If you are looking for a great way to get outside and explore the sunshine state, then look no further than the awesome Florida bike paths!
Biking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and explore new places. With its diverse landscape, sunny skies, and mild climate, biking through Florida is an experience not to be missed.
With plenty of scenery, routes to choose from, and ample opportunities for adventure, Florida’s bike paths offer something for everyone.
Whether you are a professional cyclist or just looking for an enjoyable afternoon ride with family and friends, Florida has the perfect route for you.
Bicyclists’ Dream: Find Fun and Adventure on Florida Trails
1. Withlacoochee State Trail
The Withlacoochee State Trail, one of the state’s longest rail trails, connects a number of tiny communities in west-central Florida across a 46-mile course that mostly follows the Withlacoochee River.
The wildlife in Florida is well-known, and hikers will almost probably encounter some of it here.
Animals such as deer, alligators, tortoises, wild turkeys, and many more can be seen in the sand hills, wetlands, cypress trees, and longleaf pine groves that the concrete pathway passes through.
A rebuilt 1925 caboose, the Lake Henderson Trestle, and railroad whistle marks offer history aficionados another glimpse into the past.
Region: Citrus, Hernando, Marion, and Pasco counties
2. Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail
The roughly 50-mile Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, which forms an arc from St. Petersburg north via Tarpon Springs and inland to East Lake, lets visitors explore the charms of Florida’s western shore, including Gulf Coast views and a delightful combination of metropolitan shoreline and small downtowns.
Ride your bike to the close-by Honeymoon Island State Park for a relaxing swim and a stroll through the pine flatwoods.
The Coast-to-Coast Connector Trail, a 250-mile route across the state, and a 75-mile loop connecting Pinellas County are two exciting trail systems that this Hall of Fame rail-trail contributes to.
Region: Pinellas
3. Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail-Trail
The Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail, which is situated west of Jacksonville’s downtown, travels through some of Northeast Florida’s most picturesque landscapes, including wetlands, pine flatwoods, and hardwood uplands.
The rail trail travels 14.5 miles west to the quaint village of Baldwin while crossing the McGrits and Brandy Branch creeks.
Numerous species of birds, including hawks, wood storks, and belted kingfishers, as well as other wildlife, can find refuge in the shady passage.
The Camp Milton Historic Preserve, the location of one of Florida’s most major Civil War fortifications, is located halfway along the trail and offers a spot to explore the grounds and learn about local history while strolling along a nature path and boardwalk.
Region: Duval
4. West Orange Trail
The West Orange Trail is a must-visit Florida riding destination because it winds through the picturesque town of Winter Garden, skirts a few tiny lakes, and is dotted with oak trees covered with Spanish moss.
Northwest of Orlando, this varied pathway connects small towns and residential suburbs while providing many opportunities for animal viewing.
The 22-mile line, which connects Oakland with Apopka, is supported at its southernmost point by Killarney Station, a contemporary recreation of a former train depot.
Region: Orange
5. General James A. Van Fleet State Trail
The General James A. Van Fleet State Trail offers a picturesque journey through bottomland forest, cattle ranchland, and the Green Swamp, a vast protected area teeming with wildlife, in the rural middle of Florida.
The 29-mile paved trail can be enjoyed in conjunction with a variety of other outdoor pursuits, such as horseback riding on the neighboring equestrian track, hunting in the Green Swamp, and canoeing in the nearby Withlacoochee, Hillsborough, and Peace rivers.
Region: Lake, Polk, and Sumter counties
6. Gainesville-Hawthorne State Park Trail
Travelers will soon arrive at the Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where wild horses and bison graze if they continue south along the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Park Trail from the busy university town of Gainesville.
The park’s observation tower, which is 50 feet tall, offers expansive views.
The 16.5-mile route skirts the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area, part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, where recreational options abound, including hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and canoeing.
The trail’s eastern terminus is in the historic railroad town of Hawthorne.
Region: Alachua
7. Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail
The Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail traces the path of the state’s earliest and oldest railroad, which was built in the middle of the 19th century to carry cotton from plantations to ships waiting at Port Leon, close to the Gulf of Mexico.
Today, the rail trail offers 21 miles of adventure through both urban and more rural settings, passing by side trails and state parks. The path is shaded by longleaf pines, oak, wax myrtle, and yaupon holly woodlands.
The city of St. Marks, which is where the route ends in the south, is home to a number of waterfront eateries and offers views of passing boats on the St. Marks River.
Region: Wakulla and Leon
8. Legacy Trail
The Historic Venice Train Depot, a 1927 Mediterranean Revival-style structure that was formerly regarded as the best station on the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, serves as a magnificent entry for the Legacy Trail, which is perched on Florida’s west coast.
As a homage to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ use of the tracks, a bronze statue of circus legend Gunther Gebel-Williams—known as “The Greatest Wild Animal Trainer of All Time”—stands next to the depot.
The 10.7-mile rail trail that now follows the line departs from here and travels to Sarasota’s southern suburbs.
Like much of the state, nature is close at hand along the route; watch for the trail’s many interpretive signs to identify and learn more about the regional flora and fauna, as well as signs about the area’s history.
Region: Sarasota
9. East Central Regional Rail Trail
The East Central Regional Rail Trail now offers 47 miles of paved roadway for exploring Florida’s east coast, while there is a slight gap in its intended 52-mile course.
Riders may easily travel from Titusville, the county seat of Brevard, north to Edgewater in neighboring Volusia County, and from Maytown west to Farmton at the halfway mark.
Further west, a broken-down section connects Osteen and Enterprise on Lake Monroe’s northern side and offers access to the Spring to Spring Trail.
The attractive path allows access to city centers, bridges over gorgeous wetlands, and travel through luxuriant corridors of tall trees.
Region: Volusia and Brevard
10. Timpoochee Trail
The Timpoochee Trail, which is tucked into the Florida Panhandle, follows Scenic Highway 30-A and the beachfront of the Gulf of Mexico, linking a few coastal towns and beaches between Duane Allen and Rosemary Beach.
This 19-mile route is stunning because it offers views of the ocean, sand dunes, and marsh lakes, as well as quick access to three state parks: Topsail Hill Preserve, Grayton Beach, and Deer Lake.
Region: Walton
What is the biggest bike trail in Florida?
The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail is one of the most loved bike trails in Florida.
The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail runs 106 miles between Key Largo and Key West. It is the longest bike path in Florida.
This trail follows the route taken by the Overseas Railroad in Key West, which linked the mainland and Key West in the early 1900s. The railroad’s bed was converted into a highway by the government after it was destroyed in a hurricane in 1935.
The highway is now a bike trail that offers cyclists an opportunity to discover the natural beauty of Florida Keys.
The FKOHT multi-use trail is available to hikers, cyclists, and skaters. Each segment offers a unique experience.
The 20-mile-long Upper Keys segment runs between Key Largo and Islamorada. The segment boasts stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as Florida Bay.
You can stop at many shops and attractions along the route, such as the Theater of the Sea and the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
38 miles long, the Middle Keys segment runs from Islamorada and Marathon on the FKOHT.
This section offers both coastal and inland scenery as well as easy access to some of the Keys’ most popular beaches. Bahia Honda State Park is a great stop for cyclists, as it has one of the most stunning beaches in the country.
The Lower Keys section of the FKOHT is 38 miles long and runs from Marathon to Key West. This section offers a more natural and remote experience with stunning sunsets, mangrove forests, and crystal-clear water.
The National Key Deer Refuge is where endangered Key deer can be found. Or the Bahia Honda Bridge offers spectacular views of the ocean.
The FKOHT offers a wonderful way to see the natural beauty of the Florida Keys and learn more about the history of this area.
You’ll find markers and interpretive displays along the trail that tell the story of the Overseas Railroad, its builders, and their lives.
Looking for a great place to ride your bike? Look no further than Florida!
Whether you’re a casual cyclist or more serious about biking, Florida bike paths offer some of the most amazing scenery in the country.
From scenic trails through forests and wetlands to exciting coastal routes, there is something for everyone who loves to ride a bike.
