11 Amazing Florida Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive

Florida is world-renowned for its beautiful beaches, diverse wildlife, and world-famous attractions. Hello, Walt Disney World. It is also home to several international airports, like Orlando International Airport (MCO)—a major hub for domestic and international flights, especially for travelers visiting theme parks and tourist attractions. So, let’s put a pin on the map of Orlando, the perfect destination to explore charming coastal towns, natural springs, and unique parks.

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - Homosassa

Animal lovers and nature enthusiasts who enjoy outdoor activities and exploring Florida’s diverse wildlife will love Elliei Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, about a 90-minute drive from Orlando International Airport. The park is a well-respected wildlife sanctuary, home to captive wildlife that cannot survive in the wild for various reasons.

The Wildlife Walk is an elevated boardwalk that runs through the park, allowing visitors to view the natural habitats of its native Florida residents, including endangered Florida panthers, red wolves, whooping cranes, bobcats, alligators, and a Florida black bear named Maximus. Birders can walk the .75-mile Pepper Creek Trail or take a guided boat tour on the creek. The Fish Bowl Underwater Observatory gives visitors an up-close view of the saltwater and freshwater fish in the Homosassa Spring. The Spring’s star attraction is the wintering West Indian manatees who make their home there.

Great Explorations Children’s Museum - St. Petersburg

Considered the best museum in Florida for children and families, the Great Explorations Children’s Museum in St. Petersburg was created with children in mind, even though adults will love it, too. Hands-on and immersive experiences let children explore agriculture, meteorology, architecture, careers, nutrition, and more in a fun and educational setting only 40 minutes from MCO.

Children can learn about food and produce and even go grocery shopping or work at the cash register at a kid-sized Publix market. At the “Engine Company 15” exhibit, which is an actual fire station in St. Pete, kids can put on firefighter gear, slide down a fire pole, or drive a fire truck. “My First Checkup” is a child-size healthcare center, while the “On the Air” exhibit lets kids see them on television or deliver a news broadcast. Energetic kids can test their endurance on the playground and ropes course, and many of the exhibits encourage climbing and moving—a great outlet for all that energy.

Sea Life Orlando Aquarium - Orlando

Marine enthusiasts or aquarists won’t have to travel far from the airport to Sea Life Orlando Aquarium as it’s only about 20 minutes away. A fun day out with friends and family, the aquarium is also a great educational experience where visitors can learn about ecosystems, how animals are protected in the wild, and learn about rescue efforts. Explore what’s happening under the sea in Florida’s only 360-degree Ocean Tunnel, where visitors can come face to face with fish, sharks, eels, and Chely, a rescued sea turtle, and watch them swim above, below, and all around. Other exhibits include a Jelly Wall, Indian Ocean, Feeding Frenzy, and Coastal Rockpool.

Kennedy Space Center - Merrit Island

One hour from the airport, a day trip to the Kennedy Space Center is an out-of-the-world adventure for stargazers and astronomy lovers. Visitors to the center have plenty of exhibits or “Mission Zones.” A few must-see zones include “Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex,” where visitors can learn about the ongoing space program, see spacesuits and the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster; “Shuttle: A Ship Like No Other” houses the Space Shuttle Atlantis, and includes more than 60 interactive exhibits; and the “Apollo/Saturn V Center” lets visitors relive the excitement of the Apollo era.

There’s a Rocket Garden where young astronauts can walk among historic rockets from NASA's Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, visit the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, and maybe meet a real astronaut and hear about their space experiences, or pay tribute to fallen astronauts at the Space Mirror Memorial. Take a break at one of the fun eateries onsite, like the Moon Rock or Orbit Cafés, Space Bowl Bistro, or Red Rock Grill.

Discovery Cove - Orlando

If travelers to Orlando want to visit a “theme park” but want it geared more towards nature, try Discovery Cove, a unique all-inclusive day resort for families. Discovery Cove is a one-of-a-kind day trip where visitors can meet the photogenic otters in the turquoise waters of Freshwater Oasis, hand-feed exotic birds in the Explorer’s Aviary, or snorkel with tropical fish in the Grand Reef.

The most sought-after experience in the park is the ability to swim with the bottlenose dolphins after a brief introduction to their behavior, habits, and communication skills with an animal expert. Special tours can be arranged for visitors who want to feed sting rays, mingle with flamingos, snorkel with sharks, and more. Discovery Cove is about 40 minutes from the airport.

