10 Unforgettable Fall Getaways From Tampa
For many folks, fall is the best time of the year. The dropping temperatures lay way to the best outdoor explorations, and the seasonal return of pumpkin patches and haunted houses is enough to bring a smile to the face of many.
Autumn getaways are so much fun, but with work and time restraints, it is not always possible to hop on a plane or pack up a car for a long road trip to places where the leaves are beginning to change.
These ten destinations are less than three hours from Tampa, Florida. They are perfect for enjoying chilly mornings and evenings outdoors, getting chased through a haunted house, witnessing local wildlife, and diving into spooky history.
Gas up the car and get ready to explore these fall destinations in and around Tampa.
Crystal River, Florida
About 80 miles north of Tampa is Crystal River, a coastal city known for its freshwater springs. The small city is home to Three Sister Springs, Hunter Spring, King Spring, Magnolia Spring, and Jurassic Spring. These springs feature clear, turquoise waters, perfect for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing.
November 15th marks the beginning of manatee season in Florida. While manatees can be found occasionally along the coasts throughout the year, from November through April, manatees can be spotted the most in waterways as they migrate in large numbers from colder waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
Crystal River is the only place where people can swim with manatees. Those who wish to witness the gentle giants gliding through the pristine waters from land can do so from Three Sister Springs or set up a boat or clear kayaking tour with a local tour guide.
Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail
While it is true most of Florida does not experience the changing of the leaves with the onset of the season, there are a few places where that is not the case. Northeast of Tampa, 150.6 miles away, is the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail, a 30-mile stretch of breathtaking scenery featuring red maples, pignut hickory trees, oaks, marshes, creeks, beaches, and the Halifax River. From late October to mid-November, the leaves of the majestic maple trees begin to transform into shades of yellow, orange, or red.
Historical homes like the Casements Mansion in downtown Ormond Beach are also in the area for visitors seeking historical experiences. Wildlife sightings include Humpback and Northern right whales offshore and Loggerhead, Green, and Leatherback sea turtles on the shores of the sandy beaches.
Hillsborough River State Park
Sometimes, the best autumn getaways are possible without even leaving the city. Mere minutes from busy downtown Tampa is an oasis of breathtaking scenery of trees and vegetation, best enjoyed when camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking, and biking. The Hillsborough River State Park offers seven miles of nature trails and habitats, including pine flatwoods, floodplain swamps, cypress swamps, hardwood and hydric hammocks, and grass ponds.
This state park also features a hidden gem, class II rapids, a rarity for Florida as the state is primarily flat. The rushing water crashing over rocks is the perfect soundtrack to a little getaway from the city spent kayaking or canoeing.
Hillsborough River State Park provides a little something for history lovers, too. Fort Foster State Historic Site is a reproduction of a fort originally built on the same grounds in 1836, with displays of over 100 artifacts found at the original site.
Brooksville, Florida
Brooksville offers a mix of traditional autumn activities like pumpkin patches and corn mazes, as well as outdoor recreational activities like hiking trails. This town is just shy of an hour's drive, 49.6 miles northwest of Tampa in West Central Florida.
Brooksville hosts an annual Harvest Moon Fall Festival. People can partake in family-friendly activities like the giant 5-acre corn maze that changes in design each year, picking pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, petting miniature horses and rabbits at the petting zoo, and getting spooked at the Haunted Nights on the Farm event.
The outdoor adventurer will enjoy the 46-mile paved Withlacoochee State Trail. It is fun for runners, hikers, and equestrians, and the Withlacoochee State Forest offers a thrilling network of off-road bike trails that weave through the woods. The area also provides other must-see parks and trails, such as the Ficket Hammock Preserve, Lake Townsen Preserve, Suncoast Trail, and Chinsegut Conservation Center.
Dunedin, Florida
Founded in the late 1800s by two Scotsmen, Dunedin is a small, charming city with white-sand beaches, miles of trails, and unspoiled islands 29.7 miles west of Tampa. The city’s culture reflects its Scottish roots, from its annual Highland Games in the spring and Dunedin Celtic Festival in the season to local businesses like The Scottish Shop selling traditional Scottish wares and the Dunedin Historical Society and Museum housed in a former railroad depot.
Dunedin’s Caladesi Island State Park is one of few entirely natural islands along Florida’s Gulf Coast, with stretches of white sand prime for beachcombing and sunbathing. The island’s interior features a three-mile hiking trail and a three-mile kayaking trail that winds through the mangroves and bay.
