10 Botanical Gardens near Tampa
I’ve rounded up the best botanical gardens near Tampa to visit for all nature lovers. Spending a few hours at a botanical garden can be relaxing, educational, and fun! Botanical gardens make a great destination for a day trip. I’ve previously written about the best botanical gardens in Tampa Bay, but I wanted to widen my search and include other botanical gardens that are within a 2-hour drive of Tampa.
Which botanical gardens are free to visit?
Most of these garden’s range in price from $10-25 per person. If you’re on a budget start with these 3 botanical gardens which are free to visit! Although they are free, donations are appreciated to help support these gardens.
- Florida Botanical Gardens
- Hollis Garden
- Palma Sola Botanical Garden
10 Botanical Gardens near Tampa
Below are the 10 best botanical gardens to visit near Tampa, Florida. There are also 2 botanical gardens in Tampa that you don’t want to miss, USF Botanical Gardens and Eureka Springs Park. One thing to keep in mind when planning your visit is many of these gardens are popular for weddings. Some of the gardens may have special hours, have sections closed for private events, or even close early to the public. You can always call ahead to ensure the gardens will be open.
1. Sunken Gardens (St. Pete)
One of Florida’s oldest roadside attractions, Sunken Gardens is a St. Pete favorite! This small 4-acre park has a lot to see! The paved trail is approximately 0.7 miles winding through the various gardens and displays. However, you may end up walking further than that to ensure you don’t miss anything! Make sure you pick up a visitor’s map as you enter the gardens to refer to as you walk along the path.
Highlights include various plants, flowers, trees, and animals. The flamingos are always a crowd favorite, but other animals you may see include tortoise, koi (ornamental carp), and various birds including laughing kookaburras, umbrella cockatoo, and macaws. There is plenty of shade due to the tall plants surrounding the pathways and several areas with benches to sit and relax. I recommend 1 to 2 hours to fully enjoy everything Sunken Gardens has to offer.
Essential Information
- Address: 1825 4th St. N. St. Petersburg, FL
- Distance: 22 miles
- Drive Time: 25 minutes
- Hours:10 AM-4:30 PM Monday through Saturday; 12 PM to 4:30 PM on Sunday
- Fee: Adults: $15; Senior (62+): $12; Children (2-12): $6
- Dog Friendly: No
2. Florida Botanical Gardens (Largo)
If you’ve never been to a botanical garden and aren’t sure if you will enjoy it, Florida Botanical Gardens is the best to visit first in my opinion. It is only 35 minutes from Tampa, over 100-acres, pet friendly, and free to visit! The Florida Botanical Gardens will take between 1 to 2 hours to fully explore.
Most of the gardens can be explored by walking along a paved path; in addition, there is the McKay Creek Greenway Natural Area, which includes an unpaved nature trail. The total distance is just over 1.5 miles, but it can be hard to see everything on your first walk through. I found myself doubling back to different areas and noticing things I did not see before. There is limited protection from the sun so make sure you wear your sunscreen and bring plenty of water. Highlights of this park include the native garden, butterfly garden, wedding garden, and tropical fruit garden.
Another fun, seasonal activity is the Holiday Lights in the Garden which occurs annually from late November to early January. It is also pet friendly, although they encourage you to bring your pets during the week because it can get quite crowded during the weekends. For the holiday lights event there is a suggested donation of $10 per person.
Essential Information
- Address: There are two entrances to the gardens
- 12520 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL 33774
- 12211 Walsingham Road Largo, FL 33778
- Distance: 24 miles
- Drive Time: 35 minutes
- Hours: 7 AM to 5 PM daily
- Fee: Free
- Dog Friendly: Yes
3. Hollis Garden (Lakeland)
Hollis Garden is a 1.2-acre botanical garden by Lake Mirror in Lakeland, Florida. There are over 10,000 flowers, various plants and trees. This garden was designed to have a European feel. It is also a popular spot for weddings and photography. Take in the views of beautiful Lake Mirror as you relax in the gardens located minutes from downtown Lakeland.
After you have finished exploring the gardens, I recommend walking the 0.8-mile path around Lake Mirror. It is such a beautiful area! Hollis Garden can be enjoyed in 1 hour or less, but if you also want to walk around Lake Mirror plan to spend 1 to 2 hours. There is also a Garden Bistro where they have sandwiches, soups, and salads as well as a variety of desserts. Indoor and outdoor seating are available with views of Lake Mirror.
