Read about some best day trips from Jacksonville Fl within 2 to 3 hours away by car. There are many beautiful weekend getaways from Jacksonville with lovely beaches, national forests, historic towns, cultural centers, farms, and many exciting places.
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The location of Jacksonville on the eastern coast of the sunshine state of Florida makes it a perfect weekend getaway from many cities of Georgia and Florida. So let’s check some beautiful places to visit near Jacksonville within 2 to 3 hours, including some unique weekend getaways in Florida.
Best Day Trips from Jacksonville Fl – Unique Weekend Getaways In Florida
Salt Springs
Distance from Jacksonville – 82 miles
Salt Springs lies in the Ocala National Forest with a semi-tropical environment, which is the jewel of the national forest. It is a natural spring and contains potassium, magnesium, and sodium salts, and the water is a little bit saline and hence known as Salt Springs.
Its clear natural turquoise water is the perfect place for swimming and spotting some fantastic wildlife.
Things to do –
- Silver Glen Springs
- Salt Springs Recreation Area
- Salt Springs Marina and Landing
- Lake Kerr
- Amrit Yoga Institute
St. Augustine
Distance from Jacksonville – 41 miles
Read more on St Augustine things to do – St Augustine Travel guide.
St Augustine is the nation’s oldest city and still thriving. Here you can see the Spanish colonial era with lovely architecture, the oldest house, the oldest cellar, the oldest jail, and many things with beautiful beaches, harbor, and ghost tours.
St Augustine is not only a perfect day trip from Jacksonville Fl but also one of the unique weekend getaways in Florida. You will find quirky cafes, quaint vibes, and historic casa-style hotels in historic downtown, one of the best day trips from Jacksonville Fl. St Augustine also holds several vibrant festivals and events throughout the year.
Things to do –
- Historic Downtown
- Flagler College
- George Street
- The Lighthouse
- St Augustine beach
- Castillo de Marcos National Monument
- Ghost tours and Pirates cruises.
Gainesville
Distance from Jacksonville – 72 miles
Gainesville is a beautiful city with lovely museums, the center of arts, culture, hiking, biking trails, and theaters. It also has Butterflies rainforest where butterflies and birds roam freely.
Things to do –
- Butterfly Rainforest
- Florida Museum of Natural History
- Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
- Carson Springs Wildlife
Daytona Beach
Distance from Jacksonville – 89 miles
Daytona beach is known as a racing destination for lovely white-sand beaches. This city has 23 miles of hardpacked white sand beaches, a beautiful historic pier, a boardwalk, a lighthouse, and museums.
Things to do –
- Daytona International Speedway
- Beach at Daytona Beach
- Richard Petty Driving Experience
- MOAS – Museum of Arts and Sciences
- Horse Riding on Beaches
Amelia Island
Distance from Jacksonville – 33 miles
Amelia Island is worth visiting for its beautiful beaches, coastal maritime forests, and marshy landscapes on Atlantic Coast beach. Spend some of your best time in this sunshine state at Amelia Island with a beautiful day trip from Jacksonville Fl.
Amelia Island has 13 miles of pristine beach with local wildlife and an incredible blue ocean.
Things to do –
- Fernandina Beach
- Fort Clinch State Park
- Amelia Island Historic District
- Amelia Island State Park
- Marlin & Barrel Distillery
Cross Creek
Distance from Jacksonville – 82 miles
Get transport to the 1930s in this cute place of Cross Creek with lovely green pastures, farms, cows strolling around, and wooden houses. Know about rural Florida with farm and coastal activities all around here. A perfect road trip from Jacksonville Florida.
Things to do –
- Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Yearling.
- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’s homestead Entrance,
- Screened-in front porch with sleeping couch.
- The table where Rawlings wrote The Yearling
Osceola National Forest
Distance from Jacksonville – 54 miles
The tranquil forests towards the west of Jacksonville are the perfect day for busy city life. Here the marshy, swampy land is an ideal spot for fishing. The Osceola is Florida’s northernmost and smallest national forest. It lies between Lake City and Jacksonville, where Interstate 10 bisects which have an area of approximately 237,000 acres.
Things to do –
- Hiking · Florida Trail,
- Nice Wander Loop
- Florida Trail, Ocean Pond to Turkey Run
- Florida Trail, Turkey Run to Deep Creek
- Fanny Bay Trail.
De Leon Springs
Distance from Jacksonville – 96 miles
This beautiful spring is named after Juan Ponce de Leon, one of the first Spanish expeditors in the 1513s. He came in search of the “fountain of youth,” where it is believed that if someone takes a dip in the calm, clear waters of De Leon Springs, they will regain their youth.
The unique feature of this water is that its temperature remains constant at 68 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.
Things to do –
- De Leon Springs State Park
- Smooth Waters Wildlife Park
- Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
Flagler Beach
Distance from Jacksonville – 71 miles
Flagler beach town is retro-style with many waterfront restaurants, natural parks, miles of pristine beaches, quaint beachside shops, and many historical activities. Flagler beach is one of the best road trips from Jacksonville Fl.
Things to do –
- Flagler Beach Municipal Pier
- Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park
- Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
- Flagler Beachfront Winery
These are some of the best places to visit near Jacksonville within 2 to 3 hours. Now you know the best day trips from Jacksonville Fl with many unique weekend getaways in Florida.
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