21 Best Day Trips from Tampa
One of my favorite things about Tampa is that it is centrally located to other destinations, making it easy to take one of these day trips from Tampa.
As locals in the Tampa Bay area, we find ourselves taking day trips often on the weekends to explore more of Florida. So, I decided to create this guide to the best day trips from Tampa.
All of these destinations are less than 2 hours away from Tampa (most are under a 1-hour drive)! From beaches and costal towns to amusement parks and historic sites, there is something for everyone.
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Best Day Trips from Tampa
Below you’ll find my favorite day trips to take from Tampa.
While most of these destinations require a car, there are a few different options that you can easily visit without a car using Uber or Lyft. These include places like Downtown St. Pete, Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, St. Pete Beach, and a few more.
Downtown St. Petersburg
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 25-minute drive
Downtown St. Pete is a vibrant, fun area. It is one of the best day trips from Tampa because there are so many things to do, restaurants, breweries, bars, and more.
Some of the most popular things to do include walking around St. Pete’s Pier which is a modern version of a pier that extends into Tampa Bay.
Next to the Pier you will also find large green spaces, including Vinoy Park. An insider tip is that you can frequently see dolphins swimming around the bay from Vinoy Park or along the pier.
There are also so many cool places to check out in St. Pete from exploring the best rooftop bars to visiting some of the unique breweries or speakeasies.
Disney World
🚗 Distance from Tampa: ~1 hour 30 minute drive
Disney World is easily the most famous attraction in Florida, which makes it a popular day trip from Tampa. The iconic theme park is located in Bay Lake, just outside of Orlando.
Disney World consists of 4 different theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. They also have 2 waterparks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.
For information on planning a day trip to Disney check out the official Disney website.
Visiting Disney World can be very expensive, so if you are looking for a Disney experience but spend less money you can also check out Disney Springs which is FREE to enter. Disney Springs doesn’t have rides, but they have restaurants, shops, and more that go along with the whole Disney vibe.
St. Pete Beach
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 40 minute drive
If you are looking for a day trip from Tampa where you can rent a beach chair and relax in the sun, then St. Pete Beach is where it’s at.
While this beach can get busy, it is one of my favorite beaches to visit for a beach day because you can rent a comfy beach chair or cabana and it has the soft, white sand and blue waters.
St. Pete Beach also has a variety of beach bars, including my personal favorite – Coconut Charlies.
One of the most iconic places in St. Pete Beach is the historic Don Cesar Resort. This waterfront resort was first built in 1928 and has a Gatsby-era vibe mixed with a luxury beach resort.
The cool thing is you can visit the iconic resort as a day trip because they offer Day Passes that include access to resort amenities.
**The Don Cesar was affected by a hurricane in October 2024, see plans of reopening here.
Sarasota
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 1 hour drive
Sarasota is just south of Tampa, which makes it perfect for a day trip. Sarasota is surrounded by beautiful beaches, but the town itself is also worth a visit.
One of the best things to do in Sarasota is visit the famous Ringling Museum. The museum is actually a series of smaller museums that are spread out across the entire estate and follow the story of John & Mable Ringling, who created the world famous Ringling Circus over 100 years ago.
The Ringling Museum consists of the historic Ca’ d’Zan Estate, the Art Museum, the Circus Museum, the Historic Asolo Theater, and beautiful waterfront gardens. There is also a large playground for kids and plenty of walking paths.
In addition to the Ringling Museum, Sarasota has a cute downtown with plenty of restaurants & shops. The Marie Selby Botanical Garden is also a great place to spend an afternoon.
Anna Maria Island
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 1 hour drive
Known for its soft, white sand and turquoise blue waters, Anna Maria Island is a Floridian paradise. It is by far one of the most beautiful beaches near Tampa and makes for a popular day trip.
If you are headed to Anna Maria Island, I recommend lunch at the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant. They have delicious seafood, plus you have amazing waterfront views. Some of the tables are even on the beach itself. Just keep in mind this is a popular spot!
*** In October 2024, Hurricane Milton hit Anna Maria island causing extensive damage. The island is currently in the process of rebuilding. 💜 For updates check the Manatee County website.
Dunedin
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 35 minute drive
Dunedin is a charming small town located along the Gulf Coast. Its truly a hidden gem of the Tampa area and is one of my favorite places to visit.
The main street of Dunedin features a variety of boutique shops, restaurants, breweries, and waterfront views. It’s a perfect place to spend an afternoon.
The town has a Scottish history which can be experienced at yearly events like the Dunedin Highland Games. They also have more frequent events including the Dunedin Downtown Market which is held on Saturdays.
One thing I love about Dunedin is that it’s a cute place to walk around and is super family-friendly. In fact, it’s one of the best places to bring a baby while in Tampa.
Siesta Key Beach
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 1 hour 15 minute drive
Siesta Key is a fun, vibrant beach located near Sarasota. This large beach offers white sand and crystal-clear water. They also have the colorful lifeguard stands like the ones you see down in Miami.
One aspect I love about Siesta Key Beach is that they have a large parking lot right next to the beach which makes finding parking easier compared to other beaches near Tampa.
Near the Siesta Key Beach, you’ll find Ocean Blvd which has a variety of cute beach shops, bars, and restaurants.
Universal Studios
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 1 hour 30 minute drive
Universal Studios is another popular theme park, located in Orlando. Universal Studios has two theme parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
It also has the Volcano Bay waterpark. If you enjoy roller coasters and rides – Universal Studios is a great place to visit.
Universal Studios in Orlando is also famous for its Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
This spans across both the Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure parks and includes several Harry Potter-themed rides as well as a replica world of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
Clearwater Beach
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 40-minute drive
Clearwater Beach has consistently been ranked as one of the best beaches in the United States. It’s a popular vacation spot and a great day trip option from Tampa.
Along Clearwater Beach, you will find many restaurants, beach bars, and attractions like Pier 60 or the Clearwater Aquarium. Plus, there are fun activities like dolphin boat tours, sunset cruises, jet ski rentals, and more.
So, if you are looking for a fun-filled beach day, Clearwater is a great choice!
Mount Dora
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 1 hour 45 minute drive
Mount Dora is an adorable small town in central Florida, just north of Orlando. Its filled with boutique shops, coffee shops, a few bars, and some good restaurants.
This is the perfect day trip option for those who love exploring small, cutesy towns with local shops.
The town is also known for having a variety of festivals throughout the year, like the Scottish Highlands Festival or the Mount Dora Arts Festival. You can view the festival schedule here.
While Mount Dora isn’t a mountain, it certainly is more hilly than the rest of Florida (which is known for being sea-level flat).
Located along Lake Eustis, Mount Dora has some great water views and is a nice place to enjoy kayaking, boating, or walking along one of the many trails.
There are also some waterfront restaurants to check out – I personally recommend getting lunch at Pisces Rising.
Madeira Beach & Johns Pass
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 40 minute drive
Madeira Beach is a laid-back beach in Pinellas County. Its known for its soft white sand, clear waters, and stunning sunsets.
Just steps away, John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk offers waterfront dining, boutique shopping, boat tours, and fresh seafood.
One thing I love about this beach is that you can easily spend some time out on the beach, then make your way over to John’s Pass for some food, drinks, and shopping. The area also has a more relaxed feel compared to busier beaches like Clearwater Beach.
Fort De Soto
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 40 minute drive
If you are looking to get away from the tourist crowds while visiting one of the beautiful beaches near Tampa and Fort De Soto it is.
Fort De Soto is a Pinellas County Park and is home to white sand beaches and tranquil gulf waters. Since it is a county park, the entrance fee is $6 per vehicle.
One cool thing about Fort De Soto is that it offers lots to do, including two fishing piers, a boat launch, areas to kayak/paddleboard, lots of picnic spaces, and a campground.
Fort DeSoto also offers five beach wheelchairs, which can be reserved by calling (727) 582-2100, Monday – Friday from 8-5pm.
You will also find the walled ruin of Fort De Soto, a military fort that was used in the Spanish-American War. You can walk along the top of the wall or explore below to see the remnants of the fort and the military cannons. For more information on the history of Fort De Soto, see the county website.
Tarpon Springs
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 50 minutes
If you’ve dreamed of visiting Greece, then you should head to Tarpon Springs – which is the Floridian alternative! This cute waterfront town was settled by Greek divers who originally came to the area to dive for sponges in the early 1900s.
Today, the heart of the town is the Tarpon Springs sponge docks, where there are boats, shops, and restaurants.
Tarpon Springs has kept much of its Greek influence and has (in my opinion) some of the best Greek food in the entire state of Florida.
If you’re visiting the sponge docks, make sure to hop on a boat cruise. We took a dolphin cruise and it was a great way to spend the afternoon out on the water!
Crystal River
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 1 hour 30 minutes
Crystal River is a charming, local Florida town that is home to one of Florida’s beautiful natural springs.
One of the highlights of visiting Crystal River is that each year from November through March, around 800 Manatees make their way to the springs for warmer waters.
