Complete Guide to Visiting Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo
The Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, Florida is the perfect family friendly activity in the Tampa Bay area. Spring is a great time to visit the gardens to see a wide variety of colorful flowers in full bloom. However, you really can’t go wrong with visiting these gardens anytime of the year! They are the largest botanical garden in Tampa Bay to visit.
What is the Florida Botanical Gardens?
The Florida Botanical Gardens are a 100-acre park managed by Pinellas County. There are over 15 different gardens to explore and around 2 miles of trails. Some of the most popular gardens to see include the butterfly garden, succulent garden, and wedding garden. There are paved sidewalks that are ADA accessible all throughout the gardens. In addition to the paved walkways, there is the McKay Creek Greenway Natural Area, a 0.5-mile loop unpaved.
Where is it located?
The Florida Botanical Gardens is in Largo, Florida. There are 2 entrances which are listed below. There is free parking available at both entrances. The Ulmerton Road parking lot allows you to enter the gardens near the butterfly garden or wedding garden. The Walsingham Road parking lot provides quickest access to the nature trail and tropical walk.
Florida Botanical Gardens Entrances
- 1250 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL 33774
- 12211 Walsingham Road Largo, FL 33778
How much does it cost to visit?
One of the best things about the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo is that it is FREE to visit! There may be a small fee for special events such as Holiday Lights in the Gardens.
How long does it take to visit?
I recommend planning on spending between 1 to 2 hours to thoroughly enjoy the gardens. Every time I visit a botanical garden there is always so much to see. I recommend taking your time and strolling through the gardens slowly to ensure you don’t miss anything! If you want to make this a day trip and enjoy history, you can also visit the neighboring Heritage Village. I would recommend planning to spend an additional 1 to 2 hours if you also want to visit Heritage Village. You can also consider packing a picnic lunch to enjoy!
Heritage Village
There are several historic structures on display which were previously built in Pinellas County. These houses and other buildings were relocated to preserve local history. Admission is free, but there are limited hours.
- Address: 11909 125th St. N Largo, FL 33774
- You can walk directly from Florida Botanical Gardens and don’t need to worry about moving your car!
- Hours: Wednesday through Saturday: 11 AM to 3 PM; Sunday from 1 to 4 PM
- Cost: Free
- Pet Friendly: Yes, except inside structures and museums
When is the best time to visit Florida Botanical Gardens?
The gardens are open from 7 AM to 5 PM daily. There is truly something to see during every season, so there really isn’t a wrong time to visit. Spring is a popular time to visit botanical gardens in general. There is limited shade throughout the gardens, so I recommend visiting early in the day if you plan to visit during the summer. If there is a particular flower you are hoping to see in bloom, you can check out what’s in bloom on the Florida Botanical Garden website before you visit.
Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo: Recommended Route
There is no wrong way to explore the gardens, but below is my recommended route for exploring. This route assumes you park in the Ulmerton Road (parking lot 2). I recommend first exploring part of the east gardens, followed by the nature area trail. Once you complete the nature trail you will want to finish seeing the east gardens before heading over to the west garden.
- Start by crossing the McKay Creek Pavilion
- Check out McKay Creek Plaza and Wedding Gardens
- Head to the Cactus & Succulent Gardens
- Next, complete the tropical walk to reach parking lot 4
- Cross the Walsingham Park lot to complete the McKay Nature Trail
- Head back to the tropical walk and finish exploring the east gardens including the wetlands walkway & wildlife overlook
- Finish by exploring the west gardens starting with the tropical fruit garden
- Next, check out the herb garden
- Don’t miss the native garden to check out some unique Florida plants
- Finally, finish out your visit by exploring the butterfly garden before returning to your car
There are restrooms located by the McKay Creek Plaza (east garden) and inside the Parks & Conservation Resources building (west garden).
If you have kids, make sure you check out the Majeed Discovery Gardens which span 2-acres and have hands on activities.
Holiday Lights in the Gardens (Special Event)
One of the best places to see Christmas Lights in the Tampa Bay area is the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. The Holiday Lights in the Gardens is an annual event that runs from late November through early January. The gardens operate on an extended schedule for this special event and are open later in the evening so you can enjoy the lights after the sunsets.
The cost is a suggested donation of $10 per person, making it a more affordable option and great for the whole family. Pets are also welcome so this can be a fun way to include your dog in the holiday magic. It is recommended to bring your pets during the week since the gardens can get very crowded during the weekend. We brought our pup on a weekday and had a great experience!
Is the Florida Botanical Gardens worth visiting?
Absolutely! There really isn’t a reason not to check out the gardens for yourself. The cost is free, there are paved paths as well as an unpaved nature trail and several different garden displays! If you enjoy your visit and are looking for other botanical gardens near Tampa there are several others to add to your list! If you enjoyed this post, please take a minute to share it with your friends on Facebook or save it to Pinterest to refer back to.
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