road trip from washington dc to orlando florida

Road Trip from Washington DC to Orlando

If a long drive spanning several East Coast states sounds like something you'd be interested in, consider a road trip from Washington DC to Orlando. With so much to see on the way, the journey to "The City Beautiful" is bound to be an unforgettable one.

The 900-mile road trip from Washington DC to Orlando takes 15 hours to drive. Key stops include Shenandoah National Park, Stone Mountain Park, Jacksonville, Charleston and Myrtle Beach, plus Walt Disney World, Fayetteville and Congaree State Park.

You won't want to miss a thing along this itinerary, so keep reading and get to know the route a little better. We also include our top tips on where to stay along the way, things to see and do, and the best time of year to travel.

How far is Orlando from Washington DC and how long will the road trip take?

Following the Fast Route, the road trip from Washington DC to Orlando spans a distance of 900 miles and can be driven just under 15 hours of non-stop driving.

With a trip of this length it isn't possible to complete it in a single day. Ideally you'd need to devote up to a week to complete this drive, allowing you plenty of time to explore the great attractions and include a few overnight stops along the way.

Another option, if you're okay with adding extra time to the trip, is to consider leaving Washington from the west and driving along the 200-mile Shenandoah Valley. This Scenic Route will take 19 hours to drive and spans a distance of 1,100 miles.

This scenic route gives you a slew of beautiful parks and cities to explore, and it converges with the other route not far from Charleston and Myrtle Beach, just in time for a sweep of the South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida coasts.

Best road trip route from Washington DC to Orlando

The best road trip route from Washington DC to Orlando really depends on how fast you want to get there and how you'd like the first half of your drive to look.

By following the Fast Route option and traveling via Interstate 95, your journey will be considerably quicker. This route still passes by several notable cities like Rocky Mount and Fayetteville, as well as stunning parks and forests.

You could add Wilmington and the North Carolina shore to the Fast Route, but these coastal attractions require you to make a few sizeable detours along this already-lengthy trip.

If time and number of attractions en route is more important to you, then consider following the Scenic Route which takes you via Shenandoah and gives you much more to look at. Whichever route you pick, the final stretch of the ride is the same.

How to drive from Washington DC to Orlando

The map above shows our suggestions for the best road trip routes between Washington DC to Orlando. Keep reading for detailed descriptions of both routes, where to stay on either, and the best things to do on the way.

The Fast Route (via Interstate 95)

Leave Washington DC on Interstate 395 heading south before hopping onto I-95 just past Lake Accotink Park. After passing Pohick Bay and Fountainhead Regional Parks and crossing the Occoquan River, drive by Prince William Forest Park and continue south to Richmond.

Past Richmond, continue along the interstate through Petersburg, and if you want to shake things up, detour to the coast to see Dismal Swamp State Park. Otherwise, keep going south and add a much-needed flair to the trip with an overnight stop at Rocky Mount or Fayetteville.

Crossing over into South Carolina, stop by Lynches River County Park and Manchester State Forest, then cross Lake Marion via the Francis Marion Bridge and pass Santee State Park. From here you can take a relatively small detour to Charleston and Francis Marion National Forest.

Follow US-17 and I-95 before passing by Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and the city of Savannah, another great option for a stop. After crossing the Ogeeche River, you'll soon reach Altamaha Wildlife Management Area.

Further south is the city of Jacksonville, nestled between Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve and Osceola National Forest. You can also spend some time exploring the coast along this stretch.

Continue past Bulow Creek State Park, Ocala National Forest, and Tiger Bay State Forest before taking I-4 and following it past Wekiwa National Park and several of Florida's beautiful lakes before reaching Orlando.

The Scenic Route

Leave Washington DC via Interstate 66 west, passing several pretty towns as well as Bull Run Regional Park and Manassas National Battlefield Park.

Not long after Meadows State Park, take I-81 and follow it along Shenandoah National Park, Monogahela National Forest, and George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

When you arrive in Fort Chiswell, you can take I-77 past New River Trail State Park, but for an added treat instead follow the Blue Ridge Parkway, which features some of the most scenic vistas in the area, including Stone Mountain State Park and Grandfather Mountain State Park.

Follow the Blue Ridge Parkway until you reach US-321 south, driving alongside South Mountains State Park until you get to Charlotte. While here, you could consider a quick detour to Crowders and Kings Mountain State Parks just west of town.

Back on the main route, continue along I-77 into South Carolina, then pass Landsford Canal State Park and Sesquicentennial State Park before checking out Columbia.

From here, follow I-26 past Congaree State Park and follow it onto I-95. The routes converge just past Lake Marion, not far from Charleston. You'll then follow the rest of the trip exactly the same as the Fast Route, heading past Savannah, Jacksonville and finally on I-4 to Orlando.

Best places to stop between Washington DC and Orlando

Given the relatively lengthy drive, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of great stops between Washington DC and Orlando, chief among them being those in major cities. Here are some of the highlights:

Marvel at the Atlantic coast in Charleston

Located about two-thirds into your trip (irrespective of route), Charleston makes for an ideal place to spend a night or two if you plan on exploring the route in detail.

Charleston is a port city in South Carolina with a rich history dating back to 1670. Defined by its cobblestone streets and pastel antebellum houses, its promenade and Waterfront Park both overlook its pretty harbor. It's now one of the top travel destinations in the world.

Among its many great hotels, The Dewberry is our personal favorite . With its striking midcentury architecture and upscale interior design, it's easy to see why this boutique hotel is so popular.

The hotel is within walking distance of several of Charleston's most sought-after attractions, including the Charleston Museum, American Theater and Charleston Farmers' market.

If you'd prefer to just hang out and soak up the ambience of this impeccably designed hotel, you're in luck: The Dewberry boasts a highly-rated American Southern brasserie-style restaurant, a fabulous cocktail bar and a glass-enclosed rooftop venue.

As tempted as you may be to stay within the hotel grounds, though, we suggest you get out venture downtown and experience Charleston's beautiful and colorful street scenes. You can thank us later!

Explore US history at Fayetteville

A great place to stop in if you're following the slightly longer Scenic Route is the city of Fayetteville. The lesser known destination has plenty to offer in terms of great attractions, as well as being perfectly placed to visit nearby Caroline Sandhills National Wildlife Area.

Located around halfway to Orlando, Fayetteville is known for Fort Bragg and its Airborne and Special Operations Museum which has exhibits on US Army history, as well as a stunning riverside Cape Fear Botanical Garden featuring plan species such as camellias and daffodils.

After a long drive and explore of the city, a great place to stop for the night is at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Fayetteville North . Located just 2.2 miles from Cape Fear River Trail and a short drive from the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum, this resort is ideally placed.

Featuring free parking, a fantastic and welcoming indoor swimming pool and comfortable, modern rooms, you'll be sure of a good nights sleep. As an added bonus, there's also a great terrace to enjoy stargazing at night and a fire pit to keep you warm.

Where to stay once you reach Orlando

Orlando's very best resorts are unlike anything you've probably ever seen. Picking out the best one is a tall order, but it's hard to dispute the fact that Universal's Loews Royal Pacific Resort one of the most impressive .

Conveniently located close to Universal Orlando which is home to various iconic theme parks, such as Volcano Bay and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this hotel features incredible rooms and a whopping choice of six on-site restaurants.

If you don't fancy the theme parks, the hotel has enough amenities to keep you entertained, including a super outdoor pool, hot tubs and sports courts.

What's more, by Orlando standards, this hotel is also relatively close to the center of town so you can explore more of this city, from great parks including Walt Disney World to its Orlando Science Center and popular Universal City Walk.

If all of this sounds expensive, it is and it isn't – the hotel offers great room deals in a variety of price ranges, allowing for both an extravagant and a relatively thrifty stay, depending on your budget.

Things to see on a road trip from Washington DC to Orlando

This incredibly scenic itinerary is home to countless landmarks that deserve your full attention. Here is a list of some highlights to get you started:

Both routes

• Charleston - Explore this port city in the heart of South Carolina, known for its elegant French Quarter and Battery districts. You'll find quaint and pretty streets and great seafood.
• Jacksonville - The largest city in the States (by area) is bound to impress with its varied architecture and assortment of tourist attractions.
• Walt Disney World, Orlando - There are a huge choice of theme parks and amusements to explore in Orlando, but perhaps its most famous is Walk Disney World resort, a popular amusement park for any age.
• Savannah - Georgia's oldest city boasts countless historic buildings and gorgeous riverside parks. Separated from South Carolina by the Savannah River, it's known for its manicured parks and the pretty Forsyth Park.
• Savannah National Wildlife Refuge - This popular refuge is home to a variety of wildlife including several endangered and threatened species such as bald eagles, wood storks and manatees. Enjoy beautiful walks in this beautiful spot.

The Fast Route

• Prince William Forest Park - An oasis of tranquility, this park was originally established as Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Area in 1936. Today it is the largest protected natural area in Washington DC.
• Richmond - The capital of Virginia is among America's oldest major cities. Today it's a great place to learn about the American Civil War, as well as visit its many art galleries and museums.
• Fayetteville - Located in North Carolina, this city has world-renowned museums, chic boutiques and international dining options. Probably best known for Fort Bragg, a major US Army installation, there are also great botanical gardens to explore in this great city.
• Dismal Swamp State Park - Discover a unique wilderness experience at this park which has been witness to American Indian hunting parties. The park features 20 miles of trails, kayaking on its lakes and a 2,000-foot broadwalk which takes you over the swamp itself.
• Lake Marion - The largest lake in South Carolina, it is often referred to as South Carolina's inland sea. Explore its 315-mile shoreline and enjoy the beautiful landscapes that surround it.
• Francis Marion National Forest - Offering everything from the Appalachian Mountains to the piedmont pine forests and the Intracoastal Waterway, this forest is located north of Charleston and has great trails and opportunities for spotting wildlife.
• Osceola National Forest - Created by President Herbert Hoover's proclamation on July 10, 1931, this forest is a great place to escape the bustling city and reconnect with the land. With nearly 200,000 acres waiting to be explored, you'll easily find a quiet spot or two.
• Ocala National Forest - North of Orlando, this forest is known for its large areas of sand pine scrub forest. Discover lakes, ponds and beautiful springs in this popular forest and enjoy hiking trails, boating and nature spotting.
• Tiger Bay State Forest - Tiger Bay consists of large areas of swamp with embedded pine islands and a large pine ridge area. It's popular amongst hikers as well as camping and fishing.

• Pohick Bay Regional Park – Explore this scenic park along the Potomac River featuring the Pirate's Cove water park and popular with those who enjoy its many trails.
• Santee State Park – Besides also being a great hiking spot, Santee State Park sits along Lake Marion which is one of the best fishing spots in the East Coast area.
• Myrtle Beach – The Grand Strand and abundance of world-class golf courses attract millions of visitors to Myrtle Beach each year, a city and vacation resort on South Carolina's Atlantic coast.
• Blowing Rock - This village in western North Carolina on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and is named after The Blowing Rock, a formation with sweeping views of peaks, forests and the Johns River Gorge. There's also a great museum to explore and great trails to enjoy.
• Bull Run Regional Park – This is one of the quintessential camping and sightseeing spots in the area, courtesy of the beautiful meadows along Bull Run.
• Shenandoah National Park – Just 75 miles from Washington DC, this stunning park draws thousands of tourists every year thanks to its wide assortment of wildlife, cascading waterfalls and spectacular vistas. You will need an Old Rag Day-Use Ticket if you are planning to visit the Old Rag Mountain. Please check the national park's website for details.
• Blue Ridge Parkway – Spanning nearly 500 miles, this road is one of the longest stretches of scenic areas in this part of the States and links Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Stone Mountain State Park – An impossibly scenic park and the definitive picnicking and hiking spot in the area, Stone Mountain State Park covers 14,000 acres and includes waterfalls and stunning forests.
• Charlotte – Besides its iconic sports teams, this city is renowned for its stunning urban architecture as well the Levine Museum and NASCAR Hall of Fame.
• Crowders Mountain State Park – A wide selection of scenic hiking trails are on offer at this state park that lead to an epic view from atop Crowders Mountain.

Best time to go on a road trip from Washington DC to Orlando

Deciding on the best time to do a road trip from Washington DC to Orlando can be tricky, given that you need to plan around the lengthy drive and the swarm of tourists that flock to the city for much of the year.

Summer can be a challenging time to visit Orlando – where there's a Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, there are bound to be hordes of families, especially during summer vacation. On top of that, the temperatures often exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Christmas holidays are another good time to visit Orlando's theme parks, which spells bad news for anyone looking to keep their visit quieter and more peaceful.

Thankfully, this is a relatively small window of time, meaning much of the winter season can be enjoyed with pleasant temperatures (lows on average of 52 degrees) and relatively smaller crowds.

