Places to see or stop for kids between Mobile and Orlando

There's not really OP. Florida Caverns state park is decent but not that close to the road.

You have the Fred Bear Archery museum around Gainesville...give them a tour of UF...

That's about it honestly.

By far the best attraction between them is the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola. But, if you are starting in Mobile, that isn't much of a break.

We talked about stopping there.

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We will be driving to Disney next week, looking for places to stop and let the kids get out and play or things for them to see.

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Give us some more info! Age of kids? What's your route? Are you driving straight? When you say stop, like for how long (overnight or?). Do they like "outdoorsy" things like swimming, hiking etc., or "touristy" things?

I grew up in Central Florida, so there are tons of options along the way and in Orlando. Don't give Mickey all your money!

Ages are 9,6 and 4. We are driving on Tuesday of next week. We are looking for places to stop for the kids to see. We plan to spend the night in Tallahassee or somewhere near there. Thanks

Might look into Manatee Springs (a bit off 75 west of gainesville) or Ocala area has several horse stables that give tours.

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Ages are 9,6 and 4. We are driving on Tuesday of next week. We are looking for places to stop for the kids to see. We plan to spend the night in Tallahassee or somewhere near there. Thanks

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Well, at that age it's hard to probably find anything that's a short enough diversion and meet your objectives. Honestly, on that stretch, there's not much to see.

Thoughts though...

Lived in Orlando for 12 years and it can be a zoo and HOT. Maybe try early morning entry, stay until noon. Go back to the hotel and nap. Maybe take in the park again later in the evening.

So, potential stops...

1. Don't shoot me for saying this and being biased, but for kids, Tallahassee is kind of fun. Tour the campus and stadium. Maybe the circus is in session. Some nice restaurants and bars. Just chill at the hotel, swim there and go out for dinner. Tough age to plan for!

2. Florida Caverns is nice and probably 20m from I-10 in Marianna. We stay there all the time for football games and drive over to Tallahassee. Maybe 1:15h more from there. There's a nice spring there in the park, Balthazar, you could swim in, canoe etc. All these things would take a few hours though, so you'd have to decide that.

3. Hell, I'd go to Ichetucknee-Springs-State-Park over Disney and go tubing. Best place in Florida. Now, mid-week it might not be too bad and it's maybe a 45m or less diversion from 1-10, but this is the kind of place memories are made in Florida.

4. For that matter, if you're in Orlando, make it a point to go to Rock Springs State Park! Can get real crowded, but mid-week again, particularly early in the morning, should be fine.

Two other points. When I think of the "Panhandle", besides the beaches, I think of springs! Nothing more magical on a hot summer day than plunging into ice cold water that's crystal clear.

Marianna is near Cypress Springs. Several outfitters rent canoes and kayaks. Now, again, it's a few hour diversion from reaching Tallahassee, but well worth it in my book.

Or, make Wakulla Springs a destination you put into the GPS before you get to Tally. Deepest spring in the world. Glass bottom boats. Great diving tower. Kids would love it. Again, a few hour diversion from the resting stop.

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I'd drive the less than 8 hours straight thru and just go to Orlando. If you have an extra day for vacation, LegoLand would be perfect for that age group.

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It'd be fun for kids for sure, but it's in Winter Haven in Polk County (old Cypress Gardens) and likely up to an 1 hour drive to get there after you go through Orlando. OP would need to consider that.