Melbourne Beach, FL
Sebastian Inlet State Park
Florida's most productive saltwater fishing spot, with a walkable jetty, a calm lagoon beach for kids and surfing on the north side.
- Fishing
- Ages 4+
- ~4h
- Paid
Things to Do 1–2 Hours from Orlando with Kids
12 kid-friendly adventures about 1 to 2 hours from Orlando, nearest first.
- Under 1 hour (7)
- 1-2 hours (12)
- 2-3 hours (13)
- 3-4 hours (8)
About these times. Each estimate is a straight-line measurement from downtown Orlando — the springs belt is within about 90 minutes, padded by 17% for winding roads and divided by a 55 mph average — so “about 1 to 2 hours” means roughly that, not a routed time. Traffic, where in Orlando you start, and the last few miles of park road can all move it by half an hour. Check a map before you load the car.
about 1 hr 15 min drive
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Silver Springs, FL
Juniper Springs Recreation Area
A seven-mile canoe run through narrow jungle-like creek in Ocala National Forest, plus a 1930s stone millhouse and a CCC-built spring pool.
- Kayaking
- Ages 8+
- ~5h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Silver Springs, FL
Silver Springs State Park
Glass-bottom boats have run over these springs since the 1870s. Paddle the run yourself to find the wild monkeys along the bank.
- Kayaking
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Thonotosassa, FL
Hillsborough River State Park
Class II rapids - genuinely rare in Florida - viewed from a suspension footbridge, plus canoe rentals in a CCC-built park near Tampa.
- Kayaking
- Ages 5+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Lithia, FL
Lithia Springs Conservation Park
A shallow, walled spring pool half an hour from Tampa, with a sandy bottom, a gentle entry and a campground under the oaks beside it.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Weeki Wachee, FL
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
The underwater mermaid theatre has run since 1947, plus a spring-fed water park and a clear paddling run down the Weeki Wachee River.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~5h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Dunnellon, FL
Rainbow Springs State Park
Swim in a wide, shallow first-magnitude spring with a sandy entry, waterfalls and a paddling run - one of Florida's easiest springs with toddlers.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Homosassa, FL
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
An underwater observatory puts you at eye level with wild manatees and thousands of fish inside a first-magnitude spring.
- Nature
- Ages 2+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Crystal River, FL
Three Sisters Springs
The only place in the US where you can legally snorkel alongside wild manatees, plus a boardwalk view for families staying dry.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 6+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Williston, FL
Devil's Den Spring
Snorkel inside a collapsed underground cavern lit by a single opening in the roof - a prehistoric spring reached by a staircase.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 6+
- ~2h
- Paid
about 2 hr drive
Dunedin, FL
Caladesi Island State Park
A car-free barrier island reached by ferry, with three miles of undeveloped Gulf beach and a mangrove kayak trail behind it.
- Swimming
- Ages 3+
- ~5h
- Paid
about 2 hr drive
Dunedin, FL
Honeymoon Island State Park
Drive-on barrier island with calm Gulf swimming, excellent shelling, an osprey trail and one of Florida's best dog beaches.
- Swimming
- Ages 1+
- ~4h
- Paid