we’re at all times looking out for a greater, simpler method to get to paradise, and we’ve discovered a game-changer.

Think about swapping that lengthy automobile trip for a flight that’s barely lengthy sufficient to complete your drink. That is the brand new actuality for reaching Bimini, the closest Bahamian island to the U.S. coast. It is time to rethink your weekend plans.

The 30-Minute Hop to Paradise ✈️

The largest headache of a Keys journey is the journey time itself. Relying on the place you’re coming from in Florida, you may be a 3-4 hour drive simply from Miami to Key West, and that’s with out the inevitable visitors. It’s a trek that may eat up an enormous chunk of your valuable weekend.

However now, there is a smarter possibility. As we not too long ago lined, American Airlines is launching the only direct U.S. flight to Bimini, a surprising Caribbean island that’s a mere 50 miles off the coast of Miami. Beginning in February 2026, you may hop on a aircraft at Miami Worldwide (MIA) and be on the bottom in Bimini (BIM) in about an hour—although the precise flight time is nearer to half-hour.

This new route fully adjustments the sport for weekend journey. You possibly can depart work on a Friday afternoon and be sipping a cocktail on a white-sand seaside earlier than sundown. It’s a world journey that’s faster and extra hassle-free than a home highway journey.

Genuine Island Attraction Over Vacationer Traps

Whereas the Keys have their allure, some areas have change into closely commercialized. Bimini, alternatively, provides a extra laid-back and genuine Bahamian expertise. It’s a spot the place you may hire a golf cart to discover colourful native spots like Fisherman’s Village and eat contemporary conch salad from a roadside shack.

Bimini is definitely a series of islands, with North Bimini and South Bimini being the principle hubs. North Bimini is the place you’ll discover the bustling Alice City, legendary fishing golf equipment, and exquisite stretches of sand like Radio Seaside. South Bimini, the place the airport is positioned, is even quieter, providing a extra serene and secluded vibe.

This isn’t to say there’s nothing to do. You possibly can dive to see the mysterious Bimini Street formation, swim with wild dolphins, or go big-game fishing in waters that Ernest Hemingway as soon as frequented. It’s an adventurous but stress-free escape that feels a world away from the crowded bars of Duval Road.

World-Class Resorts With out the Crowds

Discovering a last-minute, high-quality place to remain within the Keys is usually a problem, to not point out costly. Bimini is seeing main new developments which can be elevating its standing as a top-tier vacation spot.

The island is residence to spectacular resorts like Resorts World Bimini, which provides an enormous lagoon-style pool, a on line casino, and a personal seaside membership that rivals something you’d discover within the Caribbean. Plus, with the brand new Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences on the way in which, the luxurious choices are solely getting higher.

These developments, mixed with an $80 million overhaul of the South Bimini airport, sign that the island is prepared for a brand new wave of vacationers who’re in search of an elevated expertise. For now, it stays a kind of improbable locations that also looks like a well-kept secret. Whereas different Caribbean islands are surging in popularity, Bimini provides a novel mix of comfort and discovery.

Earlier than you e book, you’ll want to examine the newest Bahamas entry requirements to make sure a easy journey. For a fast, straightforward, and actually beautiful weekend getaway, it is time to look past the standard and set your sights on Bimini.