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Tampa, Florida · Day Trips

Day Trips From Tampa Worth the Drive

Tampa is perfectly positioned for exploring some of the best destinations in Florida, all within a short drive. From world-famous Gulf beaches to world-class art museums and one-of-a-kind natural wonders, these are the five day trips every Tampa visitor should make time for.

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Aerial view of Clearwater Beach, Florida, white sand and turquoise Gulf water1

Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach, FL 34630 (727) 443-1174

Consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the entire United States, Clearwater Beach is just 45 minutes from Tampa and absolutely worth the drive every single time. The powdery white quartz sand stays cool even in the Florida heat, and the Gulf water is an impossibly clear shade of turquoise that you'd expect on a Caribbean island. Mandalay Avenue and Pier 60 offer a lively stretch of restaurants, beach bars, and shops to explore before or after a morning on the sand. Sunset at Pier 60 has become a beloved nightly tradition, locals and visitors gather for live music, artisan vendors, and one of the most spectacular sunset views in Florida. Pack your beach bag and plan to spend the whole day.

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The Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, its striking geodesic glass bubble exterior2

Salvador Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg

1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 823-3767

Just 30 minutes from Tampa, St. Petersburg is one of the most vibrant small cities in Florida, and the Salvador Dalí Museum is the crown jewel of its arts scene. Home to the largest collection of Dalí's work outside of Europe, the museum houses over 2,400 works including oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, sculptures, and photographs spanning his entire career. The building itself is a work of art, designed by Yann Weymouth with a sweeping geodesic glass "Enigma" bubble on its facade, it's one of the most architecturally stunning museum buildings in the country. After your visit, St. Pete's Central Arts District, waterfront parks, and acclaimed restaurant scene are all within easy walking distance.

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Where You'll Sleep

Two Big Homes Minutes From All of It

Sixteen real beds, a heated pool steaming at sunrise and a pickleball court out back, 12 minutes from TPA.

Halloween Week and Thanksgiving, Sorted

Happening Near Tampa Right Now

Happening NowSelect nights through October 31, from 7pm

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay · About 25 minutes from both Tampa homes · Teens and adults

Haunted houses, scare zones and the coasters running in the dark. This one is for the teens and the grown-ups, so plan a movie night at the house for the little ones.

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Happening NowFriday to Sunday nights through October 31, 4pm to 10pm

Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa

ZooTampa at Lowry Park · About 20 minutes from Tampa Bae · All ages

The zoo after dark with trick-or-treat trails, glowing lanterns and a family-friendly haunted neighborhood. Costumes welcome, strollers fine, nobody jumps out at the kids on the family trail.

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From Oct 30October 30 to November 1 (moved from early October because of weather)

Oktoberfest Tampa

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, downtown · About 20 minutes from both Tampa homes · All ages by day

Steins, bratwurst, oompah bands and the river right there. Saturday runs all day, so the kids can come for the pretzels and the games before the evening crowd arrives.

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See everything on around Tampa this season

Aerial view of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art courtyard in Sarasota, Florida3

John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota

5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243 (941) 359-5700

About an hour south of Tampa, Sarasota is one of Florida's most culturally rich cities, and the Ringling Museum complex is its undisputed centerpiece. The museum houses one of the finest collections of Baroque art in North America, including works by Rubens, Velázquez, and El Greco, set inside a magnificent Italian Renaissance-inspired building overlooking Sarasota Bay. Beyond the art museum, the sprawling 66-acre estate includes Cà d'Zan, the breathtaking Venetian-Gothic winter mansion built by circus magnate John Ringling and his wife Mable in 1926. The grounds also feature a circus museum, a rose garden, and lush banyan-lined pathways, plan at least half a day here, and pair it with lunch or dinner in downtown Sarasota or a late afternoon stop at nearby Siesta Key Beach.

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An underwater performer in a flowing gown at Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida, the iconic mermaid spring4

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606 (352) 592-5656

An hour north of Tampa lies one of Florida's most beloved and utterly unique attractions, Weeki Wachee Springs, where live mermaid performances have been thrilling audiences since 1947. The spring pumps 117 million gallons of crystal-clear 74°F water daily, and the underwater theater lets you watch elaborately costumed performers dance, drink, and eat, entirely underwater, through glass windows right at the spring floor. It's a wonderfully surreal slice of classic Florida Americana that has survived the theme park era with its charm completely intact. Beyond the mermaid shows, the park features Buccaneer Bay water park for swimming in the natural spring, a lazy river, and wildlife shows. It's weird, wonderful, and completely one of a kind.

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Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, the warm, clear spring waters that shelter Florida's manatee population5

Crystal River, Swim with Manatees

1502 SE Kings Bay Dr, Crystal River, FL 34429 (352) 563-2088

About 90 minutes north of Tampa, Crystal River offers one of the most magical wildlife encounters in the world, the chance to snorkel alongside wild West Indian manatees in their natural habitat. Kings Bay and Three Sisters Springs feed the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge with 72°F spring water year-round, making it the only place in Florida where you can legally and responsibly swim with wild manatees under federal wildlife refuge guidelines. Local outfitters run guided morning snorkel tours that take small groups out by boat to the springs, where manatees gather to stay warm during the cooler months (November through March is peak season). Even in warmer months you're likely to spot them gliding through the crystal-clear water, this is one of those bucket-list experiences that lives up to every bit of the hype.

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Want the full write-up with more photos? Read it on visittampafl.com.

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