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Weekend Getaways Near Orlando: A Local's Guide to Quick Trips from Kissimmee
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items Living near Orlando means some of Florida's best escapes are just a short drive away. After years of long weekends exploring the state with my family from our Kissimmee home base, these are the getaways I recommend most — beaches, springs, historic t...
The oldest city in America and my favorite easy weekend trip — about two hours from Kissimmee. Cobblestone streets, the Castillo de San Marcos fort, horse-drawn carriages, and ghost tours keep the whole family busy. Go for the history, stay for the s...
St. Augustine
Consistently ranked among America's best beaches and worth the 90-minute drive west. Sugar-white sand, calm Gulf water perfect for little kids, and the nightly Pier 60 sunset festival with street performers. We make a full day of it and roll home hap...
Clearwater Beach
The closest beach to Orlando — barely an hour east — our go-to when we want sand without committing to a whole road trip. Watch the surfers, walk the iconic Cocoa Beach Pier, and visit the massive Ron Jon Surf Shop that never closes. Easy, breezy, cl...
Cocoa Beach
A storybook lakeside town just 45 minutes north, packed with antique shops, cozy cafes, and festivals nearly every weekend. We love wandering the historic downtown, taking the scenic lake boat tour, and grabbing lunch with a view. The perfect low-key...
Mount Dora
When the kids outgrow the Orlando parks, Busch Gardens in Tampa is a thrilling change of pace — world-class roller coasters paired with a real zoo full of giraffes, lions, and elephants. It's about 90 minutes away and easily a full, unforgettable day...
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
One of the only places in the world where you can legally swim with wild manatees, about 90 minutes northwest. In winter, hundreds of gentle sea cows gather in the warm springs. Even from a kayak it's magical — a bucket-list Florida experience the ki...
Crystal River
Home to the famous live mermaid shows since 1947 plus a spring-fed water park, this old-Florida gem is about 90 minutes away. The kids float the lazy river, we cool off in the 72-degree spring, and everyone leaves charmed by the underwater mermaid th...
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
A laid-back barrier island near Bradenton that feels a world away — about two hours southwest. No high-rises, just pastel cottages, a free trolley, and some of the calmest, prettiest Gulf beaches in the state. Our pick when we want to truly unplug fo...
Anna Maria Island
The World's Most Famous Beach is about an hour northeast, and you can still drive your car right onto the hard-packed sand. Add the Daytona International Speedway, a classic boardwalk, and pier fishing, and it's an easy, budget-friendly weekend the w...
Daytona Beach
Just 30 minutes north and a totally different vibe — brick streets, Park Avenue boutiques, sidewalk cafes, and the famous Scenic Boat Tour through canals lined with mansions. Add the Morse Museum's Tiffany glass and it's a refined, relaxing escape cl...
Winter Park
A manatee sanctuary just 45 minutes north in Orange City, where cool winter mornings bring hundreds of manatees into the crystal-clear spring run. In summer it flips to a tubing and swimming paradise in 72-degree water. One of the best-value nature e...
Blue Spring State Park
A serene National Historic Landmark about an hour south in Lake Wales — 250 acres of gardens crowned by a stunning 205-foot singing carillon tower. The daily bell concerts, koi pond, and butterfly garden make it a peaceful break from the theme-park f...
Bok Tower Gardens
The powdery quartz sand here stays cool underfoot and regularly tops best-beach-in-America lists — about two hours southwest near Sarasota. Calm, shallow water makes it great for kids, and walkable Siesta Key Village has easy dinner options. Stay for...
Siesta Beach | Sarasota County, FL
The closest natural spring to Orlando — barely 30 minutes away in Apopka. Swim in the cool turquoise spring, rent a kayak down the Wekiva River, and watch for turtles and the occasional black bear. The easiest nature reset when you only have a few ho...
Wekiwa Springs State Park