Updated November 3, 2026
Orlando is the Bay's favorite road trip. From Tampa it's roughly 85 miles on I-4, usually about an hour and a half without heavy traffic (allow more on Friday afternoons and holiday weekends).
A Tampa Bay weekend in Orlando usually means one park day (Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando or SeaWorld) plus an evening at Disney Springs, Universal CityWalk or Winter Park's Park Avenue.
Jump to: Things to do · Restaurants · Bars & nightlife · Hotels · Golf & tee times · Springs & manatees · Boat tours & water fun · Tours & adventures
Things to do in Orlando
Photo: TheWanderingTraders · CC BY-SA 4.0Magic Kingdom Park
Disney's flagship castle park with classic rides, parades and nightly fireworks across themed lands.
Photo: Jedi94 · CC BY-SA 4.0EPCOT
Disney park pairing future-themed rides with a lakeside World Showcase of pavilions representing different countries.
Photo: Jedi94 · CC BY-SA 4.0Disney's Hollywood Studios
Movie-themed Disney park home to Star Wars and Toy Story lands plus thrill rides and stage shows.
Photo: Jedi94 · CC BY-SA 4.0Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Disney park blending live-animal habitats and a safari ride with rides themed to Pandora and Asia.
Photo: JZ85 · CC BY-SA 3.0Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
Ski-resort-themed Disney water park; currently the open Disney water park while Typhoon Lagoon is temporarily closed.
Photo: Gfgbeach · CC0Universal Epic Universe
Universal's newest park, opened May 2025, with five worlds including Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter's Ministry of Magic.
Universal Studios Florida & Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal's two original side-by-side parks, linked by the Hogwarts Express for guests holding park-to-park tickets.
SeaWorld Orlando
Marine-life theme park combining animal habitats and shows with some of Orlando's tallest roller coasters.
Aquatica Orlando
SeaWorld's tropical-themed water park with slides, wave pools and a lazy river near the I-Drive corridor.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
NASA's visitor complex with real rockets, the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit and bus tours; generally open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Photo: Bobak · CC BY-SA 2.5Gatorland
Old-school Florida wildlife park packed with alligators and crocodiles, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. rain or shine.
ICON Park (The Wheel)
I-Drive entertainment complex anchored by The Wheel, an observation wheel rising over 400 feet with sweeping area views.
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
Hour-long pontoon cruise through Winter Park's chain of lakes and canals past grand lakefront estates and wildlife.
Photo: Cwolfsheep · CC BY-SA 3.0Lake Eola Park
Downtown's signature lakeside park with a walking loop, live swans and pedal swan boats rented Tuesday through Sunday.
Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY 2.5Harry P. Leu Gardens
Botanical garden with themed plantings, camellias and lakeside paths, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Photo: Antgiant · CC BY-SA 4.0Disney Springs
Disney's waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment district with live music, a tethered balloon ride and no park ticket needed.
Restaurants in Orlando
The BOATHOUSE
Waterfront steak and seafood house with a raw bar, outdoor bars and optional vintage Amphicar rides on the lake.
Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'
Southern comfort cooking built on Florida produce and family recipes, with a moonshine bar and weekend brunch.
Jaleo by José Andrés
Multi-level Spanish spot serving tapas, wood-fired paella, cheeses and sangria in a lively setting.
Paddlefish
Seafood restaurant set aboard a docked paddle-wheel boat on the Disney Springs lake.
Enzo's Hideaway
Table-service Italian restaurant styled as a hidden underground hangout at The Landing.
The Polite Pig
Counter-service barbecue joint with smoked meats and sides, an easy budget-friendly meal at Disney Springs.
House of Blues Restaurant & Bar
Folk-art-filled restaurant serving New Orleans-leaning American food alongside live Southern music.
Hawkers Asian Street Food
Orlando's original Hawkers, sharing small plates of pan-Asian street food in the Mills 50 district.
Kres Chophouse
Fine-dining steakhouse in a historic Church Street building with a deep wine list.
Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster
Family-run steak and lobster house that has been an Orlando special-occasion favorite for more than 30 years.
Prato
Rustic Italian kitchen on Park Avenue known for wood-fired pizzas and house-made pasta.
Gideon's Bakehouse
Cult-favorite bakery famous for oversized cookies and cold brew; expect a line.
Bars & nightlife in Orlando
Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
Irish pub with an interior shipped from Ireland, nightly free live music and Irish dancers.
The Edison
Industrial-gothic bar and restaurant in a mock 1920s power plant, with cocktails and nightly entertainment.
Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar
Aviation-themed lounge nodding to Indiana Jones' pilot, serving inventive cocktails, beer flights and casual bites.
Wine Bar George
Master-sommelier-led wine bar pouring 200-plus wines by the ounce, glass or bottle with shareable plates.
Dockside Margaritas
Open-air waterfront margarita stand styled after a 1960s Florida produce stand.
Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar
Rooftop bar atop the Coca-Cola Store mixing Coke-based cocktails and floats with views over Disney Springs.
Pat O'Brien's Orlando
Replica of the New Orleans original with dueling pianos, a flaming fountain patio and signature Hurricanes.
