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Florida, the Sunshine State, is home to world-class theme parks, beautiful nature parks, crystal clear natural springs, tacky (in the best way) roadside attractions, white sand beaches, and alligators.
You don’t have to explore the entire state to see the highlights, in fact, many of the top attractions lie in the South Central region of Florida, and what better way to get around them all than by road trip?
Jensen Beach, Martin County
Whether you’re looking for top-notch museums, thrilling theme parks, laid-back towns, or the clear waters of the ocean, this South Central Florida road trip itinerary will tick off all the best attractions in Florida.
Where is South Central Florida?
Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring
The boundaries of South Central Florida are not officially defined, but we consider it to consist of the following regions:
- Martin County on the Treasure Coast region on the Atlantic Coast. It’s halfway between Miami and Orlando and about 45-minutes north of West Palm Beach.
- The Space Coast, which features 72 miles of Atlantic ocean paradise and is only an hour from Orlando. It consists of Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach, Palm Bay, Port Canaveral, Titusville, and Viera.
- Sebring County in Central Florida and includes the surrounding lake communities (of which there are many lakes!). It’s between Martin County and Englewood.
- Manasota Key in the Punta Gorda region of the Florida Gulf Coast. It’s located just south of Sarasota and north of Fort Meyers.
It could include Orlando, which officially sits in Central Florida, but since it’s such a convenient city to fly into, we will begin our road trip itinerary from here.
You could also start from Tampa, another well-connected city.
Map of South Central Florida
The following map outlines the region of South Central Florida and the attractions listed in this itinerary.
The Ultimate South Central Florida Road Trip
Sunset in Manasota Key
On this road trip, you’ll discover enchanting ancient hammocks where Florida panthers still roam, thrilling air boat rides through spectacular scenery (and alongside alligators), barrier islands you feel are yours alone to enjoy, the serenity of tucked away rivers, and plenty of fresh and delicious farm to table dining (land and water).
If that’s not a reason to visit Florida, I don’t know what is.
The beauty of this road trip is that all destinations I’ve mentioned are less than an easy two-hour drive from each other.
So even though you are driving from place to place, you’ll spend less time in the car and more time outdoors.
We recommend you set aside 3 weeks for this road trip, it’s worth taking your time to explore it! However, you can always cut some destinations out that you don’t think are to your taste.
For most direct flight options (and possibly cheaper), we recommend flying into Orlando, and starting your itinerary from there.
It’s easy to do a loop drive back to Orlando, and you’ll save on one-way rental car fees.
Check your rental car options here.
Stop 1: Orlando (3-5 days)
The amount of time you spend in Orlando will largely depend on how much you want to see, and whether or not you plan to visit the theme parks.
Like Las Vegas, Orlando resembles some sort of fantasy world, where your dreams can become a reality – no really, you can even visit Hogwarts.
It’s most famous for being home to Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and more Disney theme parks like Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom.
If you want to get off the theme park route, and you should, Orlando has a real city to uncover. It’s a sprawling metropolis with tree-lined streets, shady parts, art museums, and buzzing nightlife.
Head to downtown Orlando for a day of museum and gallery hopping, especially to the Orlando Museum of Art and Mennello Museum of Art.
If you have kids, visit Lake Eola Park and spend a couple hours relaxing on the lawns. In the evening, catch a show at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
If you’re not visiting theme parks, I recommend spending three days in Orlando. Here are more ideas for things to do in Orlando and here are some fantastic vacation rentals in Orlando (we loved the villa we stayed in!)
Stop 2: Kennedy Space Center (1 day)
- Distance from previous stop: 52.2 miles
- Time to get there: 1 hour
I recommend you drive in a clockwise loop around this road trip, as this way you can enjoy theme parks on the way back, rather than do them first and get burned out and not want to enjoy the rest of South Central Florida.
So, we’ll start on the Space Coast, with our first stop being the famous Kennedy Space Center, home to the former NASA space shuttle program.
Spend a day exploring the Visitor Center and Museum, where you can learn about NASA’s history, see historic spacecrafts, learn about space exploration, and more.
