10 Great Road Trips to Take from Orlando!

Just an hours drive away the pier and boardwalk at Daytona Beach offers something for everyone in the family. Add in some really great places to eat and you will have a day to remember! 

Photo Credit: Victory Casino Cruises

Set sail on a 3 hour tour and try not to blow all your money on a gambling boat. Less than an hour away from Orlando (out of Port Canaveral) you can board a casino boat, sail out into international water and gamble. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon as long as you don’t lose your shirt!

Did you ever want to run away with the circus? You can explore the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. About a 2 hour drive from Orlando sits this 56 room mansion that is packed with cool art and interesting circus history. Live performances daily will keep you entertained too!

Photo Credit: Lion Country Safari

Head out on a safari to Lion Country Safari. A little further away at 2.5 hours drive, but worth the trip. Lion Country Safari is Florida’s only drive-through safari and walk-through amusement park and offers animal displays and encounters, animal feeding experiences, 5 rides, water spray-ground, food and shopping. You are sure to have a memorable experience.

Photo Credit: Dinosaur World

Wander among hundreds of life-sized dinosaurs in a natural setting at Dinosaur World. Located about an hours drive from Orlando, Dinosaur World is one of the world’s largest collection of life-sized dinosaurs. The park is full of interactive exhibits to capture everyone’s imaginations and dino-themed playgrounds and will offer a full day of fun for the entire family.

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

Visit St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States. A little over 1.5 hours drive, St. Augustine is full of culture and even offers a ghost tour! You can stroll along brick-lined streets and delight in the city’s European flavor, with centuries-old buildings, horse-drawn carriages, hidden courtyards, and over 300 restaurants!

Photo Credit: Salvador Dali Museum

The Salvador Dalí Museum is about a two hour drive but worth the trip! The museum is home to the largest collection of Dali’s works outside of Europe. His fiercely technical yet highly unusual paintings, sculptures and visionary explorations in film and life-size interactive art ushered in a new generation of imaginative expression. Dali always took great risks and proved how rich the world can be when you dare to embrace your creativity. 

Photo Credit: Don Garlits Museum

About an hour away, visit a drag racing museum in Ocala. The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing and International Drag Racing Hall of Fame is open every day from 9am-5pm. Opened in 1976, the museum chronicles the history of drag racing. Ninety racing cars can be seen in the Drag Race building and an additional fifty vehicles are in the Antique Car building. Many of the Garlits “Swamp Rat” cars can be seen here along with an accumulation of cars and memorabilia from other top names in the sport. 

Photo Credit: Cracker Creek Cruises

Next time you visit Orlando and want to spend a day or two away from the theme parks, there are lots of spots in the area that are interesting and full of adventure!