These 13 Florida Day Trips Will Definitely Make Your Day

If you desperately need a vacation but only have a weekend, you might be wondering “what are some amazing day trips near me in Florida?” Fortunately, the Sunshine State is positively brimming with adventure, from small-town getaways to coastal retreats, quirky road stop attractions, and just about everything in between. The following is a list of Florida day trips that definitely deserve a spot on your bucket list.

St. Augustine, FL, USA

Doug Kerr/Flickr

With a unique blend of history, nightlife, beaches, a gator farm, distillery, winery, and lots of fun shops and restaurants, St. Augustine is the perfect place for almost anyone. Learn more about what makes this historic town in Florida so memorable.

Gainesville, FL, USA

KlipschFan/Flickr

This city isn't just for UF students. Gainesville has a lovely historic district and lots of fun things for visitors to do. Check out the Florida Museum of Natural History, Hippodrome State Theatre, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and much more. The nearby Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is not to be missed.

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Ichetucknee Springs State Park, 12087 Southwest, US-27, Fort White, FL 32038, USA

Flickr/Toni Holmes

This beautiful park and National Natural Landmark offers snorkeling, swimming and scuba diving in crystal clear waters, but the most popular activity is tubing down the river. In fact, you could argue that Ichetucknee Springs is the best state park in Florida.

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Weeki Wachee Spring, Florida 34606, USA

Robin Wendell/Flickr

Mermaid performers have been captivating audiences in Weeki Wachee Springs since 1947. Visitors can also enjoy its waterpark and boat rides. There's truly so much to discover in Weeki Wachee.

Rainbow Springs State Park, SW 81st Pl Rd, Dunnellon, FL, USA

jaygannett/Flickr

Rainbow Springs is home to beautiful water and wildlife. If you happen to live near Orlando and you're wondering, "what are some great Florida day trips near me?" you'll be delighted to discover that Rainbow Springs State Park is one of them.

Dinosaur World, 5145 Harvey Tew Rd, Plant City, FL 33565, USA

Flickr/Benny Mazur

What kid doesn't love dinosaurs? There are some great photo opportunities here, for sure. It's located between Tampa and Orlando. No matter your age, there's something so magical about visiting Dinosaur World in Florida.

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Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953, USA

Flickr/Richard Link

The Kennedy Space Center is one of the most interactive and exciting attractions for families in Florida. And even if you can't make the trip there, the Kennedy Space Center hosts tons of virtual events so that everyone can participate.

Everglades National Park, Florida, USA

Marjolein Vegers/Flickr

Unforgettable nature, history and culture make this is a must-see state park for those in South Florida. For more information, check out these incredible photos from the Everglades in Florida.

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Lion Country Safari Road, Lion Country Safari Rd, Florida 33470, USA

Flickr/Duncan Rawlinson

Florida's only drive-through zoo, located in Loxahatchee, in Palm Beach County. It also has an amusement park. Would you take this drive-thru safari in Florida?

The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, USA

Flickr/Richard Elzey

Located in Tampa, The Florida Aquarium is fun for the whole family. In fact, you can even play with penguins at the Florida Aquarium!

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, 1502 SE Kings Bay Dr, Crystal River, FL 34429, USA

Flickr/benji2505

Come swim with the manatees! And it's only an hour and a half drive from Tampa or Orlando. It's no mystery why a trip to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge belongs on your ultimate outdoor bucket list for Florida.

Bok Tower Road, Bok Tower Rd, Lake Wales, FL 33853, USA

Flickr/Matthew Paulson

When you visit the Bok Tower Gardens in Florida, you can look forward to beautiful gardens and bird sanctuary very close to Tampa or Orlando. Learn more about this fascinating attraction in Florida.

The Dalí (Salvador Dalí Museum), 1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA

Flickr/Matthew Paulson

This museum in St. Petersburg houses the largest collection of Salvador Dali's work outside of Europe. If you can't visit in person, you'll be delighted to learn that you can take a virtual tour of the museum.

We hope we’ve helped provide an answer to the question “what are some unique day trips near me in Florida?” Are there any other fantastic day trips in Florida that you would add to the list? If so, be sure to tell us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you!