TAMPA FLORIDA DAY TRIPS

The Tampa Florida day trips and one tank trips presented on this website are all within 100 miles of Tampa.

The average car can get at least 250 miles on a tank of gas. Some compact cars can get quite a bit more.  The Tampa Florida day trips on this website can be made with gallons to spare for sightseeing and back road exploring on the trip.

Here are some things to do and places to see within 100 miles of Tampa.

---

Recommended Tampa Florida Day Trips

A.C. Freeman House and museum is located in Punta Gorda in a beautifully preserved example of Queen Anne-style architecture.

Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens, in Winter Park is the home and studio of a prominent American sculptor.  Included are several of his major works and a beautiful sculpture garden.

Alexander Springs Recreational Area,  in the Ocala National Forest offers camping, swimming, canoeing, scuba diving, hiking, birding and wildlife viewing. 

Alva is a small town on the Caloosahatchee River west of Fort Myers. It has a small museum and an Old Florida ambiance with lots of oaks and Spanish Moss and the lazy river flowing by. Not named for Thomas Alva Edison.

American Victory Ship & Museum in Tampa offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into maritime history and the critical role these ships played during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Anclote Key Preserve State Park is an island three miles off the coast of Tarpon Springs. It spans 11,773 acres across four islands and is accessible only by boat or ferry.

Appleton Museum of Art  in Ocala is a 81,610-square-foot museum featuring Appleton’s permanent collections.

Arcadia has an annual rodeo and is in the heart of cattle country. Downtown has been restored and a couple of nice bed and breakfasts make this a good weekend getaway.

Arcadia Historic District spans 3,400 acres downtown and includes 293 historic buildings. Pedestrians are welcome.

Asolo Repertory Theater in Sarasota is an important part of Sarasota’s arts scene. It stages up to fifteen productions every season.,

Babcock Ranch Eco Tours near Punta Gorda takes you on a tour of a working Florida ranch. You not only see the operation, but get to ride through one of Florida's most pristine natural settings.

Baynard House Museum is a historic home in Auburndale. The Folk Victorian-style house was built in 1894.

Beaches. Some of the best beaches in Florida are within an easy drive of Tampa in Clearwater and other places along Florida's Gulf.

Belle Haven Apartments, also known as El Vernona Apartments - Broadway Apartments, is a historic building in Sarasota by the architect who also designed John Ringling's Ca' d'Zan mansion.

Blanchard House Museum is in the 1925 Craftsman bungalow originally owned by Joseph Blanchard in Punta Gorda, Florida. The single-story home is a prime example of Florida's vernacular Craftsman bungalow style. The museum focuses on African American history in Charlotte County and Southwest Florida.

Boca Grande is on the south end of Gasparilla Island and has the laid back charm of an end of the road village. Good relaxing, good dining, great beaches.

Bok Tower Gardens is a peaceful retreat near Lake Wales.  A carillon tower and lush landscaping mark this National historic treasure.

Bradlee-McIntyre House is a historic home in Longwood. Built in 1885, it showcases Queen Anne-style architecture.

Busch Gardens in Tampa is  a 335 acre animal themed park with 8 roller coasters, 3 water rides, and many other rides and animal attractions. 

Bradenton is a small city south of Tampa Bay that has great arts, seafood and beaches. It is the little brother to nearby Sarasota.

Brooksville is in rolling hill and spreading oak country. An old southern town with a Confederate soldier statue standing guard over its county courthouse.

Cabbage Key can only be reached by boat.  It's home to the Old Florida restaurant where Jimmy Buffet was inspired to write "Cheesburger in Paradise".

Ca' d'Zan, Ringling Home in Sarasota was the home of John and Mable Ringling. Now a museum and location for art and circus memorabilia tours.

Captiva Island has some of the finest shelling beaches in the world. Just north of Sanibel, it is a great place to relax for a day, week or lifetime.

CatBoat Adventures in Mount Dora lets you pilot your own motor boat on Lake Dora while a captain narrates and points out highlights. 

Cayo Costa State Park near Captiva west of Fort Myers is a 2,506-acre island in the Gulf. Accessible only by boat, it has pristine beaches, pine forests, and mangroves.

Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden focuses on the railroads of Central Florida. 

Central West Florida Day Trips is a page on this website that has maps showing interesting back road drives around Tampa and the region.

Chattaway is an Old Florida style restaurant in St. Petersburg that features old claw footed bathtubs as planters and provides a casual menu in outdoor surroundings.

