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If you’re looking for a change of scenery, taking a day trip from St Petersburg, Florida is a great thing to do.
With plenty of attractions and activities available, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant city. However, if you’re looking to explore beyond the city limits, there are plenty of great day trips options available as well.
St Petersburg is ideally located on the west coast of Florida, which makes it a great starting point to explore the area!
Whether you are a nature lover or a thrill-seeker, you will find plenty to do! Here are some day trips ideas from St Pete.
Tampa
Tampa is a major city near St Petersburg FL. It’s also home to the main airport in the area so it’s probably where you will be flying to.
Tampa is a vibrant city and there are many things you can do here.
Firstly, make sure to explore downtown. You will find loads of restaurants, cafés but also amazing museums such as Tampa Museum Of Art.
If you’d like to learn more about the city and discover some cool spots, you can also join the walking food tour in Downtown Tampa.
The area is also home to some of the most haunted places in Florida so if that’s something you are interested in, make sure to book the haunted history walking tour. It’s very interesting.
You can then head to the waterfront where you will find the beautiful promenade as well as loads of bars and restaurants where you can have a drink.
Finally, you can not go to Tampa without going to see an ice-hockey game! The Tampa Lightning are an amazing team and seeing a game is always a great experience! They take place at Amalie Arena.
HOW TO GET THERE: It’s very easy to get to Tampa from St Pete. Just take the interstate, cross the bridge and you will be there in 30 minutes.
PRO TIP: There are quite a few attractions you can visit in Tampa including the Museum of Science and Industry and ZooTampa. If you’d like to do several of these activities, you should consider getting the Tampa CityPass.
It will save you quite a bit of money. Also, it includes some attractions in St Pete and Clearwater.
Honeymoon Island
Located in Dunedin, about 30 minutes drive from downtown St Pete, Honeymoon Island is a beautiful state park and the perfect day trip for beach lovers.
This barrier island is home to stunning beaches (including some shelling ones), walking trails and amazing wildlife.
If you are into bird watching, this will be an excellent place for you since you can see Ospreys and American Eagles.
Make sure to take the 2.5 miles Osprey walk. This beautiful walk is quite relaxing, easy and fun. You will be able to see many birds and plants. It’s also a good choice if you are travelling with kids since it’s a nice stroll.
If you want to chill for the day, you can take your towel and go to the beach.
There are several beaches on Honeymoon Island including one that is 2.5 miles long!
White sand, mangroves, shells … it’s the perfect place for a relaxing day.
It’s also important to note that the beaches are very well preserved and not that crowded, especially if you walk a bit further.
It has nothing to do with Clearwater Beach or St Pete Beach and that’s so pleasant!
You will also get to enjoy the views of the gulf!
PRO TIP: Don’t forget to wear shoes as you walk on the beach. There are a lot of shells as well as pieces of mangroves sticking out. You can’t always see them but they can hurt your foot.
There is also a big picnic area with tables and amenities by the parking lot, definitely a good spot to get lunch.
This hidden gem is a beautiful place so make sure to add it to your list of St Pete day trips!
HOW TO GET THERE: You can easily get there by car. There is a bridge at the entrance.
There is an entrance fee which helps towards the conservation of the state park. It’s very affordable though.
Clearwater Beach
Calling all the beach lovers for this one! Clearwater beach was voted the best beach in the USA in 2019 so that gives you a good idea of what to expect!
It is a large white sanded beach with crystal blue water. It truly is one of the best beaches in the Tampa Bay area and a must see!
That having been said, it can get very crowded especially during spring break so it’s important to be aware of that.
Clearwater Beach is the perfect destination if you want to have a relaxing and fun day.
You can walk along the promenade, get ice cream, relax on the beach and go to a beach party in one of the beach bars.
Another way you can explore Clearwater Beach is by hiring a bicycle or going on a segway tour.
There are many dolphins in Clearwater and even though you can catch a glimpse from the beach, going on a dolphin-watching cruise is also a good idea.
While in the area, make sure to head to Pier 60. This is the most famous landmark in Clearwater Beach and it boasts stunning views of the beach.
Also, that’s where the sunset celebration is held every day and it’s such a cool thing to do!
