Taking a road trip is the best way to genuinely get to discover Florida beyond its typical tourist attractions. No matter your idea of fun, you can choose a route that meets your needs because of the state’s vast length, which offers a wide range of options. Are you set for a road trip in Florida? I have discussed the best Florida road trip ideas to suit every interest and taste. Although most people visit Florida for a pleasant beach vacation, the Sunshine State offers much more.
This Florida road travel guide will highlight breathtaking drives, abundant wildlife, natural springs, fantastic restaurants, and beautiful beaches. Because few tourists know that Florida is home to some of the nation’s most impressive natural wonders, let’s explore some of Florida’s more picturesque and lesser-known travel spots.
1. Blue Spring State Park to Weeki Wachee Springs
Taking a road trip to witness the glistening natural springs of Florida? Yeah, please! This Florida road trip itinerary will have you excited, especially if you’re a blue water lover. You’ll go from Blue Springs State Park to Crystal River on this fantastic road trip in Florida, stopping along the route at several natural springs. These natural springs and freshwater lakes are a good family spot. The Blue Springs State Park has year-round 72° water perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and diving, so start there. You’ll be wowed by the fabulous pool setting and excellent water views here.
In addition, the favorable temperatures of the water here attract manatees. So if you go this route in the winter, you may also get in a kayak and look for them. After that, travel to Gainesville, an ideal starting point for exploring many crystalline springs.
There are several choices of blue water, all of which are equally stunning. These include Ichetucknee Springs, Ginnie Springs, Otter Springs, and Alexander Springs. Another option is to travel nine miles to Devil’s Millhopper State Park. It is a fantastic location featuring a 120-foot sinkhole home to a small rainforest!
Next, proceed to Rainbow Springs, where you’ll find pure water surrounded by thick foliage that will give you the impression that you’re in a tropical paradise. Your last destination after seeing Rainbow Springs is the Weeki Wachee Springs. Finally, but just as importantly, Weeki Wachee State Park has a live mermaid show with a fun mermaid theme, making it a well-known attraction for many years!
2. Fort Myers to Palatka
This wonderful 6.5-hour road trip itinerary in Florida takes you through state parks, freshwater lakes, and various sites via low-traffic inland routes. Notable stops along the Florida road include Orlando Theme Parks, Times Square, and Silver Springs State Park. The picturesque cross-country trip pleases families looking for a leisurely ride.
For a low-cost stay, there are many charming, welcoming towns to select from. After taking a trip down the seven miles of Fort Myers Beach, don’t forget to stop by an ice cream cone shop and enjoy a stroll down the bustling pier. Alternatively, head to the pedestrian Times Square, lined with picnic tables and amazing food vendors. The food culture here is quite fascinating as you’ll see in their fantastic restaurants. Lake Okeechobee is located to the northeast and offers more than 100 miles of hiking paths for you to explore or go fishing.
Not to mention Orlando’s other theme parks, it will take a day trip to get to Walt Disney World via Osceola and Highland Hammock State Park further north. The Walt Disney World is a fun place to be. Silver Springs State Park has a large estate, a lake, natural paths, a museum, picnic spaces (with picnic tables), and glass-bottom boats. There are also boat operators who can be easily guide you at the boat dock.
There are plenty of bed & breakfast (places to stay) options in Palatka. It is a tiny historic town with 10,000 residents. It is just an hour drive to the north and charming towns. Before bed, you can explore the Riverfront Park and Lightner Museum, go to a local tavern for craft beer, and enjoy the beach town, beautiful Atlantic beaches, and abundant wildlife at Ravine Gardens State Park. Enjoy yourself and take in the stunning ocean views. From here, a short day excursion takes you to St. Augustine!
3. Jacksonville Beaches to St.Augustine
One of the most enjoyable Florida road trip routes in the Sunshine State is to start at the Florida Georgia Line, head south from Jacksonville’s fantastic beaches to St. Augustine, and make stops at Amelia Island.
The first stop on the route to Amelia Island from I-95 is the charming historic town of Fernandina, which has a vibrant downtown full of art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and gift shops. Art lovers will definitely enjoy the art galleries. You can also check out Fernandina Beach. It’s the ideal location for leisurely exploration and a delicious breakfast and lunch. Check over the menus and give a lot of these great places a try.
