Florida has weirdness sprinkled throughout the state, but one of the quirkiest stretches just might be between Orlando and Tampa. Whether you’re looking to break up your road trip or tick a true roadside attraction off your bucket list, there are airboats, dinosaurs, haunted roads and plenty of reptiles waiting for you.
Here are 20 crazy road trip stops everyone should make between Orlando and Tampa.
Gatorland
14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando
Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve located right here in Orlando, along South Orange Blossom Trail. The spot was founded 73 years ago by Owen Godwin on former cattle land, and has ever since been a wildlife adventure and adventure park. Credit: Photo via Gatorland/FacebookDinosaur World
Tampa Bay’s own prehistoric playground is the perfect place to wander around hundreds of life-sized dinosaurs in natural settings. The attraction offers a dino-themed play area, a massive interactive boneyard and a museum featuring a collection of animatronic beasts. Credit: Photo via Dinosaur World/FacebookWild Florida Airboats and Gator Park
3301 Lake Cypress Road, Kenansville
If you’re looking to really dive into the Florida roadtrip essentials, Wild Florida probably has something to ignite your excitement. This massive wildlife park and outdoor experience offers drive-through exotic animal sight seeing, airboat tours, alligator-handling shows and a petting zoo. Credit: Photo via Wild Florida/Facebook
445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park This attraction remains a less touristy sight well worth seeing. The Morse Museum houses the most comprehensive collection of the works of stained glass pioneer Louis Comfort Tiffany in the world, including the masterpiece that is the Tiffany Chapel. Credit: Photo via Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art/FacebookWhimzeyland
1206 Third St. N., Safety Harbor
If your travels take you to Tampa Bay’s west coast, Whimzeyland is one of the quirkiest stops you can make. What started as an eclectic collection of art and knickknacks turned into one of Florida’s most recognizable local landmarks. The totally decked-out “Bowling Ball House” called Whimzeyland is covered with recycled materials, art projects and, yeah, bowling balls. Credit: Photo via Whimzeyland/FacebookPresidents Hall of Fame
123 N. Highway 27, Clermont
The Presidents Hall of Fame in Clermont offers a history lesson wrapped up in a grand ol’ time. The museum includes displays and models of iconic sites such as the White House, the State Dining Room, the Oval Office and more. It also features life-size models of many U.S. presidents, a mini-Mount Rushmore and a collection of gowns worn by former First Ladies. Credit: Photo via Presidents Hall of Fame/FacebookSafari Wilderness Ranch
10850 Moore Road, Lakeland
Lakeland’s Safari Wilderness offers its guests a first-hand drive-through experience featuring plenty of exotic wildlife. Safari Wilderness prides itself on being totally different than a zoo or theme park; its emphasis is on immersing its guests in nature. Credit: Photo via Safari Wilderness Ranch/Facebook
4500 Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville Go classic over-the-top Florida at this roadside stop, where you can hop on an airboat with Kissimmee Swamp Tours for a firsthand look at all the flora, fauna and weirdness that makes the Sunshine State what it is. Credit: Photo via Kissimmee Swamp Tours/Facebook
46 minutes from Orlando If you’re willing to take the long route for your Orlando-to-Tampa (or vice versa) travels, Reptile World is a must-do. This reptile zoo features more than 75 species of snakes, lizards, crocodiles, alligators and more. It’s operated by herpetologist George Van Horn, who also puts on venom-milking shows with the park’s resident snakes. Credit: Photo via Reptile World Serpentarium/Yelp
2 hours 47 minutes from Orlando Just down the road from Whimzeyland, the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center is home to all things creativity, with art and wacky sculptures on display and regular live music. The spot’s Artery gallery and gift shop proudly features the work of more than 35 local artists. The center is open Thursday through Sunday. Credit: Photo via Safety Harbor Art and Music Center/FacebookFantasy of Flight Museum
1400 Broadway Blvd. SE, Polk City
Polk City’s Fantasy of Flight Museum features all things aviation, including a large collection of vintage aircrafts. The museum is fully open seasonally, with private tours and the complete collection on display, while a “lite” version is open year-round. The season starts in April. Credit: Photo via Fantasy of Flight Museum/FacebookWekiva Island
1014 Miami Springs Drive, Longwood
Get some much-needed summer sun without having to plan an entire day trip at this Central Florida favorite. Just under a 30-minute drive from Orlando, Wekiva Island offers plenty of water fun for kids: Rent a kayak or paddleboard, play beach volleyball or just splash around in the cool, clear waters. Credit: Photo via Wekiva Island/FacebookLargest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture
840 Johnson Ave., Lakeland
The largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture exists right here in Florida, on the campus of Florida Southern College in Lakeland. The site offers guided tours for guests to stroll through and enjoy the iconic collection. Credit: Photo via Florida Southern CollegeSpook Hill
Lake Wales
Spook Hill is one of the country’s oldest “gravity hills,” offering an optical illusion that makes it appear as though cars are rolling up the hill. It’s one of Florida’s pre-Disney World roadside attractions, filled with eerie mystery that’ll (probably very briefly) entertain the most skeptical skeptics. Credit:Photo by Ebyabe via Wikimedia Commons
37 minutes from Orlando Lakeridge Winery brings a tiny taste of Napa Valley to Central Florida. The more-than-80-acre plot of grape-planted vineyards is the perfect place to get lost in Central Florida. Traveling wine lovers and connoisseurs can sample local wines and spend the day in the sunny countryside. Credit: Photo via Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards/FacebookOrange World is just what is sounds like: one big orange-themed extravaganza Credit: ShutterstockPhosphate Museum
101 SE First St., Mulberry
This may just be one of Florida’s most niche museums, but here we are. The Central Florida town of Mulberry is home to the Phosphate Museum, dedicated to the history of the phosphate mining industry. The museum features tons of fossils, memorabilia and exhibits to really get you really hyped about prehistoric chemical compounds. Credit: Photo via Mulberry Phosphate MuseumCitrus Tower
141 S. Highway 27, Clermont
The 226-foot-tall structure in Clermont was originally built in 1956 to allow visitors to observe the miles of surrounding orange groves. It was once among the Orlando area’s most famous landmarks, but now it’s home to a boutique coffee company! Credit: Photo via Google MapsWish Farms
1014 Miami Springs Drive, Longwood
Wish Farms is just one of the many U-pick farm destinations travelers will stumble across on the drive from between Orlando and Tampa. At Wish Farms, the nationally recognized strawberry company invites visitors to its property for fruit picking and a bit of fruit-fueled history. Credit: Photo via Wish Farms/FacebookMonument of States
300 E. Monument Ave., Kissimmee
Built as a symbol of American unity after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Monument of States was created with donations of stone that came from around the world, including a rock from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Credit: Photo via FloridaMemory.com
