Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
#1 · Small town · 38 min northwest
Mount Dora
A hilly lakeside town with antique shops, festivals and lake views.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free
Heads-up: See downtown parking info on the city site.
Day Trippin' › Florida › From Orlando › Best mountains and viewpoints
Best Mountains & Views near Orlando
Our picks for the best mountains and viewpoints within 3 hours of Orlando: 19 places, 1 under an hour away, 12 between 1 and 2 hours and 6 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 32801.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Mount Dora, 38 min northwest of Orlando.
Map: mountains and viewpoints within 3 hours of Orlando
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Our top 15 mountains and viewpoints near Orlando 19 in all
Photo: Milesb1217, CC BY-SA 4.0
#2 · Garden · 1 hr 8 min south
Bok Tower Gardens
A singing carillon tower set in gardens on one of the highest hills in peninsular Florida.
- 2-3 hrs
- Hours
- Admission
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Carillon concerts at set times.
Photo: Averette, CC BY 3.0
#3 · Garden · 1 hr 23 min north
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Formal gardens on the river side and a rocky coquina beach on the ocean side, all in one stop.
- 2 hrs
- Year-round, 8 am-sunset
- $5 per vehicle, $4 single occupant, $2 walk-in or bike (checked Nov 2026)
Heads-up: Honor box needs correct change.
Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
#4 · State park · 1 hr 26 min south
Lake Kissimmee State Park
Big lake views and a living history 1876 cow camp on weekends.
- Half day
- Year-round, 8 am-sunset; cow camp Sat Oct-Apr
- $5 per vehicle, $4 single occupant (checked Nov 2026)
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Closed Christmas.
Photo: Operator 16, CC0
#5 · Historic site · 1 hr 32 min west
Crystal River Archaeological State Park
Native mounds by the river with a small museum and a lookout over the water.
- 1 hr
- 8 am-sunset; museum 9 am-5 pm
- $3 per vehicle by honor box (checked Nov 2026)
Heads-up: Correct change needed.
Photo: Operator 16, CC0
#6 · Wildlife · 1 hr 37 min northwest
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
A huge open prairie where wild horses, bison and alligators roam. Climb the tower for the view.
- Half day
- Year-round, 8 am-sunset
- $6 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Heads-up: Keep well back from bison, horses and gators. Hot in summer.
Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
#7 · Garden · 1 hr 41 min southwest
Sunken Gardens
Century-old garden in a sunken sinkhole with waterfalls, flamingos and thick tropical plants in the middle of St. Pete.
- 1-2 hrs
- Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas
- Adult $15, senior $12, child 2-12 $6 (checked Nov 2026)
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Hours. Some paths are narrow and uneven.
Photo: “Jon Zander(digon3)”, CC BY-SA 3.0
#8 · Historic site · 1 hr 45 min north
St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum
Climb 219 steps up a black and white striped lighthouse for big views of the old city and the ocean.
- 2-3 hrs
- Daily 9 am-6 pm
- Ticket prices
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Free parking. Climb has height limits for kids.
Photo: Agape621, CC BY-SA 4.0
#9 · Garden · 1 hr 47 min southeast
McKee Botanical Garden
A historic jungle garden with water lilies and old stone buildings in Vero Beach.
- 2 hrs
- Tue-Sun 10 am-5 pm; closed Mon
- Admission
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Was closed for flooding checks in early Nov 2026.
Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
#10 · Garden · 1 hr 58 min north
Ravine Gardens State Park
Deep ravines with suspension bridges, azaleas and a loop drive in Palatka.
- 2 hrs
- Park 8 am-sundown; loop drive 9 am-4 pm
- $5 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Heads-up: Azaleas bloom late winter. Steps in the ravines.
Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
#11 · National park · 2 hr 2 min southwest
De Soto National Memorial
Shaded waterfront trail where Spanish explorers are thought to have landed in 1539. Free and quiet.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round; closed New Year's, Thanksgiving, Christmas
- Free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Grounds open dawn to dusk, gates close at 5 p.m. Visitor center closed since hurricane damage.
Photo: Daderot, CC0
#12 · Garden · 2 hr 5 min southwest
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Bayfront garden famous for orchids and air plants, with a big banyan grove and a kids' rainforest garden.
- 2-3 hrs
- Open daily
- ?
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Orchid Show runs Oct 10 to Dec 6, 2026. Buy tickets online. Campus still has some construction zones.
Photo: Stephen B Calvert Clariosophic, CC BY-SA 3.0
#13 · State park · 2 hr 29 min southeast
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Big park on the Loxahatchee River with a river boat tour, hiking, biking and a lookout tower.
- Full day
- Year-round
- Florida State Parks fee per vehicle
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Boat tour schedule.
Photo: Fragments at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
#14 · Garden · 2 hr 50 min southeast
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Peaceful Japanese gardens with koi ponds, bonsai and a museum about Japanese settlers in Florida.
- 2-3 hrs
- Tue-Sun; closed Mondays and major holidays
- Adult $18, senior/military $16, child 6-17 $12 (checked Nov 2026)
Heads-up: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cafe 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weather closures possible.
Photo: Korall, CC BY-SA 3.0
#15 · Garden · 3 hr southeast
Butterfly World
Walk through huge screened aviaries full of butterflies and feed lorikeets.
- 2-3 hrs
- Open daily
- ?
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last entry 4 p.m. Lorikeet nectar is cash only.
More mountains and viewpoints near Orlando, by drive time
Cocoa Beach (1 hr 4 min), Playalinda Beach (1 hr 6 min), Kanapaha Botanical Gardens (1 hr 42 min), Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse (2 hr 24 min)
Questions about mountains and viewpoints near Orlando
What are the best mountains and viewpoints near Orlando?
Our top picks are Mount Dora (38 min), Bok Tower Gardens (1 hr 8 min), Washington Oaks Gardens State Park (1 hr 23 min), Lake Kissimmee State Park (1 hr 26 min) and Crystal River Archaeological State Park (1 hr 32 min). The page lists 19 places in all.
How many mountains and viewpoints are within 3 hours of Orlando?
19: 1 under an hour away, 12 between 1 and 2 hours and 6 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 32801.
What is the closest of these to Orlando?
Mount Dora, about 38 min northwest of Orlando.
Are any of these free?
2 need no pass or fee, including Mount Dora and De Soto National Memorial. Fees change, so check each place.
Are these mountains and viewpoints open all year?
7 of the 19 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
More about Orlando
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.