Tampa to Gatlinburg Road Trip Guide

After you leave Gainesville, continue toward Valdosta. Less than two hours from Gainesville, you will find your next stop; Wild Adventures. Located about five miles south of Valdosta in Georgia, Wild Adventures is a zoological theme park that offers visitors rides and attractions, to include eight roller coasters, viewing of exotic animals and shows, including concerts.

In addition, Wild Adventures is home to Splash Island, which is a water park with a Polynesian theme that offers seven additional rides. Admission to Splash Island is included when you pay to visit Wild Adventures. Visiting Wild Adventures Theme Park is not only fun, but a perfect way to stretch your legs after some time in the car.

The first leg of your road trip will be about two hours long as you make your way from Tampa to Gainesville. The home of the University of Florida, Gainesville is the location of the Florida Museum of Natural History, which is located on the campus of the University. The museum is considered one of the top natural history museums in the United States and is a leading authority in biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Within the museum is the Discovery Zone, which offers fun hands-on activities that aim to encourage critical thinking. A few of the exhibits are especially kid-friendly, where touching is allowed; for example, there are collection drawers that can be examined along with a limestone cave ready to be explored. While at the museum, check out the Butterfly Rainforest, a living exhibit with hundreds of butterflies and birds flying freely.

After having plenty of fun at Wild Adventures and Splash Island, get back on the road and continue north. After about two hours and forty minutes, you will arrive in Macon, where you can head to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, which is responsible for preserving traces of more than ten thousand years of Southeastern Native American Culture.

The park includes major earthworks that were built by the South Appalachian Mississippian culture prior to 1000 CE, including the Great Temple, a burial mound, and other ritually significant mounds. The Park is 702 acres and contains evidence of thousands of years of ongoing habitation by humans. What is now Macon, Georgia developed around the site. In 1997, the Park was designated a Traditional Cultural Property by the NPS, which was the first east of the Mississippi River to be recognized as such.

You are on the road again…and again heading to Gainesville, only this time, Gainesville, Georgia! Located two hours and ten minutes from Macon, Gainesville is where you will find Don Carter State Park. On the north end of Lake Lanier, Don Carter State Park is an ideal location for those who love to spend time in, on or around water.

Within the park are a sand swimming beach, a bath house, fish cleaning stations, and boat ramps so that you can explore the lake. Rentals are available seasonally for kayaks, paddleboards, and Aquacycles. The park also has a multi-use trail that can be used by both hikers and bikers to meander through the hardwood forest.

There are options to stay overnight within the park, to include cabins near the lake as well as campgrounds, whether for RV’s or tents. The park got its name from Don Carter, a real estate executive who was instrumental in establishing the park.

Macon County in North Carolina has been called the Gem Capital of the World, due to the area’s hills and mountains containing a variety of gemstones, including quartz, garnets and rubies and gem mines. As a result of there being so many gems and minerals, the Franklin Gem and Mineral Society was formed.

Located in Franklin’s old jail, the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum has eight rooms that are filled with gems and minerals; not just from the area, but from the world. The museum has one of the largest collections of gems and minerals in the southeast, ensuring that you will have the opportunity to experience a variety during your visit. The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum opened to the public in 1974 and has been operating ever since.

Your first major stop comes just 90 minutes north of Tampa in Florida's largest national forest. Ocala National Forest spans 383,000 acres of pristine wilderness, famous for over 600 crystal-clear springs and lakes perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. The forest protects the world's largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest and offers excellent hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing.

Juniper Springs Recreation Area ranks among Florida's most beautiful natural springs, offering deeply shaded campsites within walking distance of turquoise swimming holes. The 7-mile Juniper Run canoe trail provides a unique perspective on the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. Salt Springs Recreation Area features spectacular natural mineral springs for swimming and snorkeling, with the only full-hookup RV sites in the forest.

For mountain biking enthusiasts, the Paisley Woods Trail offers 22 challenging miles through sand hills and longleaf pines. Don't miss Big Scrub Campground if you're traveling with off-road vehicles—it provides direct access to the 47-mile Ocala Adventure Trail.

Located 565 miles from Tampa, Chattanooga serves as your gateway to the Appalachian Mountains. This revitalized city blends outdoor adventure with urban sophistication—explore Rock City Gardens atop Lookout Mountain, descend into Ruby Falls (America's deepest commercial cave waterfall), or visit the world-class Tennessee Aquarium.

Raccoon Mountain Caverns & Campground provides a prime destination just 10 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. The campground boasts over 5.5 miles of incredible caves to explore, full-service RV sites, a pool, clubhouse, and dog park. For a more rustic experience, Lookout Mountain/Chattanooga West KOA offers heavily shaded sites with stunning mountain views and access to gem panning, swimming pools, and planned activities.

Your final destination is 650 miles from Tampa. Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border, protecting over 800 square miles of pristine Appalachian wilderness. As America's most-visited national park (over 14 million visitors in 2024), it offers unparalleled biodiversity, historic mountain culture, and year-round outdoor adventures—with completely free admission.

Explore the famous 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road for exceptional wildlife viewing of black bears, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys. Hike to stunning waterfalls like Laurel Falls and Rainbow Falls, or drive the scenic Newfound Gap Road connecting Tennessee to North Carolina. The park's 800+ miles of trails range from easy nature walks to challenging backcountry treks.

Gatlinburg RV rentals position you perfectly for exploring both the park and downtown Gatlinburg's attractions—including the Gatlinburg Space Needle, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, and numerous craft shops along the Arts & Crafts Loop.

For a deeper dive into the park's wonders, check out our comprehensive Great Smoky Mountains National Park guide with detailed information on hiking, camping, and seasonal activities.