PRO TIP: If you want to enjoy the sunset in a unique way, you can also go on a sunset cruise or a party cruise in Clearwater Beach.
Finally, in the evening, if you want to go for a drink and maybe dance on the beach, head to the Shephard’s Beach Resort.
They get famous DJs from all over the world to come and mix for hours and hours.
They generally host those events on Saturday or Sunday. It starts at 2pm and goes all the way until 1am. You can have a drink, dance under the stars with your footsies in the sand… what else can we ask for?
Fort De Soto Park
Fort De Soto Park is a beautiful state park located in the southern part of St Pete.
This is a bit of a hidden gem but that’s also one of the locals’ favourite day trips from St Pete.
Fort De Soto is is a state park formed of 5 islands (Madelaine Key, Bonne Fortune Key, St. Jean Key, St. Christopher Key, and the main island, Mullet Key).
There are several reasons to visit Fort De Soto.
The first one is that it’s home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida including Egmont Key.
White sand, crystal clear water… this is where you will find all the picture-perfect beaches!
It’s also home to one of the rare dog-friendly beaches near St Pete.
You will also find the Fort De Soto Park’s Historic Fort and Museum which is very interesting and will tell you loads about the area and its history.
You can also join an e-bike tour on the beach which is very cool.
Finally, Fort De Soto is a great place for kayaking and paddling. If you love water activities, you will be in for a treat.
You can rent your equipment directly there or opt for a guided tour in the mangroves.
HOW TO GET THERE: You can get to Fort De Soto by car via Gulf Blvd and Pinellas Bayway. This is a toll road so make sure to take that into consideration.
Busch Gardens
It’s no secret that Florida is known for its theme parks and while most of them are located near Orlando, you can also find a pretty great one near St Pete!
Busch Gardens is located in north Tampa. It takes about 40 minutes to get there from Downtown St Pete and it’s a great day trip for people who love theme parks but also for families.
As a matter of fact, it’s a much better alternative to Orlando’s parks. It’s less busy, cheaper and just as much fun!
There are plenty of roller coasters and also a waterpark (which is always something to look forward to in Florida).
Here are the best rides: Cheetah Hunt, Tigris and Cobra’s curse.
Busch Gardens are good fun for adults as well as kids.
PRO TIP: If you can go before spring break, this will be ideal. It’s much less crowded so you will get to do more things.
You can also go in winter if you want to but might not be able to enjoy all the water activities. Florida is hot but still, January is not bikini material.
You can book online, directly there or even take a Tampa CityPass that will also give you access to the Florida Aquarium, Zoo Tampa, Clearwater Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Crystal River
Who says Florida says manatees! There are over 6,000 manatees in the Sunshine State and central Florida is a very good place to see them.
You can find them in St Pete and Tampa as well but the best place to see manatees is Crystal River.
Crystal River is about 2 hours drive from St Pete. It’s particularly famous for its springs and being home to hundreds of manatees in winter.
It’s also the only place in Florida where you can swim with the manatees!
The first place where you should go is the Three Sisters springs.
From January to March, hundreds of manatees head to the spring to run off from the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The springs are at a stable temperature of 72F.
In december / january, when the gulf starts to be colder manatees go to Crystal River. They stayed as long as the springs are warmer than the sea. Once we get closer to spring or summer they leave.
It’s a very unique thing to see and makes it a very popular destination.
PRO TIP: Before heading there, make sure to call the visitor centre to check if the manatees are there. Depending on the weather, they might leave much earlier and it would be a shame to drive for 2 hours and not see them.
PRO TIP 2: If you do not get to see the manatees in Crystal River, head to Homosassa instead. It’s close by and you will definitely see them there.
There are different ways you can see the manatees:
- Walk around the Three Sisters Spring. You can get the shuttle from the visitor centre and walk on the path around the springs. You can not jump in the water from there but if you were not planning on swimming, that’s a great option. It’s also a good thing to do all year round, when the manatees aren’t there.
- Swimming tour. You can book a cruise through King’s Bay Wildlife Refuge and go for a gentle swim with the manatees.
- Snorkeling tour. You can book a snorkeling tour from Crystal River and explore the springs that way.
- Kayaking. You can also rent a kayak in Crystal River and explore the springs. We recommend opting for a clear kayak, that way you will see the manatees swimming underneath. It’s very cool!
