The Ultimate Central Florida Road Trip Is Right Here And It’s A Blast

Millions of people flock to the middle of The Sunshine State each year, but many don’t realize the incredible amount of things to do in central Florida. The center of our state has some of the best attractions Florida has to offer. Our state is pretty large, so this trip will take about 9-10 hours of driving time, and of course much longer if you stop at all of the attractions and explore. It’s up to you how many of the attractions you want to visit and how long you want to stay at each one, which will determine how many days the trip will take. There are several must-sees (marked with a purple dot), as well as several bonus attractions (marked with a pink diamond), so you can customize your road trip to your own interests. There are plenty of cities along the route that should have reasonably-priced hotels, but you can always find more state parks (that offer camping or cabins) along the way to save money.

Now for an outline of our trip. We’ll start from De Leon Springs State Park and head west around this circle:

Google Maps

Google Maps

Google Maps

The final stop in the original route of things to do in central Florida accounts for an extra hour of driving, so I've included an alternative route at the end for those who don't mind bypassing this stop. On the original route, you don't have to drive through Orlando, but the alternative route will take you right through it, adding Blue Spring State Park and the psychic town of Cassadaga to the route. If you wanted to add a visit to a theme park to this version of the trip, it could easily be done. I'm excited to hit the road and try out this trip. How about you?

Flickr/nick chapman

We'll begin very early in the morning so we have time to wait in line for breakfast at The Old Spanish Sugar Mill. There, we can make pancakes with fresh-ground flour on griddles set right into the table. After breakfast, we can walk off some of those calories with a hike or a swim or relax and take the Fountain of Youth Eco/History boat tour.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 601 Ponce Deleon Blvd, De Leon Springs, FL 32130

Flickr/Walter

Next, we'll drive through Ocala National Forest on the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway. This is a beautiful drive that will make the time fly by, but by all means, stop here and check out this incredible park if you have the extra time. The rest of us will head over to Dunnellon to see the lovely man-made waterfalls.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 19158 81 Place Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34432

Flickr/Brett Davis

Next, we'll visit the mermaid city of Weeki Wachee, but you can take a detour to Crystal River Preserve State Park if you want to get up close and personal with the manatees first.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606

Flickr/Walter

Our next stop is the Greek sponging village of Tarpon Springs. This is a good place to have another meal because we will be surrounded by delicious and authentic Greek food.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: Tarpon Springs FL

Flickr/Trish Hartmann

Next, we'll stop for some swimming, fishing, and hiking on Honeymoon Island. You can also rent bikes or kayaks by the hour. But we recommend just digging your toes in the sand and enjoying the cool ocean breeze.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: Honeymoon Island, Dunedin, FL 34698

Flickr/Matthew Paulson

This spot might be a little out of the way for some, but we guarantee it's worth the drive. If you want to see the largest collection of Dali's work outside of Europe, this is your chance.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Flickr/Matthew Paulson

Next on our list is the majestic Bok Tower in Lake Wales. The tower not only looks beautiful, but it has 60 carillon bells, and the rolling acres of gardens are lush and serene. Other optional stops on this route include Florida's oldest restaurant in Ybor City in Tampa (Columbia Restaurant), and Dinosaur World in Plant City.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853

Flickr/Richard Elzey

Since we'll already be in Lake Wales, take a few minutes to try out the illusion at this gravity hill. Perhaps the strangest of all the things to do in central Florida, if you drive to the line and put your car in neutral it will seem to roll backward uphill. How weird!
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 5th St, Lake Wales, FL 33853

Flickr/Jim Brekke

For our final stops, you can choose whether to visit Kennedy Space Center on Route A or Blue Spring State Park and/or the psychic town of Cassadaga on Route B. Route A will take you around Orlando, and Route B will take you through it. Whatever you choose, you'll have a uniquely Floridian experience.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 2100 W French Ave, Orange City, FL 32763

Well, there you have it, folks. This trip should provide you with plenty of incredible experiences and great stories to last a lifetime. How many of these things to do in central Florida will you add to your bucket list? What stops would you add to this trip? What’s your favorite Florida road trip? Please share your comments with us below!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Things To Do In Central Florida

August 30, 2020

Marisa Roman

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