Don’t miss the Rocket Garden to see replicas of classic rockets and have a go on the Shuttle Launch Simulator, which reaches a top speed of 17,500 mph. You can do a bus tour of the whole facility, which departs every 15 minutes between 10:00am – 2.45pm.
If you’re lucky to be in Florida at the right time, stop by Cape Canaveral, the famous spot to watch a shuttle launch.
They do still have launches from Cape Canaveral, so check the launch schedule for a once in a lifetime experience to see a rocket launch into space.
Stop 3: Melbourne Shores (2 days)
- Distance from previous stop: 45.4 miles
- Time to get there: 1 hour 12 minutes
After a day learning about space exploration, drive down to the Melbourne Shores for some relaxing time by the beach.
With the Indian River Lagoon on one side and the Atlantic on the other, it’s a great place along Florida’s Space Coast for water sports and outdoor activities.
Some popular things to do here are catching a sunrise from Melbourne Beach Pier, basking on the beach by Coconut Point Park, and hiking in Maritime Hammock Sanctuary.
Spend a day at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the first wildlife refuge in America known for its population of migratory birds.
Stop 4: Saint Sebastian River Preserve State Park (1 day)
- Distance from previous stop: 27.7 miles
- Time to get there: 40 minutes
Saint Sebastian River Preserve is a beautiful state park known for its pine flatwood and cypress trees, swamplands, and more than 70 species of endangered plants.
It has over 60 miles of nature trails which can be explored on foot or horse, and you can also go boating or canoeing on the Sebastian River.
The park is known for its wildlife, including bobcats, pelicans, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. It’s also home to manatees, which can be seen from the Manatee Overlook.
Stop 5: Martin County on the Treasure Coast (3 days)
Stuart, Martin County
- Distance from previous stop: 63.3 miles
- Time to get there: 1 hour
Martin County on the Treasure Coast quickly became one of our favorite places in Florida for its buzzing, happy atmosphere with plenty of outdoor attractions.
You’ll find sophistication and Old Florida charm as well as the all-embracing kick off your flip flops and slip on your Key West persona.
Nature is the center of attention in Martin County, with the St Lucie River and Intra-coastal Waterway and the 22 miles of undiscovered and untouched beaches on the Florida Atlantic Coast.
Stuart, Martin County
You can balance your nature activities with local art festivals, live music, and beautiful murals.
You’ll find incredible dining experiences from delicious breakfast smoothie bowls and outstanding coffee to local hole in the wall taco places and classier seafood restaurants with water views.
Night Paddle Board, Port Salerno
Sunset paddle board
For a unique family adventure, that packs plenty of WOW join a paddle boarding tour with Zekes Surf and Paddleboarding in the pretty Port Salerno area of Martin County.
What makes this paddle-board experience different, is you’ll be paddling under the cover of darkness!
Our tour started with a quick instruction, before heading out as a group across the channel to nearby Disappearing Island in the middle of St Lucie River Inlet.
The wake was pumping, and we had to sprint paddle, timing our run in between boats, and catching their wake behind us. Once we arrived, we turned our boards to watch the sun set over the inlet.
Great view of sunset
We parked ourselves on this short strip of white sand scattered with a few red mangroves for about an hour searching for hermit crabs and jellyfish and enjoyed the abundance of bird life soaring across the pink skies.
Then we sat down to watch the huge round orange orb of the full moon rise creating a staircase below it. It was by far one of the best moon rises I’ve ever seen.
Full moon 
Full moon AND sunset experience
The final part to the adventure was paddling back across as a group in darkness (with safety lights).
This time there weren’t many boats to navigate around. It was spooky and thrilling at the same time.
Sunset Sail on the Schooner Lily, Stuart
Sunset Sail on Schooner Lily
For a gentler adventure, pack your snacks and drinks and take a seat onboard the Schooner Lily in Stuart Florida.
You’ll sail on the St Lucie River for about 2-hours under the guidance of Captain Fred, owner of Treasure Coast Sailing Adventures.