The Salty Pelican serves local seafood dishes and is a popular restaurant. There are also fantastic restaurants where you can try out new foods. You’ll amazed by the amazing food culture here. Spend the evening at Fernandina to take in the amazing sunset views, stroll along the shore, and discover Fort Clinch State Park. Discover the fantastic beaches and coastline of Northern Florida by taking a drive down the A1A along Amelia Island. It is a terrific opportunity to see the stunning beaches and coastline in Northern Florida.
Before arriving in St. Augustine, known as the Oldest City in America, you travel by all of the beautiful beaches close to Jacksonville, such as Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Ponte Vedra Beach. You’ll be amazed at the stunning ocean views at these fantastic beaches.
4. Miami to Key West
One of the most captivating road trips in Florida is the journey from Miami to Key West. You will enjoy palm trees, fantastic beaches, abundant wildlife, historical monuments, and fantastic state parks along the way as you travel from bustling Miami to the magnificent Florida Keys. As you travel south throughout this portion of the Sunshine State, you will see something worthwhile at every turn.
Start your journey in Miami, where you may take advantage of the city’s well-known restaurants, retail establishments, and favorite beaches. Wynwood walls bring all the fun as it is an intriguing artistic spot. You may go hiking, bicycling, kayaking, or even go to the Everglades to go alligator hunting if you’re itching for some outdoor action at Oleta River State Park. Moreover, Everglades National Park contains abundant wildlife to feed your eyes.
As you travel from the mainland to the Keys on Highway 1, you’ll encounter a lot of sights along the way, giving you plenty of excuses to stop and stretch your legs. Drive by stunning beaches and unusual state parks, such as Bahia Honda State Park, the undersea John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Rain Barrel Artisan Village, Turtle Hospital, Dolphin Research Center, and many more!
5. Highway 98
Any kind of group setting will enjoy this romantic road trip itinerary in Florida. Still, couples will find it incredibly alluring because of the stunning views, overlooks, and fun places to stop to strengthen relationships, such as the Okaloosa Boardwalk and the Okaloosa Fishing Pier. It is such a great romantic getaway for lovers.
Families enjoy Big Kahuna Water Park and Gulfarium Adventure Park. However, those seeking a change of atmosphere can visit Grayton State Park and Topsail Hill State Park. Its fabulous pool setting will leave your family in awe!
History lovers will love the historic town, Stone Memorial State Park, and the Constitution Convention Museum!
The 176 miles of road travel takes about 4 hours and not an hour drive to complete from beginning to end, but you don’t have to! Once you leave Pensacola, Highway 98 leads you eastward past several charming Gulf Coast coastal communities. Before continuing, you can stop to refresh and have coffee breaks while taking in the stunning views of Destin. Also, enjoy Gulf Breeze and Rosemary Beach, which have delightfully enticing sea breezes. You’ll also enjoy the stunning ocean views from these fantastic beaches.
Stretching out the sights and enjoying quality time with loved ones over a long weekend is the ideal way to take in the coastal atmosphere, relax on the sand, and swim at some stunning beaches with azure waters. The excellent water views here will leave you in awe! Rosemary Beach and Panama City Beach have excellent dining options, breathtaking and amazing sunset views, and quiet nature walks for a refreshing dip!
6. Gainesville Springs
One of our favorite road trips in Florida is this one through Gainesville Springs! Hikers, snorkelers, divers, and swimmers will love Gainesville’s serene state national parks and picturesque pathways. Blue Spring State Park is a great place to start your journey from Orlando. Proceed to US 17 N on I-4.
This is an excellent location to watch manatees in the winter when they gather around the consistently warm 72° springs rising from below. It’s a great family spot. Swimming with them here is unsafe, but you can kayak close to them. Take FL 40 north from Blue Spring to Gainesville, where you’ll make your base and spend a few days touring.
Hike Devil’s Millhopper State Park, Paynes Prairie State Park, and San Felasco during the day. After here, you’ll spend a few days in either High Springs or Alachua. Although there aren’t many motels in High Springs, there are a few options in Alachua. It’s the ideal starting point to explore O’Leno State National Park, Gilchrist Blue Springs, Ginnie Springs, Rum Island Springs, and Ichetucknee Springs.
7. Tampa to Naples
If your goal is to explore the Gulf region of the Sunshine State, this trip from Tampa to Naples is a great choice (especially if you enjoy the beach!). Also, don’t forget your essential road trip checklist. You may be shocked to learn that this region offers a wide range of cultural activities in addition to beaches and aquatic enjoyment! St. Pete’s Beach, regarded as one of the most stunning beaches in the nation, is an unavoidable stop after touring Tampa.