Chinsegut Hill in Brooksville is an interesting piece of the Nature Coast’s history, having been homesteaded by John and Susan Bishop in the 1800s.

Cortez is an authentic Old Florida fishing village on an island on the causeway between Bradenton and the beaches.  Lots of great seafood, a museum and waterfront ambiance.

Cracker Country Rural History Museum in Tampa is a living history museum open to the public during the Florida State Fair in February.

Crystal River Swim With Manatees is a fun family activity where various tour operators provide the equipment and let you swim among manatees in the super clear waters in this area north of Tampa.

Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell preserves and commemorates the site of Dade’s Battle of 1835.  Of 110 American soldiers, only 3 survived the ambush by Seminoles.  

Dali Museum in downtown St. Petersburg has the world's largest permanent exhibit of the works of this great master. The architecture of the building is also a work of art.

Davenport Historic District covers 32 acres and includes 28 historic buildings and one structure.

Deseret Ranches is one of the largest working cow-calf ranches in the United States. Its 295,000 acres sprawl between Orlando and Cocoa. Tours are available.

Dinosaur World near Plant City is an attraction that the entire family will enjoy, especially the kids. Your kids will thank you for making this one of your Tampa Florida day trips.

Disney Springs is a giant outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex at Walt Disney World. 

Don CeSar Resort and Spa, known as the Pink Palace, sits on St. Pete Beach. Built in 1928, the resort offers Gulf views, two pools, a spa, and dining options.

Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala has more than 90 race cars on display and another 50 antique cars.

Don Pedro Island State Park lies eight miles from Englewood between Knight and Little Gasparilla islands. Access it only by private boat, kayak, or ferry.  

Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers are the well preserved winter homes of Thomas Alva Edison and Henry Ford. Edison's laboratory is an interesting well preserved attraction.

El Jobean Post Office and General Store is a historic landmark in El Jobean built in 1923.

Englewood is a town on the beach that is a delight to visit. It is off the beaten path on the way to Boca Grande. Nice shops and restaurants, great beaches.

Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort is one of 4 theme parks at WDW. It celebrates human achievement in technology and culture.

Fantasy of Flight in Polk City has a display of more than 140 civilian and military planes and many of them can fly.  

Farm Tours of Ocala is a tour of working farms that takes you behind the scenes to chat with pros who work with thoroughbred horses. 

Florida Air Museum in Lakeland is designated Florida’s “Official Aviation Museum and Education Center”. 

Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa is one of the largest and finest in the world. It is also known as the Tampa Aquarium. For kids, this will be one of the most popular Tampa Florida day trips.

Florida Citrus Tower in Clermont is a tall observation tower takes you up in an elevator where you can see the view of the surrounding area.

Florida Day Trips by Theme.  Some people like to focus on one theme like museums, art, theater, history, architecture, etc.  This web page has 250 attractions involving 20 different themes.

Florida Orange Groves is an historic winery in St. Petersburg. You can see how wine is made and do some sampling.

Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish is one of 3 official state railroad museums.  It has a large collection of rolling stock with 9 locomotives and 15 cars including Pullmans and cabooses. 

Floridan Hotel, now the Hotel Flor Tampa Downtown, is a National Historic Landmark blending vintage elegance with modern luxury. This 19-story Beaux Arts skyscraper was Florida’s tallest building until 1966.

Fort Cooper State Park in Inverness covers 710 acres around Lake Holathlikaha. The park preserves a historic site from the Second Seminole War.

Fort Desoto Park has one of the finest beaches in Florida. It is located south of St. Petersburg in Tierra Verde. The trip to the beach is a very scenic drive.

Fort Meade is a small historic town established on the site of a fort used during the Seminole Wars.

Fort Myers is the major city in southwest Florida and is an easy trip from Tampa. Lots of great boating, the huge nearby community of Cape Coral, not far from Naples.

Frank Lloyd Wright Child of the Sun.
The largest single collection of the great architect's buildings are on the campus of Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

Fun Spot America in Orlando has 4 different go-kart tracks and 3 roller coasters, plus another 3 different thrill rides.

Gamble Plantation Historic State Park in Ellenton includes the Gamble Mansion, a visitor center, and 16 acres of former sugarcane fields.

Gasparilla Island State Park sits on the southern tip of Gasparilla Island in Boca Grande and has beaches along the Gulf and Boca Grande Pass.

Gatorland in Orlando is one of Florida's oldest attractions that still entertains with thousands of alligators and a thrilling canopy ride.

