5 days in Jacksonville & Orlando Itinerary

The sprawling city of Jacksonville is not only Florida's most populous city, but also the largest city by land area in the continental United States.

On the 26th (Sat), get to know the resident critters at Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, then identify plant and animal life at Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, and then stop by Jacksonville Landing.

For where to stay, maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Jacksonville day trip tool.

Use the Route module to find travel options from your starting location to Jacksonville. In December, daily temperatures in Jacksonville can reach 72°F, while at night they dip to 50°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 27th (Sun) early enough to drive to Orlando.

For most people, any mention of Orlando immediately conjures up images of sprawling theme parks filled with characters plucked right out of popular animated movies.

Have a day of magic on the 28th (Mon) at Walt Disney World Resort. Pack the 29th (Tue) with family-friendly diversions at Universal Orlando Resort. The adventure continues: get in on the family fun at Universal's Islands of Adventure.

To see where to stay, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our Orlando trip builder tool.

Drive from Jacksonville to Orlando in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Plan for a bit warmer nights when traveling from Jacksonville in December since evenings lows in Orlando dip to 59°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Wed) so you can travel back home.