There’s not much for you to do except watch as they hoist the sales, learn more about the biodiversity of the estuary (the most diverse in the Northern Hemisphere), soak up the scenery and sailboat silence, look for wildlife, and marvel at the bright orange sunset sky.
Moon rise 
Moon rise and sunset
Even better, time it with a full moon, so you can see that rising on your way back to port!
We stayed on a houseboat on our visit to Martin County. It’s no longer available, but you can find unique vacation properties that may suit your style on VRBO.
Video: Adventures in Martin County, Florida
Stop 6: Lake Okeechobee (1 day)
- Distance from previous stop: 34.5 miles
- Time to get there: 45 minutes
Spend a day at Lake Okeechobee, the largest freshwater lake in Florida and second-largest freshwater lake in the USA – it covers 730 square miles and can be seen from space.
Go for a hike around the 110-mile Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, which circles the lake, or cycle the Florida National Scenic Trail.
You can camp overnight, or launch a boat and explore the Okeechobee waterways.
Be on the lookout for alligators, bobcats, manatees, and wild turkeys.
Stop 7: Sebring County (2 days)
Lake Jackson, Sebring
- Distance from previous stop: 47.4 miles
- Time to get there: 54 minutes
Sebring is a slice of Old Florida where ranchers and citrus growers meet with farm to table restaurants, and locals play (alongside, but far away) with alligators, turtles and birds in ancient forests, plentiful lakes, and cypress swamps.
With its slow pace, access to natural beauty and outdoor adventure, Sebring in Central Florida is a great addition to this diverse Florida road trip.
Beautiful tree in the Circle
Sebring is known as the City on the Circle for its downtown stores that are located on the edge of the roundabout in the middle of town.
It is surrounded by other Old-Style Florida towns just a 20-minute drive in either direction like the charming Avon Park and the “Interesting” Lake Placid.
Arbuckle Creek Airboat ride, Sebring
Strap yourself in for the roller coaster version of this air-boat ride along the private lands of Arbuckle Creek and Lake Istokpoga with Captain John from Airboat Wild Adventures.
He is not wrong about the WILD part – in both nature and crazy air-boat antics.
Who knew air-boats could go on land?
We really don’t want to spoil the surprise for you, because that “Is he really going to do that? “was a complete WOW moment we don’t want to rob you of.
Just be sure to choose the Spring Break Roller Coaster version.
Gator 
So much fun!
You’ll glide over acres of lily pads, hydrilla and tall grass and past cypress and live oaks dripping with Spanish Moss.
It’s stunning, pristine, and abundant with alligators and bird life. At one stage I looked up to a sky filled with circling buzzards, flocks of ibis, pink roseate spoonbills, and scores of tiny dragon flies. Then somewhere along the journey, an eagle soared past.
It’s the best air-boat ride we have done in Florida so far.
Cycle the Highlands Hammock State Park Bike Loop
Head deep into a dry, shady land full of towering cypress and oak trees, marauding black bears and Florida panthers, and steely gazing alligators.
Highlands Hammock State Park is Florida’s first state park and is the perfect ancient lush escape from the crowds.
Its small size makes it an easy state park to explore. The best way is on a bike, cycling the 3.1-mile loop road.
Stop along the way at any of the eight short trails that showcase what makes Florida’s first state park a standout attraction.
Don’t miss the Cypress Swamp Trail.
Cypress swamp trail 
A half mile loop boardwalk goes above the swampy ground – in the wet season, filled with water and perhaps a few alligators – and close to the giant cypress offering that hammock shade and grandeur ambiance.
This is an easy adventure that combines ancient beauty with wildlife and effortless exercise.
Stay in Downtown Historic Sebring
Our vacation rental
We loved the porch with slight sunset views and the cute morning coffee sunroom of our vacation rental in Sebring, just a ten-minute walk to the downtown Circle.
It’s spacious, comfortable, and beautifully decorated with three bedrooms, all the amenities you want, and stocked with filtered water, a coffee bar, orange juice, fruit, and muffin snacks.
Gorgeous sunroom
Video: Watch our adventures in Sebring
Check out the family fun we had in Sebring.
