We love exploring the many quaint small towns dotted all over Florida’s varied landscape. If you’re planning a trip to get away from it all, draw inspiration from our favorite places to visit within a short drive of Jacksonville, FL.
3 Charming Small Towns You Can Drive to From Jacksonville, FL
Palatka
Located just over an hour from Jacksonville, Palatka is known for its thriving artistic community. For example, you can tour more than 30 murals throughout the city, all depicting aspects of county history. Palatka is also one of the state’s oldest towns, established as a trading post in 1821. The downtown historic district features landmarks like the state’s oldest diner and one of the oldest Dairy Queen restaurants.
As a designated trail town, Palatka serves as a hub to explore the region on bike or foot. You can access the St. Johns River Blueway and hit a few of the stops on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The city also holds several fun annual events, including the Blueberry Festival, Blue Crab Festival, and Azalea Festival.
Micanopy
With fewer than 1,000 residents, Micanopy is truly one of the state’s smallest towns. It’s also a road trip destination because of its many antique stores, and it’s located less than 2 hours from Jacksonville. In addition to browsing for treasures in the many vintage shops that line Micanopy’s narrow dirt streets, you can visit Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park nearby to experience the natural beauty of this rural part of Florida.
We like to visit Micanopy during its annual fall arts and crafts festival during the last weekend in October. Now in its 48th year, this event features live musicians, performers, and artisans from across the region. You can even take part in an old-time auction for a chance to win items donated by the festival’s vendors.
Winter Park
You can visit this quaint small town by driving just over 2 hours from Jacksonville. Winter Park earns day trip or weekend getaway points for its adorable downtown area, which features boutiques, restaurants, and cultural attractions like the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of Natural Art. It’s also a tight-knit community that frequently holds fun family events.
The town also features more than 70 parks, so it’s an ideal place to grab a cup of coffee and watch the world go by from under a shady tree. Winter Park was founded as a winter resort for the wealthy in 1887, and its historic homes, cafes, and buildings give it a European flair. We recommend taking a boat tour of the chain of scenic lakes, a wonderful way to experience the area’s natural and man-made beauty.
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