# 6 Best Day Trips from Tampa Bay (2026)

A boat-only island, Greek sponge docks, and a Sarasota arts district.

Tampa Bay is a good launch point. These day trips are drawn from regional travel guides; some are within a short drive, others need a boat or a longer ride. Check ferry schedules and park access before you go. Spots are numbered for easy browsing, not as a strict ranking.

Updated: October 2026. Source: Real Tampa Bay Media, https://realtampabay.com/guides/best-day-trips-from-tampa-bay

## Spots

### 1. Caladesi Island State Park
A boat-only island off Dunedin.
- Neighborhood: Dunedin

Caladesi Island is accessible only by boat, which gives it a remote, island feel. One guide ranks it highly and pairs it with neighboring Honeymoon Island.

Highlights: Boat access only; Remote island feel; Near Dunedin

### 2. Honeymoon Island State Park
A one-tank trip from Dunedin.
- Neighborhood: Dunedin

Honeymoon Island State Park offers more than four miles of white sand, nature trails and bird-watching, reached without a boat.

Highlights: Drive-up island; Nature trails; Bird-watching

### 3. Tarpon Springs
A step back in time.
- Neighborhood: Tarpon Springs

One day-trip guide suggests Tarpon Springs for travelers who want a step back in time.

Highlights: Historic Greek town; Pinellas County

### 4. Downtown Sarasota
Arts and culture an hour south.
- Neighborhood: Downtown Sarasota

One guide points to downtown Sarasota's arts and culture scene as an option for a longer drive out of the Tampa Bay area.

Highlights: Arts scene; About an hour south

### 5. Anna Maria Island
A barrier island with public beaches.
- Neighborhood: Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island appears in a guide's list of 18 day trips from Tampa and is home to several public beaches.

Highlights: Barrier island; Public beaches

### 6. Hillsborough River State Park
Rapids and a suspension bridge.
- Neighborhood: Thonotosassa

Hillsborough River State Park has four trails covering more than seven miles along the river, with a suspension bridge and a rare stretch of Class II rapids.

Highlights: 7+ miles of trails; Suspension bridge; Class II rapids

## About this guide

Picks are compiled from local publications and public sources and are not a paid ranking. Spots are numbered for browsing, not as a strict ranking. Hours and prices are intentionally omitted because they change; confirm details with each venue.
All guides: https://realtampabay.com/guides
Header photo: Mlongchamps, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sponge_fishing_Tarpon_Springs_FL.jpg).