Stop 8: Punta Gorda (half a day)
- Distance from previous stop: 71.1 miles
- Time to get there: 1 hour 25 minutes
On the way to Manasota Key, stop in at Punta Gorda for a riverside walk and the most authentic Thai food we’ve eaten in the USA at Peace River Beer Company.
One taste of my Panang Curry and I was back on the sidewalk cafes near my Bangkok apartment.
Stop 9: Manasota Key and Englewood (2 days)
Manasota Key
- Distance from previous stop: 26.2 miles
- Time to get there: 45 minutes
Time to slow down the pace on the idyllic island haven of Manasota Key on the Florida Gulf Coast.
It’s in the Punta Gorda region, about halfway between Tampa and Fort Myers and just south of its busier neighbors, Sarasota, and Venice.
This 11-mile barrier island is slow-paced, pristine, and unknown – the kind of Florida island vacation of your dreams. There is no shortage of personal space and fresh salty air.
Beach walk
On one side are the calm aquamarine waters of Lemon Bay, and the other are the Gulf Beaches of Manasota, Englewood, Blinds Pass and Stump Pass – with plenty of space in between for your own private stretch.
Englewood Beach is the most popular beach, where you can find beach rentals, volleyball courts and parasailing fun. It’s also near a few restaurants and bars.
Englewood Beach
Blinds Pass Beach is known as Middle Beach and is popular for shark tooth hunting, kayaking, or exploring the trails going in and out of the mangrove forest.
Manasota Beach is meant to be the least crowded beach in Sarasota County.
And then there is unmissable, more remote Stump Pass. You can only get there by boat or feet. Crowds at a minimum.
Play at Stump Pass Beach State Park, Manasota Key
Stump Pass Beach State Park is one of the four barrier islands that comprise the Barrier Islands Geopark in this area. The other three are Cayo Costa, Don Pedro, Gasparilla.
It consists of 245 acres of the Southern tip of Manasota Key and has access to pristine beaches on Lemon Bay and the Gulf Coast.
A 1.3-mile sandy nature trail takes you through the low-lying forest with pockets in the trees giving you glimpses of the wild Gulf Coast on one side and the calmer luminescent aqua waters on the other.
The trail ends at Stump Pass, the end of the island where the Gulf meets the bay. You will be wowed by the view.
Amazing view
As soon as we got to where the white sand met that beautiful water, two dolphins rose out of the water, right near the edge of the shore.
While we could not experience this activity due to the weather, we have no doubt that a kayak or paddle along the waters of Lemon Bay to the Stump Pass would be a highlight of any Florida road trip.
Watch a Gulf Coast Sunset
Perfect way to end your day
A Florida Gulf Coast sunset is always a wow experience and the MAIN event on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Plan your evenings around it, whether it’s enjoying it from a restaurant or bar, or just from sitting on the front row sand seats.
In keeping with Manasota Key pace, the sunset is another reminder to stop and smell the salty sea breeze and appreciate the grandeur of an orange sky and slow conversations with loved ones.
Click here to learn more fun things to do in Manasota Key, Fl.
Stay at a Manasota Key Rental
Our vacation rental
You cannot go wrong with any beach rental on Manasota Key.
Just a few strides will take you to the beach – possibly your own private stretch of it.
The closer you stay to Englewood Beach, the easier it will be to walk to restaurants and happy hour drinks!
There’s not a lot of hotel choices in Manasota Key, or restaurants for that matter, so a vacation rental is the best choice for accommodation as you can cook your own meals.
Stop 10: Clearwater Beach (2 days)
- Distance from previous stop: 94.3 miles
- Time to get there: 2 hours
We prefer Clearwater Beach to nearby Tampa, because even though it’s a city beach, it has wonderful, crystal clear water (now I can see where it gets its name from).
Clearwater Beach is not too far from Tampa, which has some cool museums, theme parks and water parks, such as Busch Gardens.
It’s quite walkable, with many restaurants and local shops being a short distance from the beach.
Be sure to explore the beach area at sunset, as various street performers come out to play near the pier.
