Day Trippin' › Florida › From Gainesville
From Gainesville, Paynes Prairie and the Florida Museum of Natural History are under 10 minutes away, Devil's Millhopper and Kanapaha about 15, Micanopy about 15, the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings home about 25, Silver Springs and Ginnie Springs about 45, and Rainbow and Ichetucknee springs under an hour. The best day trips from Gainesville, by drive time.
155 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Springs · 52 min south
A former roadside attraction with waterfalls, gardens and a buoyed swim area at the head of the Rainbow River.
Springs · 53 min northwest
The classic Florida tubing river, crystal clear and cool, with swim spots at the head spring.
Historic site · 25 min southeast
The Cross Creek farm home of the author of The Yearling, with gardens and trails.
State park · 47 min northwest
The Santa Fe River sinks underground here. Trails, a suspension bridge and a river swim area.
Garden · 59 min east
Deep ravines with suspension bridges, azaleas and a loop drive in Palatka.
Museum · 45 min south
Hundreds of drag racers and classic cars from a racing legend's collection.
Springs · 45 min southeast
Home of the famous glass bottom boats, gliding over huge clear springs with fish, turtles and sometimes monkeys.
State park · 50 min northeast
A steep ravine with springs and a clear stream, plus lakes for swimming and paddling.
Historic site · 1 hr 30 min east
The oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S., guarding St. Augustine's bay since the 1600s.
Wildlife · 1 hr 51 min north
Vast blackwater swamp with gators, cranes and boardwalks.
Springs · 1 hr 58 min southeast
The best place in Florida to see manatees in winter, hundreds at a time, from a boardwalk.
Theme park · 1 hr 59 min southeast
Cinderella Castle, classic rides and parades. The heart of Walt Disney World.
Wildlife · 1 hr 14 min south
Boardwalks over clear springs where hundreds of manatees gather on cold winter days.
Hike · 1 hr 8 min south
Quiet trails and a long loop through salt marsh and pine flatwoods on the Nature Coast. Great for birding and biking.
Small town · 1 hr 9 min southwest
An old fishing village on the Gulf known for clams, seafood, birdwatching and sunsets.
Bike trail · 1 hr 19 min south
Florida's longest paved rail trail, about 46-47 miles through small towns and forest.
Island · 2 hr 23 min northeast
A state-owned island with beaches, a historic club district, bike paths and a sea turtle hospital.
Museum · 2 hr 33 min southeast
See the Space Shuttle Atlantis, a Saturn V rocket and launch pads. A must for space fans.
Beach · 2 hr 38 min south
Nearly three miles of beach, a historic fort, fishing piers, a dog beach and a big campground at the mouth of Tampa Bay.
Springs · 2 hr 43 min west
One of the world's largest and deepest springs. River boat tours show off manatees, gators and birds, and there's a swim area with a diving platform.
Museum · 2 hr 43 min south
Circus museum, a grand Venetian-style mansion, an art museum and bayfront gardens on one big campus.
Beach · 2 hr 52 min south
Soft quartz sand that stays cool underfoot, gentle water and free parking. Often ranked among the best US beaches.
National park · 2 hr 3 min northeast
A wild barrier island with feral horses, mansion ruins and empty beaches, reached by ferry.
Food town · 2 hr 13 min south
Greek town on the water with sponge boats, bakeries and Greek restaurants along Dodecanese Boulevard.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 32601 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.