Essential Information
- Address: 702 E Orange St. Lakeland, FL 33801
- Distance: 34 miles
- Drive Time: 40 minutes
- Hours: Vary by day be sure to check the hours closely before you visit
- Sunday to Thursday: 10 AM to 6 PM
- Closed Mondays
- Friday and Saturday: 10 AM to 4 PM
- Fee: Free
- Dog friendly: No
4. Palma Sola Botanical Park (Bradenton)
I found this botanical park by accident when visiting De Soto National Memorial. I saw a sign when I was driving and it was only 5 minutes away, so I knew I had to check it out! Palma Sola Botanical Park is 10-acres and was originally the Manatee County Nursery until 1993 when the Palma Sola Botanical Park foundation was established.
The 0.6-mile path winds through the gardens and the terrain varies between paved, mulched, grass, and shell paths. The gardens are mostly sunny with limited shade. One of my favorites parts of the park was the rare fruit garden. I enjoyed walking through the garden and looking at the various exotic fruit trees which can thrive in the subtropical environment. Other highlights of the park include the butterfly garden and hidden garden nursery.
Before you leave make sure to check out the Tea Tree Cafe. It is open from 11 AM to 4 PM Wednesday through Saturday. The menu includes sandwiches, snacks, sweets, tea and coffee.
Essential Information
- Address: 9800 17th Ave. NW Bradenton, FL 34209
- Distance: 52 miles
- Drive Time: 1 hour
- Hours: 8 AM to 6:30 PM daily
- Fee: Free
- Dog Friendly: Yes
While there is no cost to visit the park, donations are greatly appreciated, so if you enjoyed your visit be sure to let them know! There are 3 donation boxes located throughout the park or you can donate online.
5. Sarasota Jungle Gardens (Sarasota)
Part botanical garden and part zoo, also known as a zoological garden, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens can’t be missed! This is a 10-acre park with 1.2 miles of walking trails and over 200 native and exotic animals to see. Most of the trails are paved and ADA accessible. There is an inner and outer trail and they are partially shaded.
There are various shows throughout the day such as the jungle bird or reptile show. Currently the daily shows are offered on the hour from 11 AM to 3 PM. There are over 13 exhibits, highlights include a petting zoo and the free roaming flamingo exhibit where you can feed the flamingos! It is recommended to plan a minimum of 1 to 2 hours up to 3 to 4 hours if you want to catch a show or interactive animal encounter.
Essential Information
- Address: 3701 Bay Shore Rd. Sarasota, FL 34234
- Distance: 60 miles
- Drive Time: 1 hour
- Hours: 10 AM to 4 PM daily
- Fee: Adults: $25; Children (4-12): $15
- Dog Friendly: No
6. Marie Selby Botanical Garden (Sarasota)
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are one of the most beautiful botanical gardens I have visited in Florida! There are now 2 different areas, the Downtown Sarasota Campus and the Historic Spanish Point. Separate admissions are required, and they are located about 10-miles apart. I have listed the basic information for both areas below. The gardens originated in the downtown Sarasota location and in 2020 the Historic Spanish Point was adopted by the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens as a second location.
The downtown Sarasota gardens are 15-acres, and the Historic Spanish Point is 30-acres. It is recommended to plan between 1 to 2 hours for your visit to either location. If you have a strong interest in Florida history, then you may prefer to head to the Historic Spanish Point. If you are looking for a typical botanical garden experience you will want to head to downtown Sarasota campus! For a unique, full day experience consider checking out the campus-to-campus boat tour experience.
Essential Information – Downtown Sarasota Campus
- Address: 1534 Mount St. Sarasota, FL 34236
- Distance: 62 miles
- Drive Time: 1 hour
- Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM daily
- Fee: Adults: $26; Children (5-17): $11
- Dog Friendly: No
Essential Information – Historic Spanish Point
- Address: 401 North Tamiami Trail Osprey, FL 34229
- Distance: 67 miles
- Drive Time: 1 hour
- Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM daily
- Fee: Adults $18; Children (5-17): $11
- Dog Friendly: No
If you are looking for something else to do while you are in Sarasota, consider checking out Myakka River State Park.