- Viewing cruise. If you do not want to go in the water but would like to experience the springs a bit more than by just walking around, you can book a viewing cruise here.
No matter what though, please be respectful. Animals should be treated well so going swimming with the manatees is fine but be respectful!
Weeki Wachee State Park
Recommended by Cris from Wander Florida
There are mermaids in Florida. And they perform daily in one of the world’s most unique theatres, an undersea theatre created from a freshwater spring. This place is Weeki Wachee State Park, and it’s been a favourite theme park in Florida since 1947.
Weeki Wachee means “little spring” or “winding river” in the Seminole language. The park surrounds the first magnitude spring which discharges more than 100 million gallons of water a day.
It is 100 feet wide and approximately 250 feet deep. This water becomes the Weeki Wachee River and flows more than 12 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.
The tourist attraction first housed an 18-seat theatre, later expanded to 50 seats, and was privately owned. Over the years, Buccaneer Bay, a river cruise, and kayak launch were added to the activities.
The park is, of course, best known for the mermaid show in which human mermaids wearing tails perform underwater acts in the spring.
Between mermaid shows, guests to the park can enjoy water slides, a sand beach, and lazy river at Buccaneer Bay.
The lazy river is one of my favourite things to do here as the water is a constant 74 degrees and the river, part of the Weeki Wachee River, is filled with fish and other wildlife.
Another favourite activity for most Floridians is kayaking the river.
It takes about 3 to 4 hours and brings paddlers through some of Florida’s most beautiful and natural landscapes.
If being in the water isn’t your thing, you can still see natural Florida from the dry decks of the river cruise.
Weeki Wachee State Park sits approximately an hour north of Tampa on Highway 19. There is a limit to how many people get in so get there early before the park opens.
Dunedin
Dunedin is a cute small town located about 30-minute drive from St Pete.
It’s a great place to visit if you are looking for some European vibes! The name Dunedin comes from the Scottish Gaelic language and the town holds annual Scottish celebrations, the Dunedin Highland Games and Festival, in April.
The main reason for visiting Dunedin is to check out the historic Downtown district. It’s very quaint and a perfect place to enjoy a relaxing day out.
Downtown Dunedin is filled with cute shops, restaurants and bars.
If you want to learn more about Dunedin, you can also visit the Dunedin Historical Museum or join the bike tour of the historical center. It’s fun and interesting at the same time.
But the thing Dunedin is really famous for is its breweries. There are so many and they are brilliant.
Here are some recommendations of breweries to visit in Dunedin: 7venth Sun Brewery, Woodwright Brewing company and Dunedin Brewery.
Finally, if you are into hiking, you will be able to catch the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin. This is one of the best hiking trails in Florida and it stretches all the way from St Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.
You can join it on foot of course but also rent an e-bike for the day and explore a bit further.
Tarpon Springs
Tarpon Springs is located about 45 minutes North of Downtown St Pete.
It’s a great day trip from St Petersburg for people who want to stay away from the crowds and discover something unique.
It also has a similar vibe to Dunedin, but on a different scale since Tarpon Springs is home to the largest population of people with Greek heritage in the United States.
Visiting Tarpon Springs is a great way to enjoy some amazing Greek influences. This includes European-style architecture but also delicious Greek food.
Tarpon Springs is also known as the sponge capital of the world and you will find sponges everywhere (perfect for people who want to bring back souvenirs).
As you get there, the first place where you should go is the Sponge docks. That’s where you will find all the sponges but also loads of Greek restaurants where you can get iced coffees and of course, lunch.
Make sure to also have a stroll around the historic district. It’s filled with beautiful brick buildings, antiques stores and amazing churches.
As Tarpon Springs is located on the waterfront and close to the Anclote River, it’s a great place for kayaking and canoeing. This is very popular with locals and tourists alike, especially during the manatee season.
PRO TIP: Rent a clear kayak while in Tarpon Springs. You will get to see the manatees swimming underneath!
Caladesi Island
If you’d like to discover more beautiful beaches near St Pete, then head straight to Caladesi Island.
Located in Dunedin, just next to Honeymoon Island, this is another fantastic state park in the area.
