Florida Cheap Weekend Itinerary Guide
Day 1 Morning: Settle into Orlando
If you’re traveling from afar as part of your Florida package deal, fly into Orlando, pick up your rental car at the airport and head to your hotel. Your weekend getaway starts in Downtown Orlando, with plenty of cheap, and even free, things to do.
Where to stay: We recommend budget-friendly hotels like the Eo Inn, conveniently located right near Lake Eola Park, or Comfort Suites Downtown, which offers free parking.
Transportation: It’s possible to explore central Orlando using public transportation, but when it comes to reaching sights outside Downtown, we recommend you have your own wheels for maximum convenience.
- Get to know the city on the self-guided Orlando Downtown Introduction Walk. The map is available through an app or a printable PDF. It should take you about 3 hours to cover the 3.4 miles and 12 attractions, which include the city’s tallest skyscraper and the iconic St George Orthodox Church
- For art lovers there’s the free self-guided tour called See Art Orlando. It features nine sculptures that represent elements of Orlando
- Take a stroll through Lake Eola Park among swans, flower beds and city skyline views. You can even rent a swan-shaped pedal boat to get out on the water - inexpensive and fun!
Day 1: Spend the afternoon outdoors
- Cycle or walk parts of the 22-mile West Orange Trail, about 20 minutes’ drive from Downtown Orlando. One 4.5-mile section of the trail starts at Killarney Station, and ends in the city of Winter Garden at the Plant Street Market, a trendy indoor market with a range of vendors.
- About a 30-minute drive west of Downtown Orlando is Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, which offers free tours with a tasting, 7 days a week
- A 30-minute drive northeast of Downtown Orlando is the University of Central Florida Arboretum where you can take a self-guided tour of more than 600 plant species
Day 1: Evening in Downtown Orlando
We recommend exploring Downtown Orlando for your first evening—it’s fun and light on the wallet at night, with plenty of budget eateries and hole-in-the-wall bars. Check out Orlando Brewing for its free brewery tours most nights.
Day 2: Cocoa Beach & Lori Wilson Park
Orlando locals flock to Cocoa Beach on the Space Coast. An hour’s drive east, it’s the closest beach to the city.
- Spend a few hours at Lori Wilson Park where you’ll enjoy free parking. Along with swimming and surfing, you can explore the boardwalk and a nature trail, and have fun at playgrounds and beach volleyball courts
- Just a 30-minute walk from Lori Wilson park, check out the Florida Surf Museum, which has a small entrance fee
- For the rest of the afternoon soak up the sun at the historic Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier before returning to the city
Day 2: Evening in Orlando
Instead of going back to central Orlando, consider driving to Universal CityWalk, just 20 minutes southwest of Downtown Orlando. Admission and parking are free after 6 p.m., so you can make the most of your budget and spend your vacation savings in shopping, dining and entertainment across the 30-acre complex. If you’re heading back to the airport, it’s about a 30-minute drive from here.
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