Check out the Imagine Museum of Contemporary Glass for Halloween family-friendly festivities. Partake in costume contests, glass-blowing demonstrations, and the glass pumpkin patch to take home a forever pumpkin to commemorate a Dunedin fall getaway.
Plant City, Florida
In Hillsborough County, between Lakeland and Tampa, Plant City is a small, family-friendly town with plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy the crisp autumn weather.
At McIntosh Preserve, the 30-foot observation tower and hiking trails provide a great way to view the local wildlife, like the red-shouldered hawks, alligators, deer, and bald eagles. Visitors can enjoy water-based activities like canoeing, boating, and fishing at the 700-acre reservoir at Edward Medard Conservation Park.
A family trip to Plant City during the fall would not be complete without engaging in seasonal fun. Harvest Days at Keel Farms offers hayrides, camel rides, pumpkin patches, and a corn maze. For those who prefer more spooky activities, Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail is an outdoor haunted trail attraction that delivers haunted houses and unforgettable Halloween experiences.
Plant City is northeast of Tampa and is 23.7 miles away.
Dade City, Florida
Lovers of horror and all that is creepy, venture over to Dade City for SCREAM-A-GEDDON Horror Park. The haunted house attraction is a short drive from Tampa, 34.5 miles northeast. As Central Florida's only large-scale independent scream park, SCREAM-A-GEDDON scares and entertains thousands of visitors every fall.
Pulse-pounding experiences include navigating through dark passages and eerie corridors as zombies, clowns, and demons await in the scream park's six haunted house attractions. Activities also include carnival games, monster meet-in-greets, firepits, and refreshments at establishments like Bonzo's Beer Garden and Wild Pine's Fresh Pizza.
Odessa, Florida
Odessa, a unique suburb of Tampa, exists in two counties, Hillsborough and Pasco County. The city is a short distance away, 25.4 miles northwest of Tampa, offering a laidback vibe and a break from city life. When the weather takes a dip, outdoor activities in Florida are all the more enjoyable. Odessa is a great place to get outdoors and spend time with animals.
Individuals can spend time making memories with family at Old McMickey’s child-friendly farm with pony rides and learning about farm animals and farm life. Head over to the largest alpaca ranch in the southeast, the Golden Spirit Alpaca Ranch, and feed and learn about the herd of over 180 alpacas. No trip to Odessa is complete without visiting the Odessa Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary, a home for hundreds of exotic and previously domesticated animals.
Anclote Key Preserve State Park
Enjoy a relaxing day with the Gulf of Mexico waters lapping against the sandy shores of Anclote Key Preserve State Park. Accessible only by private boat or ferry from Tarpon Springs or New Port Richey, this state park is 31.4 miles west of Tampa. The North Anclote Bar, South Anclote Bar, Anclote Key, and Three Rooker Island are four islands that comprise this state park.
Anclote Key Preserve State Park spans 11,773 acres and is home to at least 43 bird species, which include the bald eagle, piping plover, and the American oystercatcher. At the southern end of the island stands a historical 110-foot 1887 Anclote lighthouse. Visitors of Anclote Key Preserve State Park can enjoy swimming, firing up a grill and having a picnic, or pitching a tent for the night and falling asleep under the stars.
Safety Harbor, Florida
Those who are looking for a seasonal adventure with lots of history and a side of spooky vibes should head to Safety Harbor. This historical town is 19.3 miles west of Tampa. Check out Phillipe Park, a 122-acre park shaded by hardwood trees and oaks. It is a historical site of a Native American mound and is the largest remaining mound in the Tampa Bay region. Phillipe Park is also the final resting place of Odet Phillipe, the first non-native permanent settler of Safety Harbor.
While in Safety Harbor, visit Baranoff Park, home to one of Safety Harbor’s oldest residents, a 300-500-year-old oak tree. The massive oak has a significant presence, measuring nearly 20 feet in diameter, and is estimated to weigh about 800 tons.
Learn more about Safety Harbor’s history through Silent Slayer Ghost Tours. The walking ghost tour explores historical sites, such as the St. James Hotel, Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, and the Hotel Frances, and dives into the past, relaying stories of the former residents of Safety Harbor.
Tampa’s Best Fall Escapes Await
Autumn in Tampa can look like witnessing the return of the manatees in Crystal River, hiking the Withlacoochee State Trail in Brooksville, or an exhilarating ride down rapids in Hillsborough River State Park. The season is sometimes best enjoyed screaming through haunted houses in Plant City or Dade City or visiting historical sites like Phillipe Park in Safety Harbor. Tampa and its surrounding towns offer unique ways to partake in the fall season that are fun for individuals, families, and friends.