You may want to avoid travelling during the fall as this is the city's hurricane season. Although they can technically start as early in June, storms in Orlando really pick up steam in mid-fall, potentially putting a damper on your trip.

The golden middle ground for the trip would definitely have to be spring. Temperatures aren't quite as scorching as they are in the summer, and the abundance of vistas, parks, and hiking trails are at their best in the springtime.

Finally, if you'd like your trip to end with a bang, why not time your visit with one of Orlando's fantastic festivals. Think Orlando Water Lantern Festival in July, its iconic Film Festival in October or the Dragon Parade Lunar New Year Festival.

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Road Trip from Washington, D.C. to Orlando

By: Author Elizabeth Ciobanu

Posted on 10/22/2022

You live in Washington, D.C., where the weather can get downright cold sometimes! You’d love to take a getaway to Orlando with the family, but is this feasible to do by car? What do you need to know?

Traveling from Washington, D.C. to Orlando by car requires you to drive south through the east coast. Along the way, you’ll go through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia before finally reaching sunny Florida. The entire trip takes about 12 hours.

Do you need some help planning your trip to Orlando from D.C.? Then allow me to be your guide! Ahead, I’ll present detailed travel information, including a recommended route, your drivetime, and lots of fun activities to do along the way when you need to stop and take a break.

Let’s dive right in!

The best route from Washington, D.C. to Orlando

Driving to Orlando from Washington, D.C. is an engaging tour of the United States east coast by car.

You’ll drive straight south and pass through four states before reaching Florida, which are Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The trip is best divided into at least three or four days of driving.

This way, you don’t have to worry about the kids getting cranky and restless, starting fights in the backseat. You’ll also ward off road fatigue.

Here is how I recommend reaching Orlando from D.C.

Washington, D.C. to Richmond

From your home of Washington, D.C., you’ll drive to the first state along your route, which is Virginia.

You’ll stop in Richmond, which is two hours from D.C. when you drive south (without traffic, of course).

Richmond is the state capital and a charming city known for its history.

If you and the kids get the chance to get out of the car and take a little stroll around Richmond, you’ll find a multitude of activities.

You can take in sightseeing tours, walk through the downtown area, visit arts and history museums, or witness the beauty of nature at a botanical garden.

Richmond to Rocky Mount

When you’re ready to say goodbye to Virginia, then it’s time to pile back into the car and continue the next part of your trip.

From Richmond, you’ll drive straight south to Rocky Mount, North Carolina. This leg of the journey takes two hours unless you get caught in traffic.

Rocky Mount between Nash and Edgecomb counties is a tranquil city with attractive natural views.

Between City Lake Park, Rocky Mount Hills, Battle Park, Sunset Park, and the Bridge Tar River Trail, you and the kids can lose yourselves in Rocky Mount’s beauty.

I do recommend staying for a while, as you’ve been on the road for about four hours already. There’s a lot of driving yet to be done, so you might as well call it a night in Rocky Mount and continue to South Carolina tomorrow.

Rocky Mount to Lumberton

It’s a new day and you and the kids are feeling rested, refreshed, and ready for the next leg of your journey. As you wish!

Fuel up the car and continue to Lumberton, another North Carolina city. This drive is again southbound with a slight westward curve so you can cut into South Carolina next.

You’ll be in the car for about two hours if traffic doesn’t slow you down.

Lumberton in Robeson County is known for its parks as well as museums, including the Exploration Station Children’s Museum for the kiddos.

Lumberton to Charleston

Lumberton was the last North Carolina stop on your route. At your leisure, you’ll drive south from there until you reach Charleston, South Carolina.

This is admittedly going to be the longest stretch of your trip, as your arrival time will be three hours.

Charleston is a highly sought-after destination. This port city is the home of the Battery and French Quarter districts, and it affords quaint sights such as pastel homes, horse-drawn carriages, and cobblestone-lined streets.

If you feel like you want to stay in Charleston for a bit, I’d suggest the same. It’s been another long day of driving, and I’m sure you and the kids are all tired.

You’ll also have more time to explore this lovely South Carolina city, so take advantage of that!

Charleston to Savannah

Drink in the elegance of a morning in Charleston and slowly make your way out of the city.

Once you’re back on the road, you’ll drive for about two hours southwest before reaching Savannah, Georgia.

The only thing separating South Carolina and Georgia is the Savannah River which this coastal city is named after. You’ll get great views of the river from the other side.

A lot of the design touches of Charleston carry over to Savannah, including antebellum architecture and horse-drawn carriages.

The parks here look like something out of a painting with their tidy lawns, especially Forsyth Park.

You should at least drive by the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist if you can’t visit, as its Gothic-Revival architecture is truly something else. 

Savannah to Jacksonville

You’ll soon be in Florida! From Savannah, drive for two hours south to Jacksonville.

It’s a straight shot and an easy enough drive if you don’t get ensnarled in heavy traffic (here’s hoping!).

If measuring cities across the contiguous US by area, then technically, Jacksonville is the biggest. It’s also the most populated city in Florida.

Although you’re so close to Orlando now, you have a choice. You can either suck it up and drive for another two hours or stay in Jacksonville overnight and arrive in Orlando first thing the next morning.

Jacksonville is full of attractions that make visiting this city worth your time. Between the museums, the parks, the beaches, the zoos, and the amusements, the kids will be in a stellar mood!

Jacksonville to Orlando

Keep driving deeper into Florida by going south, and in about two hours, you’ll have made it to Orlando from Jacksonville. Congratulations! You’re here.

How long does it take to drive to Orlando from Washington, D.C.?

The route from Washington, D.C. to Orlando is quite clear-cut and even rather easy. However, it’s a multi-day trip, which tells you it’s going to be a long one.

Indeed, it will take you approximately 12 hours and eight minutes to reach Orlando from D.C.

That drivetime, keep in mind, does not include traffic.

I can’t say how much traffic you’ll get caught in, but what’s for sure is that there will be at least some.

You can do your best to stay away from traffic by driving outside of rush hours.

Even still, in more populated areas like Jacksonville, traffic is guaranteed to at least some degree. Thus, plan to add at least an extra hour to your overall drivetime and maybe two hours.

Activities for the family on the way to Orlando

If you don’t care so much about how long it takes you to get to Orlando, only that you get there within a couple of days, then you’re going to have an awesome road trip.

Between D.C. and Orlando are so many truly exceptional sights, attractions, and destinations that you may feel inclined to try to see them all. I certainly can’t blame you!

Here are some fun places to explore.

Richmond Destinations

• Science Museum of Richmond

Since 1970, the Science Museum of Richmond has attracted crowds of kiddos (and their parents, of course) who want to learn more about the wonders of science.

The exhibitions will teach your children about many basic science concepts such as the value of skin, how speed works, and how light works.

Other can’t-miss exhibits are Green Science about eco-friendly living and The Hyperwall with local climate, social, and environmental science stories expressed through unique datasets.

Many exhibits are hands-on to engage kids!

• The Robins Nature Center at Maymont

Animals sure are incredible, and the whole family can foster a newfound appreciation at The Robins Nature Center at Maymont.

This wildlife center features a variety of wildlife habitats with creatures on display such as bison, owls, bobcats, red foxes, vultures, hawks, elk, deer, and black bears.

The entire valley is 40 expansive acres, as the wildlife center also houses Maymont Farm and The Robins Nature Center.

At Maymont Farm, kids can see goats, chickens, pigs, horses, donkeys, sheep, ducks, and cows.

Many animals are available for hands-on encounters, and your kids can even feed some farm creatures!

The Robins Nature Center features exhibits on aquatic animals, including the 34-foot River Reach centerpiece and digital pool touch stations.

• Putt-Putt Fun Center

If the weather isn’t cooperating during your time in Richmond, head to the Putt-Putt Fun Center and dodge the rain.

This indoor amusement center features an assortment of kid-friendly attractions such as mini golf, bumper boats, go-karts, and an arcade. It’ll be sure to be a fun time!

• Deep Run Park & Recreation Center

In nearby Henrico County is the Deep Run Park & Recreation Center, a public park that’s over 50 acres.

The park offers a playground with fun play equipment, hiking and nature trails, picnic shelters, fishing zones, a basketball area, and a recreation center.

Rocky Mount Destinations

• Sunset Park

Breathe in that crisp North Carolina air at Sunset Park, a public city park that’s sure to get the kids eager to jump out of the car.

Between the basketball courts, the onsite merry-go-round, and the mini train that spans the grounds, this 25-acre park has lots for the kids to explore.

The tennis and basketball courts are lighted, there’s a skateboard park, an 18-hole course for disc golf, and ice cream on the premises for purchase.

The Amusement Center, which is where the carousel and train are located, also features a spray play water park for kids under 40 inches tall.

• The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences

For an educational experience the kids won’t soon forget, plan an afternoon at The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences, a children’s museum.

On the arts side, you and the family can see more than 500 works in the permanent collection or check out the rotating art exhibits.

Next, it’s time to move on to the science exhibits, which culminate in the awesome Cummins Planetarium.

The planetarium can fit 50 guests who can learn about our planet during shows such as Earth Moon & Sun, Legends of the Night Sky – Perseus & Andromeda, Legends of the Night Sky – Orion, SpacePark360, and Zula Patrol – Under the Weather.

Oh, and did I mention the Cummins Planetarium does laser shows too? It does indeed! The shows are about 30 minutes apiece.

Some of the shows you and the family can check out are Laser Motown, Laser Michael Jackson, Colors of the World, Lasers of Oz, Laser Beatles, Laser Classic Rock, and Laser 101.

Lumberton Destinations

• Robeson County History Museum

Continue museum hopping at Lumberton’s Robeson County History Museum, a beloved installation in the city.

The museum is dedicated to all things Robeson County, including preserving and spreading that history to residents and tourists alike.

The museum is free to get into, and it isn’t such a large museum that you’ll spend the whole day here, perhaps an hour or two, tops.  Give it a visit!

• Exploration Station

At the very least, I would recommend spending some of your time in Lumberton at the Exploration Station, a children’s museum that will ignite your kids’ curiosities.

The Exploration Station focuses on STEM concepts, which is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The interactive exhibits are both fun and educational, and with exhibits for kids as young as pre-K, the whole family will feel involved!

Charleston Destinations

• Charleston Farmers Market

A regular part of Charleston culture since 1989, Charleston Farmers Market is a weekly event that features crafts, food, and vendors.

Hosted in Marion Square, the available wares change all the time. You’ll come back to see what’s in stock as well as for the festive atmosphere of this fun farmers market!

• Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

One of the most beloved kids’ museums in Charleston is the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.

The nonprofit museum has one mission, and that’s “to engage young children’s potential by inviting families of all backgrounds to explore environments and experiences that spark imagination and stimulate curiosity through the power of play.”

If that sounds right up your family’s alley, the museum is open six days a week except for Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Sundays, the museum opens from noon until 5 p.m.

• Folly Beach County Park

In the summertime, there are few better places to be in Charleston than Folly Beach County Park.

The beach is sandwiched between the Folly River and the Atlantic Ocean.

Lifeguards patrol the beach and look out for swimmers. Besides the clear sands and warm waters, Folly County Beach Park also offers restrooms, dressing areas, and umbrella and beach chair rentals if you don’t have your own.

The beach is open from 8 a.m. until sunset and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Savannah Destinations

• Savannah Children’s Museum

Delight the senses at Savannah Children’s Museum, which is in Tricentennial Park.

This exclusively outdoor museum took over what once was the Central of Georgia Railway Carpentry Shop.

The exhibits offer a bit of everything, and with water play, story time, and arts and crafts, this museum is the perfect attraction no matter the age of your child.

• Tybee Island

When the beach is calling your name, visit Tybee Island.

This coastal community is a mere 18 miles from Savannah, so it’s easily accessible by car.

You and the children can splash along the surf, stroll the boardwalk, stay at the Hotel Tybee if you’re seeking luxurious accommodations, or enjoy a culinary tour of the area at Bernies Oyster House, Ben & Jerry’s, or The Crab Shack.  

• Georgia State Railroad Museum

Also in Tricentennial Park is the Georgia State Railroad Museum, which is at the Central of Georgia Railway Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities.

This is one of the only remaining places to see old Victorian railroad design and architecture.

Also on display are a portable steam engine (the oldest of its kind in the US), model trains, railroad stock, locomotives, shaft-driven machinery, and a turntable the kids can spin.

• Oatland Island Wildlife Center

The Oatland Island Wildlife Center showcases a wide array of animals. The kids will surely be engaged at every turn!

Here, they can spot albino red rat snakes, American alligators, bald eagles, grey wolves, great horned owls, red foxes, rabbits, nine-banded armadillos, and so much more.

