There are so many must-visit places in Florida. It’s really no wonder that the rest of the country comes to us for vacations! We’ve compiled a list of some of the best road trips in Florida. So go ahead and drag the kids away from the phones and video games, jump in the station wagon, and get ready to hit the road for a real adventure.

1. Cruise down Gulfside Highway 19 with stops at Crystal River, Weeki Wachee, Tarpon Springs and Cedar Key.
Flickr/USFWS Endangered Species
Crystal River is the only place you can legally swim with the gentle endangered manatee.
www.weekiwachee.com
Florida's so cool that we have a state park with live mermaids! The Weeki Wachee State Park website has more information.
commons.wikimedia.org/Leonard J. DeFrancisci
Tarpon Springs is a town with Greek heritage and sponge diving history.
Flickr/Dorothy Finley
The charming fishing town of Cedar Key is rich in history and has some of the best seafood in Florida.
2. Take the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway through Ocala National Forest
Flickr/US Forest Service - Southern Region
Ocala National Forest is one of Florida's most beautiful parks, with tons of beautiful wildlife and springs to visit.
Flickr/Kristine Paulus
The Salt Springs at Ocala National Forest has a great campground if you decide to spend the night! You can make reservations at the USDA website.
3. The Tamiami Trail through the Everglades, Big Cypress National Preserve and Ochopee will give you a taste of both the wild and touristy of Florida for an unforgettable trip.
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Tamiami runs through the Everglades and has no walls along the sides, so you could see some incredible wildlife!
Flickr/TierraLady
Big Cypress has some amazing views of the night sky. If you like camping, consider a stop here for the night. The National Parks Service website has more information.
Martin Valka via commons.wikimedia.org
Ochopee is home to the country's smallest post office. The building used to be a storage shed but is now a fully-functioning post office that serves a tri-county area.
Flickr/Jeff Boulter
It's also home to the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters, dedicated to finding Florida's Bigfoot. They have a website if you're interested in joining the hunt!

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Flickr/JohnPickenPhoto
You're going to get hungry, so stop at Joanie's for some great grub. Go to their Facebook for more information.
4. Old Florida Heritage Highway (Scenic US 441 with stops in Paynes Prairie, Micanopy and Gainesville
Flickr/Jessica Therriault for Florida Fish and Wildlife
Flickr/Miguel Vieira
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is one of the best state parks in Florida, with wildlife including alligators, bison and Florida Cracker horses. The Florida State Parks website has more information.
www.micanopytown.com
Micanopy, The Town That Time Forgot, has tons of historic buildings and antique shops visitors can peruse for hours.
Flickr/anoldent
Stroll through town and view the shops, restaurants and historic houses. For nature lovers, check out Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.
5. Travel back in time through St. Augustine on A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway to Gamble Rogers Memorial Recreational Area
www.scenica1a.org
Flickr/Bob
America's oldest city has so much to offer, from historical landmarks and museums to busy nightlife and restaurants.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.
Chris Myers/Google Maps
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park has been open for over 125 years. It is home to 24 different crocodilian species. They have lots of photos of their critters on their website.
commons.wikimedia.org/Ebyabe
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreational Area was named for a Florida folk hero who died trying to save a drowning man. The Florida State Parks website has more information.

All these road trips in Florida sound like so much fun! Tell us your thoughts in the comments. What’s on your list of must-visit places in Florida?

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More to Explore

Best Road Trips In Florida

Lisa Sammons | May 06, 2021

What are some must-visit places in Florida?

Florida truly has a lot of bucket list destinations. Of course, the Everglades (mentioned above) are absolutely amazing). We've also got tons of lighthouses that are totally worth checking out. The Florida Keys are incredible. Ocala is a neat city and (contrary to what Kentuckyians believe!)

What are some good Florida natural wonders to check out?

If you've never been to the Florida Cavern State Park, you're really missing out! It's such a neat natural wonder in Florida and the park is so beautiful both above-ground and below. Another gorgeous destination is Falling Waters State Park, which contains the highest waterfall in the state.

What are some more of the best road trips in Florida?

Florida is practically king of road trips. We've got small town road trips and inexpensive destination road trips and restaurant road trips, We always say, there's a reason the rest of the country vacations in Florida and that's because we've got so many great places to check out!

Related Articles

Featured Addresses
Crystal River, FL, USA
Weeki Wachee, FL, USA
Tarpon Springs, FL, USA
Cedar Key, FL 32625, USA
Ocala National Forest, Florida 32179, USA
Everglades, Florida, USA
Big Cypress, FL, USA
Ochopee Post Office Historical Marker, 38000 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA
Skunk Ape Headquarters, 40904 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA
Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe, 39395 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Savannah Boulevard, Micanopy, FL, USA
Micanopy, FL, USA
Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park, 4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, 1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084, USA
999 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA
Gamble Rogers, 3100 S Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136, USA