We will be in Orlando (coming from Tampa with family). Would it be worth it to drive up from Orlando to St. Augustine to visit just for the day? Will have to drive back to Tampa that evening. Is it worth it? Thanks

No. I wouldn't do it. Maybe you can find a nice place on the west coast north or south of Tampa to visit on your way from Orlando??? St. Augustine would be okay if you were staying overnight, but it seems like a long way to go in one day. Actually, I got tired just reading your question...LOL

Ha, ha. Don't blame you. We will already be in Orlando. Thought we might drive the 105 miles up to St. Augustine for the day, then return to Tampa. The drive doesn't seem a biggie, at least not where I come from. Just whether or not we could see enough in 1 day to make it worth our while. If not....well...next time we visit the kids.

If your up to making the drive, there would be plenty do do in one day. There is the fort, the alligator farm, the Spanish Quarter, and the trolley rides to name a few. A good starting point is with the visitor center which is right accross the street from the fort.

Go for it and have a great time. Orlando to St Augustine is 103 miles, a little over a 1 1/2 hour drive. From St A. to Tampa is 187 miles, about 3 hours. Leave Orlando early, have a relaxing day, and enjoy the trip home.

I would definitely go. The old fort & lighthouse is always "educational" & then there are plenty of touristy fun things to do. It reminds me a lot of New Orleans French Quarter only no Bourbon Street! it is on the ocean too. If you like good seafood then eat at O'Steens. Their fried shrimp can't be beat.

I've never made it from St. Augustine to Tampa in less than four hours.

I stand corrected! If you don't mind a full day and plenty of driving, go for it! I checked on Mapquest and it looks like you should allow almost 2 hours to get to St Augustine (depending on which part of Orlando you are in) and then allow 4 hours to get to Tampa, backtracking through Orlando. Tandoori, which route do you take from St Augustine to Tampa?? You'll probably be able to give better info on the traffic situation in the north/central part of Florida.

St. Augustine is a neat town, and you'll enjoy the visit.

Heartburn, the problem is that the speed limit is higher on the interstates but the congestion is also double or triple than slower roads. I-4 is always awful, full of traffic, full of construction -- that said you can go I-95 South to I-4 west to Tampa. But another route, the one I prefer, is I-95 South to Ormond Beach, then get on 40 west through the Ocala National Forest to Ocala, then I-75 South to Tampa. I took this not too long ago and the drive through the forest was very nice.

But it's quite a haul. St. Augustine can barely be driven through in a day -- a beautiful city but not one for a whistle stop.

phandtf, if you have some time and want something different and you like history, go to Bok Tower in Lake Wales. This would be a nice side trip for you and the kids to take on your way back to Tampa. You can take Hwy. 60 from Lake Wales back into Tampa. What about Tampa? You could lunch in Ybor then go to the Florida Aquarium or to Lowry Park with its manatee exhibit.

Just a thought...

Be aware that while the interstates are nightmares of congestion thereabouts, local cops know it and many of the lesser state routes are serious speed traps.

That sounds miserable to me. I couldn't enjoy St. Augustine knowing I had all of the traffic and driving ahead of me.

I've also been on I-4 when traffic was crawling.

There are some great things in the Tampa/St. Pete area.

Another thought, can you hire a van and driver? I know you have a lot of family and maybe if everyone helped pay it wouldn't be too expensive.

That way no one is stuck driving.

I hate to drive. Can you tell?

Thanks for the tips. Out here in the west (Utah) we don't have all the traffic congestion. Even going to Vegas which is 125 miles away takes only 1 1/2 hours, thus we do it often. But all things considered, we have decided to just do the things we planned in the St. Pete, Sarasota area. Do a day at Universal and that's it. St. Augustine will be saved for next years trip when we can do it justice. I have a grown daughter in St. Pete. No little kids...yet. Anyway thanks again for all the good advice.

All in all, I suppose my original advice was right on...LOL.

If you get a chance to go to Bok Tower, it's a beautiful, serene place to visit. My photos from there always come out perfect, especially in the spring when the azaleas are in full bloom.