This Florida Literary Road Trip Leads to 5 Incredible Bookstores

I love reading, and if I had to pick something I enjoyed almost as much as cozying up with a book, I'd have to go with checking out local bookshops when traveling. We have no shortage of amazing bookstores in Florida, and even if your to-read list is growing at an impossible pace, they're wonderful places for heading in to find new reads. If you're looking for a unique Sunshine State road trip, we've got the perfect route for you today. This three-and-a-half-hour journey across central Florida will take you to five of the region's best bookstores.

The entire trip requires just under 175 miles of driving and makes for a great weekend adventure. You can check out the full itinerary on Google Maps. It's customizable, so feel free to add or rearrange stops to your liking.

We'll start our trip off with the delightful Hello Again Books in Cocoa. This woman-owned bookstore sells both used and new books and strives to foster a sense of community in this little city. There are always fun displays here - I love the book arch that you can walk underneath! There's a wonderful little kid's area, and you'll also find gifts like candles and mugs. It's in a wonderful location near plenty of restaurants and other shops, and you could easily make a day of exploring Cocoa's historic district.

For our next stop, we'll head to Winter Garden, where you'll find Writer's Block Bookstore. The store has two Orlando-area locations; the original shop is in Winter Park. Both are delightful little stores situated in walkable downtown areas. You'll find a great variety of titles on display, and I adore the "blind date with a book" option. It's perfect for when you're feeling indecisive and not sure what to read next. The employees are wonderful at providing suggestions, and you'll even find handwritten reviews from the staff posted throughout the store.

I hope you're enjoying some wonderful audiobooks while on the road because, for our next bookstore, we'll be heading to Clermont's Sunshine Book Co., a family-owned shop in the bustling downtown district that's just as bright and cheery as its name suggests. The shop's event calendar is full of author readings, book club meetups, and book fairs. It's a cozy little store that sells new books and gifts, and there's even a frequent shopper punch card to save you money if you live in the area.

Our next stop is a little bit different, as it will have you enjoying a taste of England without leaving Florida. Tampa's Oxford Exchange is a delightful British-inspired cafe that features elegant decor and delicious coffee and tea, along with breakfast and lunch menus. The bookstore here has a great mix of new releases and older classics, plus a few kids' books to entertain the little ones.

We'll finish up this literary road trip through central Florida with a visit to St. Petersburg's Tombolo Books, a colorful award-winning shop in the Grand Central District. Whether it's an author reading or a book club meetup, there's always something fun going on at Tombolo, and the store's bestseller list is updated weekly if you'd like to check out the hottest reads in St. Pete.

Have you ever visited any of these local bookstores in central Florida? Did we miss your favorite spot for finding new reads? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Not able to travel to the area right now, but still want to support your local independent bookstore? Check out Bookshop.org, where a portion of each book sold goes straight to local bookshops.