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Plan a Day Trip to St. Pete: Itineraries from Sarasota & Orlando

Looking for a Weird and Wonderful Florida Day Trip?

Whether you’re starting from Sarasota or Orlando, St. Petersburg makes the perfect one-day getaway for art lovers, families, and anyone craving something creative and air-conditioned.


We’ve put together two easy day trip itineraries to help you experience the best of St. Pete, including FloridaRAMA, a 15,000 sq ft immersive art experience that’s weirder than a carnival, smarter than a theme park, and cooler (literally) than an outdoor attraction.


Let’s hit the road.

Entrance to FloridaRAMA’s immersive Mermaid Star Motel experience, perfect for a St. Pete day trip


Day Trip to St. Pete from Sarasota (~45 mins)

Sarasota is less than an hour south of St. Petersburg, making it one of the easiest (and breeziest) day trips on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Here’s a suggested itinerary to make the most of it.

Intricately crafted miniature art boxes on display inside FloridaRAMA in St. Pete

☕ Morning Fuel: Coffee + a Light Bite

Start your day with a little local energy. Sarasota has no shortage of great cafés and breakfast spots to fuel your trip before the drive.

Recommendations:

  • Project Coffee (S. Osprey Ave): A plant-based café with strong espresso, fun seasonal lattes, and some of the best oat milk drinks in town.

  • Breaking Wave Coffee (downtown): Light, bright, and breezy with a minimal interior and a solid matcha game.

  • The Overton (in the Rosemary District): A great pick if you’re looking for breakfast sandwiches, juice, or a sit-down vibe with a little charm.

Grab your order to-go and hit the road for an easy 45-minute drive up to St. Pete.



🎨 Late Morning: Arrive at FloridaRAMA

2606 Fairfield Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL

You’ve arrived. Now step inside a colorful, hands-on world built by over 80 artists.

FloridaRAMA is a fully indoor, air-conditioned art maze with interactive installations, scavenger hunts, themed rooms, and photo-friendly weirdness around every corner. It’s family-friendly, date-friendly, and ideal for small groups.

Blue-lit lamp maze, one of FloridaRAMA’s signature immersive art exhibits in St. Petersburg

Want to level it up? Add a UV scavenger hunt, riddle-filled duck quest, or escape-style group game.

Grab a drink or Mini Melts in the gift shop

Check out local art, prints, and Florida-made souvenirs



🍽️ Afternoon Lunch in the Warehouse Arts District

Stay local and walk to one of these FloridaRAMA-adjacent spots:

  • Casita Taqueria: Elevated street tacos + cold beer

  • Made Coffee: If you’re still craving caffeine

  • 3 Daughters Brewing: Great for families + casual beer lovers


🛍️ Optional Afternoon Stop: Art or Oddities
  • Daddy Kool Records: Right across the lot

  • Sunken Gardens: Lush if the weather holds

Then head back south, weird and wonderful memories in tow.


🎨 More Art, Murals & Local Flavor

Still in the mood for inspiration? You’re in the right place. St. Petersburg is one of Florida’s most vibrant art cities. Check out the Morean Arts Center, walk part of the SHINE Mural Festival route to see large-scale street art, or stop by the Chihuly Collection for world-renowned glasswork.

Prefer something slower-paced? Browse indie boutiques and local shops along Central Avenue, or recharge with a cold brew at Bandit Coffee Co. (a must for coffee lovers).


🌅 Sunset Wind-Down at St. Pete Pier or Pass-a-Grille

No day trip to St. Pete is complete without a little Gulf Coast sunset magic.

  • St. Pete Pier: Take a sunset stroll with bay views, breezy air, and maybe a bite from a waterfront café.

  • Pass-a-Grille Beach: Quieter and more local-feeling, with powdery sand, gentle waves, and fewer crowds. Grab a scoop of homemade ice cream and soak it all in.


🛣️ Return to Sarasota

Drive back to Sarasota feeling recharged and creatively inspired. Whether it was the glowing mermaid lounge at FloridaRAMA or your lucky hole-in-one during mini golf, this day trip is sure to linger in your memory, and maybe on your photo roll, for a long time.



🚗 Day Trip to St. Pete from Orlando (~2 hours)

Looking to escape the Orlando crowds and dive into something more creative, immersive, and weirdly wonderful? A day trip to St. Pete is just the thing, especially if you take the scenic route. With cool stops in Lakeland and Tampa, this reimagined itinerary lets you explore offbeat art, local eats, and colorful surprises before arriving at FloridaRAMA, your final (and most unforgettable) destination.