Ole Red Orlando
Blake Shelton-branded country bar at ICON Park with live music most days and a full food menu.
The Wine Room on Park Avenue
Park Avenue wine bar and American kitchen with tastings, happy hours and a speakeasy-style private room.
House of Blues Orlando
Disney Springs music hall hosting national touring concerts plus a restaurant and bar with a Southern menu.
Hard Rock Live Orlando
About 3,000-capacity concert hall at CityWalk beside Hard Rock Cafe, booking touring acts and comedy.
Red Coconut Club
Retro-lounge cocktail bar at CityWalk with free admission and live entertainment on weekends.
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville (CityWalk)
Island-themed full-service restaurant and bar at CityWalk with nightly-style live Buffett covers and frozen drinks.
Bob Marley - A Tribute to Freedom
Caribbean-style restaurant and courtyard bar at CityWalk with live reggae on weekends.
Hotels in Orlando
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
Luxury resort inside Disney property with a lazy river, golf and a rooftop restaurant overlooking Disney fireworks.
Photo: Eric Marshall · CC BY 3.0Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Victorian-style flagship deluxe resort on the monorail loop near Magic Kingdom.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domainDisney's Pop Century Resort
Disney value resort themed to pop culture through the decades, one of the cheapest ways to stay on property.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Italian-seaside-themed Universal hotel whose room keys include free Express Unlimited at the two original parks.
Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando
Rock-themed Universal hotel with a 12,000-square-foot pool, walking access to CityWalk and free Express Unlimited.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel
Celestial-themed hotel at the end of Celestial Park with its own exclusive entrance into Epic Universe.
Universal Stella Nova Resort
Prime-value 750-room resort beside Epic Universe with early park admission and shuttles to other Universal parks.
Universal Aventura Hotel
Modern prime-value Universal hotel, a mid-priced on-site option with Universal hotel perks.
Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Retro 1950s-60s beach resort with family suites, a lazy river, bowling and early park admission.
Dockside Inn and Suites
Budget beach-themed Universal hotel with two-bedroom suites sleeping six, two pools and free park transportation.
Hotel Beauden, Autograph Collection
Art Deco-inspired boutique hotel, formerly Grand Bohemian Orlando, with a rooftop pool and piano lounge near Dr. Phillips Center.
The Alfond Inn
Art-filled boutique hotel owned by Rollins College, a short walk from Park Avenue shops and dining.
Golf & tee times in Orlando
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0Orange County National Golf Center
Golf center with Crooked Cat, Panther Lake and a 9-hole executive course, a driving range and a Toptracer range.
Shingle Creek Golf Club
Golf club with online tee times; rates include cart with GPS, range balls and valet parking.
Dubsdread Golf Course
City of Orlando golf course.
Topgolf Orlando
Topgolf venue where bays can be reserved up to two weeks ahead or used walk-in.
PopStroke Orlando @ I-Drive
Tiger Woods-designed putting-course entertainment venue listed on PopStroke's locations page.
PopStroke Orlando @ Waterford Lakes
Tiger Woods-designed putting-course entertainment venue listed on PopStroke's locations page.
PopStroke Winter Garden @ Hamlin
Tiger Woods-designed putting-course entertainment venue listed on PopStroke's locations page.
Springs & manatees in Orlando
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0Blue Spring State Park
St. Johns River spring where hundreds of manatees gather each winter; the spring run is closed to swimming and paddling during manatee season.
Photo: Mwanner · CC BY-SA 3.0Wekiwa Springs State Park
State park with a spring swimming area and paddling on the Wekiwa River; day-use reservation required.
Kelly Park / Rock Springs
Orange County park with a free-flowing 68F spring run for tubing; entrance tickets are online only with a daily limit of 280.
Alexander Springs Recreation Area
Ocala National Forest spring with swimming and paddling; the site may close when capacity is reached on busy weekends.
Silver Springs State Park
State park with daily glass-bottom boat trips on the Silver River; parts of the Creek Trail are closed.
Boat tours & water fun in Orlando
Wild Florida Airboats
Half-hour, one-hour and private airboat tours at an adventure park that also has an alligator park and drive-thru safari; reservations required.
Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures
Half-hour, one-hour, sunset and after-dark night airboat tours, plus private VIP tours; open daily 9-5.
Scenic Boat Tours
One-hour pontoon tours through Winter Park's chain of lakes and canals, departing hourly 10am-4pm daily; tickets first come, first served.
Tours & adventures in Orlando
Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park
Zip line and ropes course park with adult, junior and kids tickets; reservations required.
Screamin' Gator Zip Line at Gatorland
Zip line course over Gatorland's alligator habitats, sold with full-day park admission; riders 36 in.+ and up to 275 lbs, reservations required.
Good to know
- Theme park tickets are date-based and prices change by day. Buy from the official site or an authorized seller.
- Some water parks close seasonally. Check status on the official page before planning a water-park day.
- For a multi-day Disney trip with a hotel package, a vacation planner can sort out tickets, resort and dining reservations for you. See our Disney vacation planning page.
- Parking, trolleys, Uber and Lyft: see getting around Orlando.