Check the events calendar, as the Oatland Island Wildlife Center regularly hosts events and even has a Nature Pre-K program for the young’uns.

Jacksonville Destinations

• MOSH (Museum of Science & History)

When in doubt about how to entertain the family, just MOSH!

I’m talking about the Museum of Science and History, of course.

The museum offers a variety of exhibits, including core exhibits such as Health in Motion: Discover What Moves You and Currents of Time: A History of Jacksonville & Northeast Florida.

The Creation Station is a signature exhibit. This maker space is a chance for your children to explore their creative and artistic sides.

A series of traveling exhibits pass through the museum as well, which means there’s always a reason for another visit!

• The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

Are your kids captivated by big cats? Then you absolutely must take them to The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, where all nature of big cats is on display.

The children can do more than look at ferocious creatures like lions and tigers. Night feedings are also available, although you just get to watch the feedings, not participate!

• Shipwreck Island Water Park

Beat the Florida heat at Shipwreck Island Water Park.

The park has rides for family members of all ages, including a lazy river, the Ocean Motion Wave Pool, the Pirate’s Plunge slide, the Splash Cove, the Tipping Bucket, and the very scary Tree Top Drop slide!

• Jacksonville’s “Hands On” Children’s Museum

Do your kids like to touch? I mean, whose kids don’t, right?

The Jacksonville “Hands On” Children’s Museum is perfect for your children. Here, they’re encouraged to touch as much as their hearts desire.

The exhibits onsite include the Fire & Emergency Rescue Station for learning about the duties of a firefighter, the Kids TV & Radio station for pretending to be a media star, and more.

What to do in Orlando

You’re finally in sunny Orlando, which means your vacation is now underway.

While you can always make a beeline for Disney World or Universal Studios, the high prices and long lines might both be a deterrent.

The following activities are sure to be less crowded and lower-cost!

Fun Spot America Theme Park

Fun Spot America Theme Park has locations throughout Florida, including in Kissimmee.

Of course, you’re in Orlando, and that means riding fun amusements like the Freedom Flyer coaster, the Ferris wheel, bumper cars, bumper boats, the Scrambler, or go-karts.

The kiddie rides include a funhouse, a carousel, the Frog Hopper, the Sea Serpent mini-coaster, the Happy Swing, and the Fun Slide.

An arcade is also onsite for playing games and maybe winning a fun souvenir! 

WonderWorks Orlando

WonderWorks is a thrilling experience like no other!

Kids can go through a variety of zones that trigger the senses such as the Space Discovery Zone, the Extreme Weather Zone, the Physical Challenge Zone, and the Light & Sound Zone.

The attraction also offers an indoor ropes course, a laser tag arena, and a 4D XD simulator ride.

Stay for The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show. You and the children can enjoy a magic show as well as unlimited soda, beer (for adults only!), salad, and pizza.

Escapology Escape Rooms Orlando

You and the family will work as one to get out of the challenges offered at Escapology Escape Rooms Orlando.

The games have some fun themes, such as:

• Narco (a drug-themed escape room maybe not best for the kids until they’re older)
• Antidote (find the cure!)
• Under Pressure (a submarine-themed escape)
• Mansion Murder (try to avoid spending life in prison)
• Lost City (seek and you shall find, the treasure, that is)
• 7 Deadly Sins (break the curse!)
• Star Trek : Quantum Filament (fix the USS Discovery)
• Murder on the Orient Express (a great whodunit)
• Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure (help Scoobs and the gang!)

Lake Eola Park

For some tranquility during your Orlando vacation, getaway to Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando.

The park features a 0.9-mile circular sidewalk walking path, flowerbeds aplenty, the nearby Walt Disney Amphitheater with consistent entertainment, and paddle boats for rent that are shaped like swans.

If you’re eager to plan a road trip to Orlando from Washington, D.C., I hope I’ve shown you in this guide how easy it is to get there.

Just be sure to set aside plenty of time and enjoy the trip, as it’s just as much if not more fun than the destination!

Washington DC to Orlando road trip

• Post last modified: March 10, 2024

There’s an old saying that it’s about the journey, not the destination. Well, this ultimate Washington DC to Orlando road trip certainly is both about the journey and the destination. Discover the best of the American South, including secluded beaches and romantic cities, on your way to the Sunshine State. Then have the best of times in the theme park capital.

Are you ready to hit the road?

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Route from DC to Orlando

• Outer Banks
• Amelia Island
• Finish: Orlando
• Total distance:  1,106 mi / 1,780 km
• Total driving time:  20.5 h

1. Washington DC

We’re about to leave the station. But if you’re not a capital resident, make sure to fit in some time for Washington DC sightseeing before departing.

Discover the National Mall

The National Mall is an unparalleled park in the heart of Washington DC. It presents monuments, memorials and museums of huge national significance.

In its east the US Capitol Building, with 365 iconic steps, is a must see. At the park’s western end the Lincoln Memorial is another mandatory spot.

Between the two the Washington Monument, shooting up towards the sky like nothing else, calls for your attention.

Also with celebrated museums you can spend days exploring the National Mall before hitting the open roads on the Washington DC to Orlando drive.

How about a lineup of the  National Museum of Natural History ,  National Gallery of Art  and  National Museum of American History ? That’s still just a few of the many top National Mall museums.

Wave at the White House

The White House is positioned at the northern end of the National Mall. It’s the home and workplace of the president of the  United States .

You can admire the president’s home from two sides: North Lawn and South Lawn.

At North Lawn, and Pennsylvania Avenue, you get the closest views of the White House. The South Lawn, facing the National Mall, is larger and doesn’t offer as intimate views.

But regardless of north or south, waving at the White House, and possibly the president, is the perfect start to the Washington DC to Orlando drive.

Route info:  This Washington DC to Orlando route, which goes for maximum scenery, now leads to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. But if you’re short on time, head straight south to Wilmington instead. Although you then miss out on the unique Outer Banks setting, it saves you 139 miles (224 km) and 3 hours.

2. Outer Banks, NC

• Driving distance:  286 mi / 460 km
• Driving time:  5.5 h

The first and longest drive on the entire DC to Orlando itinerary takes you from the US’ political epicenter to endless sand dunes. Welcome to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, or as the locals say: the paradise on earth.

Many come for the beaches. The easy-going beaches are the  Outer Banks’ main attractions . But this place far away from the hustle and bustle also is where American history has been made.

Unwind at Cape Hatteras

For coastal scenery the Outer Banks is an area hard to match. From the Virginia-North Carolina border down to the tip of Ocracoke Island there is an abundance of beaches, lighthouses and towns to check out.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore, preserving a delicate portion of the Outer Banks, showcases it all. Its numbers speak for themselves:

• 70+ miles (113 km) of soft coastline.
• 7 sleepy towns.
• 2 proud lighthouses.

The vast Cape Hatteras, where you always find your own space, is an appreciated break from reality. When driving from Washington DC to Orlando, it’s one of those treasured places off the beaten path.

Picture the first flight ever

If you thought the Outer Banks is just about beaches, think again. This stop has played a crucial role in the history of flight.

Wilbur and Orville Wright needed a sandy, windy and isolated area for their quest towards the first human flight. The Outer Banks ticked off all three criterias, and the rest is history.

December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers took the first powered, sustained and controller airplane flight ever.

Today the  Wright Brothers National Memorial , at the Outer Banks spot where it once happened, celebrates the huge feat. Learn all there’s to know about the achievement, or just visualize the first flight ever.

More info: Outer Banks accommodation

3. Wilmington, NC

• Driving distance:  235 mi / 378 km
• Driving time:  4.5 h

The Washington DC to Florida drive is a journey through the American South. In Wilmington, on the Atlantic Ocean but slightly off the radar, you can’t miss that. The city boasts both rich history and southern charm.

Tour the historic Bellamy Mansion

Not many hours from Washington DC you already appear to be in the Deep South. Welcome to Wilmington Historic District, a delightful place to park your car.

Wilmington’s historic downtown area encompasses hundreds of historic buildings and sites. Around every corner there’s something interesting to explore.

But one place that stands out, where you need to stop for a while, is the  Bellamy Mansion . It was built as the Civil War was about to unfold, and every inch of it has a story to tell.

Touring the Bellamy Mansion adds unique perspectives to a Wilmington visit.

A few blocks west of the Bellamy Mansion the calming Cape Fear River flows. Wilmington Riverwalk, dotted with restaurants and bars, is a great spot to recharge before the Washington DC to Orlando road trip continues.

Let the beach bum loose at Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach offers a welcome contrast to the history-filled streets of Wilmington. Here, less than 10 miles (16 km) from Wilmington Historic District, you can live your best beach life.

Is there a sweeter combo than history and beaches?

The soft Wrightsville dunes are treasured by sunbathers, while its wild Atlantic waves attract surfers from far and wide.

At the island’s southern end you find its most iconic views. There the landmark Crystal Pier shoots out into the Atlantic Ocean, offering spectacular perspectives of the salty surroundings.

Additional stop:  South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach is an addition to the itinerary that appeals to the beach bum. Roughly halfway between Wilmington and Charleston the city is a hub for joy in the sand and sun.

4. Charleston, SC

• Driving distance:  176 mi / 283 km
• Driving time:  3.5 h

The coastal Lowcountry region presents a world of islands, rivers and antebellum homes. Its biggest component Charleston is for its appreciated characteristics often referred to as America’s favorite city.

Stroll the inviting Battery

Charleston Historic District is filled with history to such a degree that it appears like a huge open-air museum. One that also has a fun ambience.

Its foundation, providing safety for the city through centuries, is the Battery. The seawall, named for its Civil War artillery battery, carefully follows the southern shores of Charleston.

As the Battery also functions as a promenade, it’s a place where the past and present stunningly intersect.

The Battery is a meeting point for locals and visitors alike. On the historic promenade, surrounded by proud palm trees and colorful antebellum homes, it’s easy to see why Charleston is called America’s favorite city.

Enter eminent plantations

Several of the most renowned American plantations are located in the Charleston area. It’s truly a golden opportunity for the DC to Orlando drive.

By Ashley River three historic plantations line up:  Drayton Hall ,  Magnolia Plantation  and  Middleton Place .

These plantations offer glimpses of a world that no longer exists. Some parts are delightful, while the darker plantation chapters make you shudder.

Prepare for a multifaceted experience.

Additional stops:  The Lowcountry is a road trip adventure on its own. Charleston and Savannah are the region’s two biggest cities, but there’s much more to explore in between. Impeccable additional stops as you  road trip the Lowcountry  include Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Kiawah Island.

5. Savannah, GA

• Driving distance:  107 mi / 172 km
• Driving time:  2 h

Georgia’s Savannah welcomes you to the southern end of the Lowcountry. Its huge oaks, cozily covered in Spanish moss, and concentration of antebellum homes offer the perfect setting for a good old time.

Have a blast on River Street

Savannah, and the entire American South, is unique in the way it welcomes visitors. Its overwhelming warmth and kindness has a name: southern hospitality.

As you walk Savannah’s River Street, you can feel it on your skin. An inviting ambience radiates out from the many eateries and watering holes that line Savannah River.

Savannah’s waterfront is an excellent location for a night out.

But for quieter moments just stroll deeper into Savannah’s historic downtown. There the moss-covered oaks, antebellum homes and jaw-dropping monuments continue to show you a good time.

Learn at Fort Pulaski

Savannah is located upriver from the Atlantic Ocean. If you head east, towards the open ocean, you encounter several Lowcountry islands.

On one of them, Cockspur Island,  Fort Pulaski  impressively stands. The fort represents a turning point in American military history.

Fort Pulaski’s thick brick walls was thought to protect it from attacks. However, with revolutionary rifled artillery the Union managed to breach its wall an April’s day in 1862.

As you take the Washington to Orlando road trip, learning about Fort Pulaski’s history is intriguing.

Still history isn’t this stop’s only draw. Fort Pulaski National Monument, covering most of Cockspur Island and the adjacent McQueens Island, also showcases prime Lowcountry nature.

6. Amelia Island, FL

• Driving distance:  127 mi / 204 km

It’s time to exit the highway just 10 miles (16 km) after crossing the Florida-Georgia state line. Amelia Island is a hidden treasure up in the very northeastern corner of Florida.

Explore Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach is the town on Amelia Island. It’s a unique place to celebrate that you have arrived in Florida from Washington DC.

Overlooking Amelia River, Fernandina Historic District holds more than 50 blocks from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The striking collection of Victorian-era structures is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Homes, businesses and churches form a complete downtown area that appears to have frozen in time.

Centre Street is its main hub of activiy. There restaurants, bars and shops offer timeless experiences. As you explore the area, you might ask yourself if this really is the 21st century.

Look back on Georgia

Fort Clinch State Park  covers the northernmost part of Amelia Island. Above all the park is home to the well preserved Fort Clinch, another historic highlight on the itinerary.

