There’s a lot of wide open America to fall in love with between your home and your destination. Taking the long way or the road less traveled isn’t a bad thing. It can lead to new adventures that end up as fond memories.
Almost as important as the destination itself is the vehicle you choose to road trip in. Click here to see AutomotiveMap’s picks for best road trip SUV and here to see the best road trip cars. Click here to see AutomotiveMap’s advice for planning the perfect road trip.
The next time you’re planning a road trip to Northwest Florida, consider the following destinations, which are not on the usual tourist roster.
Grayton Beach State Park
Photo courtesy of Visit Florida
With over 2,000 acres of parkland, Grayton Beach State Park has something for nearly everyone. Bicycling, hiking, birding, paddling on the backwaters, fishing, a beach, and a boat ramp are among the amenities. There are camp sites and cabins available for rent including accessible camping options.
Bald Point State Park
Bald Point State Park is perfect for budding wildlife and nature photographers. Grab your camera and your bicycle and head to explore the park where each autumn bald eagles and other migrating raptors, and monarch butterflies, all stop to take a break on their way South for the winter. The park also has beaches, canoe/kayak launch, and bathing station. There is only one primitive camp site available and reservations must be made in advance.
Downtown Pensacola ghost tour
Photo courtesy of Visit Florida
Grab your sneakers and get ready to head out to learn more about the history of Pensacola, one of the earliest-founded cities in Florida, and its macabre (and often humorous) past. Each tour features a minimum of six people and starts at Fleet Landing. Though it’s not long (about one mile), there’s plenty of standing and listening during the one-hour tour. Want more fun? Take the ghost and graveyard tour, offered by the same company.
Deer Lake State Park
Coastal dunes are rare in Florida but if you’re a fan, Deer Lake State Park should be on your list. It has a coastal dune lake, an exceptionally rare geographic feature. Additionally, visitors can enjoy the white sandy beach of the Gulf Coast, birding, and hiking on the interpretative trail. Swimming is allowed. There are no camping facilities at this park.
Florida’s caverns
Photo courtesy of Visit Florida
One of the best parts of the Sunshine State is kept out of the sun entirely. Florida Caverns State Park is home to large underground rooms where visitors can see the usual array of cavern features (including wildlife) in addition to chisel marks made by 1930s-era Civilian Conservation Corps workers. Guided tours of the caves are available, but sell out quickly.
Florida’s Big Bend National Scenic Byway
If you’re the type that likes to put the windows/top down on your car and take in the sights and sounds of a long drive, the Big Bend National Scenic Byway may be right up your alley. The 220-mile scenic drive winds through coastal and forest portions of Leon, Wakulla, and Franklin Counties. Guides that break down the route by your specific time allowance and interest are available at the website.
Florida’s highest waterfall
Photo courtesy of Visit Florida
Hop off of I-10 and visit Chipley, Florida, home of Florida’s highest waterfall. Measuring 100 feet deep, 20 feet wide, the cylindrical pit that the water flows into starts from a small stream and falls 73 feet to the bottom. Where does it go from there? No one knows.
Adventure further and explore the Sink Hole Trail at Falling Waters State Park, which features a path that winds under a canopy of trees and includes a wooden boardwalk where visitors can see migrating butterflies, take a dip in the lake, or enjoy a picnic. Campsites are available.
World’s Smallest Police Station
The World’s Smallest Police Station is located in Downton Carrabelle, Florida, next to the post office. While there’s not a lot to see, it makes for a great selfie spot and Instagram moment. The best news is, seeing it is free!
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Photo courtesy of Visit Florida
The emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico serve as the tipping off point for a fabulous visit to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. White quartz dunes, old-growth pine forests, sandy scrubland, and wetlands are all part of the park’s surrounds. Bicycling, birding, fishing, hiking, and paddling can all be on the agenda. Guided tours are available. Camping, cabins, bungalows, and glamping are available, as are accessible accommodations.
Dog Island
Dog Island is one of the most unique parts of Florida. No vehicles are allowed on the barrier island that sites just 3.5 miles off-shore from Carrabelle. It’s a space where time slows to true island time. There’s only one hotel on the island and most of the environment is unspoiled.