Stop 11: Lake Wales (1 day)
- Distance from previous stop: 85.9 miles
- Time to get there: 1 hour 45 minutes
On the way to Lake Wales, stop in to admire the architecture of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, which was designed by world-renown architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.
The main reason to come to Lake Wales is for Bok Tower Gardens, which blooms all year round.
It’s wonderful to hear the bells ring at Bok Tower Gardens. The bell tower has 23 bells that have been specially tuned. Four times a week, a unique tune composed by Belgian-American composer Geert D’hollander is played.
The bells play every Friday at 3.00pm, Saturday at 1.00pm and 3.00pm, and Sunday at 1.00pm.
Stop 12: Westgate River Ranch Resort (3 days)
- Distance from previous stop: 28.4 miles
- Time to get there: 30 minutes
This is the largest dude ranch in Southeast USA.
The Westgate River Ranch Resort is an authentic dude ranch which offers a combination of glamping with cowboy experiences.
You can relax on this wild and open range, embark on a horseback riding tour, learn about ranching at the Cowboy Adventure Park & Florida Fair, or watch competitive bull riders at the award-winning Saturday night rodeo.
It’s not just a place to stay, but an experience!
Stop 13: Legoland, Winter Haven (1 day)
- Distance from previous stop: 45 miles
- Time to get there: 1 hour
Located in Winter Haven, Legoland Florida Resort is the largest Legoland theme park in the world.
The 150-acre park has more than 50 rides, shows, and attractions. Plus restaurants, shops and a beautiful botanical garden (unfortunately this was closed during our visit due to damage from hurricane Irma).
The Legoland theme park is geared towards children ages 2 to 12.
Stop 14: Safari Wilderness (1 day)
- Distance from previous stop: 24.4 miles
- Time to get there: 35 minutes
If you’re a nature lover, then how about a safari? We spent 5 months backpacking through East Africa in 2003 pre-kids, and went on many game drives, so when it comes to wildlife viewing, we are hard to please…
Some places throw the term “safari” around very loosely and we always have our reservations about what it’s going to be like.
However, Safari Wilderness in Lakeland was named one of the “10 Best Safaris in the U.S.” by Fodors.com, and we were pleasantly surprised.
This 260-acre preserve is surrounded by Florida’s Green Swamp, an 870 square mile pristine watershed that is source to five of Florida’s finest rivers.
We went on a two-hour customized vehicle safari that provided up-close encounters with wildlife such as ostrich, giraffes, zebra, kudu, water buffalo and other unique and endangered species in large herds!
And we got so up-close that we got to hand feed several of the animals.
Not only did we get the interaction with the animals, but our safari guide provided expert commentary and knowledge which was both interesting and educational for our kids!
We entered the ring-tailed lemur habitat at Safari Wilderness with a guide and hand feed grapes to a group of Lemurs. And it was beyond awesome!
Some of them gently touched our hands to get the grapes and they were playful yet polite.
This activity is limited to a few participants per day so plan to book ahead. If you love lemurs, you’ll love this lemur experience we had in Monticello Florida and the Lemur center in Durham.
Stop 15: Disney Springs (1 day)
- Distance from previous stop: 35.5 miles
- Time to get there: 1 hour
I know what you’re thinking, Disney Springs must have Disney theme parks, right? Wrong, Disney Springs is a shopping mall just outside Orlando and has more than 150 retailers and restaurants.
It’s a great place to spend a day and get your shopping fix before heading home.
Stock up on souvenirs, or just enjoy the ambiance, before heading back to Orlando to head home.
Final Thoughts
Stuart, Martin County
After Disney Springs, return to Orlando and take back your rental car.
We hope this itinerary helped you plan a trip to South Central Florida and gave you some attractions to add to your road trip.
This itinerary is for 3 weeks, and we know that not everyone is blessed with time, so feel free to cut out places that don’t fit your style.
We donate a percentage of our campaign fee to those local businesses and organizations that support community, the environment, and humanitarian causes.
On this South Central Florida road trip, we supported The Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida for their Florida conservation efforts and the Hobe Sound Mural project for their work supporting local artists and bringing community together.
Are you ready for your trip to South Central Florida? Let us know in the comments.
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