The strategic position of Fort Clinch is apparent. Just across St. Mary’s River the neighboring Cumberland Island is Georgia territory.

Once upon a time the possession of Fort Clinch was crucial.

But if you paid attention during your Fort Pulaski stop, you might already know what eventually retired Fort Clinch. The two East Coast strongholds, one in Georgia and one in Florida, faced similar destinies.

7. Orlando, FL

• Driving distance:  175 mi / 282 km
• Driving time:  3 h

Well done, the final 175 miles (282 km) finishes the epic Washington DC to Orlando road trip.

Orlando is, of course, the undisputed theme park capital. So if you’re up for some theme park fun, you have arrived at exactly the right destination.

Make dreams come true at Disney

Disney World has provided entertainment to Orlando visitors since 1971. It’s a complex that has become both an Orlando and Florida symbol.

Here meet and greets make dreams come true every day. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck are just a few of the many favorite characters who welcome you to the magical world of Disney.

Disney World is the ultimate stop on a Washington DC to Florida family road trip, at least if you ask the kiddos.

But it’s not only a happy place for younger roadtrippers. With four different theme parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, there’s something for everyone at Disney.

Where to stay in Orlando

Lake Buena Vista is where you find the fun-filled Disney World. However, I-Drive and Kissimmee are other popular options for  where to stay when visiting Orlando .

• Grand Orlando Resort BC – Those pools (at Disney)!
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort – Universal playfulness.

Road trip from Washington DC to Orlando FAQ

This ultimate Washington DC to Orlando road trip is 1,106 miles (1,780 km) long, taking roughly 20.5 hours excluding any stops along the way. If you just take the quickest route, the drive is 846 miles (1,362 km) and 12.5 hours. But then you miss out on a lot of the coastal scenery along the way. A middle course is to save the Outer Banks for another time. That cut, which means that you go directly from DC to Wilmington, alone saves you 139 miles (224 km) and 3 hours.

The main stops included on the road trip from Washington DC to Orlando are DC, Outer Banks, Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Amelia Island and Orlando. Additional destinations along the route include Myrtle Beach, Kiawah Island, Beaufort and Hilton Head Island,

With so much to see along the way — just stops like Charleston and Savannah deserve at least a couple of days each — this itinerary deserves a significant amount of time. So for the full itinerary, we suggest that you allow at least close to 10 days, but preferably more.

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The best stops on a road trip from DC to Florida

When I was a child, my family drove to Miami from Washington, D.C. every summer. We’d always divide the 15-hour drive into two days with Florida alone taking up most of the second day.

As fate would have it, I married a Cuban-American from Florida. This means that we go to Miami at least twice a year and still vacation with my family on Miami Beach every August. Usually we fly but this summer, we opted to take a road trip from DC to Florida and explore the South East a bit.

Our journey took us to St. Simons Island, Georgia, Miami, Florida, Key Largo and Key West in the Florida Keys. It was a long trip but we survived and had fun exploring this beautiful coast together.

Guest post and photos by Guiomar Barbi Ochoa . Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy for more details.

Driving to Florida from DC

Table of Contents

If you have longer then I’d highly recommend adding some more stops to your road trip itinerary. This slice of the country is home to significant historical sites and some beautiful landscapes. Other places to add to your itinerary include:

Richmond, Virginia . This is one of the best stops along the I-95. The Virginia State Capitol Building was designed by Thomas Jefferson and features the oldest Greek columns in the United States. Also in Virginia is Williamsburg, the best preserved colonial town in the country.

Beaufort is another destination worth spending some time in. Located on Port Royal Island, one of South Carolina’s Coastal Sea Islands, it’s a charming place to while away the days and the sunsets are sublime.

The Outer Banks , in North Carolina, are another great place to stop on this Washington to Florida drive. Expect nothing more than beautiful, unspoiled beaches, charming villages and plenty of outdoor activities.

For hiking opportunities you have the Blue Ridge Parkwa y that spans 469 miles from Virginia to Cherokee in North Carolina. Taking some time out somewhere like Pigeon Forge in the Smoky Mountains (part of the Blue Ridge Mountains) will be a small detour but well worth it.

Unfortunately, time didn’t allow us to add these stops to our DC to Florida drive, hopefully next time!

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Day 1: Washington DC – St Simons Island, GA

The drive from Washington DC to St Simons Island in Georgia is a long one, some 656 miles. It takes about 10 hours to drive – which is why I recommend breaking up the trip if you can. Given that we couldn’t explore the east coast, we choose two good pit stops instead.

The first place we stopped was South of the Border , the quirky, Mexican-themed divide between North and South Carolina. The large billboards placed along the border on Interstate 95 may have seen better days but it’s still a good photo op and the kids enjoyed it.

The second place we stopped was Florence in South Carolina . This is a really lovely city and well worth an overnight stay if you have time. There’s a lively arts and culture scene, some wonderful food options and charming Southern hospitality.

The thing my kids loved the most about Florence, however, was  Bruster’s Real Ice Cream . You can order from an old fashioned window or even drive thru.

Overnight: St. Simons Island, Georgia

Our first overnight stop was St. Simons Island , GA. The largest of Georgia’s illustrious Golden Isles, St. Simons is a picturesque seaside resort with family friendly beaches, tons of outdoor activities, fun shops and tasty restaurants.

Because I’m a stickler for learning about the history of places we visit, I made sure our family went on a Lighthouse Trolley tour . The tour was scheduled to last 90 minutes but actually ran over two hours! The kids took a little nap but my husband and I had a great time and feel like we definitely got a great history lesson about the island.

Where to stay in St Simons Island

One of the things we loved most about St. Simons Island, GA. was the King and Prince Resort . Our room had a view of the beautiful beaches. We went for a long walk during low tide while the kids splashed each other and took dips when they got hot. It was the perfect way to get rid of energy from being cooped up in the car.

Day 2: St Simons Island – Miami

From St Simons we continued our drive to Florida from DC along the I-95. This drive is about 430 miles and takes around 7 hours. There are  lots of places you can stop in Florida along the way; this is a long state to drive from North to South so it’s definitely worth breaking up the journey.

We chose to stop at the Florida Welcome Centre on the I-95 and picked up some freshly squeezed orange juice. If you drive about an hour further south you’ll hit St Augustine , which is a wonderful stop for a day trip or longer. Pretty St Augustine is the oldest city in the US, home to Spanish colonial architecture and some excellent beaches.

Our second pit stop was in  La Carreta in Miami to eat good, reasonable and authentic Cuban food.

Overnight: Miami

The drive from St. Simons to Miami was a good nine hours. It’s a long haul but mentally knowing we were beach bound helped get us through it! In Miami, we split our time between Miami Beach and the city itself.

Miami with kids is a lot of fun and you can spend days – or even weeks – enjoying everything on offer. From Cuban croquetas to Colombian carimañolas , there are vast food options to satisfy even the pickiest of palettes. There are many family-friendly beaches too.

Where to stay in Miami with kids

The Acqualina Resort & Spa is a super kid-friendly, luxury seaside sanctuary located in Sunny Isles Beach between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. Our room was on the twenty third floor so we had a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Kids aged five to twelve can try the hotel’s Aquamarine Day Camp that teaches children about the sea through educational activities. I walked into Acqualina and was afraid it might be too stuffy for our little ones but nothing could be further from the truth. From the foosball table by the pools to the gelato bar near the lobby, this resort is a must for any family visiting Miami Beach.

Day 3: Miami – Key Largo 

Leaving Miami we got on the Highway 1 to drive to the Florida Keys. U.S. 1 is a one lane road so you have no choice but to sit back and enjoy the beautiful views that lie ahead.

Our first stop was Key Largo , about 60 miles south of Miami proper. We opted to spend the night here so we could enjoy the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park . This is the first undersea park in North America and is made up of approximately 70 nautical square miles. The coral reefs are spectacular and you can enjoy them either via a glass-bottom boat tour or by getting in the water and scuba diving or snorkelling.

Overnight  Key Largo

In Key Largo, we stayed at the  Ocean Pointe Suites . We had a kitchenette, pool and even a little private beach which is not always a given in the Keys.

Day 4: Key Largo – Key West 

It takes just two hours to drive from Key Largo to Key West along U.S. 1. Key West is Florida’s southernmost point and lies just 90 miles north of Cuba.

Key West is a fun, quirky place with lots of Spanish and Caribbean influence. Don’t be surprised to see roosters walking on the streets! Tin-roofed conch houses were once home to Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Frost and Jimmy Buffett.

In downtown Key West, the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum is well worth a visit. Containing an extensive collection of artefacts from ancient shipwrecks, this is a must see for any family with tiny pirates.

The Ernest Hemingway House and Museum was the famous author’s home, in Key West, from 1931 to 1939. A U.S. National historic landmark, the house is still populated by six- and seven-toed cats that are descendants of Hemingway’s cats.

This post details lots of fun things to do in Key West with kids .

Where to stay in Key West, Florida Keys

We opted for the new Hilton Garden Inn . This property is right at the entrance of the island. It’s not right smack in the middle of everything but that might be a better option for families that don’t want to deal with the noise or business of Key West at nighttime. They do have a shuttle that takes you to historic Key West.

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Katja Gaskell

3 thoughts on “the best stops on a road trip from dc to florida”.

Key West is one of my very favorite travel destinations. We had a wonderful time there!

Congratulations for your Road Trips with Kids but Washington DC to the Florida Keys is too long way. I’m totally shocked to Washington DC to the Florida Keys Road Trips. How would you guys spend all 4days on road trips. Didn’t you get bored on this trip ?

La Carreta, heck yes! Great choice. I like to drive between South Florida and DC every other year or so but I rarely touch I-95. I love to find cool smaller roads. Then again, I am not on a schedule and do not have the kids with me. Nice information!

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Florida to Washington, DC: Great Road Trip Stops

Last updated on March 7th, 2024 at 12:56 pm

When we moved from Orlando to Washington, DC we decided to turn the 850 mile drive into a week’s vacation. Rather than bang it out in a day or two, we drove the scenic route to enjoy the countryside. Savannah and Charleston are typically considered musts, and we stopped in both towns for another visit. But the east coast is packed with wonderful historic destinations and seaside vacation spots. There are many great road trip stops from Florida to Washington, DC!

If you are short on time, focus on the best stops along I-95 . But if you have more time, consider venturing off the interstate. This article covers both options! Some placed discussed here, like South of the Border, are mentioned solely because they are right along I-95. Other destinations, like Williamsburg, Virginia, are well worth going a little off course to experience the best preserved colonial destination in the United States.

St. Augustine, Florida

We departed Orlando and stopped for our final night in Florida in St. Augustine, the oldest European settlement in the United States. Beautiful Spanish style buildings and cobbled streets take visitors back centuries. Stroll through the beautiful Flagler College campus, then wander through the streets toward the old city gates and on to the Castillo de San Marcos, a historic fort with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the oldest fort in the USA, built between 1672 and 1695.

St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by the Spanish. Its architecture heavily reflects that influence. The town is also a melting pot of cultures, as many Greek immigrants settled there in the 1800’s after fleeing the New Smyrna colony. A storied history and fusion of cultures equates to a tasty dining scene in the town. Enjoy a charming restaurant in the historic district like The Floridian, packed with internationally influenced southern dishes like shrimp banh mi po boys.

For those craving the architecture of Europe, but unable to make a trip, St Augustine is for you. St. Augustine Beach and nearby Crescent Beach are wonderful spots to relax and play, soaking up sunshine and hanging out with pelicans. The beach is just off Highway A1A, a beautiful route to drive along the east coast of Florida. Break up the monotony and hassle of I-95 and take A1A if you have time. You can also explore Anastasia State Park, a protected wildlife sanctuary.

St. Augustine Bed and Breakfast

St. Augustine has charming bed and breakfasts great for couples getaways. Carriage Way Inn Bed & Breakfast  is a great choice for a couples stay. The adults-only, Victorian-style b&b serves a hot chef’s choice breakfast each morning and offers coffee, tea, and wine throughout the day. Guests can enjoy views of historic Saint Augustine from the verandas, and grab fresh-baked sweets from the lobby each afternoon. Their concierge can assist guests with information about local dining and attractions.

Highway A1A – Florida

Getting off the major American highway system is always a good idea if you have the time. This way you really get to explore the US. We highly recommend taking highway A1A up the Flordia coast. It runs from Key West and ends on Amelia Island. You will drive through small coastal towns, with the opportunity to stop for coffee, lunch or snacks and support a multitude of small businesses.

There are beautiful beaches and national parks that you will be able to stop at to stretch your legs. That’s so much better than the rest spots along the major highways! Fun fact about A1A, at Mayport you will have to drive up on the ferry to stay true to A1A and cross the Saint Johns River.

