Orlando is home to some of the best theme parks in the world, but when visiting, there are so many amazing day trips from Orlando that are well worth the trip. Orlando is in central Florida, but it also has many lakes, springs, and parks for exploring, as well as opportunities for exploring nearby cities.
I’ve visited Orlando and the surrounding areas more times than I can count; it’s one of my favorite places in the US, especially in the fall and spring months when it is cooler. Here’s some of the best day trips from Orlando, FL!
For this post, I’ll list all the day trips in order from closest to furthest, depending on how far you want to drive. All distances are approximate depending on the traffic, which can be bad in Orlando!
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Tips for Day Trips from Orlando
- Florida State Parks have been rated as the number one state park system in the United States, more than any other state. They’ve actually won four times, and while we only think of beaches when we think of Florida, it clearly has so much more to offer!
- It’s easiest to get around with a rental car. It’ll save you a bunch of money (tours can add up) and allow you to do things on your own time. Even if you have a tour or tickets, many don’t pick up in Orlando, so make sure you check ahead! However, I’ll share options for tours with transport throughout this guide in case.
- Speaking of driving, Central Florida has many toll roads, especially in and out of Orlando. Be prepared to pay via plate or ask if you’re renting a car what the options are so you aren’t hit with any fees later.
- If you’re visiting one of the theme parks, I recommend staying near one. Find a hotel where you can walk or take a shuttle into the parks, so you’ll only need a car for day trips from Orlando. I’ve stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance of Universal and Boardwalk Inn at Disney. I would recommend both!
- Pack snacks and drinks to bring with you. Many of these parks offer some facilities, but you will need a lot of water and may get hungry while out and about. Packing your own snacks and drinks will help you save money and stay hydrated!
- Speaking of it being hot, no matter what time of year, bring sun protection! Sunscreen, a hat, and planned time out of the sun will help.
Image purchased on Shutterstock
Blue Springs State Park
40 minutes, 33 miles
Blue Springs State Park is less than an hour from Orlando and offers a wonderful outdoor experience! Lots and lots of manatees call this park home making it a unique place to see wildlife. The water stays a warm 72 degrees year-round, making it feel warm in winter and nice and cool in the summer!
Currently, in-water activities are currently suspended at Blue Spring State Park as they work to stabilize the shoreline. This includes swimming, snorkeling, tubing, diving, and paddling in the spring run and spring head. Boat tours and paddling are permitted only in the St. Johns River. Visitors must follow all posted signs and avoid closed areas during their visit. It costs $6 to enter with rentals like boat tours and kayaks costing extra.
This is a really popular place to visit so during busy months, you may experience long lines to enter Blue Spring State Park. The park frequently reaches capacity and temporarily closes. These closures occur intermittently and can last several hours. Check their website for details.
Visitors with camping or boat tour reservations will be admitted to the park while it is closed, but others will not be allowed to enter until the park reopens. For this reason, I’d highly recommend visiting with a tour instead of trying to do this on your own! You don’t want to make a 40-minute drive only to find out that you’ll be in line and never get in.
Image purchased on Shutterstock
Kennedy Space Center
50 minutes, 52 miles
When you visit the Kennedy Space Center, you can get an up-close, hands-on feel for the story of humans in space. The Kennedy Space Center is operated by NASA and includes several really amazing attractions.
Some of the highlights when visiting include Space Shuttle Atlantis, Astronaut Encounter, Rocket Garden, and guided tours of the launch facilities. This is a particularly fun day trip for families as there are a lot of activities perfect for kids under the age of ten. Their website includes itinerary suggestions for every type of traveler, too.
If you’ve ever been interested in space exploration, you’ll love this day trip! If you don’t want to rent a car, you can join this tour from Orlando: Kennedy Space Center Trip with Transport.
Silver Springs State Park
1 hour 35 minutes, 85 miles
Silver Springs State Park is home to Florida’s oldest tourist attraction (and one of the most famous), glass bottom boats. But, this park offers so much more and is definitely my personal favorite day trip from Orlando. The spring is huge and like Blue Springs, stays a nice 72 degrees year round.