You can reach Egmont Key State Park, a good family spot and abundant wildlife refuge well-known for its excellent snorkeling from St. Pete’s. Sarasota’s historical and artistic attractions and Siesta Key’s gorgeous beaches are worth visiting. These favorite beaches offer stunning ocean views. Visit Venice Beach, Punta Gorda, and Caspersen Beach for some serious fun in the sun. If you want to discover more about the area’s prehistoric past before wrapping up your Florida road trip in Naples, visit the nearby Mound House, which has archeological exhibits.
8. Augustine to Coral Castle
A visit to Villa Zorayda, built in 1883 by a Bostonian millionaire as a re-creation of a Moorish palace from the 12th century, is one way to experience three of the castles located in St. Augustine. The Moorish Castle Warden, built in 1887, has a hotel where Robert S. Ripley once slept while keeping his collection of oddities in the Believe It or Not museum.
Castle Ottis is an excellent example of a millennium-old Irish castle built in the terrain with a structure resembling Jesus Christ by two unmarried men for free. You can have a beach day in Daytona or stroll to get some fresh air and culture while you’re in Melbourne by following the coast. Besides, Daytona Beach is a great family spot and romantic getaway. Reaching the southernmost point of Florida, Fort Lauderdale boasts excellent dining options from its coastline, Port St. Lucie, to West Palm Beach.
Retracing your route along the magnificent A1A highway in Florida, you will reach Solomon’s Castle It is a three-story mansion in the middle of the marshy Central Florida. The electronic works designed by architect Howard Solomon are showcased in this rugged roadside attraction coated in aluminum printing plates. You may now take a ride to Orlando before heading back!
9. Tallahassee to Pensacola
If you’re traveling from Tallahassee to Pensacola, you have two options: take the picturesque route down the coast for one of the best road trips in Florida or take I-10 for two hundred miles of boring highway driving. Tate’s Hell State Forest is a fun place to travel, and purists will point you toward Highway 98, also known as the Big Bend Scenic Byway.
Taking FL 20 is an excellent alternative. Villages like Hosford and Bristol, which contribute to preserving their Floribama roots, will be covered. Although the roads adorned with pine trees have a rustic appeal of their own, Panama City Beach is the highlight of this trip. It’s a great family spot.
Arrive in PCB early enough to enjoy Shell Island and St. Andrews State Park. It is the most popular national park in Florida. Get some island-style food and a fantastic cup of coffee at Finns before heading into the national park. Go next door to Mr. Surf’s to see visual proof of giant waves on the Gulf while you’re there.
It’s best to watch bottlenose dolphins by boat rentals in St Andrew’s Bay. It is home to the world’s greatest population of these animals. You’ll find boat operators there, so no need to worry. Choose one that passes by the stunning island of Shell. Enjoy a romantic getaway at Panama City Beach by staying overnight. You’ll enjoy the stunning ocean views at this place. Don’t miss out on the best she-crab soup in the state for supper at Firefly.
10. Chipley to Rainbow Springs State Park
Chipley to Rainbow Springs is a favorite Florida road trip and romantic getaway among many people. It’s common to view Florida’s impressive waterfalls from above rather than below because many of them were created by sinkholes! There are some excellent road trips in Florida you should take to study this unusual natural phenomenon if you’re eager to do so. Enter Chipley Falling Waters State Park to begin your drive. Here, Florida’s tallest waterfalls, reaching a height of 73 feet, plunge to the earth.
Then, proceed to nearby Bristol to view Torreya State Park’s falls, which drop down into the Apalachicola River. After that, travel to Disappearing Creek Falls at Camp Branch Conservation Area, where the Suwannee River meets the water. Here, you’ll be treated to excellent water views. Next, enjoy a river rafting experience at Big Shoals State Park.
After that, go eight miles south to Falling Creek Falls. Visit Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park for some seriously awesome geological features! There, you’ll see waterfalls formed by several sinkholes! The ultimate way to wrap off one of the most breathtaking Florida road trips is to snorkel, swim, and kayak at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon, where you can also view six waterfalls.
Conclusion
So there you have it – the best road trips in Florida. The roads will lead you on an unforgettable journey filled with beauty, stunning views, adventure, and memories to last a lifetime. Until next time, keep the sunshine in your heart!