St. Johns River Ferry

4675 Ocean Street Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

FROM MAYPORT VILLAGE TO FT. GEORGE ISLAND

Monday –  Thursday 6:00 am – 7:00pm. Ferries depart every half hour, with the final departure at 7:00 pm.

Friday: 6:00 am – 8:30 pm. Saturday & Sunday : 7:00 am – 8:30 pm. Ferries depart every half hour, with the final departure at 8:30 pm.

It costs $7 on weekdays and $8 on weekends for cars to utilize the St. Johns River Ferry to cross from Mayport to George Island.

Check their website for the most up to date ferry schedule and fares.

Saint Simons Island and Darien, Georgia

Both of these spots are great for a stop. Saint Simons Island has some amazing oak trees draped in the iconic Spanish moss of the south. On some of these beautiful old oak trees, spirit faces have been carved into the trunks. You can search out the Golden Isles tree spirits  as they are spread all over the island. The beach and lighthouse on this island is also a beautiful spot to explore and before heading off the island stop in to grab a bite at Southern Soul BBQ .

We recommend stopping in Darien for lunch. We enjoyed a delicious meal at Skipper’s Fish Camp overlooking the Darien River. Their grilled shrimp sandwich, served with a side of okra is excellent. After lunch we strolled around the small quiet town. Then we grabbed some takeaway cappuccinos before getting back on the road.

Nineteen miles up highway 17 is America’s smallest church. We almost drove by and didn’t turn around, but Alex knows how much I love checking out the quirky roadside attractions such as this on road trips, so he swung the car around so we could pop in. This church was recently rebuilt due to fire, and it is indeed tiny, very cute and worth stopping for 10 minutes. Alex even gave it his signature thumbs up!

Tybee Island, Georgia

Tybee Island is just east of Savannah, and technically a little out of way on a drive from Florida to DC. But it’s worth going out of your way for, and in the off season, you will certainly find cheaper accommodation as Savannah is always a happening spot and hotels prices reflect the popularity of a southern gem.

This is also one of the last chances to really enjoy a beach unless you really plan to go out of your way for it. Follow highway 17, it is perfect for a morning run or swim, and most of the hotels are within walking distance. Visit the impressive Tybee Island Light Station, which dates to 1736. It is one of only seven remaining colonial era lighthouses. Weather permitting, grab a delicious to go order from Sundae Cafe and enjoy it at the lighthouse or on the beach. The owners used to operate 80 East Gastropub, which was excellent for craft beer and a creative casual menu.

Being so close to Savannah, you didn’t think we’d leave it off from this trip, did you?

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is just off I-95 making it one the best and most convenient stops driving from Florida to Washington, DC. It is a charming southern town, with cobblestone streets and a relaxed vibe. A stroll along the Savannah River, with a delicious lunch, is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Enjoy some of the 22 beautiful public squares found in Savannah. The most famous is arguably Chippewa Square. This is where Forrest Gump sits on the bench waiting for bus number 9 for most of the award winning film. There is no bench in the spot, but you can sit in the square itself and enjoy a coffee from Gallery Espresso.

While on the topic of movies, we also made a stop at the Bonaventure Cemetery, which dates back to 1846. It became famous after the premiere of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil . There are a number of historical and beautiful cemeteries around Savannah, but the old hanging moss and statues make Bonaventure Cemetery particularly picturesque.

Where to Stay in Savannah

The Drayton makes for a great couples stay in historic Savannah. Comfortable rooms await guests, along with an onsite restaurant, bar and room service. The hotel is close to popular attractions like City Market, River Street Train Museum and Owens-Thomas Museum.

Upon leaving Savannah, we didn’t take highway 17. We briefly got back on I-95 to shave some time, as it is the fastest route from Florida to Washington DC. But we quickly exited I-95 and ventured to both Beaufort and historic Charleston, South Carolina.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston consistently ranks as one of the top destinations to visit in the United States. The first shots of the US Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in 1861 so the town is packed with history and some of the best preserved antebellum architecture in the US. It’s also a fantastic foodie destination, with a New York style fine dining scene condensed in a small town. As Charleston is not too far off I-95, it is one of the best stops from Florida to Washington, DC.

Rainbow Row features the longest collection of Georgian row houses in the United States. There are thirteen colorful houses side by side near the waterfront beginning at the end of East Bay Street. This is a great area to stroll and take in some fresh seaside air.

We stopped in Charleston on our road trip from Florida to DC but spent more time there during another visit. You can read highlights of what to do in Alex’s article covering Charleston, South Carolina .

Where to Stay in Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston has several historic grand hotels. The French Quarter Inn has been ranked among the world’s best hotels by Travel + Leisure. Guests are welcomed with champagne at check-in and treated to a complimentary gourmet breakfast. Luxury travelers are well covered in the southern gem of Charleston.

We stayed at the Charleston Marriott , which hosted a conference I attended. When the conference ended, we used Hilton Honors points from previous business travel to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Waterfront . If the price is similar, the Charleston Marriott is a better choice.

Both the Charleston Marriott and Hilton Garden Inn are over a mile from the historic center, but both offer shuttle services. The Marriott charges a flat fee to use their shuttle service, while the shuttle is tip based at the Hilton Garden Charleston Waterfront. Tip based is preferable so the additional money goes to employees, and not a huge corporation. Rooms at both hotels are comfortable and modern, but the Marriott gets the edge in enjoyability of stay.

Beaufort, South Carolina

Beaufort is a picturesque town on Port Royal Island, one of South Carolina’s Coastal Sea Islands. The historic town dates to 1711 and is the second oldest city in South Carolina.

We didn’t have much time in Beaufort, South Carolina , but it is a charming town to visit on an east coast road trip. We’d planned to have a little more time there but arrived just as the sun was setting. We grabbed a bite at Duke’ s BBQ of Beaufort, which is now closed. Google a Beaufort bbq restaurant and visit one with good reviews, for some old school BBQ and friendly service. Beaufort is a lovely destination to check out during a Florida to Washington, DC road trip.

South of the Border: Florida to Washington, DC

As you approach the border of South Carolina and North Carolina on Interstate 95 you are going to see a bunch of billboards telling you to stop at “South of the Border.” It definitely catches your eye and even Alex was excited to pull off the highway to check it out. But don’t get too excited, South of the Border in Dillon, South Carolina has seen better days.

There used to be a Mexican themed amusement park there. It closed years ago but many of the rides still remain, collecting dust. While South of the Border falls way short of awesome, it’s a convenient stop to grab a coffee, maybe a bite to eat and to stretch your legs. You can even purchase some fireworks if you have something to celebrate. Don’t plan to spend too much time there. It’s only a quirky highlight of the Florida to Washington, DC drive if you never get off I-95.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina is home to the USA’s oldest public university, UNC-Chapel Hill. UNC Chapel Hill was founded in 1795 and particularly excels in medicine, law and basketball. The symbol of UNC-Chapel Hill, and its most famous landmark is the Old Well. The Old Well is a small neoclassical rotunda supported by Doric columns. Built in 1897, it was inspired by the Temple of Love, in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, just outside Paris.

The Carolina Basketball Museum is a memorable stop for sports fans, featuring memorabilia from one of the countries most successful basketball programs. All five Tar Heel national championship trophies and rings are on display. Don’t wear your Duke gear there – though you probably wouldn’t anyway.

Where to Stay in Chapel Hill, North Carolina?

During our visit, we stayed at the Carolina Inn , right across the street from the UNC campus, which is owned by UNC-Chapel Hill. The hotel was established in 1924 because back then there wasn’t comfortable accommodation to house visiting professors and returning alumni. In hallways and even in our room there were pictures of notable alumni and informative history associated with the school’s programs. There is no better place to stay in Chapel Hill for convenience, comfort and history.

For more on what to do in Chapel Hill, read our article on the best things to do at UNC-Chapel Hill .

Blue Ridge Parkway: North Carolina & Virginia

The Blue Ridge Parkway spans 469 miles from the North Carolina border with Tennessee northeast through Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountain section of the Appalachian Mountains. The stretch of the highway we drove in the summer of 2015 was from Asheville, North Carolina to Tennessee.

We continued on through the Smoky Mountains to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Pigeon Forge is a spectacle of attractions that includes amusement parks like Dollywood. Read more about the what to expect during a drive around the Blue Ridge Parkway .

Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg, Virginia is the best preserved colonial town in the United States. Colonial Williamsburg was the capital of the colony of Virginia from 1699-1780. Along with nearby Jamestown and Yorktown, it is part of a “historic triangle.” The historic town serves as a living museum. Actors dressed in colonial attire provide insight into colonial life along the streets, stores and workshops.

There is a lot to do in the area, but plan to spend at least a couple hours strolling the historic center. Highlights include the Governors Palace and Visitors Center, housed in an 18th century mansion. There is even a Busch Gardens amusement park in Williamsburg.

While Williamsburg is very touristy, it has a surprisingly excellent culinary scene in its historic center. If you enjoy craft beer, go for brews and bites at Amber Ox . Their fried wings, prepared Alabama style and burgers, are as delicious as they come.

For delicious French-American dishes like croque madames and fried oyster po boys, head to Blue Talon Bistro . We loved both of those restaurants during our stay in Williamsburg. They also have nice outdoor terraces to enjoy dining al fresco when the weather is good.

Where to stay in Williamsburg, Virginia?

The Williamsburg Lodge is perfect for a luxurious stay. Stylish rooms juxtapose throwback 18th-century themed coverlet bedspreads and hand painted lamps with plush beds and large flatscreen TV’s. Two on-site restaurants serve classic American cuisine infused with a southern Chesapeake Bay twist. The property also features a spa, swimming pool and golf nearby. This is a popular hotel to get married. On the Saturday we stayed, there were two weddings taking place that evening.

We redeemed an anniversary award stay with our Marriott Bonvoy AMEX card for a free night at the Williamsburg Lodge. This saved us around $249 a night on a weekend stay. Read more of our travel hacks tips to save big money on travel!

Richmond, Virginia

In 1780 the capital of Virginia was moved from Williamsburg to….Richmond! Richmond, Virginia is one of the best stops right along I-95 driving from Florida to Washington, DC. The Virginia State Capitol Building was designed by Thomas Jefferson and features the oldest Greek columns in the United States. The State Capitol Building also houses the oldest statue of George Washington. It was created using a plaster cast during his lifetime! Richmond was also the capital of the confederacy, and you can tour the White House of the Confederacy.

Read our itinerary on how to spend a  weekend in Richmond, Virginia . We celebrated our 14 year wedding anniversary at the beautiful and historic Jefferson Hotel . It’s the only AAA rated 5 diamond rated hotel in central Virginia. Rooms range from comfortable to expansive apartment style suites that are beautifully appointed.

Plan for dinner at Lemaire, one of the premier dining experiences in Richmond . Or enjoy high tea in their foyer, overlooking a statue of Thomas Jefferson that dates to the late 1800’s. They have an amazing Sunday brunch too – where you may feel like you’ve stepped inside The Great Gatsby . It is a wonderful place to experience for a special occasion! For more tips, read our article on Richmond, Virginia restaurants you should eat.

Annapolis, Maryland

Annapolis is a 45-minute drive east of Washington, DC . While it’s not quite on the way from Florida to DC, the capital of Maryland is well worth visiting. We frequently take day trips to Annapolis from Washington. The Maryland State House is the oldest state capital building in the US, continuously in use since 1772.

Annapolis has a lovely historic center with a lot of good restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops. A visit to the US Naval Academy is one major highlight. Tour the grounds of the picturesque campus for military cadets. We took our parents to Annapolis during their respective visits from Australia and Florida. They both really enjoyed the historic waterfront setting and delicious dining.

Recap on Driving from Florida to Washington, DC

There are many wonderful destinations to see, it just depends how much time you have. If you have the opportunity to take your time and not wizz through on busy I-95, do it. But I-95 makes the trip much faster, and there are great destinations right along I-95 or just off it to experience. Savannah, Georgia, Saint Augustine, Florida and Richmond, Virginia are three of the best stops right along I-95. If you’re short on time driving from Florida to Washington, DC, plan to stop in those three destinations!

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links.   If you book a hotel via these links, we receive a small commission. It costs you nothing extra, and it helps to maintain this website. If you decide to book through them, we greatly appreciate it and thank you.

More from Wanderlust Marriage

Alex and Bell originally met while solo traveling after finishing university in 2002, in Brugge, Belgium. Alex grew up in the USA and Bell hails from Australia. During our nearly 20 year marriage we've lived around the world, including spending six years living in the Netherlands and Ireland. We have traveled to nearly 70 countries and enjoy giving readers authentic and quality travel tips. Alex is an award winning travel journalist and travel planner, who also freelances for other outlets. Bell is an award winning PhD scientist who currently works for a non-profit lung cancer advocacy research organization called Lungevity. Happy travels and if you have any questions leave a comment or drop an email!

