Best Bike Rides In Florida

Updated on August 18, 2022

Best Bike Rides In Florida

Cycling is an excellent mode of transportation in Florida. It’s a cyclist’s paradise, with year-round mild temperatures, wide, flat trails, and breathtaking scenery around every corner.

You don’t have to travel far to find excellent cycling trails in North Florida, despite the state’s over-development of roadways and urban expansion.

The bike paths in Florida are some of the most beautiful, historic, and enjoyable in the United States, and bike rental is commonplace throughout the state, especially in the state parks.

Taking your bikes and hitting the trails for the weekend is an unforgettable experience, and Florida has no shortage of places to take advantage of the state’s many options for serious enjoyment on two wheels.

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Check out our list of the greatest riding trails in Florida, and start planning your next outdoor cycling excursion!

southeastern U.S.
Some of the best riding trails in Florida may be found in the northern part of the state. While cycling through state parks or along the banks of beautiful and peaceful rivers in North Florida is definitely a heaven for bicyclists.

1. The Natural Coast Trail

It is best suited for weekend cyclists.

The Nature Coast Trail, which begins in Fanning Springs, is a wonderful, paved bike path that winds through the beautiful countryside of Columbia County. The Suwannee River runs through much of the 32-mile route, and a historic train trestle is one among the numerous highlights.

Cabin rentals in Fanning Springs and camping at Manatee Springs State Park make it a perfect weekend getaway. Trailheads at Chiefland, Cross City, and Trenton all feature parking, restrooms, and pavilions, so you’ll never be far from the necessities of life while on the route.

2. The Big Shoals Trail.

For those who enjoy the great outdoors and informal riding.

Big Shoals State Park is home to Florida’s greatest whitewater rapids and the most dramatic limestone cliffs in the state. The Suwannee River flows through the State Park, and the 28 miles of forested bicycling paths offer a magnificent mix of forest scenery and breathtaking cliff-top views as you meander through the woods.

Bicycling Big Shoals is a wonderful opportunity to see some of the most typical North Florida wildlife. The sandhills and hardwood hammocks, moss-draped oaks, and wildflower meadows of the state park make for a lovely cycle. You may see gopher tortoises, wild turkey, and deer if you take a break and sit still. You may even hear a horned owl hooting in the distance!

If you’re serious about cycling, this is the trail for you.
With the excellent Gainesville Hawthorne State Trail on its doorstep, Gainesville is a serious cycling town. The Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park’s northern side can be accessed through a paved, tree-lined path that runs the length of the park.

A few moderate hills, streams, wildflower meadows, and beautiful forests may be found on the west side of the trail, which is unusual for the state of Florida. In the Paynes Prairie Preserve, the one and a half-mile La Chua Trail, you’ll encounter gators, wild horses, and even a bison or two!

Off-roaders will enjoy the O’Leno State Trail the most.

O’Leno State Park is located on the banks of the Santa Fe River, which provides some of the best off-road riding opportunities in North Florida. There are more than 20 miles of rolling single and double-track trails in the state park, which are a great way to see the magnificent countryside and enjoy the natural springs, sinkholes, and a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps-built wooden suspension bridge.

southeastern United States

To get the greatest riding in South Florida, you’ll have to look a little harder and travel a little farther than in North Florida. In spite of this, there are some incredibly wonderful instances of biking paths here just waiting to be discovered.

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5. The Shark Valley Loop

Cycling families and nature-lovers will like this location.

Shark Valley is the gateway to the Everglades, which may be found west of Miami. While the Everglades may conjure up memories of airboat rides and mangroves, this great 15-mile paved circular track is ideal for cycling and provides a fantastic opportunity to experience one of Florida’s most famous attractions on two wheels.

It’s a great alternative for families with young children because of the lack of other vehicles on the path except for the tram. It also encourages a more leisurely pace, which is ideal for seeing animals!

Sanibel Island, Florida

It’s best suited for a few days of luxury riding.

For those looking for an island paradise in southwest Florida, Sanibel is the place to visit, with a plethora of lighthouses, beaches, and quaint activities. 22 miles of immaculate trails meander through the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and along the island’s stunning shoreline, adding even more beauty to the area.

As you travel through the thick greenery on a boardwalk or bridge, you’ll be treated to an array of bird species that make the island home.

Itinerary for a day trip to explore the history and culture of the keys
Long-distance cyclists will find this bike ideal.

