Best Places To Stop On A Road Trip To Florida
If you’re looking for a road trip destination perfect for families, it doesn’t get much better than Florida. The state offers adrenaline-filled theme parks, bustling cities, and stunning beaches.
So, if you’re planning your road trip to Florida, here’s a list of some must-see destinations:
Where To Stop On Road Trip To Florida
One of the best ways of getting around Florida is to take a road trip around the Sunshine state. The roads are excellent, mostly flat, and it’s a cheap place to fill your tank. It takes around 13 hours to drive from top to bottom, but as you'll see, there are many unique places to visit along the way:
Everglades National Park
The Everglades National Park is a 1.5 million-acre wetland found at the southern tip of the state of Florida. The National Park is teeming with wildlife; it has everything from turtles, birds, deer, and much more.
So, the Everglades National Park could be considered a paradise if you love looking for animals in their natural habitat.
Walt Disney World
Many children can only dream about visiting Walt Disney World; in fact, it’s a dream for many adults worldwide.
And if there’s ever a time to take your chance to check out the magical wonderland, it has to be while you’re planning your places to see in Florida.
The Disney-themed park is home to over 120 attractions, 50 entertainment options, 4 theme parks, and 2 water parks. It can be expensive to stay at the park, but it does come with some perks, like extended hours.
Castillo De San Marcos National
If you’re looking to explore some history while looking for road trip stops in Florida, the Castillo de San Marcos national monument is an excellent place to start. It’s located on the western shore of Matanzas bay and is the oldest masonry fort in the United States.
The fort was declared a National Monument in 1924 and deactivated after 251 years of military possession in 1933.
St Augustine Beach
St. Augustine Beach is a small city that is located on Anastasia island, and it’s become very well known for its Atlantic beaches. The beaches are blessed with stunning white sand that glistens in the sunlight.
But people don’t just come for the sandy beaches. St Augustine Beach has a beautiful pier that offers fishing, a playground, a splash zone, and volleyball courts. And if that’s not enough, it’s also a sea turtle nesting site.
Universal Studios Orlando
Universal Studios Orlando is an excellent place to stop on your road trip around Florida for anyone looking for excitement. It’s a massive complex with multiple theme parks, hotels, and restaurants.
But what makes this place so special is you get to live your dreams of becoming part of the films you love the most. They have everything from the E.T Adventure to Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and Revenge of the Mummy.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Would a road trip really be complete without visiting the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex?
NASA headquarters is one of the only places on earth where you can visit launch areas, train in flight simulators, speak to veteran astronauts, and if you plan it right, you can even watch a launch.
There’s so much to see there, and it’s definitely worth the trip, even if you’re not too interested in space.
Southernmost Point Buoy (90 m To Cuba)
One of the best ways to mark your road trip across Florida is by reaching the southernmost point. The Southernmost Point Buoy is an anchored concrete buoy in Key West, Florida, and marks the southernmost point in the continental United States.
The thing is:
It’s not really the southernmost point, so the claim is slightly inaccurate. In fact, the actual southernmost point of Florida is on the Ballast Key on a privately owned island. Nonetheless, it still marks a great photo opportunity for your road trip.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
The Weeki Wachee Spring State Park is a lovely enchanted spring where you can see live mermaids. And while it might sound a little bit corny, it’s actually great fun and, in its own way, magical.
While you’re there, you can take a river boat cruise, learn about the local wildlife, and swim in the beautiful waters of Buccaneer bay. You also have the chance to take a paddling adventure down the waterway of the Weeki Wachee River.
Biscayne National Park
The Biscayne National Park is another special way of connecting with nature while on your road trip. At the national park, you’ll find coral reefs, islands, and shoreline mangroves to explore.
The reefs are only accessible by boat, so you’ll need to book a tour if you want to experience snorkeling with marine life like turtles and possibly dolphins. They also have a number of dive sites you can visit while you’re there (most of them are shipwrecks).
Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is west of Key West, Florida, and is actually a part of the Gulf of Mexico, so you’re going to need to take a boat to get there.
It’s a combination of 7 islands and a protected coral reef that takes your breath away. On the Loggerhead Key, you’ll find a lighthouse and sea turtles that come to nest. And if you take a trip to Garden Key, you’ll find the 19th-century Fort Jefferson.
Florida Caverns State Park
The Florida Caverns State park is part of the Florida State Parks systems. And it’s one of the only air-filled caves that are accessible to the public.
While there, you can gaze up at the beautiful cave formations of limestone stalactites, stalagmites, and much more. While on tour, you’ll be moving between huge underground rooms while observing the many chisel marks made by the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps workers.
Orlando Science Center
The last of our road trip stops in Florida is the Orlando Science Center. The center is a great place to experience unique learning opportunities for learning about science & technology to promote public understanding.
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
If you’re looking for places to stop on a road trip to Florida, I hope this article has helped point you in the right direction.
The Sunshine State has so much diversity to offer its visitors, from stunning coral reefs to magnificent caving systems. So, which places to stop in Florida are making it onto your list?
Road Trips > Cross Country Road Trip > Florida Road Trip Stops
About the Author
Jason Fox: Four years ago, I decided to quit my job as a chef to travel the world and see where life took me. The skills I learned while traveling led me to become a freelance writer so I could share my experiences with the world. Since then, I've been traveling the world working as a digital nomad. Find me on Instagram.
