fbpx

4 Best Road Trips From Florida To Other States

Share this post -

America loves a good road trip. If you live in Florida and want to get away, you have many road trips to consider. Within five hours of the Florida line, you can explore the bustle of Atlanta; relax on St. Simons Island, Georgia; explore nature in Mobile, Alabama; and delve into the spooky history of Savannah, Georgia.

The best road trips from Florida will give you amazing places to visit, delicious restaurants, and fun for the whole family. The following are the best road trips from Florida:

  • The Atlanta Road Trip 
  • The Mobile Alabama Road Trip
  • The St. Simons Island Road Trip
  • The Savannah Road Trip 

Keep reading about these four great road trips from Florida.

Map in florida and the best road trips to visit to, 4 Best Road Trips From Florida To Other States

The Atlanta Road Trip

The city of Atlanta got its name from the Atlantic Railroad, which chose this Georgia town as its final southern stop in 1836.

Today, Atlanta is a bustling city with great museums, delicious restaurants, and a burgeoning movie industry. National Geographic named Atlanta one of its "25 Amazing Journeys for 2022." 

What to Visit in Atlanta

The Atlanta Road Trip must include the Georgia Aquarium and the High Museum of Art.

At the Georgia Aquarium, you will visit seven permanent habitats: penguins, beluga whales, bottlenose dolphins, and California Sea Lions.

The High Museum of Art offers the most extensive collection of art in the southeastern United States. The museum has special programs for children and tours for adults.

Exterior view of World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The World of Coca Cola

Right next door to the Georgia Aquarium is the World of Coca-Cola Museum. You will be able to see all the memorabilia from the different decades. In the Taste It! exhibit, you can taste Coke products from all over the world.

Black Panther to Stranger Things - Filming in Atlanta

On your road trip to Atlanta, you can see where some of your favorite movies were filmed.

Netflix shows Sweet Magnolias and Stranger Things have been filming in the Atlanta area.

Marvel Studio's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the series Hawkeye were filmed on location and in Disney studios in Atlanta. 

Where to Eat in Atlanta

You will find a great restaurant for whatever you are craving. Head over to Ted's Montana Grill on Luckie Street for great burgers. If you want authentic steak, give Cuts Steakhouse a try.

The breakfast joint to enjoy is Huskers Cafe, where breakfast bowls and pancakes will fill you up - don't forget the grits!

How Far is Atlanta from Florida?

Atlanta is under 5 hours from the Florida border. The city is 4.5 hours from Tallahassee and just over 5 hours from Jacksonville. The Atlanta Road Trip from Orlando will take 6.5 hours. You can get from Tampa to Atlanta in just under 7 hours. 

The Mobile, Alabama Road Trip

Mobile, Alabama sits just west of Florida's panhandle. It boasts a laid-back vibe. On this road trip, you can explore the Mobile Tensaw River Delta on a peaceful kayak or skim over the surface on an airboat. Downtown Mobile is filled with parks and squares to enjoy the fresh air.

Mobile Tensaw River Delta

Begin your Mobile, Alabama Road Trip at the 5 Rivers Alabama Delta Resource Center right outside Meheaer State Park. You will learn about what the 5 rivers: the Mobile, Spanish, Tensaw, Apalachee, and Blakeley rivers offer for fishing, kayaking, and animal watching. 

Aerial view of 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center at Spanish Fort

What Can You Do on the Mobile Tensaw River Delta?

The Alabama Canoe Trails will give you options for your kayak or canoe explorations.

Mobile Kayak Rental Company, Sunshine Canoe Rentals, and Wild Native Tours will transport your kayak/canoe to the river trail of your choice.

For airboat explorations, give Airboat Express or Airboat Adventures a call for a high-speed tour of the delta.

While on the rivers, keep your eyes out for alligators, herons, and other amazing birds. Bring your fishing rods to this fantastic fishing paradise. 

Click here to see this fishing rod on Amazon.com.

Downtown Mobile

Downtown Mobile invites wandering. Come explore the tree-lined streets with fun shops, relaxing squares, and delicious food.

Explore the Church Street Historic District with its classic restored homes. Stop off at Spanish Plaza to see the large oak trees. Visit the many shops, from antiques to Mardi Gras celebration ware.

Mobile sits on Mobile Bay on the top of the Gulf of Mexico. Your road trip will be complete with a visit to The Original Oyster House [kids' menu] and all the best seafood to enjoy.

If you crave barbeque, Mobile has sweet or smoky options like Dick Russell's BBQ or Meat Boss.

How Far is Mobile, Alabama from Florida?

You will find your road trip to Mobile, Alabama an easy jaunt down I-10. Mobile is 3.5 hours from Tallahassee, 7 hours from Orlando or Tampa, and 5.5 hours for Jacksonville.

The southern tip of Alabama is only 67 miles down I-10 from Florida to Louisiana. 

