Hi there!
Driving directly from Jacksonville to Orlando is around 2 hours and 15 minutes.
You would be driving along I-95 and I-4 for much of the way.
The distance from Jacksonville to Orlando is around 145 miles by driving this route.
Explore the map.
Or, you can also mostly skip the interstate and take your time and make stops along the way!
Of course there are many (many!) different ways to get from Jacksonville to Orlando.
Consider the list below some ideas of stops to make along the way!
What is there to see between Jacksonville and Orlando?
I did this drive from Jacksonville to Orlando in November 2021.
1. Historic district of St Augustine
A visit to the historic district of St Augustine won’t be the quickest of stops because there is parking you will have to deal with.
For an easy way to experience historic St Augustine, there is the St Augustine red train tour. This will allow you to see the highlights of historic St Augustine, and you will be able to park for free for the duration of the tour.
👆 Red train in St Augustine
There is also the St Augustine Old Town trolley.
👆 Old Town trolley in St Augustine
If you’re looking for an overnight stay in St Augustine, there are a number of chain hotels in St Augustine.
👆 Hilton St Augustine Historic Bayfront
Explore the map of Jacksonville to St Augustine to Orlando.
2. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Cost: FREE to walk around (outside) the fort. $15 per person to enter the fort, kids are free.
The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is one of the national park sites in Florida that you can visit on your drive from Jacksonville to Orlando.
According to the National Park Service:
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections.
This is also located in the historic district of St Augustine.
There is a small parking lot right next to Castillo de San Marcos, although you’ll probably need to get lucky in order to find a parking spot here.
It’s possible to walk around the outside of the fort for free. This is a scenic area that’s right along the water.
If you want to go inside the fort, you’ll need to pay the Castillo de San Marcos entry fee for that. If you have an annual national park pass, you can use that here. See current fees.
Explore the map of Jacksonville to Castillo de San Marcos to Orlando.
See more about this stop between Jacksonville and Orlando: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
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3. Marina Munch food trucks
COST: $16 for fish tacos for example
For a spot to eat along the waterfront, there’s the St Augustine food trucks at Marina Munch!
My brother who is a foodie approved of the Funkadelic food truck. He ordered the fish tacos.
Explore the map of Jacksonville to Marina Munch food trucks to Orlando.
See more about this stop between Jacksonville and Orlando: St Augustine food trucks
4. St Augustine Lighthouse
Cost: $15 per person
There are also guided tours of the St Augustine Lighthouse, and this is separate from the entrance fee.
Explore the map of Jacksonville to St Augustine Lighthouse to Orlando.
See more about this stop between Jacksonville and Orlando: St Augustine Lighthouse
5. Anastasia Island
Cost: $8 per car for Anastasia State Park
For one of the best beaches near St Augustine, you can head to Anastasia Island, and more specifically Anastasia State Park.
There is a swimming beach at Anastasia State Park.
Water temperature was posted as 69 degrees on the November day that I was there.
You can buy the daily pass for Anastasia State Park, or there is also an annual Florida state park pass that you can buy.
Although unless you know you will be visiting at least 8 state parks in Florida, it likely won’t be worth it. (There are 3 Florida state parks on this list as stops to make on the drive from Jacksonville to Orlando!)
Explore the map of Jacksonville to Anastasia State Park to Orlando.
See more about this stop between Jacksonville and Orlando: Anastasia State Park beach
6. Fort Matanzas National Monument
Cost: FREE
The Fort Matanzas National Monument is another one of the national parks sites in Florida that you can visit on your drive from Jacksonville to Orlando.
To make the most of your time here, a little bit of planning will be required.
That’s because the best thing to do at Fort Matanzas National Monument is to take a ferry to Fort Matanzas. So you will want to be there so you can catch the ferry!
It’s a free ferry to Fort Matanzas provided by the National Park Service, but you still need to pick up a ferry ticket. See more about current timings.
Even if you aren’t able to make it for the ferry (I did not), you can still go and see the fort off in the distance. You’ll go to the ferry dock area and look off to the right.
You won’t be able to walk onto the pier without a ferry ticket, but there’s a space off to the left of the pier that you can walk out a little bit.
Explore the map of Jacksonville to Fort Matanzas to Orlando.
7. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Cost: $5 per car for Washington Oaks Garden State Park
If you’re from the north, then the trees in Florida are just different!
So Washington Oaks Gardens State Park can be a pretty walk to see these different kinds of trees. There is a short trail.
Even just the short drive through Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is nice.
If you bought the Florida state park pass, then entry to Washington Oaks Gardens State Park will be free.
Explore the map of Jacksonville to Washington Oaks State Park to Orlando.
8. Flagler Beach FL
The town of Flagler Beach FL was more or less a convenient spot to find a place to stay (and eat!) nearly directly along the ocean!
You will also be driving with ocean views as you drive through Flagler Beach along the Florida a1a highway.
I stayed at Beach Front Motel in Flagler Beach for 1 night. (reviews)
If you are an early-riser or sunrise person, then I am sure a sunrise walk on the beach would be amazing here. (As long as there’s good weather!) All you need to do is cross the road and there are the steps to the beach!
I ate at Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill in Flagler Beach. (reviews) My brother who is a foodie said the food was okay.
But, there is outdoor dining here, and you can’t beat the views from the top deck. Eat with ocean views!
Explore the map of Jacksonville to Flagler Beach to Orlando.
9. Wekiwa Springs
Cost: $6 per car for Wekiwa Springs State Park
You can make a detour on your drive from Jacksonville to Orlando to go swimming at some natural springs in Florida!
It’s said that the water temperature of many springs in Florida are a constant 72 degrees year-round. This includes the Wekiwa Springs.
This means that in theory, you can go swimming in the Wekiwa Springs any time of year.
Well, personally I find a water temperature of 72 degrees to still be cold. And when the air temperature is in the upper 60s (as it was when I was there midday in November), it can feel colder! I was not able to make it in past my waist. 😜
It was a bit overcast at the time which also didn’t help!
But, swimming in the springs is something you can give a try when you are in Florida!
Bring goggles so you can see the underwater life! (You can bring snorkeling gear if you have it!)
You may also consider wearing a swimming shirt for swimming in the Florida springs too.
If you bought the Florida state park pass, then entry to Wekiwa Springs State Park will be free.
Explore the map of Jacksonville to Wekiwa Springs State Park to Orlando.
See more about this stop between Jacksonville and Orlando: Wekiwa Springs State Park
And that will take you to just north of Orlando!
For more options of Florida springs as you make your way from Jacksonville to Orlando, you can also go to Ocala National Forest for some of the best springs in Florida. This is just north of Wekiwa Springs State Park.
Explore the map of Jacksonville to Ocala National Forest to Orlando.
See more about this stop between Jacksonville and Orlando: Things to do in Ocala National Forest
And then you’ve made it to Orlando!
Florida a1a highway
The most important thing to know if you want to take the slow scenic route when doing the drive from Jacksonville to Orlando is to be sure that you make your way onto the Florida a1a highway at some point!
There are parts that will have you driving with ocean views!
Also if you are driving to Jacksonville from Georgia on I-95, be sure to stop for free orange juice at the Florida Welcome Center!
And that’s a bit about driving to Orlando!
For things to do as day trips from Orlando in the winter, you can do a Lake Kissimmee airboat tour for a chance to see alligators and go to Blue Spring State Park for a chance to see manatees!
And make it a detour by heading a different route back up north?!
HAPPY DRIVING FROM JACKSONVILLE TO ORLANDO!
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