For more fun trip ideas, plan a visit to local natural springs, beaches near Orlando, or pools with available day passes!

Summer Day Trips From the Orlando Area

1. Bok Tower Gardens — Lake Wales

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 45 minutes
A Florida attraction since 1929, historic Bok Tower Gardens boasts 50 acres of serene gardens, hiking trails, and a 205-foot Singing Tower Carillon with daily live performances. For the kids, Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden features open-ended nature play, water features, a fairy house trail, doodle bug art area, and more.

2. Brevard Zoo — Melbourne

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour
Visit with more than 900 animals from all over the world at this 75-acre zoo, including cheetahs, giraffes, meerkats, monkeys, black bears, and many more. Kids can get “paws on” at the petting zoo, touch tank, playground, and water play lagoon.

RELATED: Things to Do in Orlando Besides Theme Parks

Thrill to a ride on the Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens. Photo courtesy of SeaWorld Parks

3. Busch Gardens — Tampa

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 40 minutes
With roller coasters, animal encounters, and Sesame Street, there’s fun for all ages at Busch Gardens. Thrill seekers can enjoy more than 10 roller coasters, while little ones can climb through Elmo’s treehouse and splash in Bert & Ernie’s watering hole. Busch Gardens is also home to more than 200 animal species, including tigers, gorillas, sloths, elephants, and many more.

4. Clearwater

Distance from Orlando: 2 hours 15 minutes
There is so much for families to do in the Clearwater area. Visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, feed alligators at the Wildlife Discovery Center at John’s Pass, cruise on a pirate ship, or escape to the beautiful beaches.

5. Daytona Beach

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour
Nicknamed the World’s Most Famous Beach, Daytona Beach lives up to the hype with many fun activities. Tour the Daytona International Speedway, splash around at Daytona Lagoon, and enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere at the Daytona Boardwalk.

RELATED: Exciting Lakes and for Water Activities and Water Sports Near Orlando

Be on the lookout for minerals, arrowheads, and gems at Dinosaur World. Photo by Charlotte Blanton

6. Dinosaur World — Plant City

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 15 minutes
Little paleontologists will love this roadside attraction along I-4. Stroll through the park to see dozens of life-size dinosaur replicas, interactive exhibits, and shows. Plus, kids are sure to love the themed playground areas, fossil digs, and gem excavation.

Cocoa Beach has lots of family-friendly beaches for a relaxing beach day. Courtesy of Gabrielle Marie/the florida mama

7. Cocoa Beach

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour
Cocoa Beach offers tons of family-friendly activities, from kayaking along the pristine shoreline, enjoying a round of mini golf, witnessing a rocket launch, and so much more.

8. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park — Homosassa

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 30 minutes
This state park is dedicated to Florida’s native wildlife. Stroll the Wildlife Walk to encounter native animal ambassadors such as red wolves, manatees, the endangered Florida panther, black bears, bobcats, and alligators. The Discovery Center, gift shop, and café are also on site.

9. Gainesville

Distance from Orlando: 2 hours
Many people think of Gainesville solely as a college town, but there are many activities for Orlando families to take a summer day trip. The Florida Museum of Natural History offers several fun interactive exhibits, as well as a can’t-miss Butterfly Rainforest with hundreds of free-flying butterflies. Families can also explore a limestone sinkhole and rainforest at Devil’s Millhopper State Park or visit with animals at Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo.

There are several big, fun climbing trees at the Nature Center. Photo by Charlotte B.

10. Bonnet Springs Park — Lakeland

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 30 minutes
At Bonnet Springs Park, children can immerse themselves in a world of fun and discovery, enjoying adventures on the playgrounds, strolling through the gardens, and exploring the Florida Children's Museum.

11. Giraffe Ranch — Dade City

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 15 minutes
Trek with a llama or ride a camel through this wildlife park and giraffe farm, featuring rhinos, zebras, hippos, and of course, giraffes. Other tour options include a drive-thru safari or Segway safari tour, and most tours include giraffe feeding.

12. Jacksonville

Distance from Orlando: 2 hours 15 minutes
There's so much to do in this fun Florida city, such as exploring the sandy beaches, visiting the Jacksonville Zoo, and strolling the riverfront.

RELATED: Florida Campgrounds with Extra Entertainment for Families 

Entertain the NASA fan in your life in Merritt Island. Photo courtesy of Kennedy Space Center

13. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex — Merritt Island

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour
Enjoy an out-of-this-world experience just outside of Orlando. At this Central Florida attraction, get an up-close view of space shuttle Atlantis, strap in for a shuttle launch simulation, and celebrate the heroes and legends of NASA’s space programs. Little astronauts will love the Planet Play attraction.

