7 Best Road Trips From Tampa, Florida
Florida’s third most populated city, with just under 385,000 residents, Tampa is one of America’s fastest-growing cities. Though the city proper has several great attractions, restaurants, beaches, and other cultural activities, visitors traveling by vehicle can also find a treasure trove of local destinations within driving distance. This article looks at 7 Best Road Trips from Tampa.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
A two-hour drive away on Merritt Island, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opened in 1967 and attracts millions of visitors every year. Featuring two IMAX theatres, bus tours, interactive exhibits, and historic spacecraft and other materials on display (including the Space Shuttle Atlantis), this museum is truly a place full of awe and excitement for all ages. Experience some astronaut training exercises or explore a Mars Base simulator at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; an out-of-Earth journey is always on hand.
Clearwater Beach Pier 60
Named by several media outlets and locals as the “Best Beach in the Nation,” Clearwater Beach is a beautiful resort area just a short 45-minute drive from Tampa. With warm winters and hot summers, this 4 km long area of white sandy beaches is full of restaurants, shops, and opportunities for sailing, swimming, sunbathing, and even jet skiing! At Pier 60, tourists can further enjoy live entertainment, street performers, and local artisans selling unique jewelry and other crafts to take home with them.
Honeymoon Island State Park
Another short drive of under an hour will bring visitors to the splendid Honeymoon Island State Park. Filled with beautiful beach areas, diverse local wildlife, and opportunities to go hiking, swimming, birdwatching, and of course, sunbathing, it is Florida’s most visited State Park, with more than one million tourists annually. With very hot summers, protection from the sun is paramount in this area, and a ferry trip to nearby Caladesi Island offers great ocean breezes.
Mable Ringling's Rose Garden - Ringling Museum Of Art
Rose Garden forms a portion of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in the nearby city of Sarasota and is Florida’s oldest operating public garden, first opened in 1913. At this museum, visitors can enjoy 21 different galleries devoted to European, Asian, and contemporary art in a collection that includes over 10,000 paintings, drawings, and other historical objects. In the Rose Garden, marvel at the massive Banyan Trees and an impressive display of local Florida plant life for a peaceful, beautiful, and culturally rich day trip.
Silver Springs
At just under two hours, the journey north from Tampa to Silver Springs is well worth the ride. The site of the springs of the same name is Silver Springs State Park which also serves as a popular resort destination. Thousands of tourists visit the springs each year, and one can enjoy a ride on a glass-bottom boat around the area for a unique waterfront experience. Nearby amusement park rides and concert stages make a day out at Silver Springs a fun outing for the entire family.
Blue Springs State Park
Situated right on the St. Johns River, Blue Springs State Park is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and mild temperatures. Outdoor adventurers can enjoy swimming, scuba diving, fishing, kayaking, sailing, and of course, swimming in this natural springs resort some two hours from Tampa. In the winter, a large population of manatees migrates to the area, and tourists can also view other famous Florida wildlife like the Scrub Jay and alligators!
Devil's Den Underground Grotto
In the city of Williston, a two-hour drive north from Tampa lies Devil’s Den, a prehistoric underground cave and natural spring. These now modern-day diving sites are breathtakingly beautiful and must be experienced by everyone. Scuba dive, snorkel, or just gaze in amazement at Devil’s Den, visitors should bring a sense of adventure and a good camera to make the most of this truly special place.
For visitors in southern Florida and the Tampa area, several nearby attractions are well worth the road trip. From natural phenomena to art galleries to science-filled adventure, these great places should be on the list for anyone who finds themselves in Tampa and the vicinity. They continue to demonstrate why Florida is such a rich place to explore.
