Top 10 Road Trips From Orlando, Florida

road trips from orlando
Shamika
Shamika 
Published
| 4 min read

Known for a variety of world-famous attractions such as Disney World and Universal, Orlando promises a great time for travellers and locals alike. With plenty of activities including shopping, dining, and sight-seeing, you are sure to have a full itinerary no matter how many days you are here. However, if you are a big fan of road trips, it can be a wonderful experience to get a car and a bunch of friends and set out to the nearest weekend destination. Surrounded by plenty of beachside destinations and big cities just waiting to be explored, a road trip from Orlando is sure to be an unforgettable and amazing experience that you will cherish forever. So, pack your favourite snacks, invite your loved ones, and read on as we explore the top 10 road trips from Orlando, Florida.

1. Atlanta, GA

190 Atlanta, GA
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user known per OTRS used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

One of the most popular vacation destinations in Georgia, Atlanta boasts a variety of amazing attractions including Six Flags Amusement Park, World of Coca-Cola, and Centennial Olympic Park, to name a few. At a comfortable distance of six to seven hours from Orlando along the Interstate 75, it promises a fun road trip. Make plenty of stops along the way in popular destinations such as Gainesville, Valdosta or Vienna, and enjoy the activities and attractions in these towns.

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2. Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, Alabama Skyline
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Eric in SF used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Known all over America for being the founding city of Veterans Day, Birmingham is the ultimate historic destination for veterans or enthusiasts of the United States Armed Forces. It is also known for its coal mines, iron and steel production, and strong industrial growth that gave it the name Pittsburgh of the South. It is also well-known for its amazing music scene so music buffs are sure to find great events here. The road trip here will take eight to nine hours from Orlando, so you can plan your road trip over a couple of days or a single day according to your preference.

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3. Athens, GA

755 Broad, Athens, Georgia
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Michael Rivera used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Located at a drive of a little over seven hours from Orlando, Athens is another popular road trip destination. World-famous for its incredible music scene, Athens in Georgia is the ultimate place to be if you love music. Athens is home to famous artists, such as REM, Pylon, B-52, Widespread Panic, and many more, that have prospered here. Offering a lovely suburban vibe with lush green trees lining well-maintained streets, Athens offers a variety of dining and shopping opportunities. A road trip from Orlando is sure to be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for travellers of all ages and interests.

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4. Mobile, AL

Dauphin St Mobile Al
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Alabamadem used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located right on the coastline of Alabama’s Gulf Coast and a seven-hour drive from Orlando, Mobile is a lovely town with a rich history dating back to the Second World War. A visit to USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is sure to be a treat if you are interested in US History. You can also visit the Mardi Gras parade float, Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, and a variety of other attractions that are suited to travellers of all ages. However, the most important place to visit here has to be at the beach.

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5. Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach from Fishing Pier
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user SchuminWeb used under CC BY-SA 3.0

For the serious road trippers, a trip to Virginia Beach provides a good deal of driving time from Orlando. Spread your travel out over a couple of days as it takes over 12 hours from Orlando to Virginia Beach and 770 miles (1,239 kilometres) over Interstate 95. Known for its amazing dining scene, which includes plenty of seafood, and universally appealing attractions, Virginia Beach is sure to be a wonderful place to visit by road.

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6. Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, NC
Source: Pixabay

As the economic and financial hub in North Carolina, Charlotte is a very well-developed city with plenty of local attractions to enjoy. Home to teams from the National Football League and National Basketball Association, Charlotte is the ideal place to visit if you are a sports enthusiast. Plenty of Southern charm and delicious dining options make Charlotte a must-visit road trip destination from Orlando. It takes about eight hours to make the trip by road, so be sure to reserve a whole day for it and map out lunch and dinner options to make pit stops at.

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7. Nashville, TN

Broadway in Nashville, TN
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user CharismaticDespot used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located more than 10 hours away from Orlando at a distance of 687 miles (1,105 kilometres) by road, Nashville is another popular destination to take a road trip to. Known as the Music City because of its incredible music scene, this city is the ultimate music lover’s destination. Check out the amazing dining options and make the most of the bars with live music here. If you are looking for a more glamorous experience and wish to go shopping or dancing, then head over to the hip and happening downtown Nashville.

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8. Charleston, SC

Battery Park, Charleston SC 2016.07.14 (26)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user NealVickers used under CC BY-SA 4.0

For a French experience just a short drive away from Florida, head over to the picturesque city of Charleston. With lovely cobblestone streets, a town square, quaint horse-drawn carriages, and beautiful French-style buildings, you will feel as if you have been transported to Europe. Charleston is a six-hour drive from Orlando, so you can plan an early morning exit from the city to reach your destination by late afternoon in time for a stop at a quaint coffee shop.

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9. Louisville, KY

Louisville, KY Skyline (543441831)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user The Pug Father used under CC BY 2.0

Kentucky’s largest city deserves a mention of its own as it is frequented by road trippers from all over Florida. Known for the world-famous Kentucky Fried Chicken and home to Muhammad Ali, Louisville is steeped in rich culture and history just waiting to be explored. The road trip from Orlando will take more than 13 hours to cover 859 miles (1,382 kilometres), so be sure to spread the road trip over a couple of days so you can avoid driving strain.

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10. Memphis, TN

Downtown Memphis, TN Skyline
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Trevor Birchett used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Famous for the beautiful sounds of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion, Memphis is a beautiful city located right on Mississippi River. With music-oriented museums including Blues Hall of Fame and Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, you will have your itinerary filled with music-themed attractions. Memphis is located at over 12 hours of driving time from Orlando, covering 828 miles (1,332 kilometres), making for a comfortable two-day road trip.

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Enjoy your drive from Orlando, Florida

A vacation isn’t just about being transported to another destination and back. The journey has to be just as enjoyable as the destination and road trips are a great way of ensuring that. Almost every resident of Orlando has been on a road trip considering how close the beaches are. Join them with our awesome list of the best places to visit from Orlando.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Being a military kid, Shamika has lived and travelled all over India, and her nomadic childhood has fueled an immense hunger and fascination for new cultures and languages (she's a polyglot!)...Read more

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