The St. Simon's Island Road Trip

Another great road trip you can take is to head into Georgia to Georgia's largest coastal island St. Simon's Island. From vacation rental homes to hotels and Bed & Breakfasts, St. Simon's Island will be a relaxing stay.

The island boasts excellent beaches, a historic downtown, delicious restaurants, scenic golf courses, and many outdoor activities. 

Why is St. Simon's Island Famous?

People travel to St. Simon's Island to experience the laid-back pace on this beautiful moss-draped oak tree island. Poet Sydney Lanier [1842-1881] wrote a famous poem about the island called "The Marshes of Glenn."

The poem perfectly captures the tranquil beauty of the trees as Lanier ties them to themes of lovers, heaven, and peace.

St. Simons Island light house in South East Georgia

The St. Simons Lighthouse Museum

Begin your St. Simon's Island Road Trip with a tour of the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum. The lighthouse continues to guide boats into St. Simons Sound.

Climb 104 feet to the top of the lighthouse to stand outside and see the ocean and the island all around you. Stand in the Keeper's Dwelling, imagining what life was like living in the lighthouse keeping the light shining. 

What To Do At Pier Village On St. Simons Island

After exploring the lighthouse, walk over to nearby Pier Village, the boutique and restaurant center of St. Simon's Island. 

Enjoy a delicious meal at Brogans, where you can sit on the upper deck enjoying a view of the ocean and the St. Simon's pier. 

Another great dining option is the large patio at Mullet Bay Restaurant with its fresh fish and burgers and PO-boys (catfish or shrimp sandwiches).

Enjoy a walk browsing the shops of Pier Village. At Golden Island Bracelet Co., you can choose a handcrafted gold or silver bracelet, rings, pendants, etc. that will give you a lifetime memory of your time on the island.

Shop for a "new to you" outfit at Moondance Vintage Clothing, where you can find classic designs from popular clothiers. 

Click here to see these binoculars for birdwatching from Amazon.com.

Explore History at Cannon's Point Preserve

On the north end of the island, you can explore the 19th-century plantation ruins at Cannon's Point Preserve. This is a great place to hike the trails through the marsh upland of the lower Altamaha River delta.

Keep an eye out for shell rings that date back to 2,500 BCE. Remember to not take anything out of the park as it is intended to be preserved as is.

How Far is St. Simons Island From Florida?

Your road trip to St. Simons Island will take you only 1 hour and ten minutes north of Jacksonville. St. Simons Island is just over 3 hours from Orlando, 3.5 hours from Tallahassee, and 4.5 hours from Tampa.

You drive to St. Simons Island from Brunswick, Georgia, across the Sydney Lanier Bridge and the F.J.Torras Causeway - both are toll-free. 

The Savannah Road Trip

The Savannah Road Trip will bring you to this historic port city on the Georgia coast. The tree-lined city is rich in history, having been founded in 1733. Savannah leans into the ghostly mysteries of many of its former residents.

A great place to begin is with the Victorian-designed, flower-filled Bonaventure Cemetery. Then take a trolley tour to see the old restored homes and learn their history.

The Mercer Williams House is a popular tour stop in the historic district

Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil

The famous Savannah-based 1997 bestseller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt, tells the true life story of Jim William and the murder of Danny Hansford in a fictionalized, stylistic exploration.

Savannah's history came alive both in the book and in Director Clint Eastwood's movie with John Cusack and Kevin Spacey. As you explore Savannah, you can visit the Mercer Williams House and the book cover's picture of the Bird Girl statue now found in the Telfair Academy Museum.

Great Restaurants In Savannah

No visit to Savannah should miss a meal at the Crystal Beer Palace with its giant burgers and 80 beers with 26 on tap.

Since 1846, diners have enjoyed the true welcome of meeting new people at the 10-person tables at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room with authentic southern cooking.

Pizza lovers will enjoy the gooey goodness at Vinnie Van Gogos in the historic district. 

How Far Is Savannah From Florida?

Straight up I-95, Savannah sits 2 hours from Jacksonville. Your road trip will travel 5.25 hours from Tampa and 4 hours from Orlando.

The best Savannah road trip from Tallahassee takes 5 hours across the backroads of Georgia, or you can stick to the highways through Jacksonville for a 4.5-hour trip.

Wrapping Up

Map in florida and the best road trips to visit to

You've got choices for your getting out of Florida Road Trip. Will you head to Atlanta for the big city bustle or over to St. Simons Island or Mobile for laid-back relaxation?

Or do you hear Savannah inviting you up for a ghostly exploration of this 400-year-old city? Your best bet may be to take one trip a season to truly enjoy the great American road trip.

Check out these other Florida travel options—

Closest Places to Find Snow Near Florida

Traveling from Miami to Orlando [Including Driving Itinerary] 

 
Share this post -

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *