Orlando to Bradenton road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Orlando to Bradenton drive are Lakeland, Tampa and Apollo Beach. The distance from Orlando to Bradenton by car is 115 miles, with a 1h55m driving time.
Planning an Orlando to Bradenton road trip itinerary
The Orlando to Bradenton drive takes you from Florida’s theme park capital to Tampa Bay beach city.
Orlando is known worldwide as the home of Disney World, but there’s far more to it than Mickey and Co. You can get crazy selfies at the Museum of Illusions or WonderWorks, learn how chocolate is made at Chocolate Kingdom and ride the Wheel at ICON Park or Orlando StarFlyer. Alternatively, visit Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, play adventure golf at Pirates’ Cove and say hi to the stingrays at Sea Life.
In the evenings, there’s the Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show, Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn To Life and the Outta Control magic comedy show.
Other Orlando experiences include glow-in-the-dark kayaking, foodie walking tours and kayaking through Cypress forest.
The secret to getting Orlando accommodation deals is flexibility. There are hundreds of hotels, and you’ll likely be driving everywhere anyway. So hunt down the cheapest rates, and don’t get too hung up on exact location.
Bradenton lies at the southern end of Tampa Bay, stretching along the Manatee River to a series of beachy barrier islands.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is the top cultural attraction, but Bradenton is best experienced outdoors. The 1.5 mile Riverwalk along the Manatee River is a good place to start.
Elsewhere you can go kayaking with clear-bottomed kayaks in the Robinson Preserve and parasailing over Anna Maria Island.
Other fun Bradenton experiences include the TreeUmph Adventure Course and pirate-themed tasting sessions at the Loaded Cannon Distillery.
Good Bradenton accommodation choices include the Silver Surf Beach Resort at Bradenton Beach and the SpringHill Suites on the Riverwalk.
Orlando to Bradenton distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Orlando to Bradenton is 115 miles. You can expect a driving time of around one hour and 55 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-4 and I-75.
The best stops to add to an Orlando to Bradenton road trip itinerary are Lakeland, Tampa and Apollo Beach.
For more suggestions, read the guides to the separate legs of the journey.
Best stops between Orlando and Bradenton: Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a somewhat overlooked Florida City which is, as the name suggests, based around a series of lakes. Of these, Lake Mirror is the most popular, with a promenade and amphitheatre. It also has Hollis Garden, an impressive botanical garden, at the southern end. For something less sculpted, the Circle B Bar Reserve is a former cattle ranch that is now a great place to see alligators.
The city is also home to Florida Southern University, which has the world’s largest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
Good Lakeland hotel choices include the spacious SpringHill Suites and the affordable, pool-equipped Travelodge.
Orlando to Bradenton drive: Tampa, Florida
Tampa is justifiably one of the most popular holiday destinations in Florida. It’s home to top attractions such as the Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa, the Adventure Island water park and Busch Gardens theme park.
Other great Tampa experiences include historic Ybor City food walking tours, seeing the highlights in a street legal golf cart and a Haunted Tampa tour that combines ghosts and pubs.
Also on offer are Segway tours, history cruises, dolphin-watching and celebrity homes tours.
Tampa accommodation is best booked in advance – look for deals here.
Orlando to Bradenton road trip attractions: Apollo Beach, Florida
Apollo Beach lies on Tampa Bay amongst a maze of waterways. The marina makes it a popular spot for yachts, but the main attractions in Apollo Beach are natural. First up is the Apollo Beach Preserve, which has a sandy beach, nature trail and 37-foot observation tower.
More curious is the Manatee Viewing Area by the Tampa Electric power station. During the winter months, manatees come here in their dozens to bathe in the warmer waters released by the power station.
Find Apollo Beach accommodation deals here.
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