During this time, you can actually kayak with the Manatees to see the gentle giants up close. It is also possible to swim with Manatees in certain areas, but you do need to rent a full wetsuit to protect the natural habitat.
Gulfport
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 30 minute drive
Gulfport is another beach town located along the waterfront in Pinellas County. This charming town has shops, breweries, restaurants, a small beach, and a casino. The laid-back, relaxing atmosphere makes it a fun place to walk around, enjoy a tropical drink, or even go for a swim in the ocean.
This is another hidden gem, so it doesn’t get as busy with tourists as other places in Pinellas County.
Safety Harbor
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 30 minute drive
Located along the Tampa Bay, Safety Harbor is an adorable small town in Pinellas County. This truly is a hidden gem that doesn’t get all the tourists like Clearwater or St. Pete.
The town itself is small but has a cute main street with shops, restaurants, and a waterfront park.
One of the best things to do in Safety Harbor is to visit Whimzeyland. Whimzeyland is a home that was transformed into a very unique and colorful art exhibit by two local artists.
You can see the vibrantly decorated yard from the street. It is a private residence, but they do offer tours of the house – for information please see their Facebook page here.
Orlando
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 1 hour 45 minutes
Many people think of Disney or Universal when they think of Orlando, but there are also lots of things to do in the city of Orlando too.
One of the best things to do on a day trip to Orlando is visit Lake Eola Park, which has walking paths, city views, and you can even rent a Swan Boat here to paddle around in.
Other fun day trip activities include exploring the City District or the historic area of Church Street Station. For those visiting with kids, ICON park is also a fun place to spend the day.
Honeymoon Island
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 45-minute drive
Honeymoon Island is a Florida State Park that is a favorite among locals for its natural beach and undisturbed views.
If you love nature then this is the perfect place to visit as this barrier island has 5 miles of beaches and 3.5 miles of hiking trails.
However, if you choose to go hiking make sure to put on bug spray! The trail has wooded areas and the first time I went hiking here we got so many bites from flies – so bring your bug spray – and the sunscreen too!
From Honeymoon Island you can also take the ferry to visit Caladesi Island, a secluded paradise that is only accessible by boat.
Epperson Lagoon
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 40 minutes
Located just north of Tampa in Wesley Chapel is a unique man-made crystal lagoon that spans over 7.5 acres.
This is such a fun place to spend the day as it really gives you a beach feel but with lots of amenities including a swim-up bar, complimentary beach loungers, a water slide, water obstacle course, kayaking, and more.
They also have cabanas you can rent and an adult VIP section if you prefer to have some peace and quiet.
Weeki Wachee
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 1 hour
Weeki Wachee is a freshwater spring located just north of Tampa. There are a few things to do at Weeki Wachee, including kayaking, paddle boarding, a waterslide, and swimming at Buccaneer Bay.
However, the most unique attraction here is the Mermaid Shows which feature “real” mermaids.
The mermaids are trained professionals, and it’s a really unique show. They do warn that it might be scary for little ones (because it’s weird to see people “breathe” underwater), but it really just depends on your kiddo!
Bok Tower Gardens
🚗 Distance from Tampa: 1 hour and 20 minute drive
Bok Tower Gardens is a 250-acre garden and bird sanctuary that is an easy day trip from Tampa. The highlight of the gardens is the Singing Tower, which is a neo-gothic bell tower that consists of 23 musical instruments.
There are also several different gardens and nature trails throughout the site, making it the perfect choice for a peaceful, relaxing day trip in central Florida.
FAQs about Tampa Day Trips
Tampa is centrally located in Florida, so there are several cities that are less than a 2 hour drive from Tampa. These include cities like Orlando, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Lakeland. There are also smaller towns near Tampa, including Tarpoon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater, Gulfport, and more.
There are a few beach towns close to Tampa. One of the most popular beach towns is Clearwater, which has consistently been ranked as one of the best beaches in America. Other beach towns include St. Pete beach, Treasure Island, Siesta Key, and Anna Maria Island.
Towns that are 30 minutes away from Tampa include St. Petersburg, Wesley Chapel, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Brandon, and Riverview.
Best Day Trips from Tampa: Which One Will You Visit?
There are so many options of places to visit from Tampa, from the amusement parks in Orlando to the beaches on the Gulf Coast! There are also plenty of hidden gem spots, like kayaking with Manatees in Crystal River or exploring the charming, artsy town of Safety Harbor.
Looking for more places to add to your Florida itinerary? Check out my guide to the best weekend trips from Tampa for longer getaways!