It is a bit longer to get there since you will need to take a ferry from Honeymoon Island. This means that you will take the bridge to get to Honeymoon Island and will then park your car at the ferry terminal to cross over.
PRO TIP: You can buy your ticket straight there but it’s worth checking on their Groupon page since they have offers on most of the time.
That having been said, don’t let that scare you. The ferry is only 20 minutes so it’s still pretty easy.
Once you get to Caladesi Island, you will discover some stunning and unspoiled beaches. This is where you can truly see what Florida naturally looks like!
The beaches are made of white and soft sand. There are also beautiful dunes and the wildlife is incredible. You will get to see many birds and if you are lucky, turtles as well!
Ybor City
Ybor City is a neighborhood of Tampa and while we have mentioned this city before, we thought that Ybor deserved its own paragraph.
There are many things you can do in Ybor City and it’s very easy to spend an entire day here!
Ybor City was founded in the 19th century by cigar manufacturers who immigrated from Cuba.
For this reason, Ybor is known as the Cuban quarter in Tampa.
FUN FACT: Ybor City and Little Havana in Miami argue about the origin of the Cuban sandwich. They both claim to be the birthplace of it!
Ybor is also known as the entertainment district. For this reason, you will find many nightclubs, bars, concert venues and restaurants.
It’s the perfect place to go for a drink and enjoy a fun evening.
PRO TIP: Go to Bernini for lunch and in the afternoon. They serve $3 martinis during their happy hour! You can choose amongst the dozens of Martinis available (Classic, chocolate, Espresso, coconut and more!), all of that for 3 bucks each! The food is also very good.
Since Ybor is the Cuban quarter, it’s also the perfect place to get a cigar and grab a delicious Cuban coffee.
In terms of food, there are so many things you should try here. Ybor is home to some of the best restaurants in Tampa.
The best way to experience the food here is to join the historic Ybor City food and drink walking tour. The local guide will take you to the best spots and you will get to taste 6 food and drinks. It’s very good value for money!
Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island is a barrier island located across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It’s a 1h15 drive from St Petersburg to get there and it offers beautiful white sand beaches with turquoise waters.
It’s one of the best islands in Florida, especially if you want to relax and enjoy some beach days.
Here are some of the beaches that you should check out: Coquina Beach, Bean Point and Holmes Beach.
If you want to discover the nature, make sure to also go on the Coquina Baywalk. It’s an easy trail and you will get to discover mangrove tunnels and see many birds.
Of course, if you love kayaking, this will also be the place for you. The island is surrounded by mangrove tunnels, which are perfect to explore with a kayak or a paddleboard.
Sarasota
If you are looking for something more cultural and urban, then Sarasota is the perfect fit.
Sarasota has one of the biggest art districts in Florida. There are dozens of museums and art galleries, both free and paying ones.
The most famous one is The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. This is the official state art museum of Florida and it’s home to over 10,000 objects which includes painting, sculptures, photographs and more.
The building itself is also absolutely stunning! It’s entirely pink and you will find beautiful galleries.
If you love taking Instagram photos, this will be your paradise!
There are a lot of things to see in downtown Sarasota and if you want to make the best of your time here, you can book a ticket for the sightseeing trolley tour, the segway tour or the walking food tour of Sarasota.
Finally, no day trip to Sarasota would be complete without going to Siesta Key.
This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the USA and an absolute paradise. The sand is so white and soft that it actually feels like powder.
PRO TIP: Siesta Key Beach can get very busy so it’s better to get there early to score a parking spot. Ideally, head to the beach first thing in the morning and explore downtown Sarasota in the afternoon.
Homosassa Springs
Located 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Downtown St Petersburg, Homosassa Springs are one of the best springs to visit in Florida, especially on a day trip.
When you arrive, you can park your car on the parking lot of the visitor centre and head in to buy your ticket.
From there, you will go on a short boat trip in the spring with a local guide. They will tell you everything you need to know about the springs but also the wildlife.
While I thought it was quite a cool thing to do (for adults as well as children), I also loved the fact that the guide was pointing out the different birds. We would never have seen them otherwise!
You will then arrive at the wildlife center where you can see many different rescued animals such as manatees, birds and more.
Homosassa Springs is also a great place to go kayaking or paddling.
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