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 small towns
Best Small Towns near Orlando
Our picks for the best small towns within 3 hours of Orlando: 12 places, 3 under an hour away, 4 between 1 and 2 hours and 5 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: small towns within 3 hours of Orlando
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Our top 12 small towns near Orlando 12 in all
Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
#2 · Small town · 1 hr 32 min northwest
Micanopy
A tiny, very old town with antique shops and moss-draped oaks near Paynes Prairie.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round; some shops closed early week
- Free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Small shops keep short hours.
Photo: AbeEzekowitz at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
#3 · Food town · 1 hr 54 min west
Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks
Greek town on the water with sponge boats, bakeries and Greek restaurants along Dodecanese Boulevard.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free
Heads-up: Street parking and lots fill on weekends. Shops keep their own hours.
Photo: Fred Ward, Public domain
#4 · Small town · 2 hr 44 min south
Clewiston
Sugar town on the south shore of Lake Okeechobee, a base for bass fishing and airboat rides.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free
Heads-up: Hot in summer. Services are spread out.
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
#5 · Small town · 2 hr 49 min southeast
Delray Beach
Walkable Atlantic Avenue with cafes and galleries that runs right to the beach.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free; paid parking
Heads-up: Busy on weekend nights.
Photo: Jake N., CC BY 2.0
#6 · Family fun · 56 min north
Daytona International Speedway
The World Center of Racing. Tours take you to the track and garages.
- 2 hrs
- Tour times
- Tour prices
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Tours change on race days.
Photo: Gamweb, CC BY-SA 3.0
#7 · Small town · 58 min northeast
New Smyrna Beach
Surf beach town with shops on Flagler Avenue and art on Canal Street.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Busy on weekends.
Photo: Connor J Williams, CC BY 2.0
#8 · Family fun · 1 hr 4 min east
Cocoa Beach Pier
An 800-foot pier with food, bars, an arcade, live music and surf lessons.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Free to walk
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Busy on weekends.
#9 · Small town · 1 hr 16 min north
Flagler Beach
A laid-back beach town on A1A with a fishing pier, surf and small cafes.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free to walk around
Heads-up: Check beach flags before swimming.
#10 · Small town · 2 hr 24 min west
Cedar Key
An old fishing village on the Gulf known for clams, seafood, birdwatching and sunsets.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free
Heads-up: Long drive on two-lane roads. Low-lying streets can flood in storms.
#11 · Small town · 2 hr 48 min north
Fernandina Beach
A Victorian seaport on Amelia Island with a walkable downtown, shrimp boats and about 13 miles of beach.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free to walk around
Heads-up: Seaside Park has lifeguards and a boardwalk.
#12 · Small town · 2 hr 49 min north
St. Marys
A small waterfront town that is the gateway to the Cumberland Island ferry.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Free
Heads-up: Pair with the island ferry.
Questions about small towns near Orlando
What are the best small towns near Orlando?
Our top picks are Mount Dora (38 min), Micanopy (1 hr 32 min), Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks (1 hr 54 min), Clewiston (2 hr 44 min) and Delray Beach (2 hr 49 min). The page lists 12 places in all.
How many small towns are within 3 hours of Orlando?
12: 3 under an hour away, 4 between 1 and 2 hours and 5 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?
9 need no pass or fee, including Mount Dora, Clewiston and Fernandina Beach. Fees change, so check each place.
Are these small towns open all year?
11 of the 12 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
More about Orlando
- Day trips from Orlando, by drive time
- Orlando weather by month
- Places within 2 hours of Orlando
- Places within 3 hours of Orlando
- Places within 4 hours of Orlando
- Best hikes near Orlando
- Best beaches & lakes near Orlando
- Best mountains & views near Orlando
- Best history spots near Orlando
- Best wildlife spots near Orlando
- Best family fun near Orlando
- Best small towns near New Orleans
- Best small towns near Jacksonville
- All of Florida day trips
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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.