General James A. Van Fleet State Trail runs 29.2 miles through Central Florida, starting in Polk City and ending in Mabel. The paved path follows an old railroad corridor through the Green Swamp. Bicyclists, hikers, and runners use the 12-foot-wide trail.

Hacienda Hotel in New Port Richey is a restored 1920s boutique lodging with a restaurant and bar. 

Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin is a 2,800-acre barrier island sanctuary on the Gulf Coast. It's renowned for its pristine white-sand beaches. It attracts more than one million visitors a year, making it Florida’s most-visited state park.

Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial  at Gamble Plantation State Park in Ellenton is a pre-Civil War mansion, the only surviving plantation house in south Florida.

Keel and Curley Winery in Plant City is a family owned vineyard that specializes in blueberry wines.  Nice bar and tastings.

Lake Kissimmee State Park covers 5,930 acres near Lake Wales. Living history at an 1876 cow camp shows Florida's ranching past.

Lakeland is a beautiful mid sized city between Tampa and Orlando on I-4.  It has many downtown lakes, and the Frank Lloyd Wright designed campus of Florida Southern College.

Lake of the Hills Community Club in Lake Wales, built in 1927, stands as a cherished landmark of community spirit and historical significance.

Lake Wales Arts Center is a cultural hub in Lake Wales. Housed in a historic Spanish Mission-style building, it offers art exhibits, concerts, and classes.

Leu Gardens in Orlando is a 50 acre botanical garden divided into more than a dozen specialty gardens. 

Little Manatee River State Park in Wimauma spans 2,433 acres along the Little Manatee River. The park has hiking, kayaking, camping, and horseback riding.

Longwood Historic District covers 190-acres and includes 37 historic buildings. The streets are tree-lined and walkable.

Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site on Terra Ceia Island near Palmetto is a 10-acre preserve and Florida’s first designated State Archaeological Site.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota is a 15 acre garden that is the only one in the world devoted to epiphytes.  These include orchids, bromeliads, and hundreds of other plants. 

May-Stringer Heritage Museum in Brooksville is a historical site, and a four-story, 14-room Victorian home built in 1855.

Morse Museum in Winter Park is home to the world's most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, including jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass and more.

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota is an independent research institution that studies manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and coral reefs.

Museum of the Islands is in Bokeelia on Pine Island. A gift shop sells local books and souvenirs. The site includes a garden and pavilion for picnics.

Myakka River State Park in Sarasota spans 37,000 acres and has beautiful, elevated canopy trails.

Old Lake County Courthouse in Tavares was built in 1923 in the Neoclassical Revival style. The building now houses the Lake County Historical Museum. You can see inside and outside of the old courthouse.

Osceola County Courthouse in Kissimmee was built in 1890 in the Romanesque Revival style. It's the oldest courthouse in Florida still in continuous use for its original purpose.

Ozello is a small village in the marshes between Crystal River and Homosassa.  Great boating and some good seafood restaurants.

Pioneer Florida Museum and Village in Dade City lets you explore Florida's pioneer days at this living history museum, which features historic buildings, exhibits, and artifacts.

Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and museum is in Gasparilla Island State Park. The restored Port Boca Grande Lighthouse was built in 1890.

Punta Gorda is a small town on the southern shore of Peace River and Charlotte Harbor. Some of the best sailing in Florida, good shopping and dining.

Punta Gorda Residential District is a historic area spanning 22 city blocks and including 125 mostly residential buildings. It's a good area to walk.

Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.  You can swim in the freshwater Rainbow River, rent canoes and kayaks, view waterfalls and gardens and enjoy a picnic area with grills, and pavilions.

Randell Research Center (RRC) at Pineland is a premier archaeological and educational facility operated by the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Renninger's Mount Dora Twin Markets
20651 US-441, Mount Dora, FL 32757, Tel: 352-383-8393. This is a huge antique center and adjacent flea market on the same property.  Each market has hundreds of vendors.  Antiques, clothing, plants, product, eggs, meat, pets, and about anything else.

Richloam General Store in Ridge Manor is an authentic old restored general store with a shady porch for relaxing.  There is a good Florida cracker restaurant nearby.

Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota is Florida's official art museum. The huge museum contains 21 galleries of European paintings as well as many pieces of Asian, American, and contemporary art.  

Rosa Fiorello Winery near Bradenton is a family owned enterprise. Enjoy watching the wine making process and sampling the wares.