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40 Best Stops Between Orlando and Washington DC

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How long is the drive from Orlando to Washington DC?

The direct drive from Orlando to Washington DC is 853 mi (1,372 km) , and should have a drive time of 12 hrs 59 mins in normal traffic.

If you’re going on a road trip from Orlando to Washington DC, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with St. Augustine , Savannah , Charleston , Myrtle Beach , Williamsburg , Richmond , Daytona Beach , Jacksonville , Raleigh , and Durham , as well as top places to visit like Stetson Mansion and Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History, or the ever-popular Silver Springs State Park.

Top cities between Orlando and Washington DC

Daytona beach, st. augustine.

Jacksonville

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Myrtle Beach

Williamsburg, best stops along orlando to washington dc drive, silver springs state park.

Stetson Mansion

Butterfly rainforest at the florida museum of natural history, daytona international speedway.

Worlds Most Famous Beach Daytona Beach

Fort matanzas national monument, saint augustine distillery, st george st, castillo de san marcos national monument.

Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Fort clinch state park, skywheel myrtle beach, broadway at the beach.

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Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Alligator adventure, airborne & special operations museum foundation, north carolina zoo, north carolina museum of natural sciences.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Uss wisconsin bb-64, historic jamestowne, virginia museum of fine arts.

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Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Colonial williamsburg visitor center, kings dominion, james madison's montpelier, national museum of the marine corps, top searches in washington dc, other popular road trips from orlando, explore nearby places.

• Washington DC
• Capitol Heights
• Bladensburg
• Temple Hills
• Hyattsville
• Takoma Park
• Riverdale Park
• Baileys Crossroads
• National Harbor
• District Heights
• Forestville
• College Park
• Silver Spring
• Chevy Chase
• Camp Springs
• West Bethesda
• Falls Church

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• Map of Glen Echo
• Map of Lanham
• Map of McLean
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• Map of Kensington

Washington DC throughout the year

• Washington DC in January
• Washington DC in February
• Washington DC in March
• Washington DC in April
• Washington DC in May
• Washington DC in June
• Washington DC in July
• Washington DC in August
• Washington DC in September
• Washington DC in October
• Washington DC in November
• Washington DC in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Washington DC?

Get inspired for your trip to Washington DC with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day Washington DC Itinerary
• 2-Day Washington DC Itinerary
• 3-Day Washington DC Itinerary
• 4-Day Washington DC Itinerary
• 5-Day Washington DC Itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i drive from orlando to washington dc.

Yes! You can drive from Orlando to Washington DC.

How far is Washington DC from Orlando by car?

The drive from Orlando to Washington DC is 853 miles (1,372 km).

How long does it take to drive from Orlando to Washington DC?

Driving from Orlando to Washington DC should take you 12 hrs 59 mins in normal traffic.

How much would gas cost from Orlando to Washington DC?

Gas from Orlando to Washington DC would cost around $75 to $174 , depending on your vehicle's fuel efficiency.

Where should I stop on the way from Orlando to Washington DC?

You could check out Stetson Mansion and Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History, or the always popular Silver Springs State Park!

What are the best cities to visit between Orlando and Washington DC?

People love visiting St. Augustine, Savannah, and Charleston, among others.

What's the weather like in Orlando?

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Orlando in January
• Weather in Orlando in February
• Weather in Orlando in March
• Weather in Orlando in April
• Weather in Orlando in May
• Weather in Orlando in June
• Weather in Orlando in July
• Weather in Orlando in August
• Weather in Orlando in September
• Weather in Orlando in October
• Weather in Orlando in November
• Weather in Orlando in December

What are some other road trips from Orlando?

There are plenty! Below you'll find links to all the road trips we've assembled for Orlando.

• Orlando to New York City drive
• Orlando to St. Augustine drive
• Orlando to Tampa drive
• Orlando to Miami Beach drive
• Orlando to Washington DC drive
• Orlando to New Orleans drive
• Orlando to Sarasota drive
• Orlando to Savannah drive
• Orlando to Atlanta drive
• Orlando to Chicago drive
• Orlando to Charleston drive
• Orlando to Nashville drive
• Orlando to Toronto drive
• Orlando to Boston drive
• Orlando to Gatlinburg drive
• Orlando to Jacksonville drive
• Orlando to Naples drive
• Orlando to Myrtle Beach drive
• Orlando to Fort Myers drive
• Orlando to Philadelphia drive
• Orlando to Miami drive
• Orlando to San Antonio drive
• Orlando to Niagara Falls drive
• Orlando to Memphis drive
• Orlando to West Palm Beach drive
• Orlando to Montreal drive
• Orlando to Baltimore drive
• Orlando to Branson drive
• Orlando to Chattanooga drive
• Orlando to Saint Louis drive

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The cost of driving from Washington, District of Columbia to Orlando, Florida is:

$123.30 one-way / $246.59 round trip.

• Washington to Orlando drive
• road conditions from Washington to Orlando
• flattest route from Washington to Orlando

Route to drive from Washington, DC to Orlando, FL

View a map with driving directions using your preferred map provider: Google Maps , Bing Maps , or MapQuest . You can use CostDrive.com to get the cost to drive from Washington to Orlando .

More trip calculations

• Driving Distance
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Road trip planner

The total cost of driving from Washington, DC to Orlando, FL (one-way) is $123.30 at current gas prices.

The round trip cost would be $246.59 to go from Washington, DC to Orlando, FL and back to Washington, DC again.

Regular fuel costs are around $3.64 per gallon for your trip. This calculation assumes that your vehicle gets an average gas mileage of 25 mpg for a mix of city and highway driving.

All currency units are U.S. Dollars. If you prefer international units, the equivalent petrol pump price is 96.3 cents/litre . This assumes a typical fuel economy of 9.4 L/100 km .

You'll go through 33.8 gallons of gas during this trip. This is equal to 128.1 litres .

If you fill your tank with unleaded gasoline, the carbon emissions will be around 662 lbs CO2 . This is equivalent to 300 kg CO2e or 0.30 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents. These numbers may change depending on the exact make and model of your car. If your vehicle uses diesel instead, the CO2 emissions will be around 775 lbs CO2 , which is equivalent to 352 kg CO2e or 0.35 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents.

These results are based on the actual driving distance from Washington, DC to Orlando, FL, which is 846 miles or 1 362 kilometers .

Your trip begins in Washington, District of Columbia. The price of regular gas is currently averaging $3.68 in District of Columbia .

Your trip ends in Orlando, Florida. The price of regular gas is around $3.60 in Florida .

Currently, we only have exact data for locations in the United States. To improve the accuracy of your fuel cost estimate, you can enter the actual price you pay for gas or petrol at the local pump in the table above.

The following chart displays the difference in total cost of driving given varying fuel grades. If your car requires higher octane gas, you can find out how much more it will cost you to drive between Washington, DC and Orlando, FL.

Washington, District of Columbia

Related links.

• airlines serving Washington, DC
• hotels near Washington, DC
• airports near Washington, DC
• cities near Washington, DC

Orlando, Florida

• airlines serving Orlando, FL
• hotels near Orlando, FL
• airports near Orlando, FL
• cities near Orlando, FL

Cost of driving

Travelmath provides an online driving cost calculator to help you determine how much you'll spend on gas for your next road trip. You can enter airports, cities, states, countries, or zip codes to compute the cost of driving between locations. Driving distances are calculated using actual driving directions if they are available, or a GPS-accurate method for the straight line distance. Automatic estimates are provided for local gas prices and vehicle fuel efficiency in miles per gallon (mpg) or liters per 100 kilometers (L/100 km), based on the make and model of your car, SUV, or minivan. Don't let the economy and rising oil prices stop you from taking your next trip. You can use this tool to find out if it's cheaper to fly or drive to your destination.

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Planning for a trip is often just as exciting as the trip itself; and often I find myself already planning the next trip before the current one is even complete!

For the last month we have been planning an epic road trip from Florida to Washington DC, and what started as a quick 6-7 day break from work has now turned into a 12 day trip of a lifetime which will include beaches, waterfalls, mountainous ranges, hiking, biking and sink holes!  There was too much to do and see in-between Florida and Washington DC that we decided it wasn’t worth going if we weren’t going to do the trip properly and take in all of the sights!

Day 1 (Sunday September 8)

Florida – Savannah.

Florida into Georgia, day 1 we are pulling a big day of driving (7 hours) to end up in the historic town of Savannah.    The Historic District of Savannah is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with cobblestone streets, manicured gardens, and oak-shaded parks drizzling with silvery Spanish Moss.

Looking forward to the culture and architecture in Savannah; a city which contains more than twenty city squares filled with museums, churches, mansions, monuments and famous forts of the Revolutionary & Civil War eras.

Where we’re staying: Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Savannah Historic District

Savannah – Myrtle Beach.

Taking in Hilton Head Island along the way, we’re spending our second night in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.   I’ve been promised 60 miles of sunny beaches, blue skies, and endless fun; Myrtle beach seems to be packed full of amusement parks and opportunities for thrilling water sports activities – absolutely cannot wait!

Where we’re staying: Hampton Inn & Suites

Myrtle Beach – Charlotte.

Cutting inland, we are driving from Myrtle Beach to Charlotte, North Carolina. We were originally planning to drive straight to Washington along the East Coast, but then saw pictures of how beautiful inland North Carolina was! Charlotte is your main hub for all kinds of getaways in the region, and we’re using it as a gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Looking forward to exploring the city itself though; from what I hear, even though it’s a bustling metropolis, it has managed to maintain a lot of its heritage and has an endless array of interesting attractions, popular restaurants, and ‘raging late-night hotspots’ to offer.  Sunset behind the Charlotte skyline looks pretty spectacular as well!

Where we’re staying:  Hilton Charlotte City Centre

Charlotte – Asheville

We are driving from Charlotte to Asheville to explore the Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway.  One of the biggest attractions in this area is the Biltmore Estate; a large private estate which boasts a 250 room mansion built by George Washington Vanderbilt II in the late 1800’s.

It is the largest privately owned house in America and tourists can take tours of the grounds, the house and the onsite winery. We figured if there was anytime to splurge, it would definitely be here and so we’re staying at the Inn on Biltmore while in Asheville – cannot wait to explore this absolutely spectacular mansion and grounds!

Where we’re staying: Inn on  Biltmore Estate

Day 5 – 6

Asheville – Blue Ridge Parkway

Beginning our drive of the Blue Ridge Parkway! The Blue Ridge Parkway is more than a road – it’s an epic journey (check out this Blue Ridge Mountains travel guide ).

Winding through some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, the Blue Ridge forms part of the Appalachian Mountains and includes spectacular mountain scenery, an abundance of dramatic waterfalls, and some of the best opportunities for hiking and biking in the country.

Before we start the actual parkway however, you can bet we’ll be exploring parts of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. America’s most visited National Park, and world renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, we’re not only planning on taking in the beauty of its ancient mountains, but will be trying to spot black bears!

Where we’re staying: Camping under the stars day 5 & day 6 at  The Hotel Roanoke .

Roanoke – Washington DC!

Spending two days in Washington DC to explore America’s political capitol! With so many things to do and see we’re not sure where exactly we’ll start, however looking forward to taking in the National Archives and viewing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; Library of Congress; Supreme Court; International Spy Museum and everything else Washington has to offer!  I think there’s also a big white house which tends to draw tourists and travelers!!

Where we’re staying: Night one: Mandarin Oriental ; Night two:  Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco.

Days 9 & 10

Washington DC – Nags Head!

We haven’t planned out our days this far yet, but will be driving to Nags Head through the historic town of Richmond (was the capitol of the Confederacy during the Civil War) and Virginia Beach.

Spending two nights, we fully plan on spotting Black bears and hopefully a Red Wolf that evening in Alligator River; Black bear sightings are supposedly guaranteed, however there are only 20 odd remaining Red wolves in the world so catching a glimpse of the highly endangered animal would be a treat!

Where we’re staying: Night 1:  Oasis Suites , Night 2: Surf Side Hotel

Naggs Head – Charleston

Driving back through South Carolina, this time stopping overnight in Charleston!  We’re not sure quite what to expect of Charleston, however situated in South Carolina’s romantic low country apparently it’s one of the South’s most appealing destinations!

We’ve heard great things about the historic town, the culinary delights and the amazing atmosphere. Stay tuned!

Where we’re staying: Kings Courtyard Inn

Charleston – Gainesville

Originally planning on spending an epic day of driving from Charleston – home (which would have been 10 hours), we’re instead adding an extra day and spending time in Gainesville.

