Day Trippin' › Florida › From Tampa
From Tampa, the Riverwalk, Ybor City and the Florida Aquarium are minutes away, ZooTampa under 10, Busch Gardens about 15, Hillsborough River State Park about 20, the Dali Museum about 25, Clearwater Beach about half an hour, and the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks under 40. The best day trips from Tampa, by drive time.
135 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Beach · 42 min southwest
Nearly three miles of beach, a historic fort, fishing piers, a dog beach and a big campground at the mouth of Tampa Bay.
Museum · 58 min south
Circus museum, a grand Venetian-style mansion, an art museum and bayfront gardens on one big campus.
Food town · 37 min northwest
Greek town on the water with sponge boats, bakeries and Greek restaurants along Dodecanese Boulevard.
Bike trail · 43 min north
Florida's longest paved rail trail, about 46-47 miles through small towns and forest.
Aquarium · 32 min west
Working marine rescue center where you can meet rescued dolphins, sea turtles and otters.
Theme park · 56 min east
A LEGO park for kids 2-12 on the site of old Cypress Gardens, plus a water park and Peppa Pig park.
National park · 57 min south
Shaded waterfront trail where Spanish explorers are thought to have landed in 1539. Free and quiet.
Bike trail · 29 min west
Paved trail of over 40 miles from Tarpon Springs through Dunedin to St. Petersburg. Lots of food stops on the way.
Beach · 1 hr 7 min south
Soft quartz sand that stays cool underfoot, gentle water and free parking. Often ranked among the best US beaches.
Theme park · 1 hr 11 min northeast
Cinderella Castle, classic rides and parades. The heart of Walt Disney World.
Springs · 1 hr 43 min north
A former roadside attraction with waterfalls, gardens and a buoyed swim area at the head of the Rainbow River.
Springs · 1 hr 59 min northeast
The best place in Florida to see manatees in winter, hundreds at a time, from a boardwalk.
Wildlife · 1 hr 21 min north
Boardwalks over clear springs where hundreds of manatees gather on cold winter days.
Hike · 1 hr 21 min north
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 40 min northeast
A hilly lakeside town with antique shops, festivals and lake views.
Bike trail · 1 hr 58 min north
A 16-mile paved rail trail through forest and along Paynes Prairie.
Museum · 2 hr 1 min east
See the Space Shuttle Atlantis, a Saturn V rocket and launch pads. A must for space fans.
Wildlife · 2 hr 33 min south
Drive, bike or walk a four-mile loop on Sanibel past roseate spoonbills, pelicans and wading birds.
Springs · 2 hr 36 min north
The classic Florida tubing river, crystal clear and cool, with swim spots at the head spring.
Historic site · 2 hr 59 min northeast
The oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S., guarding St. Augustine's bay since the 1600s.
Small town · 2 hr 16 min northwest
An old fishing village on the Gulf known for clams, seafood, birdwatching and sunsets.
Hike · 2 hr 5 min north
A boardwalk drops 120 feet into a giant sinkhole with tiny waterfalls and ferns.
Family fun · 2 hr 8 min east
An 800-foot pier with food, bars, an arcade, live music and surf lessons.
Water park · 2 hr 15 min northeast
A water park plus go-karts, laser tag and mini golf.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 33602 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.