Sarasota has a beautiful waterfront setting and great beaches. It has some of the finest art exhibits and museums in Florida. Home of New College and the John and Mabel Ringling residence.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a 10 acre tropical site with more than 200 animals including birds of prey, parrots, macaws, flamingos, primates, small mammals, snakes, lizards and more.  

Seaworld Orlando is three different parks in one:  SeaWorld, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove.  See dolphins, whales, manatees, sea lions, and other creatures perform. 

Sebring Historic Downtown: Stroll through the charming downtown area, which has a variety of shops, restaurants, and historic buildings.

Silver Springs State Park in Ocala is a spring and attraction in a Florida State Park.  You can enjoy riding on the glass-bottomed boats, paddling in a kayak, or being amazed at the crystal-clear blue depths of Silver Springs. 

Solomon's Castle is the home and studio of sculptor Howard Solomon. It is in the swamp lands near Ona northwest of Arcadia and it's a work of art as much as the things inside.

Spook Hill in Lake Wales is a free attraction has been around for years.  You park your car in neutral, and watch it apparently coast uphill.  

St. Leo is a beautiful small town that is home to St. Leo University.  A wonderful campus to visit.

St. Petersburg has a beautiful downtown area that has been restored and is a vital center for shopping and dining. Private and city marinas line the waterfront, and the Vinoy Renaissance hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Strong Tower Vineyard and Winery is a small family owned business near Spring Hill and Brooksville. You will see how the grapes are grown, the wine made, and can sample the products.

Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor is a non-profit organization that provides a home to chimps, orangutans, monkeys, birds and more.

Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg is a botanical garden more than 100 years old with 50,000 tropical plants and cascading waterfalls. 

Tampa Museum of Science & Industry features a planetarium. and several exhibits that explain science, health and wellness, space, and weather.  

Tampa itself can keep you busy for days with its aquarium, zoo, Ybor City, Columbia Restaurant, professional football and waterfront everywhere you look. Although your Tampa Florida day trips start here, don't forget to visit as much as you can here too.

Tampania House in west Tampa dates back to 1927. Also known as Friederich House or Kirkeby House, it is designed in the Prairie School style.

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks at Dodecanese Blvd is a popular tourist attraction located along the Anclote River.

Universal Orlando Resort is the second largest theme park in Orlando, it consists of two parks:  Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure.

University of Tampa (Tampa Bay Hotel) has a museum in the hotel that contains actual furnishings enjoyed by the first guests to visit here.

USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Hall of Fame in Davenport honors the pioneers of water skiing and preserves the sport's 100-year history.

Venice is a small town with great beaches on the Gulf and a downtown area that is loaded with antique shops and good restaurants.

Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando is the largest theme park in the world.  People come here from all over the world.

Warm Mineral Springs in North Port attracts people from all over the world to soak in the warm waters of this spring that supposedly has many healing minerals.

Webster Flea Markets are the biggest in Florida, but only open on Mondays.

Weedon Island Preserve near St. Petersburg has trails and boardwalks through protected mangrove forests, salt marshes, and upland hammocks. A cultural center displays Native American artifacts and exhibits found on site. 

Weeki Wachee Springs is not only a beautiful state park, it is a popular attraction with mermaid shows that goes back many years into Old Florida history.

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park spans 4,000 acres in Port Richey. It protects four miles of coastline and features salt springs, mangroves, and marshes.

Whidden’s Marina in Boca Grande is a historic waterfront site. The Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum, housed on-site, showcases local history.

Winter Haven, a pretty town among the lakes south of Orlando.  The home of Legoland on the site of the late and lamented Cypress Gardens.

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour is a scenic boat tour in this town adjacent to Orlando.  Winter Park lakes are connected by scenic canals.  The boat guides show you historical places and nature on your one hour cruise. 

Withlacoochee State Trail starts near Brooksville and is a 46 mile long paved path on abandoned railroad tracks that follows a route roughly parallel to the Withlacoochee River. 

Ybor City Historic District is known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter.  It is an exotic blend of aromas, flavors, sights and sounds.

Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park in Homosassa preserves the remnants of a 19th-century sugar plantation once owned by David Levy Yulee.

Ziplines are found in many playgrounds and theme parks, and many of them are located in natural settings where you can soar through the treetops above natural settings.  

Zubrick Magic Theatre is located in St. Petersburg.  It is a 93 seat intimate theater that features award-winning illusionists Chris and Ryan Zubrick delivering jaw-dropping, family-friendly magic.

---

---