Really looking forward to exploring Ginnie Springs – an absolutely spectacular underwater world with huge grottos, colorful fish, and millions of gallons of fresh water – as well as Devil’s Millhopper – Florida’s largest sinkhole, 120 feet deep! Legends say it is the gateway to hell!

Where we’re staying: TBA – any suggestions??

Gainesville – Home!

Any recommendations for any of the above cities?

34 comments.

Wow, that’s a lot of driving. Looks like you’re going to see a lot of amazing places.

Yep – definitely a lot of driving!! Lol we reazlied that today after arriving in Myrtle Beach and having driven through 4 major cities over 3 different States! Have understandably crashed for the evening :D!

Wouldn’t have it any other way though!!

What a fun trip! We make the drive from Florida to Charleston quite often – it can be long! But as far as other stops along your way… Roanoke really is a beautiful town – they have a nice greenway to take advantage of. And, of course, all of the outdoor beauty. DC is overwhelming – you’re going to love it! And use the Metro – much easier than driving in the city. Charleston is filled with amazing food and things to see and do. I’ll be there the first of October! Above all else, enjoy it all!

Thanks Susan! We’re loving it so far! We’ve luckily thrown our bikes in the back of the car for the trip so planning on cycling around DC as much as we can – booked parking at the hotel so will be leaving the car there for the stay…also heard driving in DC is a mess!

Thanks so much!

Hey Megan I want to plan a road trip 15 days just me …. I lost my husband to Covid19 gotta get my head together can you help me

Hi Anita, very sorry for your loss, and sending all our love. We loved this road trip, and I personally think it’s a fantastic itinerary so I can highly recommend it as a great 15 day route to follow.

All the information is listed above under each destination heading but let me know if you have any questions about any of the specific stops :)

– see the monuments at night. Drive down to see the Eternal Flame from the bridge too. (DC) Believe it or not, great BBQ in Charleston -go to the Mercer House in Savannah.

Enjoy! –

Thanks for the tips! We’re in DC again this coming 4th of July and absolutely can’t wait. Will definitely be walking to see the monuments at night – can’t wait for the inevitable fireworks display either!!

Oh wow, what a great treat. Indeed, you had the biggest adventure. Everyday,you had different great adventures. I just can imagine how happy I would if i get to experience adventure like yours too especially if I bring the whole family and yeah my kids would be very excited too. Thanks for sharing!

Hi Joseff, thanks for your comment! Road trips are definitely great adventures for the whole family! Wishing you all the best and happy travels!

Looks an eventful 13 days! I will soon visit America and hopefully do one big road trip and see all of not most states :) great work! Keep it up

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Thanks! You’ll have a great time in America – and an iconic American road trip is one of the funnest ways to travel this great country!

Happy travels!

This is a WONDERFUL drive! We have many helpful hints on our blog about Asheville, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Washington DC. We LOVED Savannah, but have not yet written about it. Looking forward to your updates from the road.

Thanks Kate & Mike! Will head on over and check out your blog. We actually completed the drive a few months ago now, and had an amazing time driving the above route.

Totally agree with you on Savannah – it was one of our favorite cities! I should actually go through and update this post with links to the updates and photos we published from the trip.

Thanks for following!

I just saw your amazing adventure from Florida to Washington, DC. You made it so simple and so easy to follow. I would like to plan a trip like that to take my elderly parents. They are not much into beaches, but they love the scenery of such a drive, and museums. In order to plan a trip like this, how much am I looking for cost staying in those beautiful hotels? We would probably think of going in the Spring or Fall season, when the weather is tolerable.

Hi Mily, so glad you enjoyed following our trip! This was one of our favorites, and we found out pretty quickly that the East Coast has a LOT to offer!

So obviously we took a lot of coastal stops, though destinations like Savannah, Charleston, and Asheville we really enjoyed for the history and culture. Highly recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway because the nature there is stunning and they’ll love the scenic drive, and DC was brilliant for free museums and public monuments – really loved our time there.

We generally use http://www.orbitz.com/ to gauge the cheapest prices for hotels at any given time – the places we stayed at will vary anywhere between $100 per night (for the coastal hotels we stayed in) right up to $600 per night which was a massive splurge to stay overnight at the Biltmore. After you’ve sorted out your locations start checking Orbitz though and it will give you an idea of the price range you’ll be looking at in each place.

What we did for our trips throughout the US too was sign up for a combination of a few credit cards – we got one with IHG, Hyatt and Marriott – and generally on sign up these cards offer 1-2 nights free after you spend $1,000 or something like that. So for instance we would sign up for a card, not spend anything out of the ordinary, but just put our normal household expenses on one card until we were awarded the points for the free nights, and would then move onto spending on the next card.

So you can travel hack with credit card points as well as another option to keep your costs down but stay in beautiful hotels :)

Hope that helps! Have a wonderful trip!

What a great idea. Thank you for letting me know. My my max is $4000.00 for the whole trip, so not sure if that will be enough, which is why I asked such an imprudent question. The amount of course will include the rent a car; not sure if they still have unlimited mile rentals now days. Thank you.

Glad to help :) Because we were living in the US at the time we had our own car, so not sure re the unlimited mile rentals, though I wouldn’t have expected there would be a limit on miles.

You can also scan sites like Orbitz for car rental deals too though, maybe give the top few companies a call and check on the miles thing :)

What an epic trip! I was planning to fly from Gainesville to DC and the flights were quite more than what I saw originally, and then I saw it would only be 11 hours on I75! It looks really tempting to take a big detour and go to the Smoky Mountains as well! (It was another idea for our trip). We will be travelling in late March. Do you have any tips post-trip to share?

Hi Mayra! I highly recommend taking a road trip if you have the time, the amazing thing about this route is that there is so much to do along the way that there’s never a boring day, and you see so much more of the country than you would if you were to fly.

My biggest tip is to try and limit your driving each day to around 4 hours max, this way you ensure you properly enjoy your time. We crammed everything in to the max, and while it was a fabulous trip, we often found ourselves driving all day, checking into a hotel, having a few hours in the evening to walk around and explore, and then only a few hours the next morning before taking off for the next place.

In hindsight, and if you have the time, it would have been lovely to have spent two nights in each place which would have given us a full day in each new city/town. But it was still a blast and we enjoyed our time quite thoroughly. I would definitely recommend planning out your driving time wisely though :)

Hope you have an amazing trip!

Great post, we are doing a road trip from Washington DC to Orlando – just in the planning stages so this has been very helpful.

Glad we could help Karen! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions along the way while planning it out. Email is [email protected]

Have a wonderful trip!

We are planning a similar trip for this summer – Florida to DC (I have conferences in Tampa late June, and DC mid-late July, so total 4 weeks). Kids are 9 and 13. Anything SPECTACULAR that we shouldn’t miss???

Nice one Deidre! You’ll have a fabulous time. Definitely make sure you go through the Blue Ridge Parkway – the views are fantastic, and if you plan ahead there are a bunch of picnic stops along the way so you can all get out and have a lunch break on the drive. Views are seriously amazing!

Really did love the Outer banks too, and the sand dunes there would be fantastic fun for the kids. Jockey’s Ridge State Park was the place we went for the sand dunes :)

Great post! I’m planning a trip for this fall from Orlando to DC with my Kids ages: 4,15,& 16. We love hiking, site seeing, and good food (local places, not chains). Any additional advice?

Thanks Cherish! Hiking and site seeing are our biggest focus too, so I would definitely recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway and Alligator River in North Carolina. If you have time you can go through the Great Smoky Mountains – we did this on another trip and had a great time hiking and searching for black bears.

We usually do our own cooking as Mike has a gluten intolerance, so unfortunately I don’t have any tips on local food spots. I’ve always found though that the hotel front desk/concierge has the best tips on where to eat once you get there and can recommend some great local gems :)

Hope that helps! Have a wonderful trip X

Hi Megan -great trip ! We plan to do the same from Washington southbound.

Can you pls tell me if the Blue ridge Parkway has a lot of scary high level 1 lane bridges ? Concerned about your pic. I suffer from gephyrophobia (fear of bridges) & almost froze driving on 7 mile bridge out to the Florida Keys.

Any other bridges on this trip ?

Hi Michael. The photo of the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge is the Linn Cove Viaduct. It’s a 1243 foot concrete segmental bridge 78 miles from Asheville at Milepost 304.

The drive we did was around 4 years ago now, so I can’t recall how many bridges there were, but you can contact the Park Information line on (828) 298-0398 ( http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/v.php?pg=30 ) perhaps they can offer some indepth info for you.

If you’re including the Nags Head portion of our trip, you will need to cross bridges to get there as it’s an island. From memory this is a pretty long stretch which goes over the water.

Otherwise I believe you should be able to take land routes to get between cities for the rest – there may be bridges built over highways as part of the flow of traffic once you get into each city, though unfortunately I didn’t pay too much attention to these on our trip.

Hope that helps :)

Hi Megan, Thanks for your informative blog on your travels from Florida to Washington DC. I really enjoyed reading it. We are planning to do a similar trip from Washington to Charleston and back to Washington. We would like to include Savannah, Richmond, Myrtle Beach and maybe Blue Ridge Parkway. We have about 13 days but will spend about 4days first in Washington before setting off for Charleston. As we don’t know America very well, do you think we have enough time to see all these? What mustn’t we miss? I would be grateful for any information you can provide. Best wishes Mary

Hi Mary, thanks for reaching out. So you have 13 days total, 4 of which will be spent in DC, which means 9 days left for the drive to Charleston right? That should be plenty of time – technically the drive directly from DC to Charleston is only 8 hours, so I would recommend pulling up Google Maps and planning out a route. You could probably do 5 days down, and 4 days back with overnight stops in the places you want to see. You could do something like the following:

Day 1: Washington DC – Richmond. 3 hours drive.

Day 2: Richmond – Roanoke. 3 hours drive.

Day 3. Roanoke – Asheville, taking in the Blue Ridge Parkway. Directly is 4 hours but this route is the Blue Ridge so you’ll make sightseeing stops along the way.

Day 4: Asheville – Savannah. 5 hour drive.

Day 5: Savannah – Charleston (you’re coming back up north now). 2 hour drive.

Day 6: Charleston – Myrtle Beach. 2 hour drive.

You’ve then got 3 days to get back up to DC, which you can do in one 8 our stint if you want to. So you can either spend two nights in two of the above towns and make a long haul drive on the last day. Or you can slit up your driving for the tip back and stay overnight in a place like Nags Head, which is a bit out of the way, but takes you half way.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions :)

Hi Meg! This is perfect for our family since we are planning the exact road trip! Do you have any must dos with the kids. I’m worries about not enough attraction and being bored with all the driving. Thanks for sharing!

Awesome Lori! The nice thing is that we tried to limit each day to max 4 hours driving, so hopefully the kids won’t get too stir crazy in the car.

Myrtle Beach has the beaches and some fun parks which the kids should love, lots of hikes and walks around Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway with stunning views, so a lot of opportunities for the kids to run around and stretch their legs. In DC the museums are all pretty child friendly which is nice, and the monuments in the mall would be pretty impressive for a kid.

Re Nags head, I would spend time at the beaches – the bears at Alligator River was fantastic, though it’s more of a stake out; we did have to wait a couple of hours before we found them, so the kids might get bored with that one.

Hope that helps! Hope you have an amazing trip :)

Hi we’re doing Orlando to Washington in June staying in Washington for 3 days really want stay night at mryttle beach any other info for places to visit thanks we’re from England haven’t done this before

Hi Janet! Sounds amazing! Re places to visit, are you looking for suggestions in Washington, or Myrtle Beach, or inbetween? What sort of things do you like to do, and what’s your general activities budget? Hope you have a great trip!

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I am Megan Jerrard, professional travel blogger/journalist with a focus on adventure, discovery, immersion and inspiring you to explore!

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Plan was to fly to New York and make our way down to Orlando stopping off in-between,

hoping to have 7nights in Orlando Disney/universal at the end but struggling to sort the inbetween

We fly on 11th July and fly home on 31st July so would like some advice on where to stay.

2 adults 3 children (14,5,2years old)

Kids will want a pool and plenty of beach options would be perfect

4 replies to this topic

For sure stop in Savannah GA which has lots to do for all ages and a nearby beach at Tybee Island. Savannah is very affordable and very walkable compared to example Charleston SC.

Another great beach location is at Amelia Island FL.

So what is your starting point? Your headline says "Washingthon DC", but you write about NY??

But anyway, this trip is not a good idea with so few days. There are lots and lots of interesting destinations on the way.

Maybe first read a good guide-book about the eastcoast, so you can decide what wou want to do and to see. Then come back with your temporary itinerary. And you can be sure that we all will help you further.

I would advise you do not pick up your car to start the road trip until you leave DC, because the traffic between the 2 cities is horrid and the cost of parking makes it an expensive choice. But you will of course then need to haul you and your kids and all your luggage onto and off an Amtrak train instead. However, there are Redcaps (porters) at the 2 train termini to help you.

