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The best things to do in Orlando besides theme parks are wading into a 72-degree spring, watching manatees at Blue Spring, standing under Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center, taking the Winter Park boat tour and spending a free evening at Disney Springs. None of them needs a theme park ticket, and several cost less than a day of theme park parking.
A break from the parks also helps your budget and your feet. Disney’s four theme parks charge $35 a day for standard parking at the time of writing, while Disney Springs, ICON Park‘s garage (floors 4 to 7) and Gatorland all advertise free parking. Rest days also make long trips easier on young kids and grandparents.
This guide groups the best options by area so you can match them to where you’re staying. Prices, hours and reservation rules come from each attraction’s official website at the time of writing. They change often, so confirm them before you go.
Quick answer: For a free evening near the parks, go to Disney Springs or ICON Park. For nature, book a day-use slot at Wekiwa Springs (swimming) or Blue Spring (manatees from mid-November to March), and add Gatorland for an easy half day. For culture, combine the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour with the Morse Museum, or walk around Lake Eola downtown. For a full day out, drive east to Kennedy Space Center and finish at Cocoa Beach.
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Things to do in Orlando besides theme parks at a glance
Drive times below are approximate routes from ICON Park on International Drive in light traffic. Allow extra time at rush hour and on weekends.
| Activity | Drive from I-Drive | Cost at time of writing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Springs | About 9 miles | Free entry and self-parking | Evenings, dining, shows |
| ICON Park and The Orlando Eye | On I-Drive | Wheel from $29.99 per adult | Views, first or last night |
| Outlet malls | About 4 to 6 miles | Free to browse | Shopping, rainy afternoons |
| Gatorland | About 10 miles | $34.99 adult, $24.99 child, plus tax | Half day with kids |
| Lake Eola Park | About 10 miles | Free; swan boats $15 per 30 min | Walks, Sunday market |
| Winter Park boat tour | About 15 miles | $20 adult, $10 child, tax included | Couples, slow mornings |
| Wekiwa Springs State Park | About 22 miles | $6 per vehicle, reservation needed | Swimming, paddling |
| Blue Spring State Park | About 45 miles | $6 per vehicle, reservation needed | Winter manatee viewing |
| Kennedy Space Center | About 53 miles | $77 adult, $67 child, parking extra | Space fans, full day |
| Cocoa Beach | About 57 miles | Varies by beach access | Pairing with KSC |
Free and low-cost evenings near the parks
Disney Springs
Disney Springs is Walt Disney World’s shopping, dining and entertainment district, and you don’t need a park ticket to get in. Disney says standard self-parking at Disney Springs is complimentary. On regular days the garages open at 9 a.m., and Disney suggests arriving at least an hour before a dining reservation or show.
Beyond the shops and restaurants, Disney lists paid extras such as Drawn to Life, presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney, Aerophile tethered balloon flights, vintage Amphicar tours, Splitsville Luxury Lanes bowling and an AMC dine-in cinema. It works best after a pool afternoon, when you want dinner and a walk without paying for parking. If you’d like to walk there from your hotel, compare the hotels in the Disney Springs Resort Area.
ICON Park and The Orlando Eye
ICON Park, at 8375 International Drive, is a free-to-enter complex of restaurants, bars and paid attractions. Its giant wheel, branded The Wheel at ICON Park for several years, is now called The Orlando Eye. ICON Park describes it as a 400-foot observation wheel with air-conditioned capsules, a ride of about 20 minutes and tickets starting at $29.99 per adult at the time of writing.
The same complex has SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, the Museum of Illusions and Blue Man Group, each with its own ticket. ICON Park says self-parking is free on floors 4 through 7 of its garage. If you’d like to walk to ICON Park in the evening, our guide to the best hotels on International Drive lists options from north to south.
Outlet shopping
Simon runs two big outlet centers in the tourist corridor: Orlando International Premium Outlets at 4951 International Drive, which Simon calls Florida’s largest outlet destination, and Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets at 8200 Vineland Avenue, near Lake Buena Vista. Both were listed as open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at last check (June 2026), but holiday hours vary. They’re useful on very hot or rainy afternoons, and the Vineland center is a short drive from many Disney-area hotels. See the hotels near Orlando Premium Outlets if shopping is a big part of your trip.
