The distance from Jacksonville to Tampa by car is 200 miles, with a 3h13m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Jacksonville to Tampa drive are the Camp Blanding Museum, Ocala FL and the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park.
Planning a Jacksonville to Tampa road trip itinerary
The Jacksonville to Tampa drive takes you from the biggest city in north Florida to the state’s west coast.
5 great experiences around Jacksonville to book now
- 🏛️ Discover how Jacksonville’s history was shaped by fire on an architecture tour.
- 🛶 Take a guided kayak tour to see the local wildlife around Amelia Island.
- 🍫 Indulge your sweet tooth on a chocolate and candy factory tour.
- 🚶 Take a Downtown Fernandina historic walking tour – and learn about pirates, war and colourful local characters.
- 🚴 Enjoy Jacksonville’s art and architecture on an ebike tour.
Top Jacksonville experiences include Amelia Island kayak tours, guided art and architecture tours by electric bike and electric skateboard rides along Fernandina Beach.
For Jacksonville cultural attractions, head to the Cummer Museum or Kingsley Plantation, which tells a complex story of slavery. There’s also unexpected French colonial history at the Fort Caroline National Memorial.
Highly-rated Jacksonville accommodation options include the charming Riverdale Inn B&B and the conveniently downtown Hyatt Regency.
Tampa is justifiably one of the most popular holiday destinations in Florida. It’s home to top attractions such as the Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa, the Glazer Children’s Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art.
Other great Tampa experiences include historic Ybor City food walking tours, seeing the highlights in a street legal golf cart and a Haunted Tampa tour that combines ghosts and pubs.
Also on offer are history cruises, dolphin-watching and celebrity homes tours.
5 Tampa experiences worth booking
- 🐬 See dolphins playing in Tampa Bay on a relaxed dolphin sightseeing cruise.
- 🚶 Take a historic Ybor City walking tour and learn how Tampa was built on cigars.
- 🍽️ Combine history with food and drink tastings on an Ybor City food tour.
- 🚗 Tour Tampa’s main highlights in a fun, street-legal vehicle on a golf cart city tour.
- 🪂 Fly high over Tampa Bay on a zipline adventure with a twist.
Jacksonville to Tampa distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Jacksonville to Tampa is 200 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 13 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-10, US-301 and I-75.
The best stops to add to a Jacksonville to Tampa road trip itinerary are the Camp Blanding Museum, Ocala FL and the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park.
Why book the Tampa Bay CityPASS?
- 🎢 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: Enjoy thrilling roller coasters, world-class live shows, and one of the largest zoos in North America at this premier adventure park.
- 🐠 The Florida Aquarium: Discover more than 20,000 marine animals, including sharks, sea turtles, and otters, in interactive galleries and immersive exhibits.
- 🦒 ZooTampa at Lowry Park: Get up close with Florida manatees, African elephants, and other amazing wildlife at this award-winning, family-friendly zoo.
- 🛥️ Flexible Attraction Choices: Customize your experience by picking two more favorites from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, scenic boat tours, or hands-on science museums.
- 💰 Exceptional Value & Flexibility: Save up to 55% compared to individual gate prices and enjoy the freedom to explore at your own pace over nine consecutive days.
Jacksonville to Tampa drive: Camp Blanding Museum
Camp Blanding near Starke was a massive infantry base during WWII, which was converted to a German prisoner of war camp in 1942. During WWII, there were so many people here, that it temporarily became Florida’s fourth largest city.
The Camp Blanding Museum tells the fascinating history of the site.
Best stops between Jacksonville and Tampa: Ocala FL
Ocala is home to the Golden Gypsy Horse Farm, where visitors can meet the rare and beautiful Gypsy Vanner horses. The Appleton Museum of Art, meanwhile, mixes contemporary art with pre-Columbian artifacts and the Discovery Center does the interactive science thing.
The most important site in Ocala, however, is the Fort King National Historic Landmark. This was a major military post in the Second Seminole War, and the first inland fort in Florida.
Book ahead for Ocala hotel deals.
Jacksonville to Tampa road trip attractions: Dade Battlefield Historic State Park
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park commemorates the 1835 battle that sparked the Second Seminole War. This was the longest and most costly American-Indian war in the country’s history, lasting seven years.
The visitor center has a small museum explaining more about the Florida Seminole Wars, while picnics, hiking and wildlife-spotting are other options within the park.
More Florida road trips
- Getting to Tampa: The best stops on the Atlanta to Tampa drive, Gainesville to Tampa drive and Tallahassee to Tampa drive.
- Where to stop on the Atlanta to Gainesville FL drive and Atlanta to Tallahassee drive.
- The distance, driving time and best stops on a Jacksonville to Tallahassee drive.
- Getting to St Augustine: What to see on the Gainesville to St Augustine drive and Jacksonville to St Augustine drive.
- Getting to Daytona Beach: The best stops on the Jacksonville to Daytona Beach drive and St Augustine to Daytona Beach drive.
