When you’re planning your next weekend adventure along Florida’s Gulf coast, we have the perfect road trip to consider. Starting off at one of Florida’s most spectacular beaches, this trip will take you down the Gulf all the way to the Everglades, enjoying an incredibly diverse range of landscapes, activities, and attractions. Ready to have the most “Florida” day ever? The entire road trip will take around four hours of travel time, but you’ll want to plan accordingly to give time to stop at each spot. You can find the entire customizable itinerary for the road trip here.
Google Maps
The road trip starts with an early morning at Siesta Key, one of Florida’s most beautiful spots.
Flickr jonathansingel Siesta Key is a barrier island off the coast of Sarasota that is well-known for its sugary, soft sand. Siesta Beach offers up clear, turquoise water, plus a chance to soak in all the sun before getting back on the road. Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop. Siesta Key, FL 34242, USA
The next stop on this trip is the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point Campus.
Google Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Different from the Downtown Botanical Garden, this 30-acre museum and environmental complex provides a chance for visitors to connect to both history and local plant life. Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus, 337 N Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229, USA
Let’s keep this trip going by heading down south to the famed Caspersen Beach.
Flickr Diana Robinson This delightful beach in Venice, Florida is known for being one of the best shelling beaches around. Guests can walk the beautiful shoreline looking for colorful seashells, and if they’re lucky, spot a few fossilized shark teeth, too! Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop. Caspersen Beach, 4100 Harbor Dr, Venice, FL 34285, USA
By now, you’ve probably worked up a bit of an appetite, right? Let’s make a quick pitstop at Farlow’s on the Water in Englewood.
TripAdvisor management Farlow’s on the Water is a coveted restaurant with a relaxed, waterfront vibe. Diners can sit outside right by the water’s edge and indulge in Caribbean-inspired fare, plus cold cocktails. Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop. Farlows on the Water, 2080 S McCall Rd, Englewood, FL 34224, USA
We’re back at it after a satisfying meal and heading south to the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers.
TripAdvisor JimDeBerry It wouldn’t be a road trip along the Gulf without a stop here, right? With over 50,000-square feet of shopping space, you’ll find a TON of things to see and explore here beyond just seashells. This place is the perfect destination for families to get out and enjoy some out-of-the-box roadside fun. Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop. Shell Factory, 2787 N Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33903, USA
The next stop on this Florida road trip is at Clam Pass Park in Naples.
TripAdvisor VILACASTELOEU This serene spot is beloved by locals, but also offers visitors from out of town a chance to enjoy a relaxed slice of Naples. While it can get quite populated during the weekends, it’s always nice to spend some time walking at the water’s edge and enjoying the warm weather. It’s also a great place to bird-watch, too! Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop. Clam Pass Park, 465 Seagate Dr, Naples, FL 34103, USA
We’re going to end this road trip with a bang at Wooten’s Everglades Airboat Tours in Ochopee, Florida.
TripAdvisor Duchess050664 Glide across 259-acres of private Everglades swampland with a professional airboat tour guide. You can also enjoy a different vantage point of the Everglades altogether with a Cypress Forest swamp buggy tour. The best part of this adventure is that you never know what you’re going to see along the way.
Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop. Wooten’s Everglades Airboat Tours, 32330 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA
So what do you think about the Florida road trip? Have you ever traveled from Siesta Key to the Florida Everglades before? Share with us some other places you like to stop along the way in the comments section!
Google Maps
Flickr jonathansingel
Siesta Key is a barrier island off the coast of Sarasota that is well-known for its sugary, soft sand. Siesta Beach offers up clear, turquoise water, plus a chance to soak in all the sun before getting back on the road. Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop.
Siesta Key, FL 34242, USA
Google Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Different from the Downtown Botanical Garden, this 30-acre museum and environmental complex provides a chance for visitors to connect to both history and local plant life. Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus, 337 N Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229, USA
Flickr Diana Robinson
This delightful beach in Venice, Florida is known for being one of the best shelling beaches around. Guests can walk the beautiful shoreline looking for colorful seashells, and if they’re lucky, spot a few fossilized shark teeth, too! Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop.
Caspersen Beach, 4100 Harbor Dr, Venice, FL 34285, USA
TripAdvisor management
Farlow’s on the Water is a coveted restaurant with a relaxed, waterfront vibe. Diners can sit outside right by the water’s edge and indulge in Caribbean-inspired fare, plus cold cocktails. Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop.
Farlows on the Water, 2080 S McCall Rd, Englewood, FL 34224, USA
TripAdvisor JimDeBerry
It wouldn’t be a road trip along the Gulf without a stop here, right? With over 50,000-square feet of shopping space, you’ll find a TON of things to see and explore here beyond just seashells. This place is the perfect destination for families to get out and enjoy some out-of-the-box roadside fun. Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop.
Shell Factory, 2787 N Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33903, USA
TripAdvisor VILACASTELOEU
This serene spot is beloved by locals, but also offers visitors from out of town a chance to enjoy a relaxed slice of Naples. While it can get quite populated during the weekends, it’s always nice to spend some time walking at the water’s edge and enjoying the warm weather. It’s also a great place to bird-watch, too! Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop.
Clam Pass Park, 465 Seagate Dr, Naples, FL 34103, USA
TripAdvisor Duchess050664
Glide across 259-acres of private Everglades swampland with a professional airboat tour guide. You can also enjoy a different vantage point of the Everglades altogether with a Cypress Forest swamp buggy tour. The best part of this adventure is that you never know what you’re going to see along the way.
Click here for more information about this Florida road trip stop.
Wooten’s Everglades Airboat Tours, 32330 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA
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