Springs, manatees and gators
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Florida State Parks describes Wekiwa Springs, at 1800 Wekiwa Circle in Apopka, as a natural water wonder “just minutes from downtown Orlando.” You swim in a spring that stays 72 degrees year-round, and canoes and kayaks are available on-site for paddling down the Wekiva River. There are also hiking, biking and horseback trails.
The big change for visitors is that day-use reservations have been required at Wekiwa Springs since September 2, 2025. Entry is $6 per vehicle, and the park opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset every day. You can book up to 60 days ahead on the Florida State Parks reservation site, and the entry fee is paid online when you reserve, so do it before you drive out, especially for summer weekends.
Blue Spring State Park
Blue Spring State Park, at 2100 W. French Avenue in Orange City, is the classic place to see wild manatees near Orlando. The park says hundreds of manatees gather in the spring run from mid-November to March to shelter from the cold. You watch them from the boardwalk along the spring run.
Swimming season runs from April 1 to November 14, so you can swim or tube in summer and watch manatees in winter, but not both at once. Entry is $6 per vehicle, and the park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. A day-use reservation has been required for all visitors since July 15, 2026, and the park still warns that it often reaches capacity. A two-hour narrated river cruise on the St. Johns River runs from the park’s concession.
Gatorland
Gatorland has been an alligator park since 1949 and sits at 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, between Orlando and Kissimmee. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, holidays included. Single-day admission is $34.99 for adults (13+) and $24.99 for children (3 to 12), plus tax, at the time of writing. Parking is free, and you don’t need a reservation for single-day tickets.
Expect alligators and crocodiles, animal shows that repeat through the day, a petting area, a small train, and paid add-ons such as the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line. It’s a manageable half day, so you can be back at the pool by mid-afternoon.
Winter Park and downtown Orlando
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour and the Morse Museum
The Scenic Boat Tour leaves from 312 East Morse Boulevard in Winter Park for a one-hour guided cruise through the town’s lakes and narrow canals. Tours depart every hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 2 to 11, tax included, at the time of writing. Boarding is first come, first served, and only large groups can call ahead.
A few blocks away, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (445 North Park Avenue) holds a large Louis Comfort Tiffany collection, including the Tiffany Chapel. The museum opens Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and free for children under 12. From November to April it stays open until 8 p.m. on Fridays, with free entry from 4 p.m. The museum suggests allowing 90 minutes to two hours, and it’s a five-minute walk from the Winter Park SunRail station.
Between the two, Park Avenue has shops and sidewalk cafés, so this makes a relaxed morning that pairs well with a late lunch. If you’d like to wake up there, our guide to the best hotels in Winter Park, Florida compares the options.
One stay worth knowing is The Alfond Inn at 300 East New England Avenue, a few blocks from Park Avenue. The hotel displays works from the Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art at Rollins College and lists a conservatory, a courtyard, an elevated pool, a fitness center, a spa and a dog-friendly policy. At the time of writing, its offers page included a package with Winter Park boat tour and Morse Museum tickets. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
Check your dates for The Alfond Inn on Booking.com
Lake Eola Park
Lake Eola Park, at 512 East Washington Street, is downtown Orlando’s central park. A 0.9-mile paved path circles the lake and its fountain, with the Walt Disney Amphitheater on the shore and the city skyline behind. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. every day, and walking around it is free.
The City of Orlando rents pedal-powered swan boats from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Mondays). At the time of writing, a 30-minute rental costs $15 and boats seat up to five. You buy tickets at the lake, by debit or credit card only. On Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Orlando Farmers Market sets up in the southeast corner of the park with local vendors, food and live music. Paid garages nearby include ones on South Osceola Avenue and North Eola Drive. For hotels within walking distance, see the best hotels in downtown Orlando.
Day trips to the Space Coast
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, on Space Commerce Way in Merritt Island, is about 53 miles east of International Drive, or roughly 70 to 75 minutes in light traffic. At last check it was open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but hours vary by date, so check the schedule. A one-day ticket costs $77 for adults (12+) and $67 for children (3 to 11) at the time of writing. Parking isn’t included in admission; the visitor complex lists $15 per car at the time of writing.
Admission includes Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Shuttle Launch Experience, the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, the Rocket Garden, IMAX space films and Planet Play for younger kids. Arrive at opening, because the bus tour and Apollo/Saturn V Center alone take a big part of the day. If you’d rather not drive back the same night, see our picks for hotels near Kennedy Space Center.
