5 days in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Southwest Florida Itinerary

Tampa ranks among the country's most livable cities, attracting newcomers with its growing economy and status as a major port on the Gulf of Mexico.

Kick off your visit on the 24th (Fri): take in the architecture and atmosphere at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, brush up on your military savvy at SS American Victory Mariners' Memorial and Museum Ship, then look for all kinds of wild species at Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center, and finally enjoy the sand and surf at Apollo Beach Nature Preserve.

To find where to stay, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Tampa trip itinerary maker site.

Philadelphia to Tampa is an approximately 4-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. Expect much hotter temperatures when traveling from Philadelphia in March; daily highs in Tampa reach 77°F and lows reach 59°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Sat) to allow time to drive to St. Petersburg.

Located on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, St.

Start off your visit on the 25th (Sat): explore the world behind art at James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, get a taste of the local shopping with Morean Art Center, then admire the masterpieces at Imagine Museum, then explore the world behind art at Duncan McClellan Gallery, and finally discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour.

For other places to visit, reviews, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our St. Petersburg trip planner.

St. Petersburg is very close to Tampa. In March, daytime highs in St. Petersburg are 75°F, while nighttime lows are 62°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Sun) early enough to drive to Sarasota.

Sarasota is a city in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Kick off your visit on the 26th (Sun): look for all kinds of wild species at Cat Depot, look for all kinds of wild species at Save Our Seabirds, then kick back and relax at South Lido Park, and finally glide peacefully along the water with some of the best stand-up paddleboarding in the area.

To find where to stay, more things to do, reviews, and more tourist information, go to the Sarasota road trip site.

Traveling by car from St. Petersburg to Sarasota takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Expect little chillier evenings in Sarasota when traveling from St. Petersburg in March, with lows around 57°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 26th (Sun) early enough to go by car to Fort Myers.

To see maps, reviews, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Fort Myers trip itinerary builder tool.

You can drive from Sarasota to Fort Myers in 1.5 hours. Another option is to take a bus. March in Fort Myers sees daily highs of 81°F and lows of 59°F at night. On the 27th (Mon), you'll travel to Sanibel Island.

Take a trip to Sanibel Island if you like pretty sunsets and luxurious resorts.

For photos, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Sanibel Island day trip planning tool.

You can drive from Fort Myers to Sanibel Island in an hour. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi. In March, daytime highs in Sanibel Island are 81°F, while nighttime lows are 59°F. You'll set off for Naples on the 27th (Mon).

Start off your visit on the 27th (Mon): take in the architecture and atmosphere at Celebration Community Beach Church, identify plant and animal life at Gordon River Greenway, and then take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports.

To see traveler tips, more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, read Naples trip itinerary tool.

You can drive from Sanibel Island to Naples in 1.5 hours. In March, daily temperatures in Naples can reach 79°F, while at night they dip to 61°F. You'll have a few hours on the 28th (Tue) to wrap things up before traveling home.