Jacksonville to Port Canaveral drive: Best stops, distance & time

The best road trip stops on the Jacksonville to Port Canaveral drive are St Augustine, Daytona Beach and Titusville. The distance from Jacksonville to Port Canaveral by car is 160 miles, with a 2h18m driving time.

Planning a Jacksonville to Port Canaveral road trip itinerary

The Jacksonville to Port Canaveral drive takes you down the northeast coast of Florida.

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.

Port Canaveral is one of the busiest cruise hubs on earth. The likes of Disney Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Carnival dock here.

If you’re not planning to go on a cruise, you can take a tour of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse or visit the Kennedy Space Center. Cocoa Beach Helicopter Tours also offers its scenic flights from here.

Well-rated Port Canaveral accommodation options include the Country Inn and Suites plus the Hampton Inn and Suites.

Jacksonville to Port Canaveral distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Jacksonville to Port Canaveral is 160 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and 18 minutes. The bulk of the drive is down the I-95.

The best stops to add to a Jacksonville to Port Canaveral road trip itinerary are St Augustine, Daytona Beach and Titusville.

For more suggestions, read the guides to the Jacksonville to St Augustine drive and St Augustine to Daytona Beach drive.

Best stops between Jacksonville and Port Canaveral: St Augustine, Florida

St Augustine is the oldest continually inhabited city in the United States, and it has largely escaped heavy modernised development. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León.

In the compact, historic centre, there are several chintzy heritage attractions which are fun but not exactly brimming with centuries of authenticity.

The Spanish-built Castillo de San Marcos on the waterfront does pack that historic power, though. It should be sight number one before mooching around town.

Other St Augustine experiences include hop-on, hop-off trolley passes, sunset cruises and dolphin, manatee and sea turtle-viewing tours.

Excellent St Augustine hotel choices include the Guy Harvey Hotel if you want to be by the beach, and the Casa Monica Resort in the Historic District.

Jacksonville to Port Canaveral drive: Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is one of the most attractive cities on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. To many, it is most obviously associated with NASCAR racing at the Daytona Speedway, but there’s way more to it than fast cars.

Enjoyable Daytona Beach experiences include small group sailing cruises, paddleboarding or kayaking with dolphins and manatees, wine bar tours and a Polynesian fire and dinner show.

You can also try a dive bar crawl, zipline adventures and beach Segway rides.

Good Daytona Beach accommodation options with pools by the beach include the Days Inn Daytona Oceanfront and Bahama House.

Jacksonville to Port Canaveral road trip attractions: Titusville

The main attraction in Titusville is the American Space Museum and Walk of Fame. Here, spacesuits and launch consoles mix with celebrations of astronauts and space exploration programs.

Titusville’s location next to the Indian River is a big bonus, too. Here, you can kayak with dolphins and manatees or take a clear kayak through the fairy-like bioluminescent waters.