Cocoa Beach and the Atlantic coast
Cocoa Beach is about 57 miles from International Drive and about 18 miles (around 35 minutes) south of the visitor complex, so the two make an easy pair: space center in the morning, beach in the late afternoon. Parking rules and fees vary by beach access point, so check them before you go, and look at local surf and weather warnings before you swim. Our guide to the beaches near Orlando compares the closest options for a beach day.
How to plan your non-park days
- Reserve the springs first. Wekiwa Springs and Blue Spring now both need day-use reservations, and summer weekend slots go fast.
- Match the season. Blue Spring is for manatees from mid-November to March and for swimming from April 1 to November 14. Springs stay 72 degrees all year, which feels warm in January and cold in July.
- Group by area. Pair Winter Park with Lake Eola, Gatorland with a Kissimmee hotel afternoon, and Kennedy Space Center with Cocoa Beach.
- Use rest days strategically. Put a non-park day in the middle of a long trip, not at the end, so tired kids recover before the next park.
- Watch the weather. Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms, so do outdoor springs and boat tours in the morning and keep Disney Springs or the outlets for later.
- Confirm before you drive. Hours, prices and capacity closures change, so check the official site on the morning you go.
Where to stay if you want more than the parks
If your trip mixes theme parks with these outings, a central base saves the most driving. International Drive puts you near ICON Park, the outlets and the road to the Space Coast. Lake Buena Vista keeps you close to Disney Springs, and downtown or Winter Park suit couples who care more about restaurants and lakes than early park entry. Our guide on where to stay in Orlando compares each area for park access, prices and getting around.
More day-trip guides: see where to stay for the horse shows in Ocala in our guide to hotels near the World Equestrian Center, and plan a cheaper day with our list of free things to do in Orlando.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Orlando besides theme parks?
Plenty. Near the parks you have Disney Springs, ICON Park and two big outlet centers. For nature, swim at Wekiwa Springs, see manatees at Blue Spring in winter or spend half a day at Gatorland. Winter Park offers a one-hour scenic boat tour and the Tiffany collection at the Morse Museum. Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach make a full day trip east.
What are free things to do in Orlando?
Disney Springs has free entry and complimentary self-parking, and ICON Park’s promenade is free to walk with free parking on garage floors 4 to 7. Lake Eola Park is free and open from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. You can browse the Sunday farmers market there. The Morse Museum is free for children under 12 and free for everyone on Friday evenings from November to April.
Where can you see manatees near Orlando?
Blue Spring State Park in Orange City is the best-known spot, about 45 miles from International Drive. The park says hundreds of manatees gather in the spring run from mid-November to March. You watch them from the boardwalk, and swimming is only allowed from April 1 to November 14. A day-use reservation is now required.
Is Kennedy Space Center worth a day trip from Orlando?
For most families and space fans, yes. It’s about 75 minutes each way from International Drive. Admission covers Space Shuttle Atlantis, the bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the Astronaut Hall of Fame and IMAX films. One-day tickets are $77 for adults and $67 for children at the time of writing, plus parking, so arrive at opening time to fit everything in.
Do you need a reservation for Wekiwa Springs or Blue Spring?
Yes, for both. Florida State Parks has required day-use reservations at Wekiwa Springs since September 2, 2025, and at Blue Spring since July 15, 2026. Each park charges $6 per vehicle and opens from 8 a.m. to sunset. Blue Spring warns that it often reaches capacity, so book ahead on the Florida State Parks website and arrive early.
How far is the beach from Orlando?
The closest Atlantic beaches are a little over an hour’s drive. Cocoa Beach is roughly 57 miles from International Drive, or about 70 to 80 minutes depending on traffic, and only about 18 miles south of Kennedy Space Center, so many visitors combine the two. If you want a full beach break, staying a night or two on the coast saves you a long round trip.
Bottom line
The best things to do in Orlando besides theme parks depend on how much time you want to spend in the car. Disney Springs, ICON Park and Gatorland fit around a pool day. The springs and Winter Park are easy half days, and Kennedy Space Center with Cocoa Beach fills a full day. Reserve the state parks ahead, confirm hours on the morning you go, and choose a hotel area that keeps your favorite outings close.
See available rooms at The Alfond Inn in Winter Park
Sources checked in October 2026: Blue Spring State Park (Florida State Parks), Wekiwa Springs State Park (Florida State Parks), Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex tickets, Scenic Boat Tours Winter Park, Lake Eola Park (City of Orlando).