Sunshine and Space Coast
Florida has so much more to offer than crowded theme parks. This long-weekend tour is a great way to see another part of the Sunshine State and extend your summer in Central Florida. Starting outside of Orlando in the rolling hills of Clermont, we’ll ride mostly paved bike trails past lakes, through the countryside, and into small urban sections until we reach the Atlantic Coast. This isn’t just any part of the Atlantic Coast, it’s the Space Coast! Home to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, all of NASA-launched crewed space flights have departed from one of these two locations. We’ll hope that the timing is right to see a rocket launch and put a cap on our great adventure!
There are no scheduled departures for this tour.
"I enjoyed the opportunity to try something totally different, the freedom to be riding along watching the world go by from a new perspective."
Day 1. Clermont to Apopka, Florida, 24 miles
Today we will meet early in Clermont near Lake Minneola and have a brief safety meeting and grab some snacks for the ride today. Our official starting point will be on the South Lake Trail, a short shuttle from our meeting location. The South Lake Trail in Lake County runs 13 miles connecting with the West Orange Trail. Together, these trails run through both urban and suburban sections of Orange County with dozens of fence murals painted by local artists. We'll spend the night in our tents alongside Lake Apopka and have the opportunity to hike or bike the Lake Apopka Loop Trail.
Day 2. Apopka to DeBery, 35 miles
On today's ride, we will make our way back to the West Orange Trail, then connect to our next set of bike trails, Seminole Wekiva Trail, Cross Seminole Trail, and Spring to Spring Trail where the campground is located just off the trail. We'll have a variety of views today, from fence art paintings on the Seminole Wekiva Trail to the Spring to Spring Trail, which winds though dense vegetation and provides shade and rest benches. Along the way, consider a stop at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens for some great off-bike exploration.
Day 3. DeBary to Titusville, 37 miles
We'll continue our journey today on the Spring to Spring Trail heading east and connecting to the East Central Regional Trail at Green Spring Park. We'll travel through the quiet countryside to Maytown and follow the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail to our final overnight just north of Titusville, a perfect access point to our final day's adventure.
Day 4. Titusville to Clermont, 25 miles
Today is full of options before we take our early afternoon shuttle back to Clermont. Don't feel like a big ride? No problem! Enjoy the cafés and shops of the Historic District of Titusville or take a walk through Space View Park, a tribute to astronauts and the space program. For those who want a bit more riding, and if there isn't a launch taking place, we will head out early in the morning and ride to the Playalinda Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. To get there, we'll cross the Max Brewer Bridge over the Indian River Lagoon, widely known as one of the most spectacular places to watch launches from the Kennedy Space Center. On a clear day you can see the vehicle assembly building and a launchpad or look a bit closer and catch a glimpse of dolphins, manatees, turtles, and other lagoon-loving creatures. We'll pass through the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge then enter Canaveral National Seashore. If a launch is scheduled, we won't get to dip our toes in the Atlantic, but we will have the best seat in the house for a rocket launch. In the early afternoon, we'll load bikes and transport back to Clermont, ready for our next bike adventure!