Neon Mermaid Star Motel sign glowing inside FloridaRAMA’s immersive world in St. Petersburg

🕗 Depart Orlando

Hit the road early to make the most of your adventure. Take I-4 W toward Tampa/St. Pete and plan for a full day of quirky, air-conditioned fun. You’ll be stopping along the way to break up the drive and explore some local gems.


☕ Coffee + Pastries in Lakeland

Lakeland is a great halfway point for a quick breakfast, especially if you’re craving local charm with your caffeine.

Recommended spots:

  • Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro – Cozy café on the lake with breakfast sandwiches, espresso, and plenty of outdoor seating

  • Born & Bread Bakehouse (Saturdays only) – A cult-favorite for incredible cruffins, kouign-amann, and seasonal pastries

  • Hillcrest Coffee – Chill vibes, community feel, and strong brews

Stretch your legs by the lake or grab a coffee and head to your next stop.


🖼️ Explore Some Unexpected Art

If you want to slow down and stretch the trip:

Option A: Polk Museum of Art (Lakeland)

  • Small but legit art museum with free admission

  • Rotating exhibitions and sculpture garden

Option B: Florida Air Museum (if you’re into aviation)

  • Funky, niche, and very Florida

Not into museums this early? You can continue on to Tampa and add an early lunch stop instead.


🌮 Lunch in Tampa

By now, you’ve earned a real meal. Tampa offers plenty of spots that are fast, flavorful, and unique to the region.

Top picks near the route:

  • Columbia Café (Water Street) – Classic Cuban food with a breezy bayfront view

  • Ulele – Upscale Florida fusion with Native American and local seafood flavors

  • West Tampa Sandwich Shop – Hole-in-the-wall Cuban sandwich joint with major flavor

  • Heights Public Market at Armature Works – Indoor food hall with a little of everything

Grab something to go or enjoy a sit-down lunch before making the final 30–40 minute drive to St. Pete.


🎨 Check in to FloridaRAMA, Your Final (and Most Fabulous) Stop

2606 Fairfield Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL

Estimated visit time: 90–120 minutes

Family signing in at FloridaRAMA’s interactive motel lobby during a day trip to St. Pete

Welcome to your main event: FloridaRAMA, a 15,000 sq ft immersive art experience that’s cooler than a museum, smarter than a theme park, and weirder than a carnival.

Explore:

  • Mermaid Star Motel

  • Retro neon rooms

  • Mini golf

  • Scavenger hunts

  • Interactive installations from 80+ local artists



This fully indoor, air-conditioned venue is a wildly playful, multi-sensory celebration of Florida oddity, and the perfect finale to a colorful road trip.

🎟️ Florida Resident Admission: $25

🧩 Scavenger Hunt Add-on: $7

⛳ Mini Golf Add-on: $10

🎟️ Bundle online for discounts

Guests playing the FloridaRAMA scavenger hunt, one of the top indoor activities in St. Pete

🌅 Optional Sunset Stop at the Pier or Beach

Still have some energy left? Make a golden-hour detour.

St. Pete Pier – Breezy walk, waterside drinks, and skyline views

Pass-a-Grille Beach – Quieter stretch of sand for dipping your toes and watching the sun go down

Local ice cream rec: Kilwins or The Hyppo for a cold treat before heading out


🛣️ Head Back to Orlando

After a full day of creativity, flavor, and immersive weirdness, hop back on I-4 east and cruise home. You’ll bring back more than just souvenirs, expect stories, photos, and the feeling of having discovered Florida’s most playful side.



Why FloridaRAMA Makes the Perfect Day Trip Destination

  • Fully indoor and air-conditioned (escape the Florida melt)

  • Interactive, immersive art with local flair

  • Perfect for families, dates, creatives, and curious explorers

  • Surrounded by food, shops, and other attractions

  • Free parking, no tickets needed in advance

FloridaRAMA is truly a destination in itself, and makes the perfect anchor for any day trip to St. Pete.


St. Pete is one of Florida’s most creative cities, and whether you’re rolling in from Orlando or Sarasota, it delivers a wildly fun, air-conditioned, artsy day that’s way more than a beach stop.

🎟️ Start your day trip at FloridaRAMA and build your own weird, wonderful, unforgettable adventure.

 
 
 

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