Museum · 40 min south
The Ringling
Circus museum, a grand Venetian-style mansion, an art museum and bayfront gardens on one big campus.
- Full day · Easy
- Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's
- ? (check); Ca' d'Zan tour costs extra
Day Trippin' › Florida › From St. Petersburg
Day trips from St. Petersburg
From St. Petersburg, the Dali Museum and Sunken Gardens are minutes away, Fort De Soto and Egmont Key about 25, Tampa's Riverwalk and the Florida Aquarium under half an hour, Clearwater Beach about half an hour, and Busch Gardens and Caladesi Island under 40. The best day trips from St. Petersburg, by drive time.
126 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from St. Petersburg
- Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks 39 min north
- The Ringling 40 min south
- Siesta Beach 55 min south
- Withlacoochee State Trail 1 hr 6 min northeast
- Magic Kingdom 1 hr 34 min northeast
- Three Sisters Springs 1 hr 35 min north
- Rainbow Springs State Park 1 hr 57 min north
- Blue Spring State Park 2 hr 21 min northeast
- J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge 2 hr 21 min south
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex 2 hr 23 min northeast
Within an hour from St. Petersburg 23 spots
Beach · 55 min south
Siesta Beach
Soft quartz sand that stays cool underfoot, gentle water and free parking. Often ranked among the best US beaches.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free parking (checked Nov 2026)
Food town · 39 min north
Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks
Greek town on the water with sponge boats, bakeries and Greek restaurants along Dodecanese Boulevard.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Bike trail · 26 min northeast
Tampa Riverwalk
A 2.6-mile path along the Hillsborough River linking parks, museums and restaurants from Armature Works to Sparkman Wharf.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Aquarium · 27 min northeast
The Florida Aquarium
Big aquarium on the Tampa waterfront with a coral reef tank, sharks, penguins and a splash pad.
- Half day · Easy
- Open daily
- ? (check)
Water park · 36 min northeast
Adventure Island
Water park next to Busch Gardens with slides, a lazy river and wave pool.
- Full day · Easy
- Seasonal; about Mar-Nov (check)
- ? (check)
National park · 38 min south
De Soto National Memorial
Shaded waterfront trail where Spanish explorers are thought to have landed in 1539. Free and quiet.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; closed New Year's, Thanksgiving, Christmas
- Free
State park · 44 min northeast
Hillsborough River State Park
Rare Class II rapids on a Florida river, shady trails, paddling and a campground close to Tampa.
- Half day · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- $6 per vehicle (check)
1 to 2 hours from St. Petersburg 32 spots
Theme park · 1 hr 34 min northeast
Magic Kingdom
Cinderella Castle, classic rides and parades. The heart of Walt Disney World.
- Full day · Easy
- Open daily; hours vary (check)
- Date-based tickets (check)
Springs · 1 hr 57 min north
Rainbow Springs State Park
A former roadside attraction with waterfalls, gardens and a buoyed swim area at the head of the Rainbow River.
- Half day · Easy
- Headsprings 8 am-sunset; tubing closed Oct-Mar
- $5 per vehicle, $4 single occupant, $2 walk-in or bike (checked Nov 2026)
Wildlife · 1 hr 35 min north
Three Sisters Springs
Boardwalks over clear springs where hundreds of manatees gather on cold winter days.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- 8:30 am-4:30 pm daily; last entry 3:30 pm
- Admission includes shuttle (check price)
Bike trail · 1 hr 6 min northeast
Withlacoochee State Trail
Florida's longest paved rail trail, about 46-47 miles through small towns and forest.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- 8 am-sunset
- Free
Hike · 1 hr 35 min north
Crystal River Preserve State Park
Quiet trails and a long loop through salt marsh and pine flatwoods on the Nature Coast. Great for birding and biking.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; best Oct-Apr
- Free
Historic site · 1 hr 33 min north
Crystal River Archaeological State Park
Native mounds by the river with a small museum and a lookout over the water.
- 1 hr · Easy
- 8 am-sunset; museum 9 am-5 pm
- $3 per vehicle by honor box (checked Nov 2026)
Garden · 1 hr 38 min east
Bok Tower Gardens
A singing carillon tower set in gardens on one of the highest hills in peninsular Florida.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Hours (check)
- Admission (check)
Small town · 1 hr 48 min northeast
Winter Park
Park Avenue shopping and a one-hour scenic boat tour through lakes and canals past grand homes.
- Half day · Easy
- Boat tours daily 10 am-4 pm; closed Christmas
- Boat tour adult $20, ages 2-11 $10 (checked Nov 2026)
2 to 3 hours from St. Petersburg 67 spots
Springs · 2 hr 21 min northeast
Blue Spring State Park
The best place in Florida to see manatees in winter, hundreds at a time, from a boardwalk.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round, 8 am-sunset
- $6 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Wildlife · 2 hr 21 min south
J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Drive, bike or walk a four-mile loop on Sanibel past roseate spoonbills, pelicans and wading birds.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Wildlife Drive closed every Friday
- $10 per vehicle; $1 hikers and bikers (checked Nov 2026)
Museum · 2 hr 23 min northeast
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
See the Space Shuttle Atlantis, a Saturn V rocket and launch pads. A must for space fans.
- Full day · Easy
- Open 9 am-5 pm (check)
- Tickets (check)
Springs · 2 hr 59 min north
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
The classic Florida tubing river, crystal clear and cool, with swim spots at the head spring.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round, 8 am-sunset; tubing from south entrance
- $6 per vehicle, $4 single occupant, $2 walk-in or bike (checked Nov 2026)
Small town · 2 hr 2 min northeast
Mount Dora
A hilly lakeside town with antique shops, festivals and lake views.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Bike trail · 2 hr 20 min north
Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail
A 16-mile paved rail trail through forest and along Paynes Prairie.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- 8 am-sunset; Boulware Springs trailhead hours vary by season
- Free
Hike · 2 hr 17 min southeast
Estero Bay Preserve State Park
Quiet trails across salt flats and pine scrub to views of Estero Bay. Good birding.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; best in dry season
- ? (check)
Garden · 2 hr 21 min southeast
Naples Botanical Garden
Big garden with Caribbean, Asian and Florida sections, water lilies and a children's garden.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Open daily
- Adult $27, child 4-17 $12 (check)
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 33701 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.