Ahoy mateys, visit Legoland Florida Piratefest for a great summer day trip. Photo courtesy of Legoland

14. Legoland Florida — Winter Haven

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 30 minutes
Built for kids ages 2-12, Legoland includes a theme park, water park, and on-site themed hotels. Legoland’s main theme park features more than 50 rides and attractions, including a Great Lego Race VR coaster, double-decker carousel, safari trek, a "Miniland" complete with Lego replicas of scenes from coast to coast, and more. At the water park, build a raft on the lazy river, climb through the water playground, and ride the twin chaser water slide.

Enjoy the "residents" of Lion Country Safari from a safe distance. Photo courtesy of Lion Country

15. Lion Country Safari — Loxahatchee

Distance from Orlando: 3 hours
This 600-acre drive-through safari and adventure park is home to more than 1,000 animals. Guests can drive along a four-mile safari with animals roaming in open areas, often walking right up to the car. Afterward, explore the walk-through adventure park, featuring rides, animal encounters, a safari maze, and a water park.

16. MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) — Tampa

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 40 minutes
MOSI is a nonprofit museum dedicated to the advanced education of science, industry, and technology. Visitors can build a robot, explore a NASA mission, learn about the planets in the Saunders Planetarium, and get challenged with brain puzzles. There’s also a 36-foot high ropes course and a VR simulator!

17. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum — Ponce Inlet

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 15 minutes
Climb 203 steps up a winding staircase to the top of the lighthouse tower (the view from the top is incredible). Other museum exhibits include a Woodshed Theater, Keeper’s Dwellings, Lighthouse Lens Exhibit, and Cuban Rafts Exhibit.

18. Silver Springs State Park — Ocala

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 30 minutes
Take a glass-bottom boat or kayak along the Silver River —you might spot some of the monkeys that roam wild in the Ocala Forest. Once a major tourist attraction, Silver Springs is rich in history and features miles of walking trails, a museum, Cracker Village, restaurants, and a gift shop.

You don't have to go far to find the beach in St. Augustine. Photo by Mary Carter

19. St. Augustine

Distance from Orlando: 2 hours
Known as America’s Oldest City, St. Augustine is filled with old-world charm. Families can explore the Castillo de San Marcos, visit Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, and climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Other attractions include the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Marineland Dolphin Adventure, and a Pirate & Treasure Museum.

20. Tom & Jerry’s Airboat Rides — Lake Panasoffkee

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour
Explore the headwaters of the Florida Everglades on a scenic airboat ride. Spot wildlife such as alligators, deer, wild hogs, and bald eagles. Guests can even hold a live alligator during this Everglades airboat tour.

21. Weeki Wachee Springs — Spring Hill

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 45 minutes
This state park boasts a spring-fed water park (open seasonally), iconic underwater mermaid shows, boat tours, paddling, and more. On-site dining and tube rentals are available. Plan to arrive early as the park often reaches capacity.

There are lots of thrills at Zip the Canyons Adventure Park. Photo courtesy of the park

22. Zip the Canyons Adventure Park — Ocala

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 15 minutes
Zip line at heights of 155 feet, across plunging canyons and over spring-fed lakes. Horseback rides, gem mining, and kayaking tours are also available.

23. West Palm Beach

Distance from Orlando: 2 hours 45 minutes
West Palm Beach offers exciting activities for kids, such as exploring the interactive exhibits at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium, cruising the intracoastal aboard a PonTiki boat, and experiencing the wonder of wildlife at the Palm Beach Zoo.

Take a photo in the big blue chair at Grantham Point. Photo by Charlotte B

24. Mount Dora

Distance from Orlando: 30-45 minutes
This lakeside town just north of Orlando offers a variety of family-friendly activities, where visitors can enjoy a scenic boat tour on Lake Dora, stroll a butterfly garden, and explore the shops and eateries in the picturesque downtown area.

25. Crystal River

Distance from Orlando: 1 hour 30 minutes
Known as the Manatee Capital of the World, Crystal River is home to the only National Wildlife Refuge dedicated to protecting the habitat of this beloved marine mammal. Visitors to Crystal River can float alongside the manatees, dive for scallops in the warm Gulf waters, hike through forests, and travel along scenic byways. Note: Visitors will have a better glimpse of manatees during colder months (November-March).