KidPaths

Tampa to Orlando Drive With Kids

Plan one good break, save the big theme park for a fresh morning, and use a downtown park or the science center on arrival day.

The drive

Distance
About 85 miles
Typical drive time
About 1.5 to two hours via Interstate 4, depending on traffic

Measured from Tampa, as stated by the official source listed at the bottom of this page. Traffic, weather and stops with kids add time, so plan for a longer day than the map shows.

10 mi150 mi

1 city near the direct line

Tampa to Orlando · ~77 miles straight-line. These are nearby city ideas, not driving directions or measured detours. Check your road route before choosing a stop.

Tampa, FLStart

Cape Canaveral, FL

26 activities · 33 mi from direct line · 117 mi from start (straight-line)

Easy energy burnMeal break nearby
Explore →
Orlando, FLDestination

Your route is ready. Want the stop checklist to take with you?

One page on when to stop, how to pick an indoor backup for rain and how to add up the family cost of each stop. We email it now, then The Weekend Scout once a week with one weekend outing idea. Optional, and free.

Build the actual day

Free stopsIndoor backupEnergy burn

Free road-trip stop checklist

Stop before everyone runs out of patience: how to plan a real break to burn energy, pick an indoor backup in case it rains, and add up the family total before you pay. One page, emailed now. Then The Weekend Scout once a week: one family outing idea for the weekend. Free. Unsubscribe from any email.

Share the route

Send this planning page to the other grown-up in the car.

Paid attraction savings to check

Tampa: Check CityPASS savingsUseful for major museums and attractionsOrlando: Compare Go City passesGood for packed attraction days

KidPaths may earn a commission if you book through these links. Compare against direct prices before buying.

Kid-friendly stops on the way

Each stop was checked on its own official site. Open it before you go for current hours, prices and any closures.

  1. Dinosaur World

    Plant City, FL

    An outdoor museum dedicated to dinosaurs, with full-scale dinosaur figures.

    Official site

  2. Orlando Science Center

    Orlando, FL

    A hands-on science museum in Central Florida.

    Official site

  3. Lake Eola Park

    Orlando, FL

    A downtown city park with playgrounds for little and bigger kids and pedal swan boats on the lake.

    Official site

Three things to plan before you leave

  • I-4 traffic is the main variable, so leave room in the schedule.
  • Keep an indoor backup ready in case of afternoon storms.
  • Avoid stacking a full park day and the drive on the same day.

Checked against: VISIT FLORIDA: Tampa, FDOT: official highway mileage (checked )

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Plan the Tampa to Orlando family drive with a Plant City dinosaur stop, the Orlando Science Center and Lake Eola Park.

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