Silver Springs State Park - Silver Springs

Home of the world-famous glass bottom boats, Silver Springs State Park has been a natural landmark destination since the 1870s, about 90 minutes from the airport. The 4,000-acre park encompasses the springs and the 5-mile Silver River, where seafarers can paddle a rental canoe, kayak, or paddleboard downstream on the crystal clear Silver River or take a guided tour with a professional guide who will introduce paddlers to the history of the area.

The jewel in the state park’s crown is the Glass Bottom Boat Tour in a historic glass bottom boat with an awe-inspiring view of the underwater life in the springs and the size of Mammoth Spring, the river’s head. Watch colorful bottom feeders, ancient Native American artifacts, and even leftover movie props when Hollywood used the park as a movie location.

Daytona International Speedway - Daytona Beach

NASCAR fans and motorheads are sure to enjoy the 90-minute drive from the Orlando Airport to the iconic Daytona International Speedway, home to NASCAR’s most prestigious event—the Dayota 500. First opened in 1959, the “World Center of Racing” is almost as legendary as Daytona Beach, the “World’s Most Famous Beach” and the original site of car racing in the early 1900s.

Tour the famous racetrack and learn about its history. Visit the world-famous Motorsport Hall of Fame of America, which pays tribute to all kinds of motorsports, including stock cars, sports cars, open wheels, motorcycles, drag racing, off-roads, and more. See bronze sculptures of all 250+ Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductees, including a shrine to the most recent individuals.

Ocala National Forest - Ocala

While the Orlando theme parks get all the glory, the Ocala National Forest is a not-to-be-missed day trip 90 minutes from the airport for avid outdoor enthusiasts. The 387,000-acre forest is the oldest national forest in Florida, encompassing over 600 lakes and rivers well suited for swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and boating. There are hundreds of miles of unique walking trails through the forest, with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting, bird watching, and photography.

A 66-mile segment of the Florida Scenic Trail winds through the Ocala National Forest with numerous trailheads, including access points in the Juniper Springs Recreation Area, incorporating boardwalks and nature trails leading into deeper wooded areas. For serious cyclists, find the Alexandra Springs Recreation Area trailhead for the only designated off-road 22-mile Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail.

Wild Florida - Kenansville

Talk a walk on the wild side with a jam-packed family day at Wild Florida, where animal lovers can ride, walk, or drive through the adventure of their choice. Take a ride on an airboat through the headwaters of the Florida Everglades, skimming across the water, looking for diverse wildlife like alligators, eagles, and native birds lurking in the swamps, marshes, and rivers. Stroll through Gator Park and meet more than 200 native and exotic animals like bobcats, lemurs, sloths, and more alligators. Younger visitors will love the Petting Zoo and Hawk Swamp under the shade of the cypress canopy boardwalk. Finally, stay in the car and discover more than 150 animals roaming freely in the Drive-Thru Safari Park. Wild Florida is about a 45-minute drive from Orlando International Airport.

Cocoa Beach

While Orlando isn’t on the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf Coast, if day trippers to Florida want to squeeze in a trip to the beach, Cocoa Beach is the closest beach to the airport, about one hour away. There are kayaking expeditions if visitors want to explore some of the inlets and watch for dolphins, or drop-in surf lessons if visitors want to learn a new sport in the “East Coast Surf Capital” of the U.S., or there’s always the option to lay on the say and enjoy the salty sea air.

The Cocoa Beach Pier is a landmark on Florida’s Space Coast, stretching 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, and is home to great restos, bars, gift shops, and live entertainment. The pier is among the best places to watch a SpaceX Falcon rocket launch and catch the boosters falling to Earth. See a schedule of upcoming rocket launches on The Kennedy Space Center website.

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge - Crystal River

Just a 90-minute drive from Orlando airport, Crystal River is located in Citrus County and is an amazing day trip from Orlando, especially for nature lovers. Crystal River is known as the “Manatee Capital of the World” for good reason. About 30 manatees live in Crystal River year-round, but as many as 1,000 West Indian manatees can swim in from the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico to bask in the warm spring water, especially during the winter. Many live in protected areas like the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, and only a few licensed tour operators have permits to take groups on swim tours. Get up close and personal with these gentle sea giants on a 3-hour Manatee Swim Tour with Explorida.

Florida offers so many amazing day trips from Orlando, which is ideal for both adventure seekers and families. Within 90 minutes, visitors can explore the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, home to diverse wildlife; the Kennedy Space Center, where you can relive historic space missions; and Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, known for its manatee encounters. For a fun, educational experience, visit the Great Explorations Children’s Museum or Discovery Cove, where you can swim with dolphins. Beach lovers can head to Cocoa Beach, while outdoorsy types can hike the scenic trails of Ocala National Forest or enjoy airboat rides at Wild Florida.