This park is home to river otters, manatees, gaters, monkeys, tons of birds, and fish! It’s 4000 acres and encompasses not just springs but 5 miles of beautiful gardens, trails, and serene spaces. During our visit, the highlight was a glass-bottom kayak tour, during which we saw so much wildlife!
The water is crystal clear and bright blue, making glass-bottom kayaking the coolest way to see the park! The boats offer a more family-friendly option for small children or older adults. The park also offers two restaurants and a gift shop.
You can rent kayaks or SUPs on your own, but for glass-bottom kayaking, you’ll need to join a tour. Below is the tour I booked, but if you don’t want to rent a car, this one offers transport from Orlando!
Tampa
1 hour 30 minutes, 84 miles
Tampa is located on the Gulf side of Florida and is a great city for a day trip. While in Tampa, you can hang out at the Tampa Riverwalk, explore the Florida Aquarium, or spend your day at Bush Gardens, another theme park perfect for rollercoaster lovers.
The Tampa Riverwalk is a scenic walkway along the Hillsborough River, perfect for strolling, biking, and accessing various parks, museums, and restaurants. You can truly spend a whole day just here or even turn this into more than a few days of your trip.
Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring
1 hour 45 minutes, 102 miles
Devil’s Den was formed when the roof over a subterranean river collapsed and exposed the water to an open surface. It was formed like the cenotes in Mexico and is absolutely stunning!
Devil’s Den is a prehistoric spring. Four underwater passages contain remains from humans, animals, and many extinct species, such as mastodons, ground sloths, and saber-toothed cats. The remains are over 13,000 years old. You can visit the University of Florida’s Museum of Natural History to see the remains found.
At the springs, you can go scuba diving or snorkeling. You’ll need an advanced reservation to visit, and it is privately owned, unlike many other springs on this list. It costs $20 to reserve a snorkeling spot and rental equipment is $12 once you’re onsite. You must be able to swim to visit and are required to wear a snorkel or scuba gear at all times in the spring. Water gets as deep as 50 feet and is absolutely beautiful!
This is one of the most unique places you can visit in Florida in my opinion and was so much fun! Slots are 90 minutes, so I’d highly recommend combining a visit here with Silver Springs, Ginnie Springs, or Itchetucknee Springs which are not far away.
Photo by Autumn Kuney on Unsplash
Ginnie Springs
1 hour, 55 miles
Ginnie Springs is a privately owned group of seven freshwater springs. To visit these gorgeous springs, you can rent tubing, kayaking, SUP, diving, and swimming. All the activities are available for rent at the springs, including snorkel gear; prices vary depending on the activity, but you can plan to pay a $20 entry fee plus whatever rentals you choose.
When the Santa Fe River clears (typically in the summer and early fall), snorkeling in the river may reward you with glimpses of large gar, bass, mullet, catfish, turtles, and many other critters. Plus, like all the springs on this list, you’ll have the opportunity to see manatees and enjoy this area year-round with water at 72 degrees, no matter the season.
This is also a popular camping spot with several facilities and extras like volleyball courts, playgrounds, Wi-Fi, and restaurants. With so many great facilities, it is an awesome place to spend a day trip from Orlando.
New Smyrna Beach
1 hour, 55 miles
New Smyrna Beach is located on Florida’s east coast. It’s a really charming coastal town known for its beautiful beaches, rich history, and vibrant arts scene. While here, the highlight is the beach and sand dunes.
New Smyrna Sand Dunes is a scenic park with boardwalks, nature trails, and dog-friendly areas. It offers stunning views of the Ponce Inlet and lighthouse. This historic lighthouse offers panoramic views from the top and a museum with exhibits on local maritime history. New Smyrna Beach is also a popular spot for surfing. Lessons and rentals are available for all skill levels.
You can also spend time exploring the Canal Street Historic District. It’s a great spot for shopping and dining, featuring antique shops, galleries, and local eateries.
St. Pete
2 hours, 135 miles
St. Petersburg is a city on Florida’s Gulf Coast, part of the Tampa Bay area. It’s known for its pleasant weather (its nickname is Sunshine City), making it popular for those who love warm weather, boating, and beachgoing.
You really can do it all on a day trip from Orlando to St. Pete! Start the day on Central Ave, exploring the shops, great coffee shops, and museums like the Chihuly Collection. Continue to walk down to the harbor to enjoy the water views and take a boat tour through the bay.
If you want beach time, St. Pete Beach is beautiful and an amazing place for sunset. I loved spending a whole weekend in St. Pete, but even a day trip is worth it.
St. Augustine
2 hours, 92 miles
St. Augustine’s claim to fame is that it is the oldest city in the US, and its charming Spanish Colonial architecture, matched with the beautiful sandy beaches and coastal views, makes it the perfect place for a trip. It offers the best of both worlds and really is adorable.
Admire the architecture of Flager College, walk the Old Town to explore history and great shops, then visit historic Castillo de San Marcos. This is a fortress that is part of the US National Park system and dates back to 1672. From here, take a boat tour of the harbor to look for dolphins and grab seafood to finish off your day!
I actually had my bachelorette party in St. Augustine and it was just perfect. It’s so cute and really a fun town you’ll love!
If you don’t want to drive, consider this tour from Orlando: St. Augustine Day Trip with Tour Options.
Clearwater Beach
2 hours 15 min, 108 miles
While surfers will love New Smyrna, and it is much closer, Clearwater Beach is famous for its powdery white sand and calm, clear waters, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and beach games. There’s also a scenic promenade along the beachfront called Clearwater Beach Walk, perfect for a leisurely stroll, jogging, or biking with stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico.
But don’t be fooled; you can still enjoy some adventures! Consider parasailing, jet skiing, paddleboarding, or kayaking here. Rental equipment and guided tours are readily available. You can also take a wildlife tour here to see dolphins, manatees, gators, and more!
If you don’t want to drive, consider this tour from Orlando: Day Trip to Clearwater Beach with Options.
Itchetucknee Springs State Park
2 hours 20 minutes, 144 miles
Itchetucknee is another amazing state park perfect for a day trip from Orlando. This 2,669-acre park is a wildlife haven! While here, you may see beavers, otters, turtles, gators, gars, wood ducks, and more. The main draw is the park’s eight major crystal-clear springs, which join to create the 6-mile Ichetucknee River.
The upper portion within the state park is a National Natural Landmark, perhaps the most pristine spring run in the state and best enjoyed by canoe or kayak during the cooler months. Three nature trails guide visitors through the lush park forest or a majestic sandhill environment with towering longleaf pines.
While here, the highlight is floating on the Itchetucknee River. Entry is $6 and tube rentals are just $8. You can add shuttle drop off and pick up for $6 more. It’s gorgeous and you’ll love a relaxing afternoon in the crystal clear bright blue water.
I hope you love these day trips from Orlando, FL as much as I did! There’s something for everyone from beaches to cool cities to outdoor adventures. I highly recommend leaving the parks and exploring Florida beyond Orlando!
Though the beaches are great, I really enjoy the state parks with springs. Always fun to visit and a great change of pace from the theme parks.
Agree! I think a good trip to Orlando has a balance of both outdoorsy things and theme parks.
I have only visited Orlando for the theme parks, I wish I knew about all these amazing day trips back then! The Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring Looks so unique!
It’s definitely unique! Feels like you’ve left Florida and headed somewhere completely different. So many great things beyond theme parks near Orlando.
I love the day trips you suggested! I have been to the Kennedy Space Center and I had an absolute blast. I definitely want to check out Silver Springs State Park and Tampa the next time I’m in Florida.
Thank you! Lots to explore in Central Florida, that’s for sure.