The Best Road Trips To Take From Orlando Florida

Thanks to Orlando’s central location in the heart of Florida, it’s easy to take a road trip almost anywhere in the Sunshine State on just one or two tanks of gas. A short drive to the ocean in three directions and surrounded by history, “The City Beautiful” is an ideal starting point for a fun excursion. From beautiful state parks and national treasures to contemporary sights and modern marvels, here we present our list of the best road trips to take from Orlando, Florida.

From Orlando to St. Augustine

The drive to St. Augustine is just shy of two hours, but it’s well worth it. The “Nation’s Oldest City” is home to several well-preserved historical sites, including several forts and the beautiful Flagler College. Ghost enthusiasts will find many opportunities to seek out spirits in graveyards, throughout downtown, and a supposedly haunted lighthouse, and the beaches are absolutely gorgeous.

Orlando to St. Augustine, FL, USA

One of the best road trips to take from Orlando is to the Everglades National Park, a 1.5-million-acre, world-famous nature preserve known as “The River of Grass.” This icon of Florida is about a four-hour drive from Orlando and offers everything from saltwater marshes and mangrove swamps to dry pine woods that are home to many birds and animals. When you get there, leave your car to take an airboat tour, rent a kayak, or walk along a raised boardwalk to see the wetlands preserve properly.

Orlando to Everglades National Park, FL, USA

From Orlando to Cape Canaveral

A road trip to the John F. Kennedy Space Center, the primary launch center of spacecraft for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is a must-do while you’re in Orlando. The Kennedy Space Center lies in Cape Canaveral, which is about an hour from Orlando, and offers great exhibits of NASA’s history and achievements.

Orlando to Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

Visit Crystal River and Three Sisters Springs

For something entirely different from the hustle and bustle of Orlando, take a quick road trip to Crystal River and Three Sisters Springs. These natural bodies of water are famous for spotting lots of wildlife, especially manatees that congregate in the warm water during the winter months. It’s the only place in America where you can legally enter the water with the gentle “sea cows,” and it will only take about 1.5 hours to get there.

Orlando to Crystal River, FL, USA

From Orlando to St. Petersburg

A two-hour road trip from Orlando to St. Petersburg will take you to one of the best modern art museums in the country: the Salvador Dalí Museum. It houses the biggest collection of Dalí’s works outside of Europe, and you’ll appreciate the museum’s architecture.

Orlando to St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Salvador Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida

Make the trip to the Florida Keys

The ultimate Florida road trip from Orlando is to the Florida Keys; it’s a 4.5-hour drive that will take you to the southern tip of the Sunshine State. Set aside some time to explore Miami on your way south to make it a multi-city road trip.

Orlando to the Florida Keys, FL, USA

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.