7. Bok Tower Gardens (Lake Wales)
Bok Tower Gardens is a 250-acres in Lake Wales, Florida on the crest of Iron Mountain, the highest point in peninsular Florida at 298 feet above sea level. There is a lot to explore in these gardens and most visitors can spend up to 3 to 4 hours. Highlights include the Olmsted Garden, Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden, nature trails, singing tower, and the historic El Retiro mansion. Please note general admission does not include tours of El Retiro so be sure to add this on to your ticket if you’d like to visit.
Essential Information
- Address: 1151 Tower Blvd. Lake Wales, FL 33853
- Distance: 67 miles
- Drive Time: 1.5 hours
- Hours: 8 AM to 6 PM
- Fee: Adults: $20; Children (6-17): $10
- Additional fees for touring El Retiro
- Dog Friendly: Yes, $10 admission required
8. Leu Gardens (Orlando)
There are nearly 30 different displays in this 50-acre botanical garden. This garden has mostly paved paths that you can walk along to enjoy the various displays. It is recommended to plan 1 to 2 hours to fully enjoy the gardens. A highlight of this garden includes one of Florida’s largest formal rose gardens! If you want to know what flowers are in bloom during a certain time of the year, check the Leu Gardens website.
In addition to the gardens, you can take a tour of the first floor of the Leu House Museum. The tours are offered in the morning every 30 minutes and last approximately 25 minutes. The first tour starts at 10 AM and the last tour of the day is given at 12:30 PM Tuesday through Sunday.
Essential Information
- Address: 1920 North Forest Avenue Orlando, FL 32803
- Distance: 88 miles
- Drive Time: 1.5 hours
- Hours: Vary by time of year
- January 7 to March 10: 9 AM to 5 PM daily
- March 11-September 27: 9 AM to 6 PM daily (open until 8 PM on Thursdays)
- September 28-January 5: 9 AM to 4 PM
- Fee: Adult: $15; Children (4-17): $10
- Dog Friendly: No
9. Cedar Lake Woods and Gardens (Williston)
This is a beautiful 20-acre botanical garden created from an abandoned lime rock quarry. Due to being created from the lime rock this garden is not ADA-accessible and the paths are steep, uneven, and rocky in various sections. The upper overlook trail is more accessible than the lower levels but are still not completely flat surfaces. Highlights of this garden include waterfalls and the 500-year-old garden. Most people spend between 1 to 2 hours exploring the gardens.
Essential Information
- Address: 4990 NE 180th Ave. Williston, FL 32696
- Distance: 117 miles
- Drive Time: 2 hours
- Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM daily
- Fees: Adults: $12; Children (6-13): $7
- Dog Friendly: Yes
10. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens (Gainesville)
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is 68-acres and is the most colorful from June to September. The walking paths are paved and mostly ADA accessible. The east gardens include highlights such as the largest public collection of bamboo in Florida and the largest herb garden in the southeast. There is a 1-mile loop you can follow before heading over to the West Gardens which has a ½ mile loop to explore. Highlights of the west garden include the children’s garden and waterfalls.
Consider packing a picnic lunch to enjoy after exploring the gardens in the picnic area near the entrance. Snacks are also sold at the entrance building. Plan to spend at least 1 to 2 hours visiting this garden.
Essential Information
- Address: 4700 SW 58th Dr. Gainesville, FL 32608
- Distance: 130 miles
- Drive Time: 2 hours
- Hours: Vary by day and season
- Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM (CLOSED Thursdays)
- Saturday and Sunday: 9 AM to 7 PM (during winter closes at dusk ~5:45 PM)
- Fees: Adults: $10; Children (5-13): $5
- Dog friendly: Yes
- Exceptions during special events
Consider visiting Cedar Woods and Garden and Kanapaha Botanical Gardens on the same visit as they are located about 30 minutes apart. Another idea while you are in Gainesville is to stop by Devil’s Millhopper Geologic State Park.
Ready to start exploring Florida botanical gardens near Tampa?
There are so many botanical gardens near Tampa that are worth visiting. It is hard to pick a favorite, but I think the variety, size, and price of Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo make it a top contender. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are also absolutely breathtaking. However, you can’t go wrong with visiting any of these gardens! Comment below and let me know which one is your favorite or which one you want to visit next!
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The information above was accurate at the time of publishing to the best of the author’s knowledge. Information will be verified and updated periodically. If you are planning to visit, I recommend verifying the most current information with the Florida State Park website.
