Jacksonville to Destin FL drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Jacksonville to Destin FL by car is 320 miles, with a 4h46m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Jacksonville to Destin FL drive are White Springs FL, Tallahassee and Falling Waters State Park.
Planning a Jacksonville to Destin FL road trip itinerary
The Jacksonville to Destin FL connects northern Florida’s largest city to the beaches of the Florida Panhandle.
Top Jacksonville experiences include Amelia Island kayak tours, guided art and architecture tours by electric bike and electric skateboard rides along Fernandina Beach.
For cultural attractions, head to the Cummer Museum, where the strength tends to be the rotating temporary exhibitions.
Highly-rated Jacksonville accommodation options include the charming Riverdale Inn B&B and the conveniently downtown Hyatt Regency.
Destin is a beach town on the Florida Panhandle, with white sand beaches and several golf courses. The Destin Harbor Boardwalk tends to be the centre of activity, and there is plenty of activity to be in the centre of.
Top Destin experiences include a sunset tiki cruise, a Crab Island sandbar adventure, a dolphin-watching speedboat cruise and parasailing.
You can also try jetski rentals, the Maximum Magic show, Hydrojet sunset tours and banana boat rides.
If looking for Destin accommodation, the Comfort Inn and Suites offers good value and the plush Henderson Beach Resort has private beach access.
Jacksonville to Destin FL distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Jacksonville to Destin FL is 320 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 46 minutes. The quickest route is mostly along the I-10.
The best stops on a Jacksonville to Destin FL road trip itinerary are White Springs FL, Tallahassee and Falling Waters State Park.
For more suggestions, read the guides to the Jacksonville to Tallahassee drive and Tallashassee to Destin drive.
Jacksonville to Destin FL road trip attractions: White Springs FL
The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs is named in honour of the composer who wrote Old Folks At Home. The park features a museum that goes into Foster’s work, plus a 97-bell carillon that plays his songs throughout the day.
Several hiking trails also have their trailheads in and around White Springs. Stephen Foster’s Hammock Loop Trail is perhaps the best, taking in several scenic riverside spots, such as Catfish Hole and the Overlook. The 8-mile trail is also suitable for mountain biking.
Best stops between Jacksonville and Destin FL: Tallahassee
Top Tallahassee experiences include the Museum of Florida History, which tells the tale of the Sunshine State. That covers everything from prehistoric mastodons to the Spanish conquest and Disney.
The Tallahassee Museum, meanwhile, flits all over the place, from sculpture to birds of prey. For natural beauty, head to the Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park.
Good Tallahassee accommodation options include the hip Aloft Tallahassee Downtown and the often great value Four Points by Sheraton.
Jacksonville to Destin FL drive: Falling Waters State Park
Florida’s highest waterfall is just a short detour off the I-10. In Falling Waters State Park, a small stream plunges into a 100ft-deep and 20ft-wide hole. The stream drops 73ft, and the really strange thing is that no-one really knows where the water ends up.
Within the state park are gentle walking trails, a picnic area and a butterfly garden. You can also go for a swim in the lake.
More Destin road trips
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