The Overseas Heritage Trail in the Florida Keys is the best place to see spectacular coastal landscape. You can ride almost 80 miles of a 106-mile route between Key Largo and Key West comfortably and securely thanks to a unique cycling track that stretches nearly the whole length of the Florida Keys.

If you don’t feel like tackling US-1 from Islamorada to Sombrero Beach, or from the Old Seven Mile Bridge to the two-mile-long Long Key Bridge, you can always take a lap around Islamorada, Long Key, or one of the other islands.

Gulf of Mexico

Bicyclists can travel between Fort Myers and Tampa, as well as up to the Goethe State Forest, on well-maintained asphalt cycleways along the Gulf Coast.

8. The Venetian Waterways Park and the Legacy Trail

Beginners and those who prefer a more laid-back approach will find this bike ideal.

The Venetian Waterways Park Trail and Florida’s Legacy Trail, which connects to each other, offer a marvellously smooth ride through some of the most beautiful landscape in the state. On the path, you’ll be able to get away from the highway traffic (and fly above Dona and Roberts Bays), thanks to bridges that keep you out of harm’s way.

The Venetian Canals Park provides access to the glittering waterways and sand pathways of Oscar Scherer State Park, as well as the beautiful beaches of Casperson, Brohard, and Venice.

9. The Withlacoochee State Trail

If you’re looking for the ultimate in speed, this bike is for you.

Withlacoochee State Trail is one of Florida’s top biking trails for those who want to ride hard, far, and fast. To get from Trilby in the south to Dunnellon in the north, you’ll need to cover 46 miles of smooth pavement on an old railroad track.

A large stretch of the route travels alongside the Withlacoochee River, which is flanked with gorgeous live oaks, making it a good place to take in the landscape.

If you’re trying to get away from the city but don’t have a lot of time, this is the trail for you.

Some of Tampa and St. Petersburg’s best cycling trails may be found in the urban sprawl of Tampa and St. Petersburg, but the Fred Marquis Pinellas Track provides 34 miles of well-marked, paved trail with vistas of suburban parks, lovely neighbourhoods, and some historic landmarks.

To the north, between Dunedin and Tarpon Springs and out to Honeymoon Island State Park, this trail’s most appealing part is found.

Seminole and Volusia counties in

Cypress, Oak, Maple and Pine woods are found throughout Central Florida’s wetland areas as well as its grasslands, prairies and pastures. It also has a number of good bicycle paths that span the entire state, from coast to coast, making it a great place to ride.

Ride this trail if you’re feeling daring.

The Van Fleet State Trail, which runs through the Green Swamp west of Orlando, is a straight, flat, and largely deserted path. You can get away from the commotion and loudness of Orlando’s theme parks by taking a ride on this secluded cycling track in Florida.

Through ranches, forests, and flowery meadows full with birds and butterflies, the trail transports you. The Green Swamp Conservation Area, which sits at the heart of the path, is a refuge for wildlife enthusiasts and is well worth stopping to explore.

The West Orange Trail is ideal for anyone looking to bike for fun on the weekends.

In Central Florida west of Orlando, the West Orange Trail is an enchanting, shaded, and paved 22-mile path that winds across the region. Winter Garden’s historic downtown and its stunning vistas of Lake Apopka are a particular highlight of the route.

There are numerous places to stop, explore, and take in the views throughout the walk. Well-marked pathways and boardwalks lead you through the forest and out into Lake Apopka at Oakland Nature Preserve.

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Thirteenth-to-fifteenth Parallel

Suitable for cyclists who want to go the extra mile on their journeys.

You may ride from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, from St Petersburg to Titusville on the Florida Coast to Coast Trail, which connects numerous existing bike pathways, trails, and cycleways.

The Coast to Coast Trail is a massive undertaking, spanning over 250 miles, but it’s well worth it, highlighting the incredible diversity of Florida’s landscape and offering a rewarding test for professional cyclists.

The East Central Regional Rail Trail takes you into the rugged, marshy landscapes of southern Volusia County as it follows the route of a historic railroad. Maytown, a ghost town on the route, is one of the few places where utilities are scarce, therefore it’s best to be prepared!

Green Springs Park, home to one of Florida’s last remaining green sulfur springs, and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge are just two of the trail’s many highlights.

It’s simple to see why Florida is a popular destination for bikers, and the state’s many routes offer something for everyone. Hopefully, this list will inspire you to go back on your bike and explore the great outdoors. Enjoy your time on two wheels!