Even some basic hotel chains have pools, BTW. We often stay in Comfort Inns and Hampton Inns and both have pools, both indoor or outdoor depending on location/average local climate. They are basic, in general - no fancy slides and stuff, but there will be a shallow end.

So, if you say spend 3 nights in NYC, 2 or 3 in DC and need 7 for Orlando area, that only leave about a week to drive all that way south and add some beach resorts along the way.

Frankly, given the ages of your kids, if you will consider this, consider spending time in NYC since you fly there anyway, and it can be a great city for kids if you plan well and have a suitable budget. (I spent several months of my childhood in the city and had a great time.) However, do be aware of temps and humidity. Both NYC and DC in July can be really oppressively hot and that can make for miserable sightseeing conditions when there's no breeze.

Then consider a flight to somewhere towards Florida, like Atlanta or Charleston and then pick up a car to drive south following the coast.

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Washington to Florida drive

Washington to florida road trip planner.

Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Washington to Florida. If you're planning a road trip to Florida, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Traveling with a dog or cat? Find pet-friendly stops . Camping along the way? Search for RV campgrounds . Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.

10:00 am  start at Washington drive for about 7 hours

day 1 driving ≈ 7 hours find more stops

9:00 am  leave from Missoula drive for about 3 hours

11:53 am   Bozeman stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:53 pm drive for about 8 hours

day 2 driving ≈ 11 hours find more stops

11:00 am  leave from Mt Rushmore drive for about 5.5 hours

day 3 driving ≈ 5.5 hours find more stops

10:00 am  leave from Sioux Falls drive for about 6.5 hours

day 4 driving ≈ 6.5 hours

9:00 am  leave from Kansas City drive for about 4.5 hours

1:42 pm   St. Louis stay for about 2.5 hours and leave at 4:12 pm drive for about 5 hours

day 5 driving ≈ 9.5 hours

11:00 am  leave from Gaylord Opryland Resort drive for about 3.5 hours

day 6 driving ≈ 3.5 hours

10:00 am  leave from W Atlanta - Midtown drive for about 9 hours

6:49 pm  arrive at Florida

day 7 driving ≈ 9 hours

Where should I stop along the way?

Missoula   (16 answers)     restaurants around Missoula:         Five on Black     questions about Missoula:         What is your favorite restaurant in Missoula? Bozeman   (31 answers) Mt Rushmore   (63 answers)     questions about Mt Rushmore:         Family activities         What should we add to the visit?         Best campground for big rigs Sioux Falls   (19 answers)     questions about Sioux Falls:         First timer to Sioux Falls- what are the best outdoor things to do/explore? Oklahoma Joe's BBQ & Catering   (33 mentions) St. Louis   (114 answers)     Forest Park   (10 mentions)     St. Louis Zoo   (6 mentions)     City Museum   (5 mentions)     Gateway Arch   (4 mentions)     Urban Chestnut Brewing Company   (4 mentions)     restaurants around St. Louis:         Pappy's Smokehouse         Ted Drewes         Iron Barley Eating Establishment         Pastaria         Companion     questions about St. Louis:         What is your favorite restaurant in St. Louis?         Good St. Louis dines?         Great lunch places in St Louis         Good family vacation within 10 hours of St. Louis (not Branson)?         Where are the best places to stay in St. Louis? Nashville   (233 answers)     Grand Ole Opry   (8 mentions)     Country Music Hall of Fame   (6 mentions)     Ryman Auditorium   (6 mentions)     Centennial Park   (6 mentions)     The Parthenon   (5 mentions)     restaurants around Nashville:         Bluebird Cafe         Opryland Hotel         Pancake Pantry         Hattie B's Hot Chicken - 19th Ave         Peg Leg Porker BBQ     hotels around Nashville:         Gaylord Opryland Resort         The Hermitage Hotel         Omni Nashville Hotel     questions about Nashville:         What's the best neighborhood in Nashville for a first time visitor?         Nearby small towns or outdoor areas?         Top of the line hotels in Nashville?         What are some must sees in Nashville during the weekend         Best Location to Stay Atlanta   (170 answers)     Georgia Aquarium   (29 mentions)     World of Coca-Cola   (20 mentions)     Piedmont Park   (16 mentions)     Midtown Atlanta   (14 mentions)     High Museum of Art   (11 mentions)     restaurants around Atlanta:         The Varsity         Mary Mac's Tea Room         Antico Pizza Napoletana         Empire State South         JCT Kitchen & Bar     hotels around Atlanta:         W Atlanta - Midtown         The Westin Peachtree Plaza         Artmore Hotel         Glenn Hotel, Autograph Collection         The Highland Inn     questions about Atlanta:         Good Restaurants Unique to Atlanta?         Great, reasonable places to eat.         Tourist spots worth seeing in Atlanta?         Authentic Southern Food!         Best family activities in Atlanta?

What are some things to do in Florida?

This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.

Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!

For example, here are some questions people have asked about Florida. Click on any question to see answers from the community!

Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Florida.

Do I really have to go back home?

Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!

Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a Florida to Washington drive , or go to the main page to plan a new road trip .

You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Washington to Florida . Or get a full Washington to Florida flight plan .

Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world.

And if you know Washington well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about Washington!

More info on this route:

road conditions

places to eat

flattest route

alternate routes

Google driving directions

Atlanta To Orlando: 10 Things To Do On This Short Drive

A trip from the capital of Georgia to one of the biggest cities in Florida, the drive from Atlanta to Orlando may seem like a challenge to get to Florida's world-famous amusement parks as fast as possible. For those with a little more time on their hands, this trek is a perfect opportunity to explore some lesser-known cities and beautiful natural wonders hiding in the South.

Some of the best stops between Atlanta and Orlando are right off the highway, while others may require a short detour to get the best vantage point. Thankfully, for those hoping to turn this 6.5-hour drive into one of the best road trips on the East Coast , these side excursions lead to some truly memorable natural sites, including state parks, national monuments, and local beauties.

Those looking for the most direct route from Atlanta, Georgia, to Orlando, Florida, can check this road map . For those ready to turn this basic route into a true Southern Road Trip, a map including each of these stops can be found here .

Related: Road Trip USA: 10 Most Famous Routes To Travel In America

Take In History In Macon, Georgia

Those hoping to explore the history of Georgia have to stop in Macon, whose history spans over 1,000 years. The Ocmulgee National Monument is home to Native American earthen mounds that are dated to around 1000 A.D., and museums like the Tubman Museum and Allman Brothers Band Museum explore the more recent history and culture of the region.

Just outside of Macon at Robins Air Force Base, visitors can explore the Museum of Aviation, where they can enjoy historical and modern planes and take a spin on the flight simulator.

• Things to Do in Macon, Georgia: Johnston–Felton–Hay House, Ocmulgee National Monument, Tubman Museum, Allman Brothers Band Museum, Museum of Aviation

Learn About Agriculture In Tifton, Georgia

The small town of Tifton, Georgia, is among the best stops between Atlanta and Orlando. It's so centered on agriculture that the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has its main campus here. For those looking to add a stop to their Florida-Georgia road trip, Tifton has several unique venues exploring this side of Georgia.

The college campus is home to the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village, and the town itself has a market at Rutland Farms with a beehive, self-pick options, wagon rides, and a variety of other activities perfect for solo travelers and families alike.

• Things to Do in Tifton, Georgia: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College-Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village, The Market at Rutland Farms, Georgia Peanut Commission, Tifton Terminal Railway Museum

Hop On A Thrill Ride In Valdosta, Georgia

While Orlando may be grand central for amusement parks and big thrills, Valdosta, Georgia, is a perfect chance to enjoy the high excitement without the massive lines. Wild Adventures Amusement Park is a great place to enjoy roller coasters, a water park, and a variety of animals in one place.

After the amusement park, road trip adventurers can explore Georgia’s beautiful scenery as they walk the raised boardwalk at the Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area.

• Things to Do in Valdosta, Georgia: Wild Adventures Amusement Park, Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area, Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, Lowndes County Historical Museum, Georgia Bear Co.

Related: 10 Most Beautiful Destinations To Visit In The State Of Georgia This Spring

Enjoy The Great Outdoors In White Springs, Florida

Florida is well known for its Everglades and resident alligators (and one of the best ways to see gators is on any of the best Everglades airboat tours ), but the natural beauty of the state extends far beyond these famous attractions.

The top attraction in White Springs, Florida, is the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, a scenic river park that includes beautiful outdoor scenery, a museum, camping sights, and even a craft fair and gift shop. With so much to do at one park, White Springs is well worth the detour.

• Things to Do in White Springs, Florida: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, Big Shoals Wildlife Management Area, Big Shoals State Forest, White Sulphur Spring, Gar Pond Trail

Go Tubing With Manatees In Fort White, Florida

With less than 1,000 residents in Fort White, this small town in Florida may seem easy for road trip travelers to drive right by. However, this former military fort is an ideal stop for those hoping to see some of Florida’s more unique wildlife up close.

The hidden gem that is Ichetucknee Springs State Park is ideal for kayaking, picnicking, and, most famously, tubing (it's one of the many hidden springs in Florida that travelers must visit). In fact, multiple visitors report tubing through Ichetucknee alongside turtles, waterfowl, and even manatees.

• Things to Do in Fort White, Florida: Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Tubing, Kayaking, Wildlife Viewing, Gilchrist County Santa Fe River Park

To make the most of a tubing trip through Ichetucknee Springs State Park, check out this advice on what to bring, how to prepare, and the costs to enter.

See Butterflies In Gainesville, Florida

The most popular stop for travelers going from Atlanta to Orlando (or vice versa), Gainesville is a college town in northern Florida with plenty of charm and unique attractions. The Florida Museum of Natural History, in particular, has a number of unique exhibits displaying fossils and cultural history.

Other local museums house everything from Asian and African art and even vintage postcards. For those who only have time for one museum, the Butterfly Rainforest in the Florida Museum of Natural History, home to hundreds of free-flying butterflies, consistently ranks as one of the best things to do in Gainesville.

• Things to Do in Gainesville, Georgia: Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation, Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park, Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History, Silver Springs

Explore The Coast In Crystal River, Florida

The biggest detour along the Atlanta-Orlando route, the extra time driving to Crystal River, is richly rewarded upon arrival. As one of the best small towns in Florida on the coast, Crystal River is a great place to enjoy beach views and explore the unique wildlife that resides in Florida.

With two wildlife refuges to explore, Crystal River is a great place to spend the day birding, kayaking, or simply lounging in the sun near the native fauna. For a look at the human influences of the area, road trip travelers can stop at Crystal River Archeological State Park, where visitors can see the remains of a Native American settlement as well as ceremonial mounds.

• Things to Do in Crystal River, Florida: Kings Bay, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Three Sisters Springs Wildlife Refuge, Crystal River Archeological State Park

Visit War Sites In Ocala, Florida

For a perfect blend of historic attractions and natural beauty, the relatively small city of Ocala is a road trip must. Visitors can explore modern art, Southern history, and unique exhibits at the various local museums. For those hoping for a more scenic view of Florida, Ocala neighbors both Silver Springs State Park and the very drivable routes through Ocala National Forest , which are perfect for hiking, kayaking, birding, and picnicking.

• Things to Do in Ocala, Florida: Gypsy Gold Horse Farm, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Fort King National Historic Park, Silver Springs State Park, Ocala National Forest

Wander The Town Square In The Villages, Florida

The most important part of a successful road trip, be it the 440 miles from Atlanta to Orlando or an epic 3,000-mile cross-country journey, is finding opportunities to stop and simply explore. The Villages in Florida is the perfect chance for travelers to stretch their legs and enjoy the shops and restaurants of Spanish Springs Town Square and Brownwood Paddock Square.

For those hoping to avoid the temptation of the town’s quaint boutiques, The Villages also neighbors multiple lakes and wildlife management areas.

• Things to Do in The Villages, Florida: Spanish Springs Town Square, Brownwood Paddock Square, Barnstorm Theater, Lake Griffin State Park, Eisenhower Regional Pool and Recreation Center

Related: 10 Natural Springs In Florida That Are Perfect For Swimming

Go Swimming In Clermont, Florida

A small residential town just 22 miles from Orlando, Clermont is a hidden gem of a Florida town just waiting for travelers. The city is designed for out-of-towners, with multiple shopping and lodging areas available. Additionally, Clermont is home to Lake Louisa State Park, where visitors can find one of the few swimmable lakes in Florida.

After going for a swim in Lake Louisa, road trippers can pick some of Florida’s famous citrus fruit at the Showcase of Citrus before continuing on to Orlando.

• Things to Do in Clermont, Florida: Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